House of Trelawney

By: Hannah Rothschild

Narrated by: Corrie James

The seat of the Trelawney family for over 700 years, Trelawney Castle was once the jewel of the Cornish coast. Each successive Earl spent with abandon, turning the house and grounds into a sprawling, extravagant palimpsest of wings, turrets, and follies. But as the centuries passed the Earls of Trelawney, their ambition dulled by generations of pampered living, failed to develop other skills. Now in 2008 the house - its paintings and furniture sold off to pay death duties, its grounds diminished, the gardens choked with weeds - has begun to resemble its owners: faded, crumbling, and out-of-date.

Jane, the put-upon wife of the current Earl, Kitto, scraping a life for her children and in-laws in a few drafty rooms of the big house, is trapped by Trelawney Castle; while Blaze, Kitto's sister, has made a killing in the City - and a complete turkey of her personal life. Long-estranged, the two women are brought back together when a letter arrives; and soon after it, an unwelcome young guest. Grudgingly reunited, Blaze and Jane must band together to take charge of their new charge - and save the house of Trelawney.

With formidable sharpness, delicious irreverence, and a very wicked wit, House of Trelawney is a glorious send-up of recession Britain and its carnival of bastard bankers and down-at-heel toffs.

©2020 Hannah Rothschild (P)2020 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Predictable

for a very short moment at the end, I thought this book was going to end in and interesting way, but in the last few seconds the author caved to the most mundane ending possible. Too bad. the characters were fairly interesting but the storyline kind of sucked.

So when is the sequel comIng out?

So many things were left hanging. Did the author expect each reader to fill in the rest of each character's story or is this book like a TV series where the audience is expected to be passive and request a sequel?

The book ended, but feels unfinished.

Beach Read

Not literature but perfectly okay for what it was. Complex enough with enough characters to make it a nice white bread listen.

Complex and fun

Different from what I’d anticipated, but fun.

I thought it ended abruptly, though, and the conclusion had a bit if a soap opera feel to it.

That said, I thought it was enjoyable and good to listen to.

A great vacation read.

I had a hard time putting this book down and then played the audio book in the car and it totally enhanced my experience. I can't wait to buy other books by this author.

Downtown Abbey It Isn’t

It fell short.
A predictable story that became a drudgery after awhile, lacking in much imagination and borrowing from other stories. For example, the old countess is obviously written to imitate Downton’s Dowager Duchess, but fails in wit and charm, coming off as whiny and unloveable. It was filled with (mostly) spoiled, pompous, or long-suffering characters including a horribly disagreeable American (cliche) so badly depicted by the narrator, she was painful to listen to. Few characters were likable or created empathy. A tale that eventually resorts to cliches and soap-opera devices.

A fine satire on the British rich

Excellent for the first book I've heard from her. An interesting family, with Toby and his sister being the only two characters I like, Blaze as well. If they were real characters, I'd enjoy meeting them. Narrator is excellent with accents and inflections.

Crazy - the whole lot of em!

I enjoyed the story of the Trelawney’s and their trials in life…but did not like how it ended. I at least would like to know how Eisha’s life turned out & what happened to Ambrose? Leaves me wanting more.

Really fun read

This felt like a British Wes Anderson film in the best of way. I almost skipped over purchasing this one as it sounded more drama than comedy but it’s definitely more comedy leaning with dashes of drama - perfect for part of a COVID19 readathon for anyone sticking up for that! The narrator is perfect with their delivery as well.

Excellent Story Telling

Complex and delicious story with some interesting history sprinkled in. I was invested in the characters. Would love a sequel.