The Hundred-Year House

By: Rebecca Makkai

Narrated by: Jen Tullock

The acclaimed author of The Borrower returns with a dazzlingly original, mordantly witty novel about the secrets of an old-money family and their turn-of-the-century estate, Laurelfield.

“Rebecca Makkai is a writer to watch, as sneakily ambitious as she is unpretentious."
–Richard Russo

Meet the Devohrs: Zee, a Marxist literary scholar who detests her parents’ wealth but nevertheless finds herself living in their carriage house; Gracie, her mother, who claims she can tell your lot in life by looking at your teeth; and Bruce, her step-father, stockpiling supplies for the Y2K apocalypse and perpetually late for his tee time. Then there’s Violet Devohr, Zee’s great-grandmother, who they say took her own life somewhere in the vast house, and whose massive oil portrait still hangs in the dining room.

Violet’s portrait was known to terrify the artists who resided at the house from the 1920s to the 1950s, when it served as the Laurelfield Arts Colony—and this is exactly the period Zee’s husband, Doug, is interested in. An out-of-work academic whose only hope of a future position is securing a book deal, Doug is stalled on his biography of the poet Edwin Parfitt, once in residence at the colony. All he needs to get the book back on track—besides some motivation and self-esteem—is access to the colony records, rotting away in the attic for decades. But when Doug begins to poke around where he shouldn’t, he finds Gracie guards the files with a strange ferocity, raising questions about what she might be hiding. The secrets of the hundred-year house would turn everything Doug and Zee think they know about her family on its head—that is, if they were to ever uncover them.

In this brilliantly conceived, ambitious, and deeply rewarding novel, Rebecca Makkai unfolds a generational saga in reverse, leading the reader back in time on a literary scavenger hunt as we seek to uncover the truth about these strange people and this mysterious house. With intelligence and humor, a daring narrative approach, and a lovingly satirical voice, Rebecca Makkai has crafted an unforgettable novel about family, fate and the incredible surprises life can offer.

haunting

haunting is the best description I can give this story the muti layers and generations seemed to be hidden behind mist until the author pulled back the curtain. and we certainly get answers about their lives but we are some how left with new different questions. leaving me feeling like can we ever truly know the answers to the people from generations passed. I really enjoyed this. different from anything I've ever read.

So what............

I really wanted to like this book, but i really couldnt get into it.
I may come back to it at a later date and relisten, but for now I cant recommend it.

Hmmmm

What made the experience of listening to The Hundred-Year House the most enjoyable?

I enjoyed the "mystery" of the house and wondering exactly "who" the characters were.

Would you recommend The Hundred-Year House to your friends? Why or why not?

If the story had stuck with just the 2 most recent generations I think I would have enjoyed it more. When it went back to the earliest years of the house I honestly lost interest and even got a little confused.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed out loud frequently over some of the comments made by some of the characters!

Not conducive for audio book

I expected to love this book because I think the author is wildly talented but I kept getting lost listening to it. I think it’s a tricky one and it might’ve been easier to read a hard copy.

Still thinking about it, weeks later.

Would you listen to The Hundred-Year House again? Why?

I absolutely would. Knowing the full story, I'd like to revisit the parts I thought were about one thing, but were really about something else. It's a rich story with characters you come to love, flaws and all. There is a sweetness and a satisfaction to the wrap up.