I think that the students in our school library need to hear lots of diverse voices and read stories and lives of many different kinds of people and experiences. When I inherited the library it was an incredibly sanitised space with only 'school readers' and project books on 'the railways' etc. Buying in books that will appeal to the whole range of our readers with diverse voices, eclectic and fascinating subject matter, and topics that will intrigue and fascinate them was incredibly important to me.
This is a book that I think our senior readers will enjoy very much indeed - not just because it's well written with an arresting voice that will really keep them reading and about a fascinating topic - but it's also a book that doesn't feel worthy or improving, it doesn't scream 'school library and treats them like young reading adults who have the right to explore a range of modern diverse reads that will grip and intrigue them and ensure that reading isn't something that they are just forced to do for their English project - this was a solid ten out of ten for me and I'm hoping that our students are as gripped and caught up in it as I was. It was one that I stayed up far too late reading and one that I'll be recommending to the staff as well as our senior students - thank you so much for the chance to read and review; I really loved it and can't wait to discuss it with some of our seniors once they've read it too!

I love sweeping family sagas that make you fall in love with people you have never met. Usually I can find one character that I at least like, not in this book. They are all self-centered and the male characters made me want to reach through the book and strangle them.

As much as I wanted to love this book, The House of Hardie did not pull me in. Gordon’s story in the beginning really intrigued me but as time went on and he and Midge grew, I found myself drifting away and had a hard time staying focused on the events that were unfolding.

 I loved Gordon’s pull for adventure and Midge’s determination to go against what is expected of her in this Victoria era, but I felt that the romances introduced were almost forced and they didn’t make much sense to me. I couldn’t connect with these characters and their relationships and, therefore, could not connect enough to the story to make this an enjoyable read for me.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book and provide my honest opinion

The House of Hardie is the first book in a series by Anne Melville and tells the story of two sets of siblings from different classes, who meet in Oxford and whose lives quickly become entangled.

I hadn’t read any Anne Melville books before this one but was intrigued by the promise of adventure. There was just enough here to keep me happy, with two journeys bookending more domestic and academic scenes set in Oxford and on the Marquess of Ross’s estate. That said, there is flirtation and romance between young people, so it could be argued that some misadventure may feature.

Of the characters, Midge Hardie held my interest the most throughout. I felt frustrated on her behalf by the limitations imposed upon her academic pursuits, while admiring her diligence and commitment to them. She works with what little she has in terms of her freedom of movement and association within society and the small boundaries of her Oxford world. In her own small way, she’s a pioneer.

I admired Midge’s brother, Gordon, for his early spirit and how he stayed true to his goal of future adventures but he almost lost my sympathy when it came to matters of the heart. Lucy is an interesting character, talented but entirely wasted on her grandfather’s estate; I questioned her motives but admired her all the same for her naivety and bravery. Archie seemed the least forward-looking of the quartet; a sad product of the times and his upbringing, and too weak or lazy to do much about it.

I would have liked more depth and detail in places but this first book is a gentle introduction to The Family Hardie series. Anne Melville’s The House of Hardie is an enjoyable historical novel, with some interesting characters, that fulfilled my need for some travel and adventure.

Because I like historical romance books, I liked that one. It was not spectacular but a nice read. Sometimes story line was predictable but not for a long time. Recommended.

The House of Hardie is the first in a trilogy published between 1987 and 1990 and telling the story of several generations of the Hardie family. In this novel, set towards the end of the Victorian era, we meet Gordon Hardie who, ever since running away to sea as a boy, has dreamed of becoming a famous explorer and discovering new lands. Gordon has been back in England for several years, working in the family wine business in Oxford, but has informed his father that this won’t be a permanent arrangement as he intends to set off soon on a voyage to China in search of a rare and beautiful flower.

Meanwhile, Gordon’s younger sister Midge is preparing to begin an exciting new adventure of her own. She has been offered a place at Oxford University, with permission to attend tutorials and lectures – as long as she is chaperoned by an older woman at all times and sits separately from the male students. Midge is determined to make the most of the opportunity she has been given, but she finds an immediate distraction in Archie Yates, a young man who couldn’t be more different from herself. As the grandson of a marquess and with no need to worry about his future, Archie has little interest in studying and plans to spend his time at Oxford having fun. While Midge embarks on a romance with Archie, her brother Gordon also falls in love – with Archie’s sister, Lucy Yates. Because of her class, Lucy’s life has so far been much more conventional and constrained than Midge’s, but she longs to get away from her grandfather’s country estate and experience more of what the world has to offer.

The two storylines – one following Midge’s relationship with Archie and the other Gordon’s with Lucy – move forward in parallel with each other, a few chapters at a time spent on each one. I enjoyed getting to know three of the characters, at least; I didn’t like Archie at all and couldn’t understand what an intelligent woman like Midge saw in him! The book was much more than a simple romance, though, with lots of interesting issues covered through the stories of the main characters. First, there was women’s education and how progress in that area was slowly being made, while still being very far away from equality with men. We are shown how frustrating it must have been for Midge to be allowed to study at Oxford and take examinations like the men, yet not to be awarded the equivalent degree just because she is a woman. It’s even more ridiculous that she is forced to use separate entrances to the university buildings, that she has to bring a female companion with her to tutorials and that she could be sent home in disgrace if she is caught alone with a male student, however innocent the circumstances.

Class differences are also explored. The Yates family are upper class people with titles and estates, whereas the Hardies are wine merchants with a background in trade. It doesn’t matter that the Hardies still have a comfortable lifestyle and a nice home and that they are decent, hardworking people; because of the class system, the marquess will never consider them to be good enough for his grandchildren. Gordon and Lucy believe that love should be able to transcend these boundaries, but for Midge and Archie their difference in status will prove much more challenging.

Travel and exploration form another important part of the plot. Most of the final section of the book is set in China where Gordon is hunting for the lily he hopes will make his name as an explorer and botanist. This is fascinating and reads almost like a Victorian travel memoir, describing the scenery, the culture and the people our characters meet along the way. However, the feel of the novel changes at this point with the decision to leave Oxford – and Midge and Archie’s storyline – behind. The balance and variety of the earlier chapters are lost and I finished the book feeling a bit less enthusiastic about it than I had at first. I did enjoy The House of Hardie, though, and I have a copy of the second book in the series ready to start soon.

House of Hardie is centers around Midge and Gordon Hardie who as you learn more about them are the children of a wine merchant out of Oxford, but still seem to not be too wealthy. Midge is very knowledgeable about many things and strives to better herself and their situation. Gordon is more focused on travelling and wants to pursue the area of botany and to be known for something more than a wine merchant’s son. The Victorian-era story continues on to describe the romance and adventure of two different families from two different backgrounds as they explore how they can blend the two.

I honestly had a hard time getting into the House of Hardie. I am typically a historical fiction fan and can’t seem to get enough, but I found that it was hard for me to fully get to the know the characters very well and understand the complete plot. I also didn’t really like the two male characters, Gordon and Archie as I felt they treated their significant others pretty harshly. I did enjoy the character of Midge and really would have liked to hear more about her and the development of her story. However, the writing style that Anne Melville used to describe the time and illustrate the characters was engaging and I appreciated the imagery. Although, I wasn’t fully impressed with this book in particular, I would still be interested in other works by Ms Melville.

I received an ARC of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a tale of siblings and their journey to adulthood. It is a story of class expectations, thwarted dreams, and the inconvenient attachments of the heart.

Midge and Gordon are the children of an Oxford vintner, and their fates become entwined with another set of siblings cosseted and cradled by an aristocratic upbringing. The recklessness of youth, the inimitable need to prove one's worth, and the reluctance to fall into predetermined roles shape the relationships of the couples.

This work is an examination of the complex social fabric of Victorian England, as well as an exploration of the chaos of youth's affections.

This is the first of three books that make up the Hardie Family series. It was first published in 1987 and was recently re-published with a gorgeous new title. I’m a sucker for all these re-issue covers from Agora Books, what can I say?

"Two families from two classes. Four siblings with four dreams. Fate versus destiny.

Midge and Gordon Hardie have grown up as the children of a wine merchant. But their lot in life, to inherit The House of Hardie, is not what they have in mind. Midge wants more than her mundane life – she craves intrigue and luxury. Gordon wants nothing more than a life of adventure. Meanwhile, Lucy and Archie Yates, the grandchildren of the Marquess of Ross, have everything they could ever need. But they too yearn for different lives. But as the two families meet in Oxford, they find their dreams don’t always come true. At least not in the way they planned. In this dramatic Victorian saga, can love and passion overcome power and ambition?"

Overall, I would give this title four stars. I think it’s important that we keep in mind that we are speaking about a book written in the 1980s that’s about a time period of the past. People of different societal classes didn’t marry or interact; everyone fell in line with the expectations of their class for their life. I really appreciated how the author explored the lines of both the classes and genders beginning to blur and be challenged. And while some may find this shallow, it was reality at that time and we can all learn a lot from it. I really found myself disliking Archie in particular in this book. He could use a good smack! But I’m interested to see how he and the others grow in the next two books.

If you’re up for some stubborn female characters, a bit of romance and people pushing societal norms, give The House of Hardie a read.

Thank you to Agora Books who generously provided me with a copy of this lovely book. I have read and reviewed voluntarily.

Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

Young love, idealistic dreams, dreams far removed from what your parents envisage for you and the determination to achieve them form part of the story.

Two families two very different social situations. One in trading, one very upper class. Very unlikely that either family will tolerate a marriage within the two. Lucy is headstrong and Gordon taken quite unawares. Midge had to learn the hard way that a man may not feel the way he behaves and may be very different to what she is expecting.

Midge is ahead of her time. She is clever and wants to be educated. Unfortunately not encouraged by the world in general though her family is supportive. Her idea of teaching and then becoming a Head of a college seems such a feasible idea now. In Victorian England it was far fetched. Midge was determined however and after her disillusionment with Archie she channelled all her energies into her education and career.

In Midge's brother's case despite being expected to take over his father's business, his love of nature drew him to explore the world and he somehow was determined to trek in China seeking for elusive plants and herbs. He did this not expecting the determined Lucy to escape the confines of her home and join him on board the steamer to the Far East. Their adventures are a travel memoir of the difficulties of travel in the time and make for a fascinating read.

The stories of the two separate families and how their lives entwined and how fate played a role is very well depicted.

The House of Hardie by Anne Melville. Agora Books, 2019.
This is the first volume of a Victorian trilogy originally published in the 1980s. Set largely in 1870s Oxford, Gordon Hardie and his sister Midge meet Lucy Yates and her brother Archie. Gordon has returned from eight years in the South Seas to work in his father’s wine business and Lucy, the daughter of a Marquis, is still at home. Much of the story arises from decisions Midge and Lucy, both strong intelligent women, make for themselves. The two are ahead of their time. Midge and Archie are students, Midge is independent, mature and serious; Archie less so. Although attractions flare between the Gordon and Lucy, and between Archie and Midge, and the couples are friendly enough at the beginning, conflict arise.

The first two of the book’s three sections provide a close and fascinating cross-section of everyday life in 1870s Oxford. The third describes a scientific expedition to China in search of an exotic lily. All three sections are wonderful to read. The content and quality of writing exceeds most current historical romances; I am glad it is being rereleased. It is well worth reading. I'd give it 4.5 stars if I could.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of The House of Hardie via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Every once in a while, you dive into a book that really makes you think the author has a handle on their genre. My contact at Agora Books reached out to me and offered The House of Hardie by Anne Melville as a suggested read in response to some of my requests and reviews to their agency. She was spot on – I loved this book!

Two families from two classes. Four siblings with four dreams. Fate versus destiny...
In this dramatic Victorian saga, can love and passion overcome power and ambition? Not a new question posed in fiction, but done very well in this case.

It addresses the obstacles of romance between the merchant class and the Ton, the barriers set upon women with unrealistic expectations and limitations, it explores romance and adventure and the ties that bind us to family (and the bonds that are even greater.)

It was a well-written saga of a tale with an engaging plot and well-developed characters – especially the well-rounded, strong female leads. I mentioned in my Instagram post yesterday that it was “Historical fiction done right!”

My thanks to Agora Books for the complimentary copy via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
Full review posted on my blog: https://lifelovelaughterlinds.home.blog/2019/05/14/book-review-the-house-of-hardie-by-anne-melville/

THIS BOOK CAN BE SUMMED UP IN 1 ONE - SHALLOW

Never before have I read a book where, all I could think the whole way through, was the same word over and over again - shallow! There was no deeper meaning, no deeper emotions, no deeper story to this book at all. Not that books always need to be meta. But they do need to be entertaining. This book was not.

THE THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE

Shallow plotline: Even though I have just read this book I can hardly tell you what happens in it or why. Because the plot is so shallow, hollow and, dare I say it, pointless. There was nothing there to grab my attention, to make me wonder, what was going to happen next. Nothing that drove me forward (except for the fact that it was so short).

Shallow characters: Again, the characters seemed pointless. They had no real motives for the things they did, their feelings seemed superficial and fleeting and their personalities were just bland and, once again, shallow. There was nothing to them that made me connect with them, and I really need that when I read a book.

The male "heroes": Usually I would never say that I actively hate a character. Even villains can be good characters. But here, the two male MCs Gordon and Archie, where just plain horrible people. They treated the women, that they were supposedly in love with, so despicably! That is just unforgivable.

I received a digital galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to NetGalley and Agora Books!

The House of Hardie brings me back to the days when I used to devour Historical Fiction books and indeed, it reminds me of the things I love in the genre- a vivid setting, great cast of characters, and discussions about class and gender in society. All of these elements combine together in this book to produce a captivating read.

There are two families at the heart of this story- the Hardies, a family of wine merchants, and the Yates, an aristocratic family. The aristocrats look down on the Hardies as a merchant family and would not deign to consider a relationship with them higher than that of client and merchant. Similarly, there are two sets of siblings featured here, both with very different circumstances and family dynamics, but both are a pair of brother and sister. Their lives intertwine and things get complicated. What follows is a story about first love, disappointments, and adventure.

This book features two couples who meet very different fates. The first part is dedicated to Midge, a smart and ambitious young woman who gets into an ill-advised and perhaps ill-fated relationship with Archie Yates. I liked how strong Midge’s character is and how she grows to be more confident, self-assured, and in control. At first, she does make bad decisions in the name of love, but later on, she realizes her mistakes and corrects them. She’s a very practical young woman, logical and serious, but swayed by Archie’s charm. I found her character to be realistically portrayed and I applaud where her story goes later on.

I’m a fan of Midge’s character arc. She does find passion and begins a passionate love affair (although the way it is portrayed in the book does remain chaste) which doesn’t really go anywhere and leaves her heartbroken. However, at the end of it, she finds out what she really wants in life and decides to take control of her own life.

The second part of the book is dedicated to Gordon Hardie, the heir to the business but also a restless young man who craves adventure and travel, especially after an adventure in his youth. He falls in love with Lucy Yates and they basically struggle to be together due to her aristocratic family’s disapproval. I liked how this gives us a contrast between their relationship and that of Midge and Archie’s. Gordon and Lucy are the healthier couple, although definitely more headstrong and rash. It’s a stark contrast between Midge’s rationality regarding her own relationship and Gordon’s emotional response towards his own.

I’m not sure about what I feel regarding their relationship since it happens a bit quickly. Although, after the initial insta-love parts, their relationship does grow and strengthen through hardship as they travel through rural China together. Their relationship isn’t all roses and sunshine and does have moments where it gets a lot difficult. Through it all, they survive and endure and they grow both as people and as a couple because of it.

I enjoyed how this book tackles the class differences between the couples and gives a realistic resolution to each. The House of Hardie was first published in 1987 and it does seem to be a product of its time at certain points but I definitely enjoyed it. I’d recommend it to fans of Historical Fiction.

The House of Harris is a wonderful book with some in depth characters that you can feel there struggles for the time period. Well written and I must read more from this author.

Can love and passion withstand the power of class and ambition?
This question has been tackled many times in fiction especially in family sagas of this type, however, what I felt made this book particularly interesting was how well rounded the two main female characters were, Midge Hardie and Lucy Yates. Both very determined young ladies who very clearly knew what they wanted from love and life and set out to achieve the lives that they desired despite the restrictions women faced during this period. I shall certainly endeavor to read the next book in the series. It was overall a well-paced and enjoyable read.