William, the father of three adult (or nearly adult) daughters, has a minor stroke, and when he revives, he cannot understand his former pride in his family. Each of the girls - divorced mother of two and failed actress Elizabeth, former tennis star Diana, and pretty, odd Isabelle, the youngest - is searching right along with their father, trying to figure out how their lives got off track and how they can regain their former glory. The girls' mother, Margaux, has Alzheimer's and is lost in her own world; William's childhood sweetheart Adelia, who never got over him, moves closer and closer to the family.

Each of the characters has strong opinions about themselves and each other; this is particularly the case with the oldest daughter, Elizabeth, and Adelia. There are sympathies, antipathies, and alliances; there are undercurrents and secrets; there are old hurts and lost loves. Some characters are more sympathetic than others, some more prickly; all are certainly human, but it's hard to say if any of them are protagonists the reader roots for deeply. (This reader, at least.) Though the book is set in Pennsylvania, the sense of place was not very strong. WIthout a doubt, The Carriage House is well-written, but did not strike a chord with me.

Quotes:

Her memory of the fundamental facts was strong. It was more like she'd forgotten how she was supposed to feel. (Isabelle re: Margaux, p. 52)

When she was playing tennis, she knew who she was. She had a ranking to measure her value....When tennis ended, she felt as if a door had closed behind her, stranding her somewhere she didn't recognize....After she quit, she was like a planet that had fallen out of its orbit. (Diana, 109)

I keep hoping the memory will fade, but the worst things stay vivid as the best grow dim. (Margaux, 126)

She had become the one who was holding things together while everyone around her fell apart. This made her even angrier, because it is a sacrifice to be so tough. (Elizabeth, 185)

Louise worried about this for several days, until she came to the conclusion that all ambitions - no matter how grand - are incomprehensible to people who don't have them. You have to be caught up in the dream of something to believe in its importance. (202)

"He's the same as he always was," Diana said, although he wasn't, none of them was, and here they were in the carriage house wishing they could just go home, except that they were already there. (257) ( )

I enjoyed this gentle and thoughtful slice of life tale inspired by Jane Austen's 'Persuasion'. Set in suburban America, it revolves around The Carriage House' of the title and the Adair family - William, his wife Margaux who suffers from early onset of Alzheimer's disease, and his three daughters, Elizabeth, Diana and Isabelle. The Carriage House was built by William's grandfather but has now fallen into disrepair and is quite dilapidated. It is also the subject of a demolition order and the Adairs are determined to fight to retain their beloved property.

It is a very character driven story and is about the importance of family, forgiveness and acceptance. There isn't much plot as such and it isn't a fast paced read, it's more about the trials and tribulations of life. I found it quite descriptive, atmospheric and it gives a good insight into human nature, human failings and idiosyncrasies. It's a tale to savour and not one to rush through!

I thought it was sensitively and well written, especially with regard to the Alzheimer's aspect, and the writing style is modern and discerning. There is some humour as well as some poignant moments.

I would recommend The Carriage House to those readers who prefer a character based plot with good observations of family life.

I reviewed this book for www.lovereading.co.uk. ( )

Whenever I write a review I think about the many different opinions people have when reading a book. This is one of those books that will probably not appeal to everyone, but it was one I really liked. It is being compared to Jane Austen's "Persuasion" but I read that book so long ago I don;t remember all that much about it in order to compare the two. William Adair, the father, is the sun that everyone, his three daughters, his wife who is disappearing under the weight of her early onset Alzheimer's and the woman who he wanted to marry once long ago. It is about the weight of seeing oneself only through someone else's eyes and when they are disillusioned, losing ones self and having to figure out all over again who you are and what you are meant to be doing. It is about the impact of a mother who is not really able to be there any more for her husband nor her daughters and the effect this has on the family. It is also about a carriage house which comes to mean everything and then alternately nothing at all. Wonderfully written, with some very flawed but real characters, and a family that must come to terms with what they are and where they will go from here. A family that I am sure many of us can relate to. Really looking forward to what this author will write about in her next novel. ( )