Hyacinth

by Will Cox

Hyacinth asks Richard about the people in the house. Has he seen them too?

When she, Richard, and Sheridan first moved into this house, decades previously, Hyacinth had the notion that there was an old couple still living there. She never saw them, but she felt them, in the air, behind her, around corners. There was never a feeling of solitude. There was always somebody else there. Eventually, the old people left. Or perhaps Hyacinth just became accustomed to filtering them out, like the low hiss of a detuned radio.

Now, she is worried they’ve returned. She feels echoes around her, feels breath. Feels the somethingness of a presence in the room.

Hyacinth is a book about grief, interconnectedness and keeping up appearances.

120 pages, Paperback

First published February 10, 2023

Reviews

[Tundra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quirky little book that builds a series of events surrounding Hyacinth Bucket’s family (from the British TV sitcom) into a story of her life. Why is she desperate for recognition and connection with the ‘right’ people? What is her family backstory? And what is the deal with her son - whom you never see in the TV series? Some moments to chuckle at and some mysterious magical realism.

[Chiel Groeneveld · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best things one read in a long time. It reads like the cast of Keeping Up Appearances is living in the Twilight Zone.
Hyacinth reimagined in a Gothic Horror setting and it gets better by the episodic chapters in this novella.

[Liam McMahon · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is the reading equivalent of what I imagine the Willy Wonka boat ride was like.

[Viv · Rating 5 out of 5]

haunting and surreal and hilarious and upsetting all at the same time, it is high key bourdieusian and I love it (fyi I have not seen the show!)

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deranged, in the best possible way. Bravo.

[Anastasia Klasen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books that I’ve read in a long time!!

[Phoebe Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, loved it.
Poetic but immensely readable (and a quick read which is always nice). Wry & funny, in a surreal visual ''can I offer you an egg in this trying time?" Way.
Sometimes grotesque, but not in a way where it seems like the author hates their readers. Actually just shines with tenderness and love for these silly characters and their little lives and desires.
I haven't seen the show and it didn't matter btw.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

i promised myself i’d review this honestly and it is so wonderfully GOOD i’m almost annoyed about it

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memory is what unites the surrealist episodes of this book into a cohesive whole. It’s a book that was, at least to me, about the non-linear nature of time, of the past and how it can be embodied by place. How it haunts the future. It had the right amount of heart to match its experimental nature to keep me attached to its characters. I will admit it took me a little what to get absorbed into the world but once I was in I was in.

[Flynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
Very strange little book of disturbing vignettes that were quick and enjoyable despite never having seen the show it's based off :))

[ruben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sticky like honey. Sweet. Sickly. I wish I had more.

[Zacharia Caporale · Rating 4 out of 5]

It gets an extra star because of how lovely textured the book is. A fun time for me, I’d like to watch the show and reread again.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

took less than an hour to read, absolute scatterbrained genius. will be doing some avid googling this evening. loved it tho

[jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was like if Mrs Dalloway was written by Camilla Grudova - in the best way possible!

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay but why did this little book about Hyacinth Bucket have me SOBBING on my couch on a Thursday night and then immediately call my mum to tell her how good it was.

I came across this book completely by chance, on the little book swap trolley at my workplace and I’m so glad I did!

How Will Cox manages to balance humour and heart so seamlessly and make me care so much about the protagonist in such a short little story is truly impressive. Now I’m off to buy another copy and force everyone in my life to read it.

[Jessica Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cabin fever, forgot your meds, fever dream of a novella about loneliness, waiting, wanting and grief. I loved it.

[ultrosealia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark psychedelic like retelling of the old show keeping up appearances (you don't need to be familiar with the show to enjoy this read). 

The writing in this book is good - imaginative and visually inspiring but also sharp and to the point. 

I picked this book up on a whim because the cover is beautiful, and I am glad I did. I will pick up the next book I see from the author for sure. 

[Chrystyphyr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I loved this!
It’s a surrealist novel told in page long vignettes but it draws from a British sitcom for its characters and events so it’s like a dark twisted dreamy reflection of a totally mediocre and innocuous piece of media?! I love it so much just for how weird it is.

There was also bee imagery. I LOVE BEE IMAGERY.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a delightfully strange book, so fascinating. Probably not the point, but found myself quite distressed about how unkind I am to the people who remind me of the Bucket's and now I'm haunted by that too.

[Catherine Fenech · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was simply unable to put it down, wonderfully funny and perfectly haunting

[Grace Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. So strange and not at all what I was expecting, but beautifully written and finished in 1 sitting (although it is shorter than what I was expecting as well)

[Susie Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

a gothic reinterpretation of Keeping up Appearances. why not?

[Sabrina Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surreal and strange, yet grounded and compelling!! Unlike much I’ve ever read before, and yet it felt familiar! A conundrum of a book, in the best way :)

[Sar Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

99% sure that was just a fever dream

[Airy Angeles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the poetic aspect of the book as it shows how the characters grieve and their little quirky habits. I didn't know that this book was about a show. As someone who has never watched it, I still enjoyed the book.