Too many times have I bought or borrowed a book on a friend’s recommendation, on the premise that this book – with its insipid pastels and prepubescent misty child on the cover – will thrill and amaze me. Too often, it is pure sensationalised drivel encapsulated in low grade prose. It is not that these books are not palatable for those who only feed on the milk and white bread of the literary palette, but as a lover of books I am often disappointed by these trite little pastel covered stories. I guess you could say that I am a fussy reader.

This is why I approach a new recommendation and new book with trepidation. Susan Hill’s Howards End is on the Landing first caught my eye with its title, promising a mix of the traditional and the unexpected. To my delight, I found this book to be the starved reader’s version of a food festival.

In Howards End is on the Landing, Hill takes a year off from work, decides to stop buying new books and limits her time spent on the internet. She does this to revisit the seemingly vast and extensive collection of books that have taken over her house. As she recalls and rereads these books she also takes the reader along on a journey of reminiscence into the moments and memories that these books evoke.

Although Howards End is on the Landing is autobiographical, it almost seems fictional because of the extensive list of encounters and friendships Hill has had with various famous authors throughout her own literary career. A moment that stands out for me is when she recalls meeting T.S. Eliot in an almost Prufrockesque state on the doorstep of a party. My throat closed up from jealousy. It is almost surreal to imagine moments like these, when the giants of literature stood on doorsteps next to nervous university students. It forms a stark contrast to our own experiences in our hyper-real world. These encounters with famous writers are scattered throughout the novel with humility and admiration.

The reader is also invited to reminisce with the author as she recalls the various books she has and is surrounded by. Here we are given a glimpse into the nuances of the various genres ranging from the diary, the thriller, through to children’s books and short stories. Hill navigates through these genres. highlighting the books she has found significant as well as the books she just loved for their own sake. From the classics of Austen and Dickens through to Faulkner and Foster as well as Dahl and Rowling, each has a unique memory and cadence, which, for a hungry reader, brings about a craving to raid the nearest bookstore.

If you have ever reached that point where you don’t know what to read next, or just really love books and love being reminded of all the wonderful stories out there, then this book is one to add to the landing.

Reviewed by Marina Noble

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