From the Bookshelf of Retro Reads…

The Demon in the House (Barsetshire, #3)

Angela Thirkell

Start date: March 7, 2019

Finish date: March 27, 2019

Discussion leader: Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂

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What Members Thought

Mar 19, 2019 Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ rated it really liked it

Shelves: humour, christmassy, keeping-it-short

I usually rate short stories individually in collections, but these stories following the adventures in a year in the life of the enterprising Tony Morland are linked - both by characters & the seasons. So I'm just giving an overall rating.

I would recommend spreading the reads out as much as possible - especially if character development is important to you, as except in the (outstanding)Paradise Pool & the final story Farewell, Morland, Tony changes very little. He remains the same infuriating ...more

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Mar 09, 2019 Elinor rated it really liked it

I'm very fond of Angela Thirkell's writing and happily reading her entire Barsetshire series. This novel is the only one so far that I have dropped from five to four stars -- not because it wasn't just as well written, but because the main character is a 12-year-old boy. Laura Morland is a widowed writer whose youngest of four sons, Tony, is at home from his boarding school for the holidays, "the demon" who has unlimited self-assurance and talks incessantly, routinely inciting rage in his otherw ...more

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Oct 26, 2011 Susan in NC rated it really liked it

Shelves: reread

I always enjoy a visit to Barsetshire, and this reread with the Retro Reads group was no exception.

More of a collection of stories, similar to Christmas at High Rising, a recent reissue of unrelated stories, this book centers on Tony Morland, at 12 years old the youngest son of widowed author Laura Morland. Laura and Tony are two of my favorite recurring characters in Thirkell’s Barsetshire series- his self-absorbed non-stop chatter is hilarious, but I’m sure would be exhausting to live with! La ...more

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Jun 09, 2015 Tania rated it really liked it

Shelves: humour, middlebrow

The story of Laura Morland's son Tony, who first featured in High Rising. He's a thoroughly ghastly child, but a great character who makes for an entertaining read. ...more

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Sep 04, 2020 Jenn Estepp rated it really liked it

Shelves: comfort-food, kindling, lit-wall, pandemic-and-aftermath

After reading later books in the series, it's rather fun to see these characters again at this age. I've been trying to read them chronologically, but availability plays a little havoc with that. It was very entertaining, but I'm glad it was a short one. Tony Moreland is a treat, but as a child, perhaps better as a seasoning than an entire dish (I'm sure the Vicar would agree). ...more

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Feb 10, 2019 Joanie rated it it was amazing

Whew! Tony is exhausting but, since he is not mine and I don't have to clean up after him daily, he is also hilarious.
What an amazing book! A confection as light as air and the tone never wavers from page 1 to the end. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of her books. ...more

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Oct 01, 2020 Amanda Allen rated it liked it

Shelves: classic-novel-resolution, 2020-reads

Dr. Ford saves the day by telling Tony endlessly to shut up. Honestly, if someone had strangled that sh!t, the book would have been better. Hoping he gets his comeuppance in a future book.

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Apr 05, 2019 Kate rated it it was ok

Different era, I know, but I cheered each time Dr. Ford said, "Tony! Shut up!" Not a kid I would want to spend a lot of time with...it was difficult to spend the time to read the story (which seems to be quite awhile.) Other books called my name before I made myself finish this one. ...more

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