The Hundred-Year House

Rebecca Makkai June 4, 2014

I so enjoy the challenge of a complex riddle of a novel. “The Hundred-Year House” by Rebecca Makkai is bound to take its place among my favorites.

Makkai exhibits a broad literary range. Each part is unique in voice, pace and tone. The reader always has a strong sense of time and place. The narrative is never contrived or opaque. Clues are provided in the subtlest of ways. Each insight just sneaks up on you.

Of course, there is the house. And, the house is usually filled with artists — writers, painters, musicians, dancers, photographers, collagists. Art is the life-blood that drives this work.

Pardon me if these notes appear rushed. I want to start putting together a spreadsheet. It may even need to be 3-dimensional. And then it’s on to a re-read of “The Hundred-Year House” to find all the nuggets that I left behind on the first go. Can’t wait.

Thank you to Viking and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read a DRC in advance of publication. Much appreciated.