Habits of the House: 1 (Love and Inheritance) Paperback – 1 Feb. 2013

I picked the book Habits of the House (Love & Inheritance 1) due to the special offer.I had never read a book by Fay Weldon before so I thought I would give it a go. I started reading and immediately fell into the book. I was drawn in by the characters, and the story line and found myself in the era the book was written. I thought it was extremely descriptive, realistic compelling and funny. For a person that only started reading books because I was bought a kindle for my birthday I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.Well done to Fay Weldon who managed to keep me interested throughout, even though I cannot sit still.Excellent book to read and I have recommended this book to all my friends.

This is the first instalment of the 'Love and Inheritance' trilogy. It centres around the Hedleigh family who have a Jacobean manor and considerable land at Dilberne in the Hampshire Hills. They have migrated to Belgrave Square in London for the season. Following the death of his father and elder brother in a yachting accident, Robert, next in succession, becomes Earl of Dilberne. He has already married Isobel, daughter of a wealthy coal baron from Newcastle, who overnight becomes Countess of Dilberne. Her father bestowed a considerable dowry on their marriage. They have two children, Viscount Arthur, nearly 26, whose main passions are automobile engines (steam-powered), and Lady Rosina, 28, who is an outspoken early feminist who has declared herself to be a 'new woman'.As with the aristocratic upper classes of the time The Dilbernes do not have a profession. They live off their families' fortunes. The Earl is more interested in his friendship with The Prince of Wales, well-connected contacts and gambling than his financial situation. Lady Isobel seems more on the ball but she is a female whose role is to run the domestic side of proceedings and be a charming hostess. When the Earl's ill-advised investments and income from his land plummet, there appears no panic just an arrogant head in the sand approach that something will turn up to bail them out. Lady Isobel is wiser and pushes the carefree Viscount Arthur into finding an eligible wife pronto,one who is a rich heiress. He seems non-plussed at the instruction and is agreeable. Problem is it is end of season and the best have been snapped up. Lady Rosina rejects such a proposal to her, considering marriage akin to domestic slavery in return for sexual favours. The phrase 'times are changing' crops up several times but largely ignored.Meanwhile, Fay Weldon elaborates on the crass hypocrisy expounded by the titled family and their carefree approach to debt - 'just keep spending or our reputations will be damaged'. Ultimately they are driven into a corner and see Arthur as their saviour. The servants, particularly Grace, her ladyship's maid, who has her finger on the pulse of the society gossip in her area, is a virtue. What happens next is for the reader to find out but it is intriguing and intelligently written by the author who continues to delve into this self-indulgent family lifestyle.There is an infatuation with this upper/lower class association under the same roof. Know your place or be damned. This excellent and enjoyable novel has been spoken of in the same breath as 'Downton Abbey'. I just prefer the straight-hitting style of Fay Weldon and the passages of wit and humour, observant, poignant and sometimes embarrassing (certainly unconventional) particularly when other characters enter the narrative. One thing that stands out in this book and 'Downton' is that the upper class aristocracy are dependant on their lower class servants. Await the next instalment with anticipation.

This reads as if it is a work in progress by a less accomplished author. Disappointing, though I did finish it. Very superficial, hard to engage with most of the characters.Glad it was only 99p, and I won't buy the next two.

Fay is back and her new book is fabulous.Beautifully set, and wonderfully pacey, Habits of the House is set in 1899, where we follow the mechanics and machinations, elegance and intrigue of the house of the Earl of Dilberne. From the writer of the first episode of Upstairs Downstairs this new book by Fay Weldon follows the unfolding drama of the lives of the Earl and Countess, their son Arthur, and daughter Rosina; their solicitor, the unlikeable Mr Baum and the thoroughly entertaining O'Briens from America.Touted as a story for 'Downton Lovers' but it's much better than Downton - no silly story lines!Part 1 of three - highly recommended.If you like Fay, and / or Downton, you'll love this!When's the next one out....

I hadn't read any of Ms Weldon's novels before this one, but some friends raved about them, so when I came across her latest 'The New Countess' and the write up caught my interest, I thought I'd give her a go. Rather that start at the last in the trilogy, I plumped for the first - 'The Habits of the House' and perhaps work my way through all three. I shan't bother.To say the style was pedestrian is unkind to walkers. It limped along, with the occasional spurt that led me to hope that, after all, there was something to look forward to. I continued to look forward... And then it ended! Had I paid more than £0.65p I may have tried to return it. Come back Barbara Cartland and Mills & Boon all is forgiven - your novels were eminently superior! (And I haven't read one of those for years...)

I was taken aback, I suppose, being used to much pithier writing from a favourite author. But having said that, I enjoyed this slightly frivolous piece, which was, of course, very well written. There was some small attempt at social commentary of the period but ultimately nothing revelatory. I think Ms Weldon fell in love with her characters and just went with them on a not terribly original journey, and why not?! It certainly makes for a relaxing and diverting story.

An interesting look into the ideals and lifestyles of the different classes at the turn of the century but not the most exciting story.

Bring him in madIt has obviously been very well researched which makes it interesting and informative about life in those times. The author has an excellent command of language too.

The author has a pleasant and upbeat way of writing, was a great piece of historical fiction that kept a smile on my face the whole way through.

For me, Fay Weldon has a charming and witty way of writing and this story on the lives of those "upstairs" was eye opening. What extraordinary quirks, habits, expectations the privileged had to the detriment of those who served them. Such snobs who lived life as if they were the only ones on earth and yet who after all were actually no different to anyone else - they just did not know it or believe it. Looking forward to following the lives of the Dilberne family in the other two stories in the trilogy.

I love a Victorian novel, and this is a Victorian novel. But not only doctors, but one's Jewish business manager came to the front as well. I was we'll entertained with the early morning scene involving all levels of servant ignoring the unexpected door bell while Baum sat on the front step deeply offended. They may have ignored him had they known who he was, and given the yellow waistcoat, but this was just a starting laxity of discipline. "Thes days, staff showed alarmingly little loyalty."Because the Earl of Dilberne is broke. The Boers have flooded his gold mine. Will his son Arthur step up to matrimonial wealth? Will his wife invite Naomi Baum to dinner? All around London standards are toppling. Just this week the Dilberne's entertained in a public restaurant. And everyone knows that Arthur's scheme for investing in motor cars is rubbish. We cannot go on digging oil out of the ground.I thought the discussion over Jewish people entering society to be especially cogent. The view of both the Jewish characters and their counterparts were explored, and this is seldom the case in a period piece. The humor came as everyone mouths their expected parts, but revert to older habits in their thoughts. That is the case with servants and masters as well. Lily the match girl smuggled in by the servants on their own is an interesting cameo.The characters are certainly shallow, although I liked the prospective bride Minnie. The language can be shockingly cliched. But the book is a fun period piece. I cannot resist a book in which the Prince of Wales is dreaded as a guest who causes endless society tangles and eats one out of house and home. The fashions are lush, and I could have used more description of those. It's snowing out, so it is a good day to hang out in turn of the century England. ( I admit that in summer my excuse would be heat.)

Loved the timelessness of the story.

This is really not Fay Weldon at her best, and although I read to the too-blunt end, I was disappointed. I missed the wit, cynicism and sparkling writing of Weldon in some of her previous books. This book had some serious flaws. Number one was that not a single character was clearly drawn or lovable -- there was no person the reader could sympathise or identify with: they are all fairly unlikeable people. Flaw number two: it was as if Weldon simply wanted to get started on this trilogy as quickly as she could (I won't read the next two books) and get it over with. Towards the end of the book she seems to lose interest in her own story, and even (mostly) dispenses with direct speech and merely tells us what the characters are saying to one another.As a South African her sloppy research on the Anglo Boer War irritated me. Her grasp of S A geography is slippery -- there has never been a gold mine in Natal, and President Kruger was never "General Kruger"! There are many of these small slips, which no doubt no one else will notice or mind. But for such an experienced author it's bad form.The following remark is very subjective, of course, and just my personal view: seen from a modern perspective the class differences of the day (1899), and what would today be seen as pure snobbery, became annoying ... but I know that's the way it was.So yes, 3 stars -- the book is okay. It's not good and it's not well written. Read it and see what you think. It's Fay Weldon, after all...