The House

Read The House Storyline:

What would you do if you learned the person you were divorcing is dying? On receiving the very thing she wants, a divorce and the power to sell their house, Anna Manning learns that Edward, her soon-to-be ex-husband, is dying. A faithful wife for over three decades, Anna endured Edward's constant absences while traveling on business for his international real estate firm, and his extra-marital affairs. Anna takes Edward to live out his last six, possibly three, months in the house she fought so vigorously to sell. But letting go of someone who has caused so much pain does not come easily. Edward has changed. As their children return home, and say their farewells Anna confronts the challenges that Edward's impending death delivers each of them. Then there is Inman who loves Anna, and provides the one thing Edward denied their marriage—passion and intimacy. Anna must also face the hopes and dreams she abandoned as an art history major turned wife, and mother out of college. In requesting the divorce she had planned to use her proceeds from the sale of the house to move to France. She would study the great art works of Europe, perhaps work as a docent in a Paris museum. News of Edward’s terminal illness provokes Anna to understand the present rooted in the wellspring of the past, and pouring into a future without him. The House shows what happens when we adopt the belief that, All hold regret, and are seeking forgiveness. Our salvation rests in the hands of others—most particularly the ones whom we love most, and who have treated us wrongly.Review5 of 5 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, January 1, 2011 By Martha A. Cheves (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME) This review is from: The House (Paperback) The House - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat `For the past year, Edward and his attorney had fought Anna's request for a divorce. Edward had canceled three times in the last month of the proceedings. As a result, her realtor had lost potential buyers for the house she and Edward had shared. Time is money and money is time. That's what Edward, as a realtor, always said. Now, as Anna's soon-to-be ex-husband, he was squandering away her time and money. Anna had entered the divorce process certain that Edward would welcome the end of their marriage. Now, fifteen months later she had grown weary of fighting to sell the house. ` `Inside the conference room, Anna took her seat next to Henderson. Edward and his attorney, Bryce Withers, sat across from them. Edward gave Anna a faint smile then turned to Bryce who slid the open folder to Henderson. 'As you can see, everything's signed,' Bryce said.'Everything's in order,' Henderson said as he closed the folder. And what about the house?'I've signed over the house to Anna,' Edward said. It's hers. Anna remained dazed by the turn of events. 'Something's not right,' she said.'All Anna wanted to do was divorce Edward and sell the house they had built to raised their 4 children in and move to France. After 30 years of being married to a man that provided wonderfully for the family but couldn't stay true to his marriage, she had had enough. But after spending 15 months of trying to get Edward to sign the divorce papers as well as allow her to sell the house, splitting the proceeds, his sudden turn of heart brought up a red flag for Anna. This just wasn't like Edward and she was determined to find out what made him change his mind. What she found to be the reason for him agreeing to her demands, would forever change not only her life but the lives of their children as well.We are all aware of the problems that arise from a broken marriage, but as I read The House, it made me aware of the real damage to the children that can be brought on by infidelity in a marriage. There can be and probably are many effects that the kids from broken homes can carry into their own marriages.In The House, Anjuelle Floyd takes a husband who has been unfaithful to his wife from the beginning. She gives them 4 kids and then a disaster that will either bring the family closer together or completely tear them apart. I can only pray that if I'm ever put into the position of Anna that I have the faith and courage to do just as she did in dealing with not just a broken marriage but also in dealing with broken adult offspring. This was a very well written and enlightening book. 2010 NOJ Publications 312 pages ISBN# 978-0-9787967-2-3 Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat Stir, Laugh, Repeat --Amazon.com 5.0 out of 5 stars The House - A Detailed Character Study, January 18, 2011 By 'Dellani Oakes', 'Dellani Oakes' (USA) - See all my reviews This review is from: The House (Paperback) Anna Manning wants a divorce. She's asking for freedom from Edward's philandering and emotional abuse he's given her for over thirty years. After more than a year of fighting, he finally gives her all she wants--a divorce and freedom to sell their house. But Edward's changed, diminished, he's dying and has nowhere to go. In an unexpected move that shocks her to the core, Anna decides to hold off the divorce and bring Edward home--to die. Edward's illness and Anna's decision cause each of the characters to reflect on their own lives, meeting their own personal demons and conquering them. Anjuelle Floyd has a unique voice. At times, she confronts adversity, at others, embraces it. Her character studies astutely, but lovingly, reveal the inner workings of the human heart. Exposing them, she invites us to accept them for what they are. By the conclusion of The House each of the characters has made the difficult transition from anger and denial, to acceptance. The House is a beautiful, lyrical story of grief, acceptance and love. I highly recommend it and her other book,Keeper of Secrets...Translations of an Incident for those who enjoy exploring the human heart. --Amazon.com 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful: 2.0 out of 5 stars Not a glowing review, January 22, 2011 By S. Weathersby (North Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME) This review is from: The House (Paperback) Like some others who wrote reviews here, I too received a book from the author, with a request to review it. I agreed to review The Housebecause the plot appealed to me. I was in an unhappy marriage for most of 29 years, until my husband died of cancer. I understood the plight of Anna Manning. The book cover is very attractive and drew me in. But I have to be honest, I could write a glowing review, but it would be hypocritical. I found the book tedious to read. My first thought was that the author needed to separate the writer from the psychotherapist. Too much of the first half of the book reads like family therapy. Anna does too much analyzing of what did that mean, and which pigeon-hole do I put this child because he is like this other person. Too many scenes are cluttered with who is sitting where and what they are eating. And when the grandchildren arrive they are always named by three names and placed in their respective spots in the room. The plot moves like the daytime soap operas that I last watched in the 1970's. If you missed a few weeks and came back, you could pick up the story because Anna has to tell Theo what she told Linda, and then she analyzes the reaction of each of them and starts charting their lives from that point on. It's difficult to read a book when I don't like the characters. Anna is judgemental of everybody, until in the end she judges herself as well. Why does she go around slapping people, and only Inman has the sense to deflect her hand. Inman is the only character I like, and he doesn't have a story to tell until the last third of the book. How could Anna sleep with the man and know so little about what he does for a living? When Anna goes to Paris it is as if she dropped into a black hole. I was eager to hear how a woman who had spent her whole life taking care of family would adjust to living alone in a foreign country. I wondered if her dream of working in a museum would ever materialize, but there was nothing of that. I had to force myself to complete the book, because I promised to review it. When I wrote the author with my honest opinion, she insisted that I post my review to show all sides. It has taken me three months to post this review. --Amazon.com About the AuthorAnjuelle Floyd is a wife of thirty years, mother of three, licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in Mother-Daughter Relations and Dreams. She is also the author of "Keeper of Secrets ... Translations of an Incident," (2007,) and "Seasons in Purdah," (2012.) Anjuelle's short stories and novels turn on the dynamics of women for whom life challenges impel them to examine the flawed relationships with their mothers in an effort to improve connections and interactions with their husbands and intimates. A graduate of Duke University, she received her MA in Counseling Psychology from The California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco. She has attended the Dominican Institute of Philosophy and Theology at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California, and received her MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College, Port Townsend, Washington. She has received certificates of participation from The Hurston-Wright Writers’ Week and The Voices of Our Nations Writing Workshops. The Spring 2006 Issue of The Pitkin Review, literary journal of Goddard College MFA Program in Writing, lists, along with other works, Anjuelle’s short story, The Kingdom of Heaven in the prose/fiction section. Anjuelle conducted the Master Fiction Class at the 2008 Winter Literary Festival hosted by The University of Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton, Texas. The 2008 Issue of Windhover, the literary journal of Mary Hardin-Baylor published, along with works by other writers, Anjuelle’s short story, Eucharist, that Kaleidoscope Magazine, the journal for the United Disabilities Services subsequently featured in their July 2009 Issue. A student of Process Painting for the last decade, Anjuelle has participated in The Art of Living Black Exhibitions 2004–2013 held at the Richmond Art Center, Richmond, California. In On January 9th, 2013, Anjuelle was presented the Jan Hart-Schuyers Award for her painting, Intimacy, exhibited during The 2013 Art of Living Black Exhibition. Anjuelle facilitates writing groups and provides individual consultation of fiction projects. She also gives talks on Mother-Daughter Relations and The Healing Power of Mothers Loving Their Daughters Unconditionally, The Need for Family, the Writing Process as a Path Toward Self-discovery and Healing.