Henry and Rachel Paperback – October 15, 2013

I loved this book! Author Saville found a stack of letters which had been written by her grandfather, Henry, to her father, James. From these actual documents and an amazing imagination, she has constructed the 'life' of her grandfather and grandmother (Rachel). The construction of the book was interesting, with each chapter being 'told' first-person by one of the characters. Due to this, the reader is able to get inside the mind of the character, and is able to see events and circumstances from each perspective. The story is not always what we think it is. There are a few twists and turns, making for a compelling read. Basically, Henry and Rachel meet in Jamaica, where he is a dentist recently widowed, and she is a servant girl with a mysterious past. He is outgoing and ambitious, she is aloof and introverted. They live together and have several children before she finally agrees to marry him. Then, without warning, she leaves him and James, taking the other 4 children and going to New York. Saville's novel is centered around some actual people and some actual events, and she fills in the blanks with her very well-written imaginative prose. I read her memoir "Unravelling Anne", and then immediately read "Henry and Rachel". Saville is an excellent writer, whether recounting actual events in her memoir or weaving a beautiful story around a few bare facts. I highly recommend both books!

#3 in Amazon books, so everyone is apparently reading this. Or at least every woman is reading it. Not really a guy book; Henry isn't nearly so well-drawn or interesting as Rachel. She is portrayed as a person who has no feelings due to an unfortunate childhood where she is abused by her guardian and an unfair society, as are basically all the other women in the book. Taking away her feelings gives her an interesting power over others and, along with really good writing, almost keeps the story from being totally depressing. The book uses a semi-chronological sequence of first-person accounts by the main characters. It is good at keeping you wondering what will happen next. I'd say that overall it is a comment on how isolated we all are from each other. If you prefer it could also be taken as another lurid story of the personal damage caused by colonialism and child abuse. In my opinion the writing elevates it above the latter, but make up your own mind. If you like this try "Killing Mr. Watson" by Peter Matthissen for an industrial-strength story in the same genre.

The story of this real family is uncovered in layers from the excerpts of real letters found by the author in the effects of her murdered mother. You feel every breeze and smell of the Caribbean island where the characters begin, and hear every whispered thought spread through the gossip of the classes overly preoccupied with their own pretentious forms of respectability. There are also several clever aphorisms, unique to this author, that are quite worthy of note. You won't be able to stop reading until every question-- for each character-- is answered, and the last layer revealed.For students and practitioners of psychology, moreover, this story is a most interesting study in personality disorders and their origins-- mostly environmental, but also biological.

The story gets tedious in some parts with Rachel being so devoid of emotion. The author repeatedly explains that Rachel is never in want of anything emotionally. She enjoys her physical relationship with her husband and nothing more. It's difficult to imagine a woman raising 5 children with a man yet never getting close to him emotionally or spiritually. And Henry is a fool.I felt compelled to continue reading this book, hoping to find at least one character who experienced true joy or happiness, who was able to escape the cycle of doom in this family. There were none.

Henry annoyed me. Rachel at times I wanted to shake and scream at her to open her heart. It was interesting reading the narrations of each clearly defined character, their perspective of the past events and what became of this somewhat mismatched couple and their children. Gradually you are able to piece together the true events of their lives and gain insight on how things came to be including the emotions or lack of. The chapter on daughter Margaret interested me most....her discoveries about her parents and herself. Thus leaving me to wonder what do I really know about my own parents or even siblings, and how did we get from there to here.

I HAD NEVER READ ANYTHING BY THIS AUTHOR, BUT WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED. The book is different. You will have toread it to experience my meaning that it is different. I'm not sure that different is a good word for it, but it held my attention throughoutthe book and I was especially glad that I read and finished it. However, I didn't realize while I was reading it how much I was enjoyingit until I was getting close to the end...That may not make any sense to someone reading this review, but let me say I think you will like it!! Darlene

Each distinct point of view and personage has its own truth and resonance. And it doesn't make the other views wrong. Just a slight twist of the kaleidoscope is all it is. You see moments that could have been different for the major characters but for the very basic, ingrained nature of each. James and Margaret in some ways are defined by and in some ways break free of their disparate parents. A captivating tale of a real family.

Although the story seemed to flip flop throughout it eventually came together in the views of other players in Rachel's life that were responsible for the damaged person she became. It was an awakening from a long drawn out nightmare which eventually came to an end and some light was able to shine through. Sad that she had to endure so much inner suffering because of the selfish needs and desires of the man that molded and interferred with her pursuit of happiness. Yet in the end, it was the same slaver that provided the means for Rachel to finally search for and find some peace and happiness.

I purchased this book on a whim. I think the advertising puff informed us that this was a historical novel. That part was correct. However, I found the style a little too cold and similar to a well constructed report on a series of linked incidents. Because there was no dialogue, the characters were two dimensional. To my regret I was unable to relate to them; consequently I gave up on the book and consigned it to oblivion.I regret that I am perhaps a little immature in that I favour "a rattling good yarn," rather than having my withers wrung by somewhat grey, cardboard cut-out people. (If the author ever reads this, I apologise.)My final summing up is lifted straight from my school reports: "Could do better."

It was enjoyable.I bought it because i too have an unknown relative who was a bit of a mysterytwo in fact...My relative went to Russia possibly with a German family then ended up on a boat to New York,then changed her mind and let her daughter go to England aged only 15 or 16 and jumped ship to Ohio or somewhere else, perhaps i'll write about it oneday...It's elusive as a story, keeps you guessing and is cleverly told from each character's viewpoint. I liked the style, it's not quite as successful perhaps without a MAin Voice or Narrator but an interesting way to tell the story of aman whose wife leaves him on a paradise island and takes off for a life in NY and the big city...

I thought the writer put the story together really well through the different perspectives of the different characters, it was very well written. I also loved that it was loosely based on a real story. However I did find the story very sad and Henry and Rachel weren't too likeable so I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped.

Because I leap into books sometimes without any planning, I did not realise that this was pieced together from real happenings and family recollections. It took me sometime also to get into the story, but once I did I really cared about the people and I loved the gentle way everything unfolded. I was sorry it ended and wanted more.

I Loved this book all the intricate happenings, it drew you into the plot, a real page turner, thank you.