The Handmade House : A Love Story Set in Concrete

by Geraldine Bedell

"We didn't intend to build a house. We just wanted to move - somewhere a bit bigger, with more of a commonplace enough ambitions, especially for families with young children, especially in Britain, where property is wealth, and so, in some vague and unexamined sense, identity. Not that we were thinking about anything like that." The true and very funny story of how journalist, Geraldine Bedell and her husband Charlie Leadbeater, with no savings and no knowledge of architecture nearly make themselves bankrupt in an attempt to build their dream home. Far more than that, it's about the ultimate fantasy - creating your own made to measure living space. The Handmade House tells the story, alternately comical and horrifying, of one family's ambitious and inept attempt to build the perfect home.

Hardcover

First published May 25, 2006

Reviews

[Nadia Zeemeeuw · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read which most probably talked me out of building a house ever, at least not until I would have more than twice money needed for this.
Must say this edition is absolutely terrible, the font is way too tiny and there is no single picture of the house itself here which is weird considering this is nonfiction exactly about building this very house. Thank goodness we live in times of internet.

[Cyndi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this might have been more funny if I had an understanding of how property is bought and sold in England. It also kind of just ran out at the end. But there were some exceptionally funny parts and it was quite realistic about the experience of building (or renovating) a house.

[Sarah-Jayne Windridge-France · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very personal insight into building a house.

Possibly one of the most stressful books that I've read and I would most definitely not build a house because of it.

Worth a read if you're thinking of building a house!

[Jeremy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked it enough to keep it, for now, but it will be the first to go when I next run out of shelf space. Stressful, interesting, sometimes funny, very much ran out at the end (as another person said). Also, it needs pictures!

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute, personal, intimate, revealing. imagine bridget jones building a house. in a good way.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable glimpses into an intensely personal and stressful journey. Exciting and terrifying in equal measure.