Tenterhooks

Little Ottleys #2

by Ada Leverson, 1stworld Library (Editor)

Purchase one of 1st World Library's Classic Books and help support our free internet library of downloadable eBooks. Visit us online at www.1stWorldLibrary.ORG - - Because Edith had not been feeling very well, that seemed no reason why she should be the centre of interest; and Bruce, with that jealousy of the privileges of the invalid and in that curious spirit of rivalry which his wife had so often observed, had started, with enterprise, an indisposition of his own, as if to divert public attention. While he was at Carlsbad he heard the news. Then he received a letter from Edith, speaking with deference and solicitude of Bruce's rheumatism, entreating him to do the cure thoroughly, and suggesting that they should call the little girl Matilda, after a rich and sainted - though still living - aunt of Edith's. It might be an advantage to the child's future (in every sense) to have a godmother so wealthy and so religious. It appeared from the detailed description that the new daughter had, as a matter of course (and at two days old), long golden hair, far below her waist, sweeping lashes and pencilled brows, a rosebud mouth, an intellectual forehead, chiselled features and a tall, elegant figure. She was a magnificent, regal-looking creature and was a superb beauty of the classic type, and yet with it she was dainty and winsome. She had great talent for music. This, it appeared, was shown by the breadth between the eyes and the timbre of her voice.

Genres: Classics, Audiobook, Fiction

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1912

About the author

Ada Leverson (1862-1933), the devoted friend of Oscar Wilde (who called her the wittiest woman in the world), wrote six timeless novels, each a classic comedy of manners. Love’s Shadow, the first in the trilogy The Little Ottleys, is the perfect examples of her wit and style: no other English novelist has explored the world of marriage and married life with such feeling for its mysteries and absurdities.

Reviews

[Chrissie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book does not end with a cliffhanger, but stopping now, after the second in the trilogy, is impossible. Neither do I feel that at this point I can properly judge that which I have read. Doing so is like rating a book halfway through. I am provisionally settling on three stars. The three books of the Little Ottley Series should have been put together into one! I am not a fan of series.

Character portrayal lies at the core of the book. The focus zooms in on the relationship between Edith and Bruce Ottley and their closest of friends. The friends play a pivotal role in what unfolds. Privy to Edith’s and Bruce’s thoughts and observing their actions shines a light on their respective personalities. Forming an opinion of Bruce is easy. Doing so with Edith is harder. Having a more explosive temper than her, I have difficulty getting a handle on her calm, unruffled demeanor. Should I view her as a model, as one to admire? I need to know more before I can decide. The story is not complete!

Edith’s and Bruce’s children are intriguing. A second child, a girl, is born. They mirror their parents and are in effect another peephole by which we view the parents. Again, the book feels incomplete. l need to know more about the children.

The shift of focus from posh, upper class aristocrats in the first book to the Ottley’s family and intimate friends in the second book is to my preference. Keeping track of the characters is no longer a chore. The upper middle class characters are easier to relate to.

Clever, witty, humorous lines make up the prose. To understand the humor, one must know the characters and what has happened; quoting lines is pointless. I will merely state that I laughed frequently—often it is Bruce who lies at the brunt of the jokes. Edith is kind and forgiving, so the jokes are not mean. When she gets the better of Bruce, it is simply a relief, and he is so obtuse he doesn’t understand anyway. The children’s down to earth view of events is also amusing—they see and they say exactly what has occurred. So refreshing!

Consider the titles of the series’ three books. They provide clues to that which unfolds.

“The phrase ‘on tenterhooks’ means 'waiting nervously for something to happen.' A tenterhook is literally a sharp hook that fastens cloth to a tenter, a frame on which cloth is stretched, like a tent, for even drying to prevent shrinkage”. (Source: Wiki)

Both the prose and the titles provide food for thought! Words are to be interpreted on different levels--at face value and for the subtler meaning that lies underneath.

The book is available free at Librivox, here: https://librivox.org/tenterhooks-by-a...
As with the other three of the series, actress Helen Taylor reads the book wonderfully. I find it a bit curious that she offers her services without pay. It must be that she loves these books and wants to make them available free of cost so others may enjoy them. The narrations are superb and definitely deserve five stars. Seldom are narrations at Librivox of such high quality.

I like the witty, humorous lines. The reader may need to think a bit to grasp the humor. On the other hand, I am not sure Edith’s unperturbed behavior is believable; there are limits to what a spouse should accept from their mate. I have already begun the third book! What conclusion will I draw at the end?!

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1.Love's Shadow 3 stars
2.Tenterhooks 3 stars
3.Love at Second Sight TBR

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as amusing as the first one.

[Hella · Rating 3 out of 5]

deze was wat serieuzer dan deel 1, maar ook weer fantastisch voorgelezen

[Rebekah Giese Witherspoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this second comedy-of-manners novel in the “Little Ottleys” series, the characters become more believable, the story takes a serious turn, and we make a few new friends along the way.

In “Tenterhooks”, Bruce Ottley is still the very model of narcissistic/histrionic personality disorder. His wife, Edith, is eternally kind and patient with him, and we finally find out WHY she puts up with his bullying nonsense: she finds him amusing. Edith loves to study human beings, and her husband is the most interesting specimen she has ever found. We learn that Edith is “fond of losing herself in ideas and in books”, has an “extreme aversion for” shopping trips, and has banished clutter from her house because she doesn’t “like to have many things in a room…they suggest too many different trains of thought”.

The dialogue is just as brilliant in the second book as in the first. In this quote, Edith is talking to her young son Archie about the need to be kind to his baby sister, nicknamed Dilly:

'Archie, what is the meaning of this? Why did you make this census of your home?' Edith asked him gently.

'Why, I didn't make senses of my home; I just wrote down who lived here.'

Edith looked at him reproachfully.

'Well, I didn't call Dilly a beast. I haven't broken Miss Townsend's rules. She made a new rule I wasn't to call her a beast before breakfast—'

'What, you're allowed to call her these awful names after breakfast?'

'No. She made a rule before breakfast I wasn't to call Dilly a beast, and I haven't. How did you know it meant her anyway? It might have meant somebody else.'

I adore the Ottley’s sweet best friend, Vincy:

His greatest pleasure was the study of people. There was nothing cold in his observation, nothing of the cynical analyst…. It was not surprising that he was immensely popular generally, as well as specially; he was so interested in everyone except himself…. He did not care in the least for acquaintances, and spent much ingenuity in trying to avoid them; he only liked intimate friends.

And then there’s Aylmer (swoon!) – caring, warm, intelligent – the polar opposite of Bruce:

He was the sort of man who is adored by children, animals, servants and women…. To be near him was like warming one's hands at a warm fire…. Women felt safe with him; he would never treat anyone badly. He inspired that kind of trust enormously in men also, and his house was constantly filled with people asking his advice and begging him to do things—sometimes not very easy ones. He was always being left guardian to young persons who would never require one, and said himself he had become almost a professional trustee.

Obviously, the scene is set for a love triangle (more of a love octagon, actually), heartache, and some life-changing decisions. To forgive, or not to forgive, that is the question.

Thanks so much to Helen Taylor for the beautifully narrated free audiobook: https://librivox.org/tenterhooks-by-a.... The ebook is free on gutenberg.org and in the Kindle store.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edith and Bruce have an imbalanced relationship. Edith is bright, witty, patient and universally admired. Bruce is a hypochondriac and thought to be "tedious to the point of imbecility" even by his closest friends. Nowadays Bruce's behavior would be recognized as abusive, but in 1912 Edith dealt with him the way she did her children. When Edith meets a handsome man at a dinner party her life begins to change.

This book is a comedy of manners and quite witty. If it had been about 100 pages shorter, which could have been achieved by leaving out detailed descriptions of musical parties unrelated to the story, I would have given it 4 stars. If the ending hadn't been so depressing, I would have given it five stars.

[Sathya Sekar · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, fun book but with a rather frustrating end. Enjoyed the various caricatures. Edith is beautifully drawn, as are her fickle husband Bruce, her confidant Vince and her swain.

[Nicola Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second in the "Little Ottleys" trilogy. Another enjoyable read. Slightly disappointing ending - but there is another volume to come!

[Mgb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second book about the Ottleys is a fun trip into Edwardian society where the man is the head of the house even when the woman is soooo much more capable. Loved it.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Donata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non ero rimasta molto colpita dal primo capitolo della saga degli Ottley di Ada Leverson. la storia sembrava essere una giustapposizione di capitoli slegati fra loro, da cui non si coglieva l'intelligenza di Edith e la stupidità di Bruce, che erano personaggi relegati sullo sfondo. Questo secondo capitolo migliora molto e le relazioni fra i vari personaggi funzionano molto meglio come meccanismo comico (o meglio ironico). Inoltre il libro offre una gustosa visione dell'Inghilterra di inizio secolo, un momento storico in cui le relazioni e i rapporti fra le persone iniziano ad essere improntati ad un minor formalismo di classe e in cui le persone possono essere veramente se stesse.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good so far. 4*. Funny, as if was written today at first, although much of today's comedy is more blatant. Interested as to where it's going to lead.main character is interesting because she finds humour in everything.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bruce is an ass, but that's what makes it.