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irrellievancy's review
5.0
Anna is an outstanding writer, creating the sensation of overstimulation, worlds and families real and surreal. Despite the sad subject matter, The Paper House is beautiful, hopeful and healing.
jessicaleeparker's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
inexorablist's review
5.0
In [b:The Paper House|29482972|The Paper House|Anna Spargo-Ryan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1462784860s/29482972.jpg|49763895], [a:Anna Spargo-Ryan|12848335|Anna Spargo-Ryan|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1465384641p2/12848335.jpg] explores the intricacies of family, grief, mental illness, and what happens when all three of these combine in an unexplainable, incomprehensible manner. Heather, Spargo-Ryan's protagonist, suffers an incredible loss at the beginning of the novel, and before long, we are swept up on a journey that looks forwards, backwards, and most importantly, inside Hannah's very being.
The Paper House is brimming with characters, but they don't overwhelm each other, or encroach on anyone else's space. There is Dave, Heather's husband, a school teacher who shares in Heather's grief - albeit in a different manner. There is Fleur, Heather's older sister - strong willed, brash, with a heart of gold. There is Bruce, Hannah's father, and Shelley, Hannah's mother, whose interactions have shaped the ways in which Heather sees the world.
And then there is Sylvia, the kind natured old lady who lives down the road, who bakes cookies and makes Christmas roasts; Rupert, the owner of the local store; Ashlok and his dog, Harriet, and of course, Noel, a figure of wonder, mystery, and wisdom in his own right. These characters all wind in and out of each others' lives, wreaking havoc and bringing joy in their own unique ways. The magic of Spargo-Ryan's writing allows you to identify with at least one of her characters, regardless of your background or life experience.
This slew of characters forms a misshapen kind of family. This family, though rickety and creaking at the beginning of the novel, comes together in a haphazard way, pieces of a jigsaw that don't quite fit - but pieces that eventually begin to figure out how they can work together. Spargo-Ryan explores the difficulties and joys of such a family by craftinh a narrative that is loud and quiet, all at the same time. There is a sharp insightfulness in her depictions of mental illness (in whatever form it may be) not only on the sufferer, but also on those around them. The Paper House will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will make you smile to yourself with that tinge of recognition - and most of all, it will provide you with a story that will stay with you, long after you have turned the last page.
The Paper House is brimming with characters, but they don't overwhelm each other, or encroach on anyone else's space. There is Dave, Heather's husband, a school teacher who shares in Heather's grief - albeit in a different manner. There is Fleur, Heather's older sister - strong willed, brash, with a heart of gold. There is Bruce, Hannah's father, and Shelley, Hannah's mother, whose interactions have shaped the ways in which Heather sees the world.
And then there is Sylvia, the kind natured old lady who lives down the road, who bakes cookies and makes Christmas roasts; Rupert, the owner of the local store; Ashlok and his dog, Harriet, and of course, Noel, a figure of wonder, mystery, and wisdom in his own right. These characters all wind in and out of each others' lives, wreaking havoc and bringing joy in their own unique ways. The magic of Spargo-Ryan's writing allows you to identify with at least one of her characters, regardless of your background or life experience.
This slew of characters forms a misshapen kind of family. This family, though rickety and creaking at the beginning of the novel, comes together in a haphazard way, pieces of a jigsaw that don't quite fit - but pieces that eventually begin to figure out how they can work together. Spargo-Ryan explores the difficulties and joys of such a family by craftinh a narrative that is loud and quiet, all at the same time. There is a sharp insightfulness in her depictions of mental illness (in whatever form it may be) not only on the sufferer, but also on those around them. The Paper House will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will make you smile to yourself with that tinge of recognition - and most of all, it will provide you with a story that will stay with you, long after you have turned the last page.
gisellenguyen's review
5.0
I wish I could wrap myself in the poetry of this book. It is exquisitely written - so many sentences I could live in - and the story is desperately sad, but also somehow hopeful. A really beautiful read.
wtb_michael's review
4.0
A heartbreaking story of grief, and the way things reverbrate across generations. Spargo-Ryan writes beautifully, with surprising metaphors and a knack for drawing whole characters with just a few well chosen scenes.
emilypaull's review
5.0
Ever since Anna Spargo-Ryan popped up on my Twitter radar sometime early last year, I have been dying to read her debut novel, and now I finally have! Aside from its gorgeous cover, this book features some of the most glorious, original, beautiful prose I have ever had the pleasure of reading, and I can say now that The Paper House was certainly worth the wait.
The book follows Heather and Dave, who find themselves the perfect house and begin preparing for the new life and their new family there. But when tragedy strikes, everything about this new life becomes unfamiliar to Heather. Her whole family is worried about her; her rough, unsentimental sister, Fleur, who takes time off from her farm to come and stay with them; her father, who turns up at the door in a florid Hawaiian shirt; Dave, who is sweet and charming and perfect and in many ways has to subvert his own grief in order to support Heather through hers. As Heather navigates a phase of her life she'd never had to plan for, her new home wraps itself around her. Meanwhile, old memories begin to play in her mind.
While the story of this novel is deeply moving, it was the sheer brilliance and originality of the writing style that had me dumbstruck as I raced through. Each metaphor, each description, was stark and dazzling and beautiful. I am equal parts inspired by Spargo-Ryan's writing and depressed that I will probably never be able to achieve this in my own work. I don't think that there is anyone out there who writes quite the way she does, and I mean this as the highest compliment.
Add to this that The Paper House takes an issue that in many ways could be categorised as an issue for 'women's fiction' and makes it literary and universal and magical, and I think she has accomplished something amazing. There has been a lot of talk lately about middlebrow books, and I think The Paper House has well and truly found its place alongside other novels that some have classified as such, but are in fact wonderful masterpieces of the Australian literary fiction scene, books like The Other Side of the World by Stephanie Bishop and Lost and Found by Brooke Davis. I'm no fortune teller, but I definitely see prize shortlistings in this book's future.
To those readers who are put off by how sad the premise of this book seems, I urge you to overcome that and allow this remarkable book to take you through a myriad of emotions. Heather and Dave's journey is sad, yes, but it is a book that deserves to be read and read and reread until the book's beautiful covers crumble and fall off.
This is truly a stunning debut and I cannot wait to see more from this rising Australian star.
I gave it five stars but only because that's as high as goodreads would let me.
The book follows Heather and Dave, who find themselves the perfect house and begin preparing for the new life and their new family there. But when tragedy strikes, everything about this new life becomes unfamiliar to Heather. Her whole family is worried about her; her rough, unsentimental sister, Fleur, who takes time off from her farm to come and stay with them; her father, who turns up at the door in a florid Hawaiian shirt; Dave, who is sweet and charming and perfect and in many ways has to subvert his own grief in order to support Heather through hers. As Heather navigates a phase of her life she'd never had to plan for, her new home wraps itself around her. Meanwhile, old memories begin to play in her mind.
While the story of this novel is deeply moving, it was the sheer brilliance and originality of the writing style that had me dumbstruck as I raced through. Each metaphor, each description, was stark and dazzling and beautiful. I am equal parts inspired by Spargo-Ryan's writing and depressed that I will probably never be able to achieve this in my own work. I don't think that there is anyone out there who writes quite the way she does, and I mean this as the highest compliment.
Add to this that The Paper House takes an issue that in many ways could be categorised as an issue for 'women's fiction' and makes it literary and universal and magical, and I think she has accomplished something amazing. There has been a lot of talk lately about middlebrow books, and I think The Paper House has well and truly found its place alongside other novels that some have classified as such, but are in fact wonderful masterpieces of the Australian literary fiction scene, books like The Other Side of the World by Stephanie Bishop and Lost and Found by Brooke Davis. I'm no fortune teller, but I definitely see prize shortlistings in this book's future.
To those readers who are put off by how sad the premise of this book seems, I urge you to overcome that and allow this remarkable book to take you through a myriad of emotions. Heather and Dave's journey is sad, yes, but it is a book that deserves to be read and read and reread until the book's beautiful covers crumble and fall off.
This is truly a stunning debut and I cannot wait to see more from this rising Australian star.
I gave it five stars but only because that's as high as goodreads would let me.
kali's review
4.0
The Paper House is about stories. The old stories we tell ourselves: how it’s easy to blame the parents for who we are, how we think our needs should be met, and how we came to be the way we are. The stories of the hopes and dreams and expectations of a life. Stories which might not actually serve our needs. But to release these stories, to step out into the world facing tragedy and joy and whatever will be will be, and allowing those who travel beside us into and out of our lives, is the bravest option.
Read more of my review: https://kalinapier.wordpress.com/2016/07/08/the-paper-house-book-review/
Read more of my review: https://kalinapier.wordpress.com/2016/07/08/the-paper-house-book-review/
listeningtolit's review
5.0
I held off giving this review until I could get my thoughts in order. This book was such a triumph of perfectly imperfect characters and captivating prose that I feel I owe it some contemplation and deliberation before summing up my thoughts.
I loved this book. I am an audio-book girl but I dutifully downloaded the e-book version and stole minutes from my day to be alone with the words. It felt like extra effort, and it was, as usually I let a novel wash over me as I drive, fold laundry, stack the dishwasher and move through life. I had to be still while I read this one, and I think that was a good thing.
Heather and Dave had a relationship that rung true in so many ways. This is what I loved about the book. Everything was inescapably real. The voices of the characters, the thoughts of Heather, the way Sylvia entered their reality and Heather interacted with her sister and her Dad.
It was Australian without being trite or too deprecating. It was filled with the most beautifully haunting passages that would be followed by heart achingly comedic ones.
I feel like I learnt a lot from this book. I was immersed in the world of Heather and Dave's loss and their garden and Heather's break-down. I sat with her on the old couch on their veranda and was with her when she drew in her sketchbook. Everyone was like someone I had known before and loved and who had also pissed me off at some point.
This is a book I wouldn't usually have read. Stories about loss scare me. They make me think of ugly crying and emotional manipulation. I'm just so glad I took a chance on this one and managed to see it for what it was - a book about loss, about dealing with life, about enduring relationships, about love and about being gentle with yourself. It wasn't all doom and gloom and tears on pillows. It was a celebration of coming through the other side.
And I absolutely loved it.
I loved this book. I am an audio-book girl but I dutifully downloaded the e-book version and stole minutes from my day to be alone with the words. It felt like extra effort, and it was, as usually I let a novel wash over me as I drive, fold laundry, stack the dishwasher and move through life. I had to be still while I read this one, and I think that was a good thing.
Heather and Dave had a relationship that rung true in so many ways. This is what I loved about the book. Everything was inescapably real. The voices of the characters, the thoughts of Heather, the way Sylvia entered their reality and Heather interacted with her sister and her Dad.
It was Australian without being trite or too deprecating. It was filled with the most beautifully haunting passages that would be followed by heart achingly comedic ones.
I feel like I learnt a lot from this book. I was immersed in the world of Heather and Dave's loss and their garden and Heather's break-down. I sat with her on the old couch on their veranda and was with her when she drew in her sketchbook. Everyone was like someone I had known before and loved and who had also pissed me off at some point.
This is a book I wouldn't usually have read. Stories about loss scare me. They make me think of ugly crying and emotional manipulation. I'm just so glad I took a chance on this one and managed to see it for what it was - a book about loss, about dealing with life, about enduring relationships, about love and about being gentle with yourself. It wasn't all doom and gloom and tears on pillows. It was a celebration of coming through the other side.
And I absolutely loved it.
zoenosis's review
2.0
I teared up a little on the final page. Beautifully written book with an elegant and simple storyline that drifts between present, past and fantasy. As a Melbournian I also appreciated the local flavour.
While it was beautiful, I'm not sure I would read it again. I found the portrayal of the men/women, carer/cared-for dynamics a little bit off and odd. All of the main female characters in this book (Heather, Fleur, their mum and Sylvia) are all cared for as a focus of the novel (i.e. we only interact with these women when they require care), and men are their primary carers, either as sons, husbands, fathers or lovers. I found this divide between what the men in the book were doing and what the women were doing to be really harsh and confronting, and I don't think it reflected that well on the ability of these women to have agency or be complex people. Normally in a book, I am fine with a few characters being the same, but here it seemed overwhelming without a counterpoint/contrasting character or two.
It is especially hard to stomach because the archetypal 'woman' presented here is just lots of women being burdens on their families, who moan about how awful the women are for being ill. If we were able to see some equal sharing of care tasks between partners, or some more equal distribution of care needs between the genders, I think it would have been a more complex narrative about the nature of illness and caregiving. As it was, I felt it was a bit one note.
While it was beautiful, I'm not sure I would read it again. I found the portrayal of the men/women, carer/cared-for dynamics a little bit off and odd. All of the main female characters in this book (Heather, Fleur, their mum and Sylvia) are all cared for as a focus of the novel (i.e. we only interact with these women when they require care), and men are their primary carers, either as sons, husbands, fathers or lovers. I found this divide between what the men in the book were doing and what the women were doing to be really harsh and confronting, and I don't think it reflected that well on the ability of these women to have agency or be complex people. Normally in a book, I am fine with a few characters being the same, but here it seemed overwhelming without a counterpoint/contrasting character or two.
It is especially hard to stomach because the archetypal 'woman' presented here is just lots of women being burdens on their families, who moan about how awful the women are for being ill. If we were able to see some equal sharing of care tasks between partners, or some more equal distribution of care needs between the genders, I think it would have been a more complex narrative about the nature of illness and caregiving. As it was, I felt it was a bit one note.
asuiterclarke's review
5.0
I absolutely adored this book. The prose is unlike any other you will read -- completely unique and beautiful. Spargo-Ryan manages to tackle the incredibly difficult topics of loss and mental illness without dragging her reader into despair. Highly recommended.
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