Annette S. (annette-s) reviewed on 3/4/2013 + 49 more book reviews

Keeping the House by Ellen Baker is about a newlywed who moves into a new town where her husband opens a car dealership with an Army buddy in 1950. Dolly beings her married life there and starts to make friends while trying to please her husband, which is not always so easy. Byron is a veteran of WWII who continues to build a wall around him that Dolly has a difficult time penetrating. With the help of popular magazines such as the Ladies' Home Journal, she strives to make her marriage work with tips like: "Take an interest in his appearance. Keeping his clothes in order is your job; encouraging him to look his best and admiring him when he does should be your pleasure." As amusing as this suggestion may be, it was sound and serious advice for the times, but it is still not quite doing the job in making their marriage work. As Dolly becomes more disillusioned with her husband, she also becomes more intrigued with the big abandoned home in town. She dreams of living in it and fixing it up'a true HGTV woman before her time. It becomes an obsession with her. Through the Ladies' Aid quilting group she attempts to learn more about generations of Mickelsons who lived in the grand home since the late 1800s. The book meanders back and forth through the Mickelsons' family history as well as Dolly's current life. I found the book to be an interesting trip back in time and a fun read. I enjoyed Dolly's enthusiasm both in her marriage and her mansion mania. My book club liked it, too. Read other reviews at http://readinginthegarden.blogspot.com

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details