In a dusty post-war summer in rural Warwickshire, a doctor is called to a patient at lonely Hundreds Hall. Home to the Ayres family for over two centuries, the Georgian house, once grand and handsome, is now in decline, its gardens choked with weeds, its owners - mother, son and daughter - struggling to keep pace with a changing society. But are the Ayreses haunted by something more sinister than a dying way of life? Little does Dr. Faraday know how closely, and how terrifyingly, their story is about to become entwined with his.

I loved this book. There is a small cast of characters and almost all the action takes place at Hundreds Hall which really gives the book an intense, almost claustrophobic feel. The book is genuinely scary in places and there were a couple of times I was reluctant to turn the lights off to go to sleep for fear of the little stranger!

The decline of the Ayres family and their way of life is poignant and is a story which echoes the plight of many of the landed classes in post-war Britain. I hope other readers will enjoy this book as much as I did.

This book is setting off on a bookray; running order as follows:

symphonica - Belgium/EU
penelopewanders - Switzerland/EU
ArabellaFigg - UK/International
Finnchen - Luxemboug/EU
greeneyemoony - Germany/International
carelaisa - Canada/Canada-US
oppem - US/US preferred
Darkangll - US/International
bearyfriend - Singapore/International
madpocky - Phillipines/International
Fluffy-Owl - UK/UK
kingfan30 - UK/EU ----------- book here
WormyOne - UK/International

..... then where it goes, nobody knows...

If anyone would like to join, please PM me and I'll add you to the list if I can.

Caught it! :)

Very much look forward to reading this--- actually just found a used copy of "Affinity" the other day, so will have a little Sarah Waters retrospective this month... :)

Almost done my current read, and then this one is on my night stand. Cheers and will journal again soon!

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Started reading November 27

Dude.... this was a SCARY book! Sarah Waters is such a gifted author--- she's a master at creating these intense scenarios of personal anguish and obsession. Though some of her other books had a bit more lightness in them, this one is downright macabre.

SPOILER ALERT--- do not read on if you haven't read the book yet

I kept waiting for the classic Waters "twist", but in this book, it seems there wasn't one.... or was there?

Well... i suspected Betty of having a hand in some of the 'strangeness', especially towards the middle of the book. She was young and bored and resentful of having to be at Hundreds in the first place-- a little mischief would keep her occupied, no? And the end, did the Doctor have a hand in the demise of Carolyn? I think so. Why would she have recognized the "little stranger"? She never met her dead sister. And the Doctor was, in some ways, just as unstable and obsessed as everyone else--- in the house itself, about the wedding, etc... He wasn't in love with Carolyn. He just decided that's what he wanted. And when he lost control of what he wanted and was shamed in front of the whole community, a little revenge wouldn't be beyond him, would it? I think not, but others may not agree.

In the end, i feel like there might have been as much natural as supernatural in this story... but all so subtly done, you never really know.

Thanks for giving me an opportunity to read it! Will PM penelopewanders to get her address

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Sent to the next participant December 13

Arrived here today as a ring. May have to sit patiently a bit as it arrives behind another ring or so and lots of work-related reading. Thanks for sending and making it available - I'll try to get to it soon.

Unlike her other books, and I kept wondering if Caroline's reticence towards Faraday wasn't going to turn out to be something along Water's usual lines (being vague here as I don't want to make it a total spoiler).
Anyway, a few longish bits in the middle during which I had to push myself through - and read a few other things, but on the whole an intriguing read. I've got the next address and hope to send it out after the weekend.

On its way to the UK after a bit of a pause in the Alps. Enjoy!
Thanks for making this available.

Book arrived this morning, thanks penelopewanders. I have a few books before this one, but I'm looking forward to reading it.

Sorry for holding on to this book for so long, I have tried to complete it several times, but have only got up to about 150 pages. I don't want to hold the book up any longer so will post it on. Saying this I was begining to feel a bit intrigued by the story and maybe given a bit longer I may have got into it properly, I don't want anyone to be put off by this entry. Anyway, I will pass it on asap.

I had the book yesterday in my letterbox. Thank you for sending it, ArabellaFigg.
The book will have to wait a wait for a few days, until I have finished my current book.

15 May 2011:
I really enjoyed reading this book. Had I known in advance that this is some sort of 'ghost story' I wouldn't probably have participated in this ring, because I'm not much of a fan of these supernatural stories. But to my own surprise I loved this book and I couldn't stop reading at times.
The book focuses on an upper class family, the Ayres, living at Hundreds Hall, a lovely but decaying Georgian mansion in postwar England. The story is told from the perspective of the local doctor, a sort of self-made man, the son of a former Hundreds nursemaid, whose life becomes more and more entangled with that of the Ayres family.

Thanks to MKtiny for sharing this book!

The book is now on its way to Germany!

Where it arrived safely.
Thank you!

Very nice and interesting story. For quite a while I did not know in which direction this story went, whether it was a ghost or a love story. That is really special about it.

I already have carelaisa's contact details and will try to send it on sometime in this week.

Sent out to carelaisa today. Nice trip!

got here last week but only got the chance to pick it up yesterday at the post office (was too big for my mailbox and the pakcage was opened by the canadian customs -- no declaration on the enveloppe so they wondered what it was...)

I'm currently reading another book; as soon as I've finish it, I'll start this one!

Thanks to greeneyemoony for having it sent my way and MKtiny for sharing it with us!

Finished reading it a few days and I must say this book is somehow a departure for Sarah Waters. Yet, we still feel in it her touch, what makes her a good author. In this one, she was still able to create an atmosphere, a mood to get you in and hooked to the story. The one thing that bothers me about her books is, that sometimes, the descriptions go on and on, dragging the storyline and making it slower. But, it has its purposes and she has her reasons for writing this way so I'm not complaining too much. I did like the supernatural touch - I do love stories containing ghosts and other creatures not of this world.

Now, I have oppem's address and will mail her the book this week.

EDIT: the book has been mailed, on August 11th, to oppem.

Book arrived safely in today's mail... Many thanks carelaisa for sending my way.
I have another couple of books to read & then this will be next in line. Am looking forward to another Sarah Waters book.

Well, I read Fingersmith & LOVED it.
I read Affinity and thought it was very good.
This one ???!!!. I guess I have to say that for me I was somewhat disappointed with it. It started off well but found that I became bored with large parts in the middle. It then picked up again only to leave me at the end feeling - what was it all about ??!!..
I really do like Sarah Waters but guess this one was not really for me....
I have the address of next reader but as it is a holiday weekend here in the USA & I am then going to be away for a week unfortunately I wont be able to post on until I get back home... sorry for that delay but will have it moving again as soon as possible.

Managed to find a post office this morning so it is now on it's way to Florida via media.

The book is not lost! :) I apologize my computer has been down and I haven't been able to post. I received this book about a week ago and I'm reading it as we speak. Thanks for sharing!

Mailed to bearyfriend in Singapore.

Arrived yesterday, thanks for sending. This will be my first Sarah Waters' though I used to have a copy of Fingersmith, but it was never returned to me from a ring. I will give myself a break from my current read American Gods, and start on this. That one was a real slow read.

Madpocky has asked to be skipped, will send it off this week to Fluffy-Owl in UK. This story is long-winded, and I don't like the doctor's one-sided narration, seems he's being overly helpful or just being nosy, meddling in other family's affairs. I pity Roderick, being in such family situation, it's hard for others to believe in what he goes through, instead thought he's crazy. I can understand why the Ayreses trusted in him so much, 'cos he's the only doc friend who visit and talk to them.

I hope I can complete the whole book, but I can't bear to see Roderick sufferings, being sent to the mental institution, and read one more word of what Dr Faraday had to say.

I will try to send via air, if postage is not too high, else will be surface mail. Hope it's not going to arrive after Christmas.

30-Nov: Book sent out today via air.

Received when I returned to uni after the Christmas break. Looking forward to starting it soon, I do tend to like books by this author.

Sorry this has taken so long - I've been recovering from surgery and so have been a bit behind with everything!

I really enjoyed this book, not my favourite one by this author, but a good read nonetheless.

Will post off as soon as I have an address.

Book has arrived safe and sound, I have heard lots about this so am looking forward to reading it. Thanks for sharing :)

25 March 11 - I have heard a lot about this book and how creepy it is, so have been looking forward to reading it and was hoping to get through it before my husband went away on business as I don't like creepy stories if I'm being left home alone!!

This book got off to a slow start, in fact the ghostly parts of the story did not kick in until halfway through apart form a couple of very subtle hints, talk about a build up!! The first major instance is when Rod is explaining to the Dr some of the happenings, you can't help but feel sorry for him, but to get him carted off to a home seemed a bit extreme, I think with the state the house was in, it would have been better to sell up and start a fresh. The scene with Mrs Ayres in the nursery was probably the creepiest part of the book for me.

The love interest between Dr Faraday and Caroline was a bit of an odd one, she did not seem to know what she wanted and he seemed very pushy, although his intentions become clearer near the end.

The open end was intriguing, was it a ghost or one of the member of the family or the maid? On the whole an enjoyable read although I have read much creepier books and could have coped on my own with this one!!

WormyOne had managed to get hold of a copy which makes me last in the ray. I have sent this on as a RABCK so that the book can continue its journey.

Thanks you Kingfan30, for offering me this book en sending it to me. It s just great to get an unexpected offer, so thanks a lot!