The House on the Hill

by Susan Duncan

The third memoir from the author of bestsellers Salvation Creek and The House at Salvation Creek.The third memoir from the author of bestsellers Salvation Creek and The House at Salvation Creek. In The House on the Hill, Susan Duncan reaches an age where there’s no point in sweating long-term ramifications. There aren’t any. This new understanding delivers an unexpected bonus – the emotional freedom and moral clarity to admit to hidden and often fiendish facts of ageing and, ultimately, the find ways to embrace them. This, in turn, unleashes an overwhelming desire to confront her intractable 95-year-old mother with the dreadful secrets of the past before it is too late, no matter the consequences. It is the not-knowing, she says, that does untold damage. Interwoven with stories from the land – building a sustainable eco-house on the mid-coast of New South Wales with her engineer husband, Bob, and grappling with white-eyed roans, dogs, bawling cattle markets, droughts and flooding rains, not to mention blunt-speaking locals – this is a book about a mother and daughter coming to terms, however uneasy, with the awful forces that shaped their relationship.As the inconstancies of age slow her down, Susan Duncan writes with honesty about discovery and forgiveness, and what it takes to rework shrinking boundaries into a new and rich life.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Biography Memoir

368 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Susan Elizabeth Duncan was an Australian author, journalist and editor of The Australian Women's Weekly and New Idea.

Reviews

[Sue Gerhardt Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook

Just as enjoyable and interesting as Susan Duncan’s first two memoirs. My favourite part though was the description of the authors move to the country, something hubby and I are contemplating as it’s hubbies dream to own some land however, it’s too hard to leave the beautiful Wollongong area - we have the best of everything here.

[Fiona Lowe]

I've listened to all three of Susan Duncan's memoirs over a two month period, with Susan narrating. I was struck in the first book, when Susan was still in her forties, that she was lamenting old age and believe fear of ageing has been something she has battled with for a long time. I am so glad she has Bob, 8 years older than her, to keep her young. That said, I can totally relate to reversing cars wearing multifocals...

I enjoyed all three but Salvation Creek is my standout favourite.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that will go into my shelves as one that changes my life. At exactly the right time, Susan Duncan was able to give the most insightful descriptions of the "in-between" years - old enough that things don't work properly, but not old enough to sit and wait. For those trying to walk the balance beam of that time, this book is a revelation. Juxtaposed with her mother's undeniable old age (which her mother does actually deny), I finally found someone whose turmoil about ageing matches my inner disquiet.

After bookmarking page after page in the first quarter, to show my loved ones what this stage of life feels like, the book eases gently into a slightly different direction. You could say there are three basic themes: stepping on from middle age and where to go next; making a risky tree-change; and, what happens to relationships that are tangled up with secrets too awful to be expressed. Susan Duncan skilfully winds the three strands together, so that the reader is taken along a path where each theme leads to decisions in the next. The questions of ageing lead to a life-changing move of locality, and both impact and are impacted by Susan's mother's distorted view of reality and seemingly illogical actions.

This was an un-put-downable book for me. I loved Salvation Creek, and was interested in the sequel, but this book, The House on the Hill, was something special and I won't forget it in a hurry.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Susan Duncan in her third memoir, The House on the Hill, describes her and Bob's transition from sea-change (Life on 'hill' at Pittwater) to tree-change (buying and building a sustainable modern farmhouse on top of a hill with glorious views and working farm) interspersed with her fraught relationship with her indomitable mother, Esther, and the baggage from the past.

As in her previous memoir Salvation Creek, Duncan writes beautiful descriptive prose which immersed me into the settings and moment. She also writes with a raw honesty and humour.

It's always hard when we have one side of the story which is loaded with the disappointments and wounds of the past. And forgiving our parents for not being perfect provides maturity and peace of mind (though doesn't always heal a difficult relationship), and perhaps the forgiving becomes easier when we become parents ourselves, and realise both the depth of the bond, the impossibility of being perfect despite all our best intentions. Difficult relationships often bring out the worst in us, and it becomes a chicken and egg cycle. Not easy to deal with.
I admire Susan Duncan's bravery to bare her soul and speak about the past both to her mother and her reading public and to work towards a different future.
A worthwhile read, both for it descriptions of Pittwater and the Farm, as well as Duncan’s relational journey.

[Donna Martin Close · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book and glad to be part of Susan's healing process. After putting my feet into Susan's shoes, I believe writing this book is the start to Susan's 'new' beginnings. I don't believe Esther didn't know her father was abusing Susan. Esther is not a conventional, caring, nurturing mother! Perhaps these traits are common after suffering at the hand of an abusive father. Mothers are generally intuitive and know when their children are in danger and frightened by something. Susan's decision to move to Pittswater; meeting Bob and living between the sea and the country was meant to be. I'm not sure whether I could have rocked up every week for another dose of Esther! I'm sure Esther loves Susan deep down but I wonder whether their disjointed relationship is based on Esther's jealousy of sharing her father with Susan. As sick as it sounds!

[Tracy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry but I dumped this.

I absolutely loved the first two books and was so looking forward to this one but after the first two chapters I wanted to slit my wrists.

The carry on about old age and all the terrible things that happen to you as you age was so depressing. I find it difficult enough to cope with lost youth without someone going on and on about it.

Maybe if I kept up with the book it would have gotten better but by the fourth chapter I could see it wasn’t going to be an enjoyable read for me.

The mother’s story was twisted in there as well but it still didn’t hold my interest.

My only regret is that I won’t find out what the big secret is.

Disappointing overall

[Bronwyn Hegarty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This must have been a hard story for the author to write. Several themes emerge here: aging, life changes, caring for elderly parents, resentments and unspoken secrets. It was very easy to read and enjoyable with an interesting plot. I could identify with a lot of the themes but I couldn't for the life of me at one point understand the reason for taking up cattle farming. These people need challenges in their lives it appears to be fulfilled, and this was extreme. The author has had a well explored life and the book is to be recommended.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Regrettably DNF. I read the first half then skimmed the rest. I borrowed this book as I wanted to read the story as reflected in the title 'The House On The Hill'. The story in fact related almost entirely to the author's relationship with her Mother and to a lesser extent with her husband. I am sure this is an excellent book should 'relationships' be of interest to you. My preference are for the author's first two books which were undoubtedly five star.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was obviously written on the heel of The Silence of the Lamb's popularity as the two main characters try and imitate that vibe. It doesn't quite have the same dynamic, especially because it seems like Quinn unnecessarily baits her villain at times.

Otherwise, it was wonderfully suspenseful. The story doesn't go for the obvious guesses on the kidnapping story. The two plots don't tie together very well, but the kidnapping story is still enthralling.

[Fraser McMartin · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book I’ve read by this author - I thought overall it was a good story, definitely preferred the first half of the story to the second half, the end was rather drawn out I felt. Overall I’d recommend it if you like cat & mouse / kidnap crime thrillers, I will be reading more of her work in the future

[The Gov-ness · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book more than once. I have to say it is a really good book, suspensefull.

[Martha Lluch · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is perfectly set, the plot really interesting... And all of a sudden, the book ends. Not cool

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book but really it should not have been stretched over 400 pages for as little happened in the story.

[Jen Jurss · Rating 4 out of 5]

The darkest of her memoirs yet for obvious reasons. A brave, truthful exploration of telling the truth about family child abuse. Really touching and wonderful

[Christa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my third book by Susan Duncan. I loved her Salvation Creek memoir and her novel about Pittwater, but I didn’t really want to read another one of her books. But a fellow reader recommended it and so I got sucked into reading about her move to the Manning Valley near Taree where she and her husband built The House on the Hill.

This memoir turned out to be an enjoyable read. I liked Duncan’s honesty about getting older and especially what happens to women’s bodies as they age. It also described the difficult relationship Duncan has had with her mother and the physical abuse she received from the grandfather.

I especially loved the conclusion of the book where Duncan writes that the decision to move to a new adventure in becoming a landowner and semi farmer has taught her “never to stop learning, which at our age is a rare gift and saves us time and again from falling into the trap of heckling from the fence.”

[Cathryn Wellner · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is no way to sugarcoat aging and still write honestly, but Susan Duncan is not just dealing with her own slide into that last chapter. She is also dealing with a stubborn, intractable mother. Being somewhere between their two ages, I found myself wondering what the story would sound like if told from her mother's perspective. But that's not an option, and Duncan is a skilled and candid writer. So I followed her willingly along the path she trod, dealing with her own and her mother's fading years. Everyone's experience differs, but reading of others' journeys sheds light on the rocky path.

[Jennifer C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark underlying subject matter treated fairly - her mother is spared no remorse, and deservedly so. I enjoyed the country building storyline as I used to live both there and on Pittwater, where they left.

[Sharon Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with Susan Duncan, this is a brilliant read. It is challenging but it is real. A wonderful addition to her memoirs. Totally recommend. The added bonus was listening to Susan Duncan read her own story.

[Di · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read

[Sheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did not enjoy this as much as the first two - found it a bit drawn out, even repetitive.

[Abby Nancarrow grimshaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Susan Duncan is a very good descriptive writer. Out of the three books I think the first is the best. Reading this book makes me not want to get old but unfortunately we cannot help that.

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was easy to read but revealing in parts. It covered many different themes. Lifestyle changes, ageing, secrets, guilt. As far as memoirs go this wasn’t too bad.

[Sally Pratt · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the way Susan Duncan tells her stories. Another interesting chapter.
She never does things be half!
Looking forward to her three novels next!

[Tracey Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book was a slow read as I’m used to murder mystery, but did enjoy the look into mother daughter relationship. Close to home.

[Christine Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

read most of Susan Duncan's books. Light pleasurable reading. I live on a small island so can really relate to the goings on at Scotland Island

[Alayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable read by Susan Duncan, author of Salvation Creek and The House at Salvation Creek. This was even more interesting to me as she and her husband have moved to near where I live myself, and I know the area well.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, got involved in the storyline and outcomes. Found descriptions of food too detailed but not enough detail about people. Some of the parts with Esther felt drawn out but a brave recoding of abuse and the effect on generations.

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good page turner about a serial killer who is out on parole due to a technicality and living in an old formerly abandoned house near an upscale inn and restaurant. An eleven-year-old girl who resides at the inn with her family suddenly turns up missing and of course the focus is on the killer living close by. But did the girl get abducted or did she simply run away? And if she was abducted, is the serial killer the culprit or is it someone else. This one keeps you guessing but I think I had it figured out about midway through the novel. I would mostly recommend this as a good thriller with a Hannibal Lecter-like villain but there was one loose end that was never clarified. I won't give away details of this because it would be a spoiler; however, this did distract slightly from the story for me.

[Jennifer Rolfe · Rating 3 out of 5]

No reviews posted yet!! Thought there was a lot of detail in the doing of things but would have enjoyed more insight into the decision making and into the relationship dynamics, especially into the mother/daughter one. Felt that it would have been really helpful to understand Susan's desire to maintain the toxic relationship with her mother.