House by Tracy Kidder, A Short Review of the Book

House by Tracy Kidder is the compelling true story of the construction of a home in Massachusetts. He takes his time with details, describing it all in over 300 pages—the evolution of the design, the negotiations with builders, the groundbreaking, and the roof raising. But, dont look to this book for floor plans or building instructions. Instead, author Tracy Kidder focuses on the human aspirations and struggles behind the project. Facts That Read Like Fiction Tracy Kidder is a journalist who is renown for his literary nonfiction. He reports on actual events and real people by creating a story for the reader. His books include the best-selling Soul of a New Machine, Home Town, Old Friends, and Among School Children. When Kidder worked on House, he immersed himself into the lives of the key players, listening to their squabbles and recording minute details of their lives. He is a reporter who tells us the story. The result is a non-fiction work that reads like a novel. As the tale unfolds, we meet the clients, the carpenters, and the architect. We eavesdrop on their conversations, learn about their families, and peek into their dreams and self-doubts. Personalities often clash. The complex dynamics are dramatized in five sections, spanning from the signing of the contract to the moving day and the uneasy final negotiations. If the story seems real, its because it is real life. Architecture as Drama House is about people, not floor plans. Tensions mount as contractor and client quibble over small sums. The architects search for an ideal design and the clients selection of decorative details take on a sense of rising urgency. As each scene unfolds, it becomes apparent that House is not only the story of a building: The construction project is the framework for exploring what happens when we put a running meter on a dream. Truth Behind the Story Although House reads like a novel, the book includes just enough technical information to satisfy a readers architectural curiosity. Tracy Kidder researched the economics of housing, the properties of lumber, the architectural styles of New England, Jewish building rituals, the sociology of building, and the development of architecture as a profession. Kidders discussion of the importance of Greek Revival styles in America could stand on its own as a classroom reference. Yet, as a testament to Kidders craftsmanship, the technical details do not bog down the plot of the story. History, sociology, science, and design theory are woven seamlessly into the narrative. A comprehensive bibliography closes the book. You can get a flavor for Kidders prose in a short excerpt published in The Atlantic, September 1985. Decades later, well after Kidders book and the house was built, the reader can continue the story, because, after all, this is nonfiction. Kidder already had a Pulitzer Prize under his belt when he took on this project. Fast forward to the homeowner, lawyer Jonathan Z. Souweine, who died of leukemia in 2009 at the young age of 61. The architect, Bill Rawn, went on to create an impressive portfolio for William Rawn Associates after this venture, his first residential commission. And the local building crew? They wrote their own book called The Apple Corps Guide to the Well-Built House. Good for them. The Bottom Line You wont find how-to instructions or construction manuals in House. This is the book to read for insight into the emotional and psychological challenges of building a home in 1980s New England. It is the story of well-educated, well-to-do people from a specific time and place. It will not be everyones story. If you are now in the midst of a building project, House may strike a painful chord. The financial woes, the strained tempers, and the deliberation over details will seem uncomfortably familiar. And, if you are dreaming of building a home or pursuing a career in the building professions, watch out: House will shatter any romantic illusions you may have. But while the book spoils the romance, it may save your marriage ... or at least, your pocketbook. Buy on Amazon Originally published by Houghton Mifflin, October 1985, House has become a staple at library book sales. Paperback by Mariner Books, 1999. ~Reviewed by Jackie Craven Related Books: The Apple Corps Guide to the Well-Built House by Jim Locke, 1988Buy on Amazon The Architecture of Happiness by Alain De Botton, 2008Buy on Amazon Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell, 2008Buy on Amazon The Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder, 1981, 2000Buy on Amazon