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The House of Birds by Morgan Mccarthy
Morgan McCarthy's THE HOUSE OF BIRDS is a beautiful and bewitching story of love, war and second chances that will be adored by readers of Louisa Young and Virginia Bailey.Oliver has spent years trying to convince himself that he's suited to a life of money making in the city, and that he doesn't miss a childhood spent in pursuit of mystery, when he cycled around the cobbled lanes of Oxford, exploring its most intriguing corners.When his girlfriend Kate inherits a derelict house - and a fierce family feud - she's determined to strip it, sell it and move on. For Oliver though, the house has an allure, and amongst the shelves of discarded, leather bound and gilded volumes, he discovers one that conceals a hidden diary from the 1920s.So begins a to discover the identity of the author, Sophia Louis. It is a portrait of war and marriage, isolation and longing and a story that will shape the future of the abandoned house - and of Oliver - forever.
Hardcover
First published November 3, 2016
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About the author
Morgan McCarthy
7 books32 followersMorgan McCarthy was born in Berkshire, UK, where she still lives, in 1982. She has worked in a supermarket, a small independent bookstore, and, most recently, as a media analyst.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
December 4, 2016
I’m a fan of dual time-line stories but suspect that these are far trickier to pull off than the big hits in the genre suggest, I have read my fill of poor imitations where the connections between past and present are weak or worse still, contrived. Books where all too often, one of the stories shores up the other to such an extent that you feel it was only invented to appeal to those of us who enjoy this form of storytelling. The House of Birds is not one of these poor imitations, better still the story in the present is about a man, Oliver who has walked out of his highly paid job and is ‘considering his options!’
Oliver met Kate when he was a twelve-year-old boy and together, one sunny day, finding themselves outside Kate’s Great-Aunt’s house decided as a bit of a dare to investigate. They made their way through the overgrown garden and Oliver climbed up to peer through one of the upstairs windows. What he saw in the room made a memory that he never quite shook off, coming as these vivid memories often do, just before his life changed, and he moved away from Oxford. Years later Oliver and Kate meet again and start to build a life together. Kate’s family has been split into two sides for years over an ongoing dispute of inheritance of the house in Oxford but now it has been passed to Kate. With the house in a poor state of repair and Oliver at a loose end, he decides to use his time organising the repairs and renovations. Once there he finds a story, written by a woman called Sophie.
Sophie’s story is set in the 1920s where she is trying to gain access to the Bodleian Library at Oxford University, but not having anyone to write a letter to allow her entry she is turned away. So starts the beginning of my enormous sympathy for this young woman, one whose husband returned from the war a different man to the one who left. This is a woman who has a love of books, of language and of learning and yet she is tied to the house where her staff have not enough to keep them busy but go some way into bringing life into a house where husband and wife have little conversation and who sleep in separate rooms.
The link between past and present is far from clear, even to Oliver as Kate had never mentioned a Sophia, so the first mystery is how the document ended up in the house at all. But like me, he could not fail to be captivated by Sophia’s story and when the pages come to an end, he wants to know more and without Kate’s knowledge tries to find out more which means talking to the side of the family who believe the house belongs to them.
Already enthralled by the story I was especially thrilled later on when mentions of Crete, in particular, Knossos, and the renovation of the site by Arthur Evans in the early twentieth century because I visited the site on my holiday this year. We had a very knowledgeable guide Maria, and so I know that Morgan McCarthy has done her research well from the titbits that correlate perfectly to all that I learnt about the site. With many pieces of information that are lightly sprinkled throughout the book, from myths and legends to the difference between a labyrinth and a maze, battles and kings and queens, meant that this was a book that taught me some new things too without it ever feeling anything apart from the fabric of the book itself.
This book has some outstanding characters who run the gamut of emotions of humans around the world, and some of these are mirrored between past and present. Sophia has a sister, and there is sibling rivalry, there is love, there is duty and there is guilt and greed… I could go on. This isn’t a fast moving book but the language is beautiful and the writing evocative. I had one of those sad moments when I reached the very satisfying ending, where I genuinely missed the characters I’d come to know and love.
I was delighted to receive a copy of The House of Birds from the publishers Headline. This unbiased review is my thank you to them
Oliver met Kate when he was a twelve-year-old boy and together, one sunny day, finding themselves outside Kate’s Great-Aunt’s house decided as a bit of a dare to investigate. They made their way through the overgrown garden and Oliver climbed up to peer through one of the upstairs windows. What he saw in the room made a memory that he never quite shook off, coming as these vivid memories often do, just before his life changed, and he moved away from Oxford. Years later Oliver and Kate meet again and start to build a life together. Kate’s family has been split into two sides for years over an ongoing dispute of inheritance of the house in Oxford but now it has been passed to Kate. With the house in a poor state of repair and Oliver at a loose end, he decides to use his time organising the repairs and renovations. Once there he finds a story, written by a woman called Sophie.
Sophie’s story is set in the 1920s where she is trying to gain access to the Bodleian Library at Oxford University, but not having anyone to write a letter to allow her entry she is turned away. So starts the beginning of my enormous sympathy for this young woman, one whose husband returned from the war a different man to the one who left. This is a woman who has a love of books, of language and of learning and yet she is tied to the house where her staff have not enough to keep them busy but go some way into bringing life into a house where husband and wife have little conversation and who sleep in separate rooms.
The link between past and present is far from clear, even to Oliver as Kate had never mentioned a Sophia, so the first mystery is how the document ended up in the house at all. But like me, he could not fail to be captivated by Sophia’s story and when the pages come to an end, he wants to know more and without Kate’s knowledge tries to find out more which means talking to the side of the family who believe the house belongs to them.
Already enthralled by the story I was especially thrilled later on when mentions of Crete, in particular, Knossos, and the renovation of the site by Arthur Evans in the early twentieth century because I visited the site on my holiday this year. We had a very knowledgeable guide Maria, and so I know that Morgan McCarthy has done her research well from the titbits that correlate perfectly to all that I learnt about the site. With many pieces of information that are lightly sprinkled throughout the book, from myths and legends to the difference between a labyrinth and a maze, battles and kings and queens, meant that this was a book that taught me some new things too without it ever feeling anything apart from the fabric of the book itself.
This book has some outstanding characters who run the gamut of emotions of humans around the world, and some of these are mirrored between past and present. Sophia has a sister, and there is sibling rivalry, there is love, there is duty and there is guilt and greed… I could go on. This isn’t a fast moving book but the language is beautiful and the writing evocative. I had one of those sad moments when I reached the very satisfying ending, where I genuinely missed the characters I’d come to know and love.
I was delighted to receive a copy of The House of Birds from the publishers Headline. This unbiased review is my thank you to them
November 24, 2016
There was something completely captivating about this dual timeline novel! It is one of those understated books with no big action scenes, or shocking twists, that just really charmed me and kept me enthralled from start to finish! And the cover is rather beautiful too!!
The basis of the story is following the couple Kate and Oliver from the moment they met as schoolchildren to the present day where their lives seem to be moving in different directions, and they both seem unable to decide the best way forward. Kate is then left a house in a will, and Oliver remembers the house from when they first met and seemed to be under its' spell from that moment and his connection to the house just grows the more time he spends there renovating it while Kate is working in New York.
Oliver then stumbles across an old diary about the mysterious Sophie and her life is instantly brought to life through her words and completely takes over all Olivers' thoughts and actions. Kate seems less and less interested in the house and the family squabbles it has caused so just wants to sell it on, but Oliver is so drawn into the family drama through the diary he wants to know more and even gets in touch with the other family disputing the will and finds those relatives are not quite as Kate has portrayed them.
I loved the character of Oliver as his quest for knowledge about who Sophia was in relation to Kate, and to know more about her story started giving his life meaning and unlocked the passion he had for history. He seemed to will the house to bring history alive and turns into a detective to unlock the secrets that have been hidden for so long
This book is full of all that family life throws at us - secrets, heartache, lies - and just the power that a well told story can have over someone living in a different time. Full of fascinating characters and some challenging storylines I found it to be a delight to read.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book courtesy of the publishers and NetGalley.
The basis of the story is following the couple Kate and Oliver from the moment they met as schoolchildren to the present day where their lives seem to be moving in different directions, and they both seem unable to decide the best way forward. Kate is then left a house in a will, and Oliver remembers the house from when they first met and seemed to be under its' spell from that moment and his connection to the house just grows the more time he spends there renovating it while Kate is working in New York.
Oliver then stumbles across an old diary about the mysterious Sophie and her life is instantly brought to life through her words and completely takes over all Olivers' thoughts and actions. Kate seems less and less interested in the house and the family squabbles it has caused so just wants to sell it on, but Oliver is so drawn into the family drama through the diary he wants to know more and even gets in touch with the other family disputing the will and finds those relatives are not quite as Kate has portrayed them.
I loved the character of Oliver as his quest for knowledge about who Sophia was in relation to Kate, and to know more about her story started giving his life meaning and unlocked the passion he had for history. He seemed to will the house to bring history alive and turns into a detective to unlock the secrets that have been hidden for so long
This book is full of all that family life throws at us - secrets, heartache, lies - and just the power that a well told story can have over someone living in a different time. Full of fascinating characters and some challenging storylines I found it to be a delight to read.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book courtesy of the publishers and NetGalley.
November 13, 2016
I loved this book, quite a strange ending though ! Couldn't put it down ! 9/10 :)
October 11, 2022
I sometimes find dual-time novels problematic, often finding myself more drawn to the past timeline than the present. However, in The House of Birds, the author manages to pull off the feat of making the two timelines both equally interesting and, indeed, interdependent.
The book moves between the present day story of Oliver, who finds himself rather adrift having quit a job he never really liked but not sure exactly what he wants to do next, and that of Sophia Louis whose life is documented in a journal Oliver discovers when clearing out the old house inherited by his girlfriend, Kate, who is off in New York pursuing a promotion opportunity. What starts as a project to fill a gap between jobs becomes something more as Oliver begins to feel a connection with the house, an obligation to save it even. Unravelling the mystery of just who Sophia Louis was and what became of her provides Oliver with something to focus on, to draw him out of his apathetic state.
I liked the way Sophia's story is revealed in instalments, in a way that is akin to a puzzle. Indeed, at one point, Oliver becomes irritated that her journal ends suddenly and, seemingly, unfinished. 'Oliver was baffled and outraged. He felt keenly that Sophia - so aware of her reader had treated him unfairly.' I also loved Sophia's witty, teasing style of writing, often addressing her reader directly. But just who is Sophia's intended reader? And why did she feel the need to hide the journal?
The story Sophia tells is one of disappointment, sadness, forbidden love, thwarted ambition, and the cruel and longlasting legacy of war, in this case the First World War. The latter is embodied in a character who is a tragic figure - 'the grim king of a grim land' - imprisoned in self-imposed silence and seeing the world as full of danger, of 'black and smoking chaos'.
But how much of the story Sophia tells is true? Could her journal be fiction rather than fact? Indeed, Oliver ponders, 'What if Sophia were a character in someone else's novel?' (I bet the author had a little chuckle to herself when she wrote that.)
As Oliver follows the trail Sophia has left, puzzling it out alongside the reader, it causes him to reflect on his own life. As he observes, 'It's ironic really. [Sophia] knew exactly what she wanted, but she couldn't have any of it. I've had the opportunity to do whatever I want to do, and it seems like in almost thirty years I've only just managed to work out what that might be'. Oliver undergoes a kind of epiphany as he realises it's not too late to pursue his childhood ambition, a path he was dissuaded from taking by his parents. In a way, he comes to feel he owes it to Sophia.
There is some beautiful descriptive writing, full of clever metaphors, such as this passage in which Oliver, as a young boy, first glimpses the rather neglected 'House of Birds' and its overgrown garden.
'The darkly varnished ivy was tussling with the white bindweed over ownership of a sagging fence, while not far away, a honeysuckle, unchallenged, had claimed a garden table and swallowed a small tree. The lawn was an army massing under high spears, its regiments filing into the cracks between the paving stones to do battle with the dandelions. Above them the wisteria maintained a lordly rule over the house itself, loaded with it spectacular purple flowers, hundreds of fluttering confetti showers clamouring for the friskings of the bees.'
The House of Birds is the first novel I've read by Morgan McCarthy and, although she has written three previous novels, none of them appear to have been as positively received by readers as this one, and she has written nothing since. That's a shame because I really enjoyed The House of Birds. I found the story enthralling, romantic without being sentimental and with some really clever touches. In fact, I imagined Sophia laughing to herself at an inspired one that occurs towards the end of the book.
The book moves between the present day story of Oliver, who finds himself rather adrift having quit a job he never really liked but not sure exactly what he wants to do next, and that of Sophia Louis whose life is documented in a journal Oliver discovers when clearing out the old house inherited by his girlfriend, Kate, who is off in New York pursuing a promotion opportunity. What starts as a project to fill a gap between jobs becomes something more as Oliver begins to feel a connection with the house, an obligation to save it even. Unravelling the mystery of just who Sophia Louis was and what became of her provides Oliver with something to focus on, to draw him out of his apathetic state.
I liked the way Sophia's story is revealed in instalments, in a way that is akin to a puzzle. Indeed, at one point, Oliver becomes irritated that her journal ends suddenly and, seemingly, unfinished. 'Oliver was baffled and outraged. He felt keenly that Sophia - so aware of her reader had treated him unfairly.' I also loved Sophia's witty, teasing style of writing, often addressing her reader directly. But just who is Sophia's intended reader? And why did she feel the need to hide the journal?
The story Sophia tells is one of disappointment, sadness, forbidden love, thwarted ambition, and the cruel and longlasting legacy of war, in this case the First World War. The latter is embodied in a character who is a tragic figure - 'the grim king of a grim land' - imprisoned in self-imposed silence and seeing the world as full of danger, of 'black and smoking chaos'.
But how much of the story Sophia tells is true? Could her journal be fiction rather than fact? Indeed, Oliver ponders, 'What if Sophia were a character in someone else's novel?' (I bet the author had a little chuckle to herself when she wrote that.)
As Oliver follows the trail Sophia has left, puzzling it out alongside the reader, it causes him to reflect on his own life. As he observes, 'It's ironic really. [Sophia] knew exactly what she wanted, but she couldn't have any of it. I've had the opportunity to do whatever I want to do, and it seems like in almost thirty years I've only just managed to work out what that might be'. Oliver undergoes a kind of epiphany as he realises it's not too late to pursue his childhood ambition, a path he was dissuaded from taking by his parents. In a way, he comes to feel he owes it to Sophia.
There is some beautiful descriptive writing, full of clever metaphors, such as this passage in which Oliver, as a young boy, first glimpses the rather neglected 'House of Birds' and its overgrown garden.
'The darkly varnished ivy was tussling with the white bindweed over ownership of a sagging fence, while not far away, a honeysuckle, unchallenged, had claimed a garden table and swallowed a small tree. The lawn was an army massing under high spears, its regiments filing into the cracks between the paving stones to do battle with the dandelions. Above them the wisteria maintained a lordly rule over the house itself, loaded with it spectacular purple flowers, hundreds of fluttering confetti showers clamouring for the friskings of the bees.'
The House of Birds is the first novel I've read by Morgan McCarthy and, although she has written three previous novels, none of them appear to have been as positively received by readers as this one, and she has written nothing since. That's a shame because I really enjoyed The House of Birds. I found the story enthralling, romantic without being sentimental and with some really clever touches. In fact, I imagined Sophia laughing to herself at an inspired one that occurs towards the end of the book.
February 8, 2017
When Oliver's girlfriend, Kate, inherits a house and a family feud Oliver volunteers to help fix up the house for her. At a crossroads in his life, having recently quit his job, Oliver focuses all his energy on this new project. Whilst tiding up Oliver discovers a diary written by a lady called Sophia Louis from 1920. Trapped in an unhappy marriage to an increasingly disturbed and controlling husband Sophia struggles to find some happiness in her. Then she meets Christopher and the two of them develop a strong friendship based on a mutual love of books and learning. They start to meet regularly much to the vocal disapproval of her husband. When Sophia's writing become more desperate, Oliver is immediately intrigued and sets out to find more about the mysterious Sophia and how her story ended.
The house of birds is a very beautifully written book. The author is brilliant at vividly describing a scene of setting that helps place the reader at the center of the action and feel like they are really there watching it all unfold. The characters are all very different to each other which makes the story seem more real and more interesting. I especially like the marked differences between the two sisters, particularly their point of views on women being equal to men. It was interesting hearing that there were women who were against women being more independent! I have always like stories which feature strong female characters and i was please to see that there were quite a few in this book. The character development through the book is also really well done. I started off not liking Oliver much and feeling sorry for Kate but ended up feeling the reverse by the end of the book. I think this is down to the author really taking her time with the story and allowing the reader to develop a real sense of the characters and their personality.
I felt by the end that i really knew Sophia and Oliver and that i could guess their actions before i read them. Unusually for a dual time book i found both parts of the story interesting and wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen in both time periods. The author uses a different writing style for Sophia's part of the story which helps make the book easier to read and helps to show off more of her personality.
I found it quite hard to believe this is the author's debut novel and will be very keen to read more of her books. Thank you to Headline Publisher, the author and Netgalley for the chance to review this book. If you are a fan of Kate Morton you will enjoy this book!
The house of birds is a very beautifully written book. The author is brilliant at vividly describing a scene of setting that helps place the reader at the center of the action and feel like they are really there watching it all unfold. The characters are all very different to each other which makes the story seem more real and more interesting. I especially like the marked differences between the two sisters, particularly their point of views on women being equal to men. It was interesting hearing that there were women who were against women being more independent! I have always like stories which feature strong female characters and i was please to see that there were quite a few in this book. The character development through the book is also really well done. I started off not liking Oliver much and feeling sorry for Kate but ended up feeling the reverse by the end of the book. I think this is down to the author really taking her time with the story and allowing the reader to develop a real sense of the characters and their personality.
I felt by the end that i really knew Sophia and Oliver and that i could guess their actions before i read them. Unusually for a dual time book i found both parts of the story interesting and wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen in both time periods. The author uses a different writing style for Sophia's part of the story which helps make the book easier to read and helps to show off more of her personality.
I found it quite hard to believe this is the author's debut novel and will be very keen to read more of her books. Thank you to Headline Publisher, the author and Netgalley for the chance to review this book. If you are a fan of Kate Morton you will enjoy this book!
October 18, 2017
A beautiful cover so was expecting something more.
The story was somewhat slow going and just didn't follow.
No feeling for the 1920's or the decorum and manners one would expect.
I could so easily have given up but was hoping the story would get better, sadly it didn't.
It's left me yearning for a classic.
The story was somewhat slow going and just didn't follow.
No feeling for the 1920's or the decorum and manners one would expect.
I could so easily have given up but was hoping the story would get better, sadly it didn't.
It's left me yearning for a classic.
November 13, 2016
Oliver Mitchell first met Kate Castle when he was 12 and for one magical hour in her company and seeing her Aunt's house in Oxford makes a big impression. Just after that afternoon his family move away from Oxford and it's not till many years later he meets Kate again at a party and they start a relationship.
But now Oliver is disenchanted with life, he hated his 'good job' so much that he has recently quit and with Kate inheriting the old house that made such an impression on him in early life, this presents the perfect opportunity to have a refuge, he can get the house ready for sale, while Kate is in New York for work. When he finds pages of an old diary in the house, he becomes immersed in the life of Sophia and vows to find out if she was real of a figment of someone's imagination. This leads him to become involved with the other side of Kate's family the Calverts, which have been split by a family feud.
I'm not taken with this book as much as other reviewers. I found the book was very slow moving and it wasn't until the last quarter of the book that I really wanted to know what happened to Sophia. I actually didn't like any of the characters at all. At first I disliked Kate's apathy with the house, and I felt a little sorry for Oliver but as the story progressed it was Oliver I began to dislike more. To me he became so self absorbed and showed such lack of respect for Kate. I could go on but I think I would end up giving spoilers.
I did read the whole book as I chose to review it and in the end I'm glad I did but I feel I would have given up on it if it was one I picked up on a whim. It could be an interesting book club read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy to read and review.
But now Oliver is disenchanted with life, he hated his 'good job' so much that he has recently quit and with Kate inheriting the old house that made such an impression on him in early life, this presents the perfect opportunity to have a refuge, he can get the house ready for sale, while Kate is in New York for work. When he finds pages of an old diary in the house, he becomes immersed in the life of Sophia and vows to find out if she was real of a figment of someone's imagination. This leads him to become involved with the other side of Kate's family the Calverts, which have been split by a family feud.
I'm not taken with this book as much as other reviewers. I found the book was very slow moving and it wasn't until the last quarter of the book that I really wanted to know what happened to Sophia. I actually didn't like any of the characters at all. At first I disliked Kate's apathy with the house, and I felt a little sorry for Oliver but as the story progressed it was Oliver I began to dislike more. To me he became so self absorbed and showed such lack of respect for Kate. I could go on but I think I would end up giving spoilers.
I did read the whole book as I chose to review it and in the end I'm glad I did but I feel I would have given up on it if it was one I picked up on a whim. It could be an interesting book club read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy to read and review.
May 6, 2017
One of the prettiest most appealing book covers I’ve seen in a while doesn’t disappoint when you open its pages. This was an interesting, engaging double layered story - one set in the past, the other in the now, brought together by means of pieces of a disjointed diary and a puzzle. The past voice, Sophia, took a little getting used to at first, I found it rather too arch and far too modern, it didn't ring true for me at first. Once I got used to the style it ceased to bother me and I was able to apply myself more to the story. It’s a good story too, peppered with a number of dislikable characters together with a few I found rather more likeable. It’s very much a story of time and place and relies greatly on setting scenes with an immensity of detailed description as much as it does on character and plot - which is fine for me, I love a great sense of place, but I wonder if some other readers might find it slow. I found it quite the page turner at times, though very much driven for me by my immense dislike of certain characters and wanting to see it all ‘come right’ - which it does, after a fashion; not quite in the way I was anticipating (and perhaps wanted?).
The ending was decidedly odd, suddenly veering off to other places, other climes… I don't want to spoil the plot for new readers, but it all felt a little strange. Would a person really leave such a will unless they were certain who would pick up on their clues? I can say it was nicely done, if (to me) a tad unsatisfying. I desperately wanted Oliver to sod the lot of them - especially Lena, who Oliver seemed to like so much but who I found desperately annoying and rather unpleasant. I suppose we are meant to write our own ending in that regard, it being left so open, but I would have enjoyed a little more closure at the very end.
In short, The House of Birds is a marvellous and easy read; literary enough to satisfy with some deliciously descriptive writing, but not in any way challenging; it is a perfectly easy read. It was a good and clever end, even if it failed to tick all my boxes. It would make a perfect book for the holidays, or a dreary stay in hospital. Definitely recommended
The ending was decidedly odd, suddenly veering off to other places, other climes… I don't want to spoil the plot for new readers, but it all felt a little strange. Would a person really leave such a will unless they were certain who would pick up on their clues? I can say it was nicely done, if (to me) a tad unsatisfying. I desperately wanted Oliver to sod the lot of them - especially Lena, who Oliver seemed to like so much but who I found desperately annoying and rather unpleasant. I suppose we are meant to write our own ending in that regard, it being left so open, but I would have enjoyed a little more closure at the very end.
In short, The House of Birds is a marvellous and easy read; literary enough to satisfy with some deliciously descriptive writing, but not in any way challenging; it is a perfectly easy read. It was a good and clever end, even if it failed to tick all my boxes. It would make a perfect book for the holidays, or a dreary stay in hospital. Definitely recommended
February 3, 2017
This book is a story told in two different timelines, the present day and the 1920's. The book is divided into parts rather than chapters and they are all called Oliver who is the main character of the story.
Oliver is dating Kate, a girl he knew from childhood. They had had a moment together as children when she got him to climb up on the windowsill of an old house that was part of a family disagreement. Oliver was enchanted by the blue wallpaper covered in exotic birds and in his mind the house was forever known as The House Of Birds.
Several years later he meets Kate again and they move in together, but their lives are going in different directions. Oliver quits his job as he feels his soul eroding in the mindless city job he has. Kate is ambitious and wants to move to New York. She has gotten possession of "The House of Birds" due to a missing will and a bit of a family feud between the Calverts and the Castles.
As Oliver is no longer employed, he jumps at the chance to go and sort out the old empty house while Kate is in New York. The longer he stays there, the more the house gets to him and his and Kate relationship suffers as they seem to be at odds. He is passionate about history while she couldn't care less about it.
Oliver is intrigued to know who lived in the old Georgian house and finds a big clue in some handwritten sheets found in one of the old books in the house. The book has been gutted to make a hiding place of the "story" As he reads "Sophia's story it draws him in. She is a wife who is still paying the price for a war (WW1) that her husband came home from in mind but not in spirit. A lonely woman who has a love of history in a time when studying opportunities were scarce for women.
Sophia gets help from a student at Oxford as she tries to bluff her way into the Bodleian Library unsuccessfully. So enters "Christopher". Sophia has written more than one account of her life and through books leaves clues on where to find the next part.
Oliver, the modern day reader of Sophia's story falls a little bit in love with a ghost of the past and meets one of her angry relatives who are part of the contestation of the current will. Lena is brash and scathing of Oliver when she first meets him and label's him nothing more than a yuppie. It is only as time goes on that she comes to realise he does have a heart, but things are complicated as he shares the story of her relative with her and gives her hope that the missing will might be found.
The story moves along in a fast enough way not to be boring or clunky. I like the style of writing and do enjoy books of this genre that are set in two time periods when they are well written as this one is. I really liked the story and descriptions of the house and the characters made them all come alive on the page.
Oliver is dating Kate, a girl he knew from childhood. They had had a moment together as children when she got him to climb up on the windowsill of an old house that was part of a family disagreement. Oliver was enchanted by the blue wallpaper covered in exotic birds and in his mind the house was forever known as The House Of Birds.
Several years later he meets Kate again and they move in together, but their lives are going in different directions. Oliver quits his job as he feels his soul eroding in the mindless city job he has. Kate is ambitious and wants to move to New York. She has gotten possession of "The House of Birds" due to a missing will and a bit of a family feud between the Calverts and the Castles.
As Oliver is no longer employed, he jumps at the chance to go and sort out the old empty house while Kate is in New York. The longer he stays there, the more the house gets to him and his and Kate relationship suffers as they seem to be at odds. He is passionate about history while she couldn't care less about it.
Oliver is intrigued to know who lived in the old Georgian house and finds a big clue in some handwritten sheets found in one of the old books in the house. The book has been gutted to make a hiding place of the "story" As he reads "Sophia's story it draws him in. She is a wife who is still paying the price for a war (WW1) that her husband came home from in mind but not in spirit. A lonely woman who has a love of history in a time when studying opportunities were scarce for women.
Sophia gets help from a student at Oxford as she tries to bluff her way into the Bodleian Library unsuccessfully. So enters "Christopher". Sophia has written more than one account of her life and through books leaves clues on where to find the next part.
Oliver, the modern day reader of Sophia's story falls a little bit in love with a ghost of the past and meets one of her angry relatives who are part of the contestation of the current will. Lena is brash and scathing of Oliver when she first meets him and label's him nothing more than a yuppie. It is only as time goes on that she comes to realise he does have a heart, but things are complicated as he shares the story of her relative with her and gives her hope that the missing will might be found.
The story moves along in a fast enough way not to be boring or clunky. I like the style of writing and do enjoy books of this genre that are set in two time periods when they are well written as this one is. I really liked the story and descriptions of the house and the characters made them all come alive on the page.
November 19, 2017
I'm probably overrating this right now but GOD I loved it so much. It's been ages since I devoured a book with such ferocity — and feeling so connected to its main characters. Both Oliver and Sophia struck a chord with me, and I found myself doing nothing but reading this little gem for the entire day. Needless to say, I do feel quite empty now that it's over.
October 4, 2016
Netgalley copy in exchange for an honest review.
It was a nice read with great, rich prose - I liked the story and the memories, and the connections between the characters. There is a mysterious poetry I loved, too. Great read!
It was a nice read with great, rich prose - I liked the story and the memories, and the connections between the characters. There is a mysterious poetry I loved, too. Great read!
December 10, 2016
Past and present fiction done right. This novel has all the hallmarks of a gothic novel plus a male is doing the sleuthing into the past. Love the uniqueness of this novel!
June 18, 2019
I loved this beautiful book
January 3, 2017
The House of Birds is a beautifully written book with one of the most spectacular covers I’ve seen in a long time. I am a sucker for a pretty cover, but this one really does catch your eye and dares you to ignore it’s alluring charm. It is a bit nostalgic and it perfectly fits to the mood of the novel.
Morgan McCarthy weaves together tales from the past and present so eloquently, the stories flow well together so that the reader is experiencing the mystery that Oliver is searching for the answers to but also the memories attached to the items within the old house and how they relate to Sophia Louis.
Oliver’s search is captivating reading, the memories he unearths add a richness to both the past and the present. The interwoven narration from Sophia gives a wonderful insight in to her character, the oppressive societal struggles for women in this time and several emotive topics are written with care and sympathy where necessary, but also detailed to show that McCarthy has done her research to ensure authenticity. Each character in this has their own appealing qualities (or unappealing as the case may be), they are are carefully and thoughtfully constructed.
The vivid descriptions in this book are spectacular, the detail given about the house means that the reader is more than able to envision the setting clearly. There is great care given to the description of people also, the description of a young Kate when Oliver sees her cycling on her way home from school conjures a crystal clear image of the young girl, with hair so perfect on her white bike, and the small detail of her catching his eye ‘like a unicorn’ gives the reader a small insight into the flowing prose awaiting them later in the book.
McCarthy’s writing is a delight to read, so natural and expressive which truly makes this a delight to read.
October 9, 2016
A stunning, hauntingly beautiful book ever much as gorgeous as its cover.
After quitting his job Oliver is tasked with renovating the house his girlfriend recently inherited, however once he chances upon a book he is distracted by a letter contained within it; enchanted by the revelations of the mysterious Sophia he embarks on discovering the truth behind the "house of birds" that has captivated him since his childhood.
This has to be one of my favourite reads this year, with a nostalgic, spell-binding narrative of secrets that reveal themselves from both the past and the present. Emotive issues are covered by this book such as shellshock, the historical oppression of women, loss, family feuds etc which make compelling reading.
I particularly loved how the story is disclosed through old houses, libraries, museums and, most of all, books; a treat for any book lover but especially those who love their history and vintage sentiment.
I can really see this becoming a literary fiction favourite of book groups with plenty to discuss and opinions to divide on who sympathises with who and which characters to revere and oppose.
After quitting his job Oliver is tasked with renovating the house his girlfriend recently inherited, however once he chances upon a book he is distracted by a letter contained within it; enchanted by the revelations of the mysterious Sophia he embarks on discovering the truth behind the "house of birds" that has captivated him since his childhood.
This has to be one of my favourite reads this year, with a nostalgic, spell-binding narrative of secrets that reveal themselves from both the past and the present. Emotive issues are covered by this book such as shellshock, the historical oppression of women, loss, family feuds etc which make compelling reading.
I particularly loved how the story is disclosed through old houses, libraries, museums and, most of all, books; a treat for any book lover but especially those who love their history and vintage sentiment.
I can really see this becoming a literary fiction favourite of book groups with plenty to discuss and opinions to divide on who sympathises with who and which characters to revere and oppose.
March 2, 2019
I don’t like writing a bad review on books as I know how hard the author was worked writing this novel, but, I found this slow and plodding and at times I felt like giving up. Other reviews rave about it and some thank goodness feel the same as me, which is comforting. I hope that if I read another one of hers that I enjoy it more.
November 28, 2016
Another great read from Ms McCarthy. When Oliver's girlfriend inherits a house in Oxford , he offers to clear it. While doing so he finds a diary belonging to Sophia. It tells of her crumbling marriage her obsessive husband and her affair with a student. Really enjoyed this one.
May 6, 2020
So.. actually the premise of this book is so interesting. An old house in Oxford, the source of a feud between families (who each thought that they're the rightful owner!), and a mysterious diary from the past - apparently, written by a woman who used to live there, and probably given a clue on where the missing will is, so the feud could be ended.
Unfortunately - I had two problems about this book. First, it's too long. The story is dragging a lot, especially during the Oliver (present day) part. It can actually be cut into shorter chapters, and make the book more enjoyable.
And the second: the characters are so unlikable. Like, almost all of them! And the storyline became so cliche when Oliver (whose girlfriend, Kate, is a part of one of the feuding families), met with Lena, who is from the other family. I can smell where the book will go within miles XD
It's too bad though. I guess I can like this book more if I care more about the characters.
Unfortunately - I had two problems about this book. First, it's too long. The story is dragging a lot, especially during the Oliver (present day) part. It can actually be cut into shorter chapters, and make the book more enjoyable.
And the second: the characters are so unlikable. Like, almost all of them! And the storyline became so cliche when Oliver (whose girlfriend, Kate, is a part of one of the feuding families), met with Lena, who is from the other family. I can smell where the book will go within miles XD
It's too bad though. I guess I can like this book more if I care more about the characters.
December 2, 2017
I enjoyed this overall, although I had no sympathy with Oliver. I was not convinced by all the bleats of "It's not about the money" when from the descriptions, the house has to be worth upwards of £2 million. But I enjoyed reading about the house and the gradual unravelling of the family history.
April 26, 2017
Overall I enjoyed this story though it took me ages to read it for some reason. Sophia's story was interesting and sad and I wanted to know how things turned out for her. I enjoyed the history elements and scenes in the Bodleian library.
February 6, 2020
An engaging novel which would have been excellent if it hadn't left me wondering what happened next. Beautifully balanced with characters one could only wish to meet.
October 7, 2016
I won The House of Birds via Goodreads after putting my name into the hat basically only because the author is reasonably local to me. Morgan McCarthy is a fantatic writer, a real wordsmith; she can paint a scene with words and delineate a character so well you feel you almost know them.
This book is a story within a story, and that works very well although I did feel that the historical characters were much more real, as was their situation. I did not bond with Oliver, Kate or Lena in the same way, they seemed much more two dimensional in comparison.
As mentioned McCarthy has a real gift for words but at times I did feel it was slightly over done with similes etc.
It is a beautiful book but I did not find it compelling, at least not until I reached the surprise twist at the end and then I was left wanting more.
I will be looking out for other novels by this author and would suggest that if you think you'd like a modern day Jane Austen that you do the same.
This book is a story within a story, and that works very well although I did feel that the historical characters were much more real, as was their situation. I did not bond with Oliver, Kate or Lena in the same way, they seemed much more two dimensional in comparison.
As mentioned McCarthy has a real gift for words but at times I did feel it was slightly over done with similes etc.
It is a beautiful book but I did not find it compelling, at least not until I reached the surprise twist at the end and then I was left wanting more.
I will be looking out for other novels by this author and would suggest that if you think you'd like a modern day Jane Austen that you do the same.
December 7, 2016
Although this story was beautifully written I did feel that it was too slow moving. I didn't really like any of the characters but enjoyed the revealing of the 'past' storyline and the connections to the present. My interest waivered in the mid section of the book but picked up again towards the end.
October 24, 2016
Absolutely incredible. I did't want this book to end. I can definitely see it being a re-read in future and a Christmas gift for my friends and family!
See my full review at www.coffeeandtrainspotting.wordpress.com
See my full review at www.coffeeandtrainspotting.wordpress.com
July 15, 2017
Within the beautiful cover of this book resides a dual-narrative tale; told alternately by Oliver (third person, present day) and Sophia (first person, via her 1920s diary).
Returning to the city of his birth, Oxford, for the first time in many years; Oliver finds himself inside the ‘house of birds’; previously owned by his girlfriend Kate’s aunt and the subject of an ongoing family feud between the Castles and the Calverts. On her aunt’s death; Kate inherits the house, and Oliver offers to project manage the renovations for her.
Oliver has held a fascination for the house since he was young, and climbed up some wisteria to get a glance in to a bedroom in an attempt to impress an equally young Kate. Staring through a bedroom window, he sees a beautifully intricate wallpaper of exotic birds; which sticks with him and which can also be found decorating the book cover.
Over the course of the renovations, as he tries to clear through the excess of belonging cluttering up the house, Oliver discovers ‘An Alternative History of the House of Hanover’, a personal history written by the mysterious Sophia Louis. Over the course of her history, we are presented with a detailed, absorbing and all-encompassing image of life in post-World War I Britain – in particular, the lives of women. She tells of a world in which she cannot legally enter the Bodleian library without a Fellow of the University, or a letter from one; and a time in which the right for women to study was granted too late for her to take advantage of it. Inquisitive, intelligent, and vastly knowledgeable of history; we feel her absolute frustration with a world controlled by men. Where, as Sophia testifies:
“The courts were for men: a place where there was no rape within marriage, where a wife’s murder was considered manslaughter, where the Sex Disqualification Removal Act failed to help the sixty-three female teachers in Wales, sacked because they were married.”
Sophia’s narrated sections are extremely detailed, evoking 1920s period details with beautiful precision; down to the tiles on the floor of her house. We are introduced to many characters over her history – her sister Boll, the complete antithesis of Sophia; utterly anti-feminist and shuddering at the thought that her daughter Daphne may have to work as a teacher when she grows up. Sophia’s husband George, returned from the war shell-shocked and an empty mirror image of his former self, depicts the way that the war affected families, husbands, wives.
As a reader, we are completely drawn into Sophia’s world – although Oliver is reading her history from present-day; her experiences, thoughts and troubles feel much more real, more pressing, than Oliver’s, though he is struggling with the feud and a strained relationship with Kate.
I found The House of Birds reminiscent of The Historian (but without the undead!) an engaging read; and a perfect balance of history and literary fiction.
Returning to the city of his birth, Oxford, for the first time in many years; Oliver finds himself inside the ‘house of birds’; previously owned by his girlfriend Kate’s aunt and the subject of an ongoing family feud between the Castles and the Calverts. On her aunt’s death; Kate inherits the house, and Oliver offers to project manage the renovations for her.
Oliver has held a fascination for the house since he was young, and climbed up some wisteria to get a glance in to a bedroom in an attempt to impress an equally young Kate. Staring through a bedroom window, he sees a beautifully intricate wallpaper of exotic birds; which sticks with him and which can also be found decorating the book cover.
Over the course of the renovations, as he tries to clear through the excess of belonging cluttering up the house, Oliver discovers ‘An Alternative History of the House of Hanover’, a personal history written by the mysterious Sophia Louis. Over the course of her history, we are presented with a detailed, absorbing and all-encompassing image of life in post-World War I Britain – in particular, the lives of women. She tells of a world in which she cannot legally enter the Bodleian library without a Fellow of the University, or a letter from one; and a time in which the right for women to study was granted too late for her to take advantage of it. Inquisitive, intelligent, and vastly knowledgeable of history; we feel her absolute frustration with a world controlled by men. Where, as Sophia testifies:
“The courts were for men: a place where there was no rape within marriage, where a wife’s murder was considered manslaughter, where the Sex Disqualification Removal Act failed to help the sixty-three female teachers in Wales, sacked because they were married.”
Sophia’s narrated sections are extremely detailed, evoking 1920s period details with beautiful precision; down to the tiles on the floor of her house. We are introduced to many characters over her history – her sister Boll, the complete antithesis of Sophia; utterly anti-feminist and shuddering at the thought that her daughter Daphne may have to work as a teacher when she grows up. Sophia’s husband George, returned from the war shell-shocked and an empty mirror image of his former self, depicts the way that the war affected families, husbands, wives.
As a reader, we are completely drawn into Sophia’s world – although Oliver is reading her history from present-day; her experiences, thoughts and troubles feel much more real, more pressing, than Oliver’s, though he is struggling with the feud and a strained relationship with Kate.
I found The House of Birds reminiscent of The Historian (but without the undead!) an engaging read; and a perfect balance of history and literary fiction.
March 21, 2018
I do enjoy a dual timeline read, there is something enthralling about reading a book where the past and the present collide. Although I enjoyed ‘The House of Birds’ it didn’t quite hit the mark completely for me. There were things I really enjoyed about the book, but it did leave me feeling a little indifferent by the end.
I loved the opening to the story - two young teens, Oliver and Kate, exploring an old house which belongs to Kate’s aunt. Oliver manages to climb up to a window and is greeted with the most stunning room, covered in gorgeous wallpaper depicting forest scenes and birds. He is captivated by what he sees and that enchantment stays with him throughout the book, as we see him and Kate as adults.
Birds are a recurrent theme in this book and I adored the frequent mentions of these winged creatures. They are always mentioned in the scene setting descriptions and one of the characters we meet even runs a bird sanctuary. It was extremely enjoyable spotting the bird appearances! They are a beautiful and wonderful part of nature and Morgan McCarthy has written a book that celebrates that.
I didn’t really warm towards Oliver, who is our main narrator alongside Sophia Louis’ voice from the 1920’s. I can’t tell you why I didn’t warm to him, there isn’t anything I can put my finger on, he just annoyed me. His counterpart, Sophia, is a woman passionate about learning History, she is a woman ahead of her time and her bold attempt to get access to the Bodleian Library immediately made me like her. As Oliver reads her writing and her history is revealed you find yourself wanting to fight alongside her against her husband, her sister and the life that is holding her back.
Overall, I did enjoy the book. The writing is beautiful, the family mystery is intriguing and Sophia’s long forgotten life is fascinating. And the cover is stunning! But I did find myself skim reading a fair bit and for me there was just something lacking. However if you like dual timeline tales, full of mystery and secrets then I do recommend it.
I loved the opening to the story - two young teens, Oliver and Kate, exploring an old house which belongs to Kate’s aunt. Oliver manages to climb up to a window and is greeted with the most stunning room, covered in gorgeous wallpaper depicting forest scenes and birds. He is captivated by what he sees and that enchantment stays with him throughout the book, as we see him and Kate as adults.
Birds are a recurrent theme in this book and I adored the frequent mentions of these winged creatures. They are always mentioned in the scene setting descriptions and one of the characters we meet even runs a bird sanctuary. It was extremely enjoyable spotting the bird appearances! They are a beautiful and wonderful part of nature and Morgan McCarthy has written a book that celebrates that.
I didn’t really warm towards Oliver, who is our main narrator alongside Sophia Louis’ voice from the 1920’s. I can’t tell you why I didn’t warm to him, there isn’t anything I can put my finger on, he just annoyed me. His counterpart, Sophia, is a woman passionate about learning History, she is a woman ahead of her time and her bold attempt to get access to the Bodleian Library immediately made me like her. As Oliver reads her writing and her history is revealed you find yourself wanting to fight alongside her against her husband, her sister and the life that is holding her back.
Overall, I did enjoy the book. The writing is beautiful, the family mystery is intriguing and Sophia’s long forgotten life is fascinating. And the cover is stunning! But I did find myself skim reading a fair bit and for me there was just something lacking. However if you like dual timeline tales, full of mystery and secrets then I do recommend it.
November 2, 2021
This book had so little details on the front or back that I had no idea what to expect. I didn't know if it was a thriller or a romance novel, or if it fell into historical fiction.
The first 50 pages or so were pretty tough going. I had no idea where the book was going and how the characters related or the room with the birds. The fact that the book is split into quite long sections rather than regular chapters also adds to how daunting this book is.
However, I stuck with it and was well rewarded. The book jumps between times and you end up invested in 2 relationships and disappointed when we move from one time to the next. I could really identify with the main male character who is feeling a little lost with life, but didn't know who I wanted him to end up with. I was also heavily invested in the female character from the 1920s, and really felt her pain for how constrained her life was as a female post WWI.
All in all a surprisingly good book and one that I would recommend reading especially if you enjoy historical fiction.
The first 50 pages or so were pretty tough going. I had no idea where the book was going and how the characters related or the room with the birds. The fact that the book is split into quite long sections rather than regular chapters also adds to how daunting this book is.
However, I stuck with it and was well rewarded. The book jumps between times and you end up invested in 2 relationships and disappointed when we move from one time to the next. I could really identify with the main male character who is feeling a little lost with life, but didn't know who I wanted him to end up with. I was also heavily invested in the female character from the 1920s, and really felt her pain for how constrained her life was as a female post WWI.
All in all a surprisingly good book and one that I would recommend reading especially if you enjoy historical fiction.
June 27, 2022
An absolutely exquisite book!
This is a detective story that spans 90 years. When Oliver's girlfriend Kate inherits a house he jumps at the chance of renovating it, and also the opportunity to think of his next move after quitting his job. What he didn't bank on was finding a handwritten diary, an account of Sophia's life in the 20s following the Great War. With family disputes on the go, as well as his own love life, Oliver jumps into finding out what happened to Sophia, and who actually owns the House of Birds.
The characters are well written and you feel an instant connection with Sophia, as well as with Oliver. Kate comes across as a self absorbed yuppie, whilst the Calverts initially seem hardfaced and abrasive. With the journey into Sophia's history comes a softening towards the Calverts and Lena, but Kate still comes across as a bit of a witch. An open ending of sorts that closes enough doors to leave you satisfied whilst allowing the reader to imagine what occurs next, this is a well woven story that deserves your attention.
This is a detective story that spans 90 years. When Oliver's girlfriend Kate inherits a house he jumps at the chance of renovating it, and also the opportunity to think of his next move after quitting his job. What he didn't bank on was finding a handwritten diary, an account of Sophia's life in the 20s following the Great War. With family disputes on the go, as well as his own love life, Oliver jumps into finding out what happened to Sophia, and who actually owns the House of Birds.
The characters are well written and you feel an instant connection with Sophia, as well as with Oliver. Kate comes across as a self absorbed yuppie, whilst the Calverts initially seem hardfaced and abrasive. With the journey into Sophia's history comes a softening towards the Calverts and Lena, but Kate still comes across as a bit of a witch. An open ending of sorts that closes enough doors to leave you satisfied whilst allowing the reader to imagine what occurs next, this is a well woven story that deserves your attention.
July 2, 2017
I picked up The House of Birds for free as part of my ticket to the Emerald Street Literary Festival in London last month. I'd heard nothing about it so didn't know what to expect but I was intrigued by what was on the cover - A Feud, A Lie, A Death, A Life Re-written.
Oliver Mittel finds the diary of Sophie Louis while overseeing renovations at the Oxford house that his girlfriend has inherited. Sophie's story of life in 1920's Oxford captivates Oliver, compelling him to solve the mystery of her disappearance and to evaluate his own choices in life. The story moves backwards and forwards between Sophie's and Oliver's worlds beautifully and builds steadily to the big reveal at the end. Essentially the more I read, the more difficult it became to put it down. A fabulously addictive read.
Oliver Mittel finds the diary of Sophie Louis while overseeing renovations at the Oxford house that his girlfriend has inherited. Sophie's story of life in 1920's Oxford captivates Oliver, compelling him to solve the mystery of her disappearance and to evaluate his own choices in life. The story moves backwards and forwards between Sophie's and Oliver's worlds beautifully and builds steadily to the big reveal at the end. Essentially the more I read, the more difficult it became to put it down. A fabulously addictive read.
March 5, 2019
This book is divided in two narratives, a diary written by a woman who lived in the 1920s and a contemporary story about the guy who discovers the diary. The first is really good and fascinating, especially because the main character is so interesting. The second is much weaker, with the character of Oliver not particularly well defined. In an interview included in this edition, the author explains that she did not want to make Oliver into a sympathetic character, which may be why he is not working as well as the diarist. Still, it is perfectly possible to write about characters who are not very likeable but who are nonetheless interesting. Oliver is very much a bore and the parts of the books about him rather shallow.
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