A review by bookofmirth
Heap House by Edward Carey

4.0

This story of Clod, Lucy, the heaps and birth objects is so imaginative and odd (in the good way). Each member of the Iremonger family receives an object at birth that they must have on them at all times, for good reason that the reader eventually learns. Clod is the proud owner of a universal plug, and other objects include a mustache cup, a marble fireplace mantel, and a lacy doily. There were lots of objects that I didn't know what they were, so many were given throughout the story. Clod, unlike the other Iremongers, can hear certain objects speaking, and when they do it can actually be quite funny though their vocabulary is limited. By the end of the book we get answers to all of these strange events and mysteries, including why the objects speak and why Clod can hear them, and why the Iremonger family must keep their birth object close at all times. However, it ends on a cliffhanger so there will be more to learn.

At times the story was a little bit plodding in places (particularly towards the lead up to the climax) but overall I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to finish the series and see what becomes of Clod and Lucy. It reminded me of Neil Gaiman in its imagination, which is never a bad thing. I didn't think of it until I was describing the story to my husband and he mentioned it, but the setting is a bit like Wall in Stardust: close by but not quite familiar, just a little bit left of normal. And after a while quite a bit left of normal.