Bookish Thoughts: The House at the End of Hope Street by Menna van Praag

The House at the End of Hope Street by Menna van Praag

Pamela Dorman Books, 2013

Fiction; 304 pgs

From the Publisher: 

Distraught that her academic career has stalled, Alba is walking through her hometown of Cambridge, England, when she finds herself in front of a house she’s never seen before, 11 Hope Street. A beautiful older woman named Peggy greets her and invites her to stay, on the house’s usual conditions: she has ninety-nine nights to turn her life around. With nothing left to lose, Alba takes a chance and moves in.

She soon discovers that this is no ordinary house. Past residents have included Virginia Woolf and Dorothy Parker, who, after receiving the assistance they needed, hung around to help newcomers—literally, in talking portraits on the wall. As she escapes into this new world, Alba begins a journey that will heal her wounds—and maybe even save her life.

Filled with a colorful and unforgettable cast of literary figures, The House at the End of Hope Street is a charming, whimsical novel of hope and feminine wisdom that is sure to appeal to fans of Jasper Fforde and especially Sarah Addison Allen.

This book didn't pull at my heart strings and twist them as so many of my favorite books do. No, this book pulled at my heart strings and made me feel warm and good inside. This has to be one of my most favorite book so far this year.  I melted as I read it.  The author's writing is beautiful, and I was caught up in the magic of the house, a house that is very much a character itself.  To cavort with the ghosts of so many famous and admirable women!  This book was a dream.

The house at 11 Hope Street cannot be seen by everyone who visits Cambridge.  That's why Alba never noticed it before.  With nowhere else to go and nothing else to lose, Alba makes her home there at the invitation of Peggy Abbot, the house's caretaker.  The walls are covered with photos of past residents, each with advice to share should the present residents be willing to listen.

Alba has a sixth sense for things and can see sounds as well as ghosts.  Sounds come to her in colors, depending on their mood and intent.  I took to Alba instantly.  She is like the black sheep in her family, never quite measuring up to their expectations.  This even in spite of Alba graduating and pursuing her doctorate at so young an age.  Her mother, whom she loves dearly, is a mystery to her, lost in a depression Alba doesn't quite understand.  As the story goes, we learn more about Alba and her past as well as the secret from the present that is haunting her.  A secret that drew her to the house on Hope Street in the first place.  It is a story that is heartbreaking and at times cruel.  

Peggy is 82 years old and has been the caretaker of the house for most of her life. She gave up her life to take care of the house and the women who came to stay there.  She made the ultimate sacrifice.  The house has made it clear that her service is coming to an end, and Peggy feels a myriad of emotions.

Alba and Peggy are not the only residents of 11 Hope Street.  There are two other women, including a struggling actress, Greer, who has lost her way and Carmen, who is running from her dark past.  All of the women in the house are troubled and seeking answers to their situations, hoping the house will help them find peace and heal old wounds.

I loved the way Menna van Praag wove these women's stories together, each one separate and yet each one tied to the house.  I also really liked how music and words played such a big part in all the character's stories, particularly Alba and Carmen's.  This added to the beauty--and magic--of the novel.

As an added bonus, the author included a list of the famous women who once visited 11 Hope Street, including little blurbs about their lives.  This only adds to the strength of the novel.

The House at the End of Hope Street wears its namesake well.  It is full of hope--and charming too.  The women of the house have very real problems, and while I suppose one might think the solutions come too easily at times, well, that's just the kind of book it is.  I loved every minute of it. This is one of those books that left me smiling at the end--and still has me smiling now.

Rating:  (Outstanding)

You can learn more about Menna van Praag and her book on the author's website. 

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

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© 2013, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.