The Irresistible Henry House
A Novel
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Narrated by:
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Oliver Wyman
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By:
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Lisa Grunwald
About this listen
It is the middle of the 20th century, and in a home economics program at a prominent university, real babies are being used to teach mothering skills to young women. For a young man raised in these unlikely circumstances, finding real love and learning to trust will prove to be the work of a lifetime. In this captivating novel, bestselling author Lisa Grunwald gives us the sweeping tale of an irresistible hero and the many women who love him.
From his earliest days as a practice baby through his adult adventures in 1960s New York City, Disney's Burbank studios, and the delirious world of the Beatles London, Henry remains handsome, charming, universally adored and never entirely accessible to the many women he conquers but can never entirely trust.
Filled with unforgettable characters, settings, and action, The Irresistible Henry House portrays the cultural tumult of the mid-20th century even as it explores the inner tumult of a young man trying to transcend a damaged childhood. For it is not until Henry House comes face-to-face with the real truths of his past that he finds a chance for real love.
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Editorial reviews
In 1946, Martha Gaines, program director of home economics at Wilton College, receives her twelfth “practice” baby, Henry House — an orphaned child ready to be raised by students in the course as practice for their future as mothers. Martha’s strict and unloving approach to child rearing, based on many of the parenting theories in this pre-Spock era, has no bearing on the fact that she falls deeply in love with little Henry, partly due to her life’s misfortune of losing her own child shortly after it was born. She convinces the dean to let her keep Henry after the two-year time limit and raise him as her own, but Henry quickly proves to be an unemotional little boy, who has trouble returning affections to any one woman. This theme follows him during his life’s journey as he’s shipped off to a school for troubled children, becomes a talented lover of women — and through his character, exemplifies the 60s sexual revolution. As irresistible as he was as a snuggly infant, he proves to be equally so as a young man and adult.
Oliver Wyman’s deep voice lends a documentary-like quality to the novel — appropriate as the story is based on the true use of “practice” babies at colleges in the 40s. Wyman’s slow and methodic story-telling is soothing and his wide range of vocal talents creates believable characters whether he’s imitating a woman’s voice or an infant’s (his baby cries are surprisingly life-like). His approach is warm and enveloping, making even the coldest of characters (like Martha Gaines) have something likeable about them.
This iconic novel is only enhanced by Wyman’s narration and is sure to become a favorite in American literature, among the likes of Forrest Gump and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. —Colleen Oakley
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Stars over Sunset Boulevard
- By: Susan Meissner
- Narrated by: Ann Marie Lee
- Length: 10 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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Los Angeles, present day. When an iconic hat worn by Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind ends up in Christine McAllister's vintage clothing boutique by mistake, her efforts to return it to its owner take her on a journey more enchanting than any classic movie.... Los Angeles, 1938. Violet Mayfield sets out to reinvent herself in Hollywood after her dream of becoming a wife and mother falls apart, and she lands a job on the film set of Gone with the Wind.
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Pass on this
- By Lulew on 03-24-17
By: Susan Meissner
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The Wednesday Sisters
- By: Meg Waite Clayton
- Narrated by: Julie Dretzin
- Length: 10 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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For 35 years, Frankie, Linda, Kath, Brett, and Ally have met every Wednesday at the park near their homes in Palo Alto, California. Defined when they first meet by what their husbands do, the young homemakers and mothers are far removed from the Summer of Love that has enveloped most of the Bay Area in 1967.
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Loved it!
- By Denise Wallace on 06-26-09
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Breaking Night
- A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard
- By: Liz Murray
- Narrated by: Liz Murray
- Length: 14 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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Liz Murray was born to loving but drug-addicted parents in the Bronx. In school she was taunted for her dirty clothing and lice-infested hair, eventually skipping so many classes that she was put into a girls' home. At age 15, Liz found herself on the streets when her family finally unraveled. She learned to scrape by, foraging for food and riding subways all night to have a warm place to sleep. Then, when Liz's mother died of AIDS, she decided to take control of her own destiny.
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unbelievably inspiring
- By Amazon Customer on 03-17-12
By: Liz Murray
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Russian Winter
- A Novel
- By: Daphne Kalotay
- Narrated by: Kathleen Gati
- Length: 14 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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In Russian Winter, the beautiful debut novel by critically acclaimed writer Daphne Kalotay, a famed ballerina’s jewelry auction in Boston reveals long-held secrets of love and family, friendship and rivalry, harkening back to Stalinist Russia. Called “tender, passionate, and moving” by Jenna Blum, the New York Times bestselling author of Those Who Save Us, Russian Winter is a perfect choice for fans of the novels of Debra Dean (The Madonnas of Leningrad), Ann Patchett (Bel Canto), and Ian McEwan (Atonement).
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Read this review; Sophisticated and wonderful!
- By Cookie on 01-15-12
By: Daphne Kalotay
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Black & White
- By: Dani Shapiro
- Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin
- Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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Clara Brodeur has spent her entire adult life pulling herself away from her famous mother, the renowned and controversial photographer Ruth Dunne, whose towering reputation rests on the unsettling nude portraits she took of her young daughter from the ages of three to 14. As Clara charts a path connecting her childhood with her adult life, Shapiro's novel weaves together past and present in images as stark and intense as the photographs that tore the Dunnes apart.
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It was okay
- By Lucy7 on 02-13-19
By: Dani Shapiro
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Family Secrets
- A Novel
- By: Nancy Thayer
- Narrated by: Coleen Marlo
- Length: 10 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Though Diane Randall’s jewelry business is a great success, her marriage is not, and she finds herself growing lonely as her children near adulthood. Meanwhile, her eighteen-year-old daughter Julia is falling dangerously in love, and Diane’s mother, Jean, is relishing her newfound freedom as a single woman in Europe. Distracted by their individual concerns, the three women are ill-prepared for the crisis that suddenly appears on Diane’s doorstep in the form of a handsome FBI agent asking about an explosive secret that’s laid buried for decades.
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Nancy! Is there a sequel? What?
- By PattieLynn on 12-02-22
By: Nancy Thayer
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I'm Supposed to Protect You from All This
- A Memoir
- By: Nadja Spiegelman
- Narrated by: Nadja Spiegelman
- Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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For a long time, Nadja Spiegelman believed her mother was a fairy. More than her famous father, Maus creator Art Spiegelman, and even more than most mothers, hers - French-born New Yorker art director Françoise Mouly - exerted a force over reality that was both dazzling and daunting. As Nadja's body changed and "began to whisper to the adults around me in a language I did not understand", their relationship grew tense.
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Aweful
- By Haley Abreu on 07-05-17
By: Nadja Spiegelman
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Keeper of the Light
- Keeper Trilogy, Book 1
- By: Diane Chamberlain
- Narrated by: Arielle DeLisle
- Length: 14 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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Dr. Olivia Simon is on duty in the emergency room of North Carolina's Outer Banks Hospital when a gunshot victim is brought in. Midway through the desperate effort to save the young woman's life, Olivia realizes who she is - Annie O'Neill, the woman Olivia's husband, Paul, is in love with.
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I can't finish this...
- By Calmeridian Tink on 03-31-16
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The Poison Tree
- By: Erin Kelly
- Narrated by: Jennifer Ikeda
- Length: 11 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Successful journalist Erin Kelly has electrified readers and critics alike with her debut novel The Poison Tree. In this scintillating work, Karen and her daughter Alice have established a safe, happy life free from the madness of Karen’s past. But when Karen’s former lover Rex is released from prison, her old associations intrude upon the present - and threaten everything she holds dear.
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I couldn't stop listening the book.
- By Gladys on 07-29-15
By: Erin Kelly
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The Wife
- A Novel
- By: Meg Wolitzer
- Narrated by: Dawn Harvey
- Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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The moment Joan Castleman decides to leave her husband, they are 35,000 feet above the ocean on a flight to Helsinki. Joan's husband, Joseph, is one of America's preeminent novelists, about to receive a prestigious international award, and Joan, who has spent 40 years subjugating her own literary talents to fan the flames of his career, has finally decided to stop.
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A bit of a downer
- By Jody Cox on 08-01-18
By: Meg Wolitzer
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Fire and Rain
- By: Diane Chamberlain
- Narrated by: Karen White
- Length: 13 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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Into the drought-weary California town of Valle Rosa comes a stranger who promises he can make it rain. All he asks for is a place to stay and complete privacy. But he is too charismatic to maintain a low profile, and the adobe cottage he's given to live in is owned by an investigative TV reporter struggling to revive her career.
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Siri from my Iphone would be a warmer narrator
- By Gwen on 05-30-16
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The Ramblers
- A Novel
- By: Aidan Donnelley Rowley
- Narrated by: Erica Sullivan
- Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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Set in the most magical parts of Manhattan - the Upper West Side, Central Park, Greenwich Village - The Ramblers explores the lives of three lost souls bound together by friendship and family. During the course of one fateful Thanksgiving week, a time when emotions run high and being with family can be a mixed blessing, Rowley's sharply defined characters explore the moments when decisions are deliberately made, choices accepted, and pasts reconciled.
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Lovely Portrait of The City
- By Dingo27 on 02-19-16
What listeners say about The Irresistible Henry House
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Mon
- 03-12-12
3.5 Stars!
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes definitely. In fact I have already told a few friends about this book. I really enjoyed it despite some flaws with the story. It is an ambitious book. The story is about Henry, an irresistible young man who is unable to attach himself to anyone because of his upbringing in a practice house (very interesting). What I didn't like about the book is that the author is always reminding you that Henry is irresistible instead of allowing the story to unfold and the character to develop and grow on you so that you can make your own emotional connection. I liked the character. He is likeable but I didn't see what was SO special or charming about him. With that said, there is more to like in this audio than not - I liked the cultural references, the practice house, the babies, the changing philosophies of how to raise babies, and the ability or lack thereof to love and be able to attach yourself to another person in an authentic way based on your experience as a baby. Plus the narrator is amazing. I want to listen to more Oliver Wyman.
What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)
While I was hoping for a different ending, it was in its own way fitting.
Have you listened to any of Oliver Wyman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
No but I will. He was amazing. He brought the story to life.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
Not sure, but I think this book could make for a very good movie.
Any additional comments?
I really did like this book and think it is worth the listen. It is a slow start but once it picks up, it is hard to put down.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall
- Jennifer
- 05-04-10
Well worth your time and credit
I have listened to hundreds of audiobooks in the past few years, and this is the only one I've felt compelled to write a review on. I disagree with many of the other reviews for Henry House. I felt very sympathetic towards Henry, and his apparent inability to attach himself to others based upon his upbringing. The book did have bits and pieces that were reminiscent of Forrest Gump, however, it is a much different story. I don't want to give away the details of this remarkable book. All I'd like to suggest, is that if you are even slightly interested in reading this book, take the time to read other reviews. I went to another site and found glowing reviews for Henry House. I thought this was an excellent book.
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15 people found this helpful
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- Mariteje
- 08-20-12
Beautifully read
Would you listen to The Irresistible Henry House again? Why?
I enjoyed the first time I listened to this book but probably won't listen to it again.
What other book might you compare The Irresistible Henry House to and why?
Cider House Rules
What about Oliver Wyman’s performance did you like?
The range of voices this reader can do is impressive.
If you could take any character from The Irresistible Henry House out to dinner, who would it be and why?
I don't know if I would like to visit with any of these quirky characters.
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Overall
- Stephanie
- 04-07-11
cross between Gump, Truman and Garp
Nothing to write about. Sounded promising but it just copied a few old time story lines.....
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Overall
- Kelly
- 06-23-10
Very entertaining
I just finished this audiobook and I am recommending it to everyone I know! The characters are engaging and the story moves at the perfect pace.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Shelley
- 12-01-10
Gripping from the first line!
I totally loved the story! The writing was entertaining tho it stretches a bit in the believability department from time to time. The character is quite likable even when he is behaving badly and he blends well with the other characters in the book. What I really disliked about the story was the ending... there wasn't one! You are listening quite contently when suddenly the story just ends! Very unsatisfactory. The book is well read and the voice is pleasing to the ear.
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- Susan
- 08-06-17
I'm on the fence about this book.
On the one hand, it's a somewhat interesting tale. On the other, it's about a terribly self-absorbed child who becomes an even more self-absorbed young man who I'd like to throttle. So it's a toss-up.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall
- Jolene
- 07-09-10
Loved the Narrator
I heard about this book on the best seller list, so I was excited to download it. I found it boring, but I thought the narrator was good. Maybe it's just me.
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- Rachel
- 11-09-15
Intriguing story line, just not my cup of tea
Would you try another book from Lisa Grunwald and/or Oliver Wyman?
I got this book because it is read by Oliver Wyman.
What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)
A bit of a let down. Seems like a cop out in the end.
What does Oliver Wyman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
He can actually do 7 distinctive female voices. 0o0 I finished the book because of his help
Do you think The Irresistible Henry House needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?
Most likely, the ending was rather unsatisfactory.
Any additional comments?
I returned this book
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- Chris Reich
- 11-24-12
Thought It Was Purely Chic Lit. Wrong.
Hey, if anything, this is pure guy lit. Guys can see their complex relationships with the opposite sex in this fantastically novel novel.
Story? First rate. I will admit to losing the line a few times but that wasn't important. I wanted to dislike Henry but couldn't. The author does a brilliant job of infecting the reader with his "charm".
And what a statement on men, women, relationships, childhood! Author Grunwald hits so many notes perfectly right down to descriptions of events that anyone who lived through any part of this period will be able to see, smell, taste---you'll just know it's right.
Nothing is contrived. That is brilliant writing. Read it for that alone and you'll be enriched.
Great book.
Chris Reich,
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7 people found this helpful