The Irresistible Henry House: A Novel
Release date: 2010 / 407 pages
Synopsis (from Amazon): It is the middle of the twentieth century, and in a home economics program at a prominent university, real babies are being used to teach mothering skills to young women. For a young man raised in these unlikely circumstances, finding real love and learning to trust will prove to be the work of a lifetime…
First Sentence: By the time Henry House was four months old, a copy of his picture was being carried in the pocketbooks of seven different women, each of whom called him her son.
Review: The Irresisible Henry House is a rare blend of an original premise, compellingly flawed, sympathetic characters, and effortless prose filled with flashes of insight. This was an unexpected delight and one of my top reads this summer. AND would be an excellent choice for any book club (no need for discussion questions!).
First, the unusual premise: As an orphaned infant, only three months old, Henry is assigned to a university home economics class as a “practice baby” meant to teach young undergrads the principles of childraising. Through the semester, seven different students take turns feeding, bathing and caring for him until the end of the term when he was intended to return to the orphanage to be adopted by a family. However, at the end of the term, due to a series of circumstances, the director of the course is assigned to keep and raise Henry as her own, so we are allowed to spend the next two decades witnessing the effects of his untraditional upbringing.
Quirky? Incredible? Disturbing? Believe it or not, Grunwald was inspired to write this novel after learning of just such a program conducted at Cornell University, and numerous other programs, in the ’60′s and wondered what the effects of these programs might be on the unwitting participants.
Henry — as a ”practice baby” raised in the practice house – is understandably stunted emotionally, but has the unique perspective of knowing exactly why. He discovers his past at an early age and reacts in heartbreaking but believable ways in an attempt to find his place in the world. Although we only get to share the first twenty years of Henry’s life, we know him so intimately that this novel has the feel of an epic and my sense of losing Henry when I turned the last page was acute. He is not only “damaged” and flawed, but irrepressibly likeable, and I couldn’t help but root for him even during his darkest moments.
The writing is effortless and even brilliant at times. This is my first experience with Grunwald’s writing, but will not be my last. Here are a few samples of her ability to capture not only the unique proclivities of a specific character, but the universal qualities of adolescence, New York City, an awkward moment:
“At fourteen, Henry was a mutiny of awkward contradictions. His cheeks were smooth, but his legs bristled with new hair. He had grown about six inches in the last eighteen months, but he had not yet begun to fill out. And his face — still lightly freckled, still dominated by his eyes — had only just started to develop angles, as if a sculptor was making his first, broad cuts in a rounded block of soft stone.”
“…in some ways, the snow kept New York simple for him: muffled and plain, its landscape like the ones he’d known. It was only when the snow melted that the hard geometry of the city was revealed: rectangles, squares, and cubes abounded: hard-edged, glassed-in, everything perpendicular. He could stand on any street on any avenue, looking north or south, and, with the exception of wheels, lights, human beings, and occasional trees, find nothing arced or curved, nothing sinuous or soft.”
“Henry hugged her, an awkward gesture filled with extra space.”
So, if you are interested, please leave me a comment and I will choose a winner by the weekend!
I’ve been wanting to read this book. The premise is fascinating! Would love to win.
Sounds like a very interesting book…hard to believe that it is based on a true incident. Thanks for the giveaway.
I am really excited about this giveaway. I have this one at the top of my wish list. Seems like they wanted to teach mothering skills to the young women but didn’t think about the consequences for the babies. This happened in several universities back then.
Wow, I know it has been said before but the premise of this novel is both unique and fascinating! It definitely adds to the uniqueness that it is based on a real incident. I’d love to see how Henry is impacted by this unconventional method of his upbringing, especially since I want to be a pediatrician/child psychologist. Thank you for this giveaway opportunity.
I would absolutely LOVE to win this book. I’m off to the beach at the end of September, and it sounds like it would be a delightful addition to be packed in my suitcase
Thanks for the opportunity and the review!
Sounds like a great premise and interesting read. would love to win it.
this book has been around for awhile and has gotten rave reviews….i think i need to read it!
I have heard good reviews on this book. I would love to read it
I would love to get my hands on this one. I have seen so many terrific reviews and it sounds right up my alley!
Yes, a quirky premise! I would really like to read this book.
This sounds like it would be quite interesting read. I enjoyed the review and would like to read this. Thank you
So glad you gave this a favorable review. Would love to read it!
This is the first I’ve heard of this book. But it’s definetly going on my list. Thanks for sharing.
This book sounds just wonderful! I had no idea that this sort of thing was being done, babies being used for teaching tools and then somewhat discarded as not needed anymore. How sad! Thanks for the giveaway!
Just found your site and I love it! I’ve been wanting to read this. Maybe I’ll save it for my book club pick.
Heard this interview on NPR and have been wanting to read this book.
Thanks!
I am on a book selection committee for one of my book clubs and I would love to read, review and recommend to my book group
I would like to read this one. If I am not drawn for the giveaway I will check out the library copy. thanks for your reviews!
Fascinating subject! And to think it was actually happening in the 60′s. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy.
Sounds very interesting. Please enter me in the giveaway.
Thanks for bringing this to my attention! I would love to read it.
WOW! What an intriguing book. This certainly sounds like a Book Club book…no written discussion questions needed.
This one sounds so interesting. I’d love to win it.
I have been wanting to read this book and it is still on my TBR list. It would definitely help if I had a copy. I think it may be a good book for one of my book clubs.
Wow, sounds like you really loved this one! Thanks for being on the tour. I’m featuring your review on TLC’s Facebook page today.
Someone suggested this book to me recently so I am curious. It sounds good. I would love to win.
This one has been on my Wish List for awhile now! Please count me in. Thanks!
nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com
This sounds fantastic!! I would loved to be entered in this giveaway! Thanks so much!!
This title sounds like a great book group choice–please enter me into the giveaway!
I love the sound of this book. I can’t wait to read it.
Sounds like a great book. I look forward to reading it.