The Irresistible Henry House

Praise

“Sweeps along with such page-turning vitality that [Henry’s] story is indeed irresistible. [Grade:] A”—Entertainment Weekly

“Clever and accomplished . . . A little Irving, a little Doctorow, a little Winston Groom—[The Irresistible Henry House] is storytelling for story lovers; realism with an enchanting touch of fairy tale.”—Newsday

“Like T. S. Garp, Forrest Gump or Benjamin Button, Henry House, the hero of Grunwald’s imaginative take on a little-known aspect of American academic life, has an unusual upbringing. Grunwald nails the era just as she ingeniously uses Henry and the women in his life to illuminate the heady rush of sexual freedom (and confusion) that signified mid-century life.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review, Pick of the Week)
 
“A smart, enjoyable read that will leave you with a pleasing thought: Even for guys who just aren’t that into anyone, there’s hope.”—People
 
“Truly extraordinary . . . Get ready for a story, an adventure, and a cast of characters you’ll never forget.”—Liz Smith
 
“Imaginatively picaresque and often gut-wrenching.”—O: The Oprah Magazine
 
“Grunwald’s novel runs parallel to perfection.”—Chicago Sun-Times

“A smart, enjoyable read that will leave you with a pleasing thought: Even for guys who just aren’t that into anyone, there’s hope.”—People

“Don’t miss this book!”—More magazine

“This welcome variation of coming-of-age tales shares with Grunwald’s previous novels a compelling web of characters and emotions that will please the author’s fans and readers who are interested in novels with emotional depth.”—Library Journal

“A rueful but wry case study of nurture as nightmare.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Lisa Grunwald has taken the questions of love and early attachment right out of the hands of the psychologists and theorists and made it live luminously in fiction, in the vibrant and much adored character of Henry House. The novel is smart, provocative and generous. Grunwald masterfully shapes the detail of character and the sweep of history; this is Lisa Grunwald at her best.”—Victoria Redel, author of Loverboy and The Border of Truth

“Brilliant and original, heartwarming and heartbreaking, this stunning novel is as irresistible as Henry House.”—Linda Fairstein, New York Times bestselling author of Lethal Legacy

“Lisa Grunwald re-creates the American mid-century through the eyes of young Henry House as he travels far and wide on a quest to discover his authentic and creative self. The Irresistible Henry House is a powerful and engaging story about our need for community, truth, and love.”—Julie Metz, author of Perfection

“Lisa Grunwald has a fantastic love story to tell, and she tells it so entertainingly that you hardly notice until you’re done that she’s slyly rewritten the social history of the fifties and sixties.”—Marilyn Johnson, author of This Book Is Overdue: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All