The Little Stranger is the latest book from Sarah Waters. If you’ve read and loved Fingersmith, it is nothing like it. If you’ve read The Night Watch, there’s a wee bit of familiarity, mostly in tone and setting. The Little Stranger is the story of a doctor, Faraday, and a family, the Ayres, and a house, Hundreds Hall.
Dr. Faraday responds to a medical call at Hundreds Hall, a once-grand estate where his mother worked as a maid when she was a girl. While shocked at the dilapidated state of the house, he is nonetheless intrigued by the family…the elegant matriarch Mrs. Ayres, her “spinster” daughter Caroline who prefers tramping around in the fields with her dog, and Roderick, the aloof son who was wounded in the war and is currently struggling to keep it all together (both himself and the estate) for the sake of his mother and sister. Dr. Faraday soon becomes caught up in the lives of the family, and the mystery of the house.
There are a lot of things to like about The Little Stranger. It has the bones of a good story, and an intriguing premise (it deals with haunting, but really, you should discover the how and why on your own). It also has depth, as it is set in post-WWII England, a time when class boundaries are breaking down but are also still very much apparent. Dr. Faraday, in particular, struggles with class issues, more in his own mind and attitudes than anywhere else.
There are also deeper issues to be found, such as the characters ambitions and dreams and attitudes, Britain’s shift into socialized medicine, and also rural post-war life, with its continuing rationing and gossip and general busy-bodiness. There’s also the whole issue of ghosts, and how Faraday’s beliefs (or lack of) affect how the story plays out.
However, in the end I didn’t care for any of the characters. And while this isn’t a prerequisite for me liking a book, in this case I was kind of ambivalent about their lives and what would happen. Dr. Faraday was a bit of an ass, and his self-centeredness and blindness about a lot of things was a bit wearisome. Also, the book is continuously described as chilling and eerie, and I just never got that sense of scariness from the book. And trust me, I don’t do horror, so if it’s not doing it for me, I’m really worried about those who think this book is creepy.
Having said that, this is still a good book. It’s got that grey, bleak tone that reminds me of The Night Watch, and enough English-ness to hold my interest. Waters is an excellent writer and she does period pieces (not really the right word, but hopefully you know what I’m getting at) damn well. I just don’t think this is the best she has to offer.
Hello there,
It’s funny – I read your post and agreed with it (having not read any of hers before though) but then reread my review here: http://www.helenjbeal.com/?p=209 and found that actually I had enjoyed the characters and story more than you! I wonder if it’s because of what I’d read before and it’s all relative? I think we both conclude the same though – not a stunner.
Helen
Helen J Beal´s last blog ..Creative Writing Group – First Meeting
I love honest reviews; thanks. I am looking forward to this one, but likable characters would help
diane´s last blog ..Sunday Salon
I’ve yet to read anything by Sarah Waters, but I think I’ll make Fingersmith my first. I’ve heard so many good things about it. I also have The Night Watch and Affinity on my shelf.
Amanda´s last blog ..Sunday Salon – Readathon preps and tips
I think Fingersmith is the perfect intro to Waters.
I’ve got this one on my TBR list. The only book by Waters I’ve read so far is Tipping the velvet, which was excellent. Fingersmith is on my TBR list as well, so we’ll see which one I get to first!
Stephanie´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday
I had similar thoughts to you. It was OK, but a big disappointment in comparison to Fingersmith.
Jackie (Farm Lane Books)´s last blog ..Stone’s Fall – Iain Pears
Reading your review sort of made me think of The Haunting of Hill House. I didn’t give a rat’s bottom what happened to them and I didn’t find it all that scary. I’m disappointed though because I had this one my list.
Ti´s last blog ..Read-a-Thon 2009: My Reading List
And I guess I can cross Hill House off my list now.
I thoroughly agree; I was most disappointed in this book after loving her others. She does immerse herself in the period and her historical research and writing is impressive but I didn’t think there was any soul to the book, with unlikable characters and a dryness to it that I couldn’t overcome. It is a slow-burner and one that I have appreciated a little more with hindsight (I even wrote a follow-up review) but there was definitely something missing and was her weakest novel to date.
Claire (Paperback_Reader)´s last blog ..I Am a Cat Read-along
I haven’t read any of her books yet — I guess I’ll start with something else. But thanks for the horror assessment. I don’t do horror either, and I’m happy to know that it’s not that bad.
Beth F´s last blog ..Today’s Read: The Darcys & the Bingleys by Marsha Altman
I agree that I don’t necessarily have to like the characters but I do have to be interested in what happens to them. Even some of the really rotten characters I care what happens!
I think Nightwatch will be my next Waters book.
Trish´s last blog ..Fingersmith – Sarah Waters
I actually liked this book, but then again I haven’t read any other Sarah Waters books. I enjoyed the atmosphere and her writing style and will definitely be reading some of her other books. I’ve linked to your review on my post.
Terri B.´s last blog ..Cats and Boxes