House by Tracy Kidder is the compelling true story of the construction of a home in Massachusetts. More than 300 pages describe the evolution of the design, the negotiations with builders, the ground breaking, and the roof raising. But, don't 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. 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.
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.
Architecture as Drama
House is about people, not floor plans. Tensions mount as contractor and client quibble over small sums. The architect's search for an ideal design and the client's 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 does include just enough technical information to satisfy most reader's 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. Kidder's discussion of the importance of Greek Revival styles in America could stand on its own.
Yet, as a testament to Kidder's 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.
The Bottom Line
You won't 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.
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.
