4 out of 4 stars
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What makes a house a home? Is it how the morning light shines through the bay window, offering the promise of a new day? Perhaps it is the sound of little footsteps running across the hardwood floor, or the smell of chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven? For Jane Christmas, it is all about the thrill of the chase—the pursuit of a new house, wooing the selling agent, purchasing, and finally, renovating the heck out of her latest love interest.
In Open House by Jane Christmas, the author is candid about her obsession with finding the perfect home, which led to thirty-two moves throughout her life. The book begins when Jane and her hubby, The Husband, purchase a fixer-upper in Bristol, England. As any homeowner knows, elaborate renovations are exciting. Still, they can also be time-consuming, stressful, and cause friction between married couples. In Jane’s case, the renovation also reopened the old wounds of her traumatic childhood.
This exquisite memoir was witty and eloquently written—a literary masterpiece. Open House was like no other book I had ever read; I gleaned valuable information about renovating homes and the stark contrast between owning a home in Canada—where the author grew up—and being a homeowner in England. In addition to the knowledge I acquired, the book was also emotionally charged. It offered a glimpse into Jane’s tumultuous relationship with her mother, her insatiable thirst for perfection, and the feelings of loneliness that go hand in hand with continually uprooting.
I find it fascinating anytime an individual is so unapologetically passionate about something. This was the case with Jane’s effervescence regarding home buying and renovating—she lit up at the mere mention of it. I also loved the transparency and humor infused in her writing when accepting that she had an addictive tendency to seek out the perfect house. I giggled at her outlandish statements. When comparing sex and renovating, she wrote, “Sex toys? Forget it. But give me a pencil and a floor plan and, oh, baby, I can reach ecstasy before you can say, ‘stud wall.’ ”
Another thing that resonated with me was reading about Jane’s childhood—particularly her strained relationship with her mother. Her mother had a penchant for frequently moving, which caused Jane much anguish. Every move her mother put her through meant Jane had to leave her friends behind, but her mother seemed to put her desire to find the perfect home above the well-being and mental health of her daughter. When feeling particularly downtrodden about the situation, her mother scoffed at her reservations. She said, “Friends do not matter. You’ll forget them the moment we’re in our new home. New home, new friends.” As someone who was quite shy as a child and had a difficult time making friends, I can empathize with Jane for feeling resentful towards her parents for not validating her feelings about leaving friendships that she worked so hard to cultivate.
Jane revealed that her marriage to The Husband was her third, and she had moved from Ontario, Canada, to be with him in England. Right from the get-go, I had an immense amount of respect for The Husband, because he seemed to have so much patience for Jane and her eccentricities. I enjoyed learning about how their relationship was tested throughout the renovation process. The Husband did not seem to be keen on moving or having to endure another renovation at their mature age. Still, he supported Jane’s quest for the perfect home.
The book was professionally edited and engaging; I have chosen to give it a rating of four out of four stars. Who knew a book about housing and home renovations could be so intriguing?
Readers who have a love for interior design and renovating fixer-uppers won’t be able to put Open House down. Jane Christmas is very knowledgeable about all aspects of housing, from pursuing a home to moving in, and everything in between. The book has a few swearing instances. It covers some heavier topics like rape and suicide, so I would dissuade younger people from reading it.
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Open House
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