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Mr. Chartwell
Mr. Chartwell: A Novel | Rebecca Hunt
9 posts | 15 read | 15 to read
July 1964. Chartwell House, Kent: Winston Churchill wakes at dawn. Theres a dark, mute presence in the room that focuses on him with rapt concentration. Its Mr. Chartwell. Soon after, in London, Esther Hammerhans, a librarian at the House of Commons, goes to answer the door to her new lodger. Through the glass she sees a vast silhouette the size of a mattress. Its Mr. Chartwell. Charismatic, dangerously seductive, Mr. Chartwell unites the eminent statesman at the end of his career and the vulnerable young woman. But can they withstand Mr. Chartwells strange, powerful charms and his stranglehold on their lives? Can they even explain who or what he is and why he has come to visit? In this utterly original, moving, funny, and exuberant novel, Rebecca Hunt explores how two unlikely lives collide as Mr. Chartwells motives are revealed to be far darker and deeper than they at first seem. From the Hardcover edition.
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review
Tineke
Meneer Chartwell | Rebecca Hunt
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Mehso-so

This was my #doublespin for October. While I love the premise of a depression posing as a big black dog coming to live with you and being generally very suffocating I didn't really care about the story. I discovered I was a bit bored and that it led to me not picking up the book when I could. I decided to not read on and leave the story 100 pages in. Oh well.
TBR since April 5th. 2011; 244 pages.
@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 3y
18 likes1 comment
blurb
jhod
Mr. Chartwell: A Novel | Rebecca Hunt
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Back to the Lakes for Christmas, fizz is compulsory on the train home...

I am well behind on the #mhroundrobin reads but am aiming to get a couple of them in the post to @TCLinrow before the year is out!
Enjoying this one picked by @Libby1 about Churchill's struggles with depression

Cathythoughts 👍🏻♥️Happy Christmas 6y
jhod And to you @Cathythoughts! 🎄🎄🎄 6y
Balibee146 I enjoyed this one! 6y
See All 7 Comments
jhod @Balibee146 me too! Hope you're well 💖💖 6y
Balibee146 @jhod....better than I was but still got nasty chest infection. Hope you are well and have a lovely festive season xx 6y
jhod @Balibee146 oh no, take care of yourself! X 6y
kezzlou85 Ooh fizz on the train. No falling out the doors. 🤣 6y
96 likes2 stack adds7 comments
review
Libby1
Mr. Chartwell: A Novel | Rebecca Hunt
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Pickpick

This book was close to perfect for me.

Winston Churchill. 1960s England. A gigantic, grotesque dog that brings to mind the evil cat in The Master and Margarita.

There were a few flaws. The characters at times seemed terribly unreserved for their time and place & it was at times overwrought. But this creative take on depression and its impacts rang true.

I hope others in the #MHRoundRobin will enjoy this as much as I did.

ChamomileAndCupcakes So glad you liked this too! One of those books I didn‘t want to end ❤️ 6y
Libby1 @MissMia3003 - I‘m finally catching up on my replies now that the tagging mechanism works again! Yes, I agree. I felt that this book was incredibly clever and tender hearted. ❤️ 6y
79 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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youneverarrived
Mr. Chartwell: A Novel | Rebecca Hunt
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Received this today for #mhroundrobin. Thank you @Libby1 for the extra book & sweets, so kind 😘 I‘m intrigued to start this one.

Cathythoughts Lovely to receive ❤️ 6y
Libby1 I hope you‘ll enjoy it! I was away on holiday with dodgy WiFi so am only catching up now. This book was close to perfect for me. 6y
Libby1 Hi! I have the next book in the #MHRoundRobin to send to you tomorrow. Things have been a bit hectic so I‘m sorry I‘m sending it late. I‘m giving away some books right now and was wondering if you‘d like a copy of My Cousin Rachel by Du Maurier or The Bees by Laline Paull? 6y
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youneverarrived @Libby1 hi I think we‘ve got till September to send the next book so you‘re early 😀 Thats so kind of you to ask - I would love My Cousin Rachel if it‘s no bother it‘s one I‘ve been wanting to read 😘 6y
Libby1 Perfect! I forgot we had more time. My Cousin R will be on its way to you. 😊 It was very good, but I‘m trying to be disciplined about which books I keep now. I‘m glad someone else can enjoy it! 6y
youneverarrived @Libby1 thanks so much! 💛 6y
58 likes6 comments
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Libby1
Mr. Chartwell: A Novel | Rebecca Hunt
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Now I have some #BookMail to send!

Does anyone else have an address book just for Littens?

One of the parcels is for you, @youneverarrived for the #MentalHealthRoundRobin organised by @daydreamin_star .

I hope you‘ll enjoy Mr. Chartwell!

LeahBergen I do! @Sarah83 bought me a lovely Jane Austen one. 😀 6y
Mdargusch Smart idea! 6y
Sarah83 I also bought myself a Sherlock Penguin book. 😊 6y
Sarah83 @LeahBergen glad you like it ☺️ 6y
youneverarrived The book sounds intriguing! I‘ll let you know when I receive it 😊 6y
61 likes5 comments
quote
Libby1
Mr. Chartwell: A Novel | Rebecca Hunt
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What an opening paragraph:

“... his mind putting out analytical fingers and then coming at the day in a fist, ready for it.”

Cathythoughts At 89 years old that‘s powerful stuff .... at any age (edited) 6y
Libby1 @Cathythoughts - I‘m really loving this book. 6y
77 likes2 stack adds2 comments
review
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
Mr. Chartwell: A Novel | Rebecca Hunt
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Pickpick

Short book set in the 1960s - a young widow is visited by a potential lodger who calls himself Mr Chartwell. Her only reservation in taking him in is that he's a large black labrador retriever. Winston Churchill has his own history with the black dog, too. The author takes the metaphor of depression as a black dog to the ultimate level. Good story - recommended!

SusanInTiburon How intriguing! Hadn't heard of it before. 8y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @SusanInTiburon I hadnt either! Found it at a thrift shop! 8y
40 likes7 stack adds2 comments