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Not at Home
Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore
14 posts | 4 read | 1 reading | 5 to read
"I don't mind being alone at all. I was often here alone in the blitz, and I was so frightened of the bombs that I quite stopped being frightened of burglars." World War II has ended, residents are flooding back to London, and the housing shortage creates strange bedfellows. Elinor MacFarren--middle-aged spinster, botanical writer, and collector of prints and objets d'art--decides to rent part of her house to Antonia Bankes, whose American husband is with the Occupation Forces in Europe. While Miss MacFarren prefers to live alone, Mrs Bankes seems a perfect tenant. She admires Miss MacFarren's beautiful things ("It's the prettiest room I've ever seen in my life!"), promises quiet and care ("You'll find me madly careful"), and seems an ideal homemaker ("I like housework. I've got quite a 'thing' about it."). Inevitably, however, it's not so easy. Mrs Bankes proves to be exasperating and helpless, skilled only in charm, manipulation, and blithely promising anything to get her way. What follows is an intricately plotted, gloriously entertaining saga of domestic warfare, as Miss MacFarren tries to cope, tries to cajole, and finally tries to rid herself of her meddlesome tenant, all while taking up whiskey--and all with unpredictable and delightful results. This new edition includes an introduction by Sir Roy Strong.
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CarolynM
Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore
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#BookReport for March

Not a great reading month. Not at Home was my favourite for the month.

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bookandbedandtea
Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore
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March wrap up. Not At Home and Here One Moment are tied for my favorites.

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Sace
Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore
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Exactly!!! What was Jimjam‘s owner thinking?? I feel so bad for that little terrier. 😭

Ruthiella Agree. Poor Jimjams. He deserved better. 💔 1w
47 likes1 comment
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bookandbedandtea
Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore
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Pickpick

I don't know that I've ever been so glad to finish a book! The end was satisfying and I loved Elinor throughout (and Maxine! And Mory!) but this was super stressful reading! 😵‍💫 Langley Moore has created an absolutely diabolical character in Mrs Bankes. Despite the tension, this was really good.
#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Ruthiella Awesome! Would the end be so satisfying if the beginning hadn‘t got under our skin the way it did? 🤔 1w
LeahBergen You made it through! 😆😆 1w
bookandbedandtea @Ruthiella No, I think we definitely have to go through all the trauma to properly enjoy the ending. 😱 1w
bookandbedandtea @LeahBergen I feel so relieved! What an uncomfortable story. 😬😁 1w
31 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Sace
Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore
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I have to agree with Miss MacFarren and Joss. Antonia should be kept far away from animals. Like others, this book is kind of stressing me out 🤣

#FurrowedMiddleBrowClub

bookandbedandtea The birds and then the dog! This book is TOTALLY stressing me out! 🫣 2w
LeahBergen I know!!! 😬😬 2w
Sace @bookandbedandtea the…dog? I haven‘t gotten there yet, but I‘m getting the impression I am going to be upset. 2w
See All 6 Comments
Ruthiella It totally stressed me out too. Hang in there. 😥👍 2w
bookandbedandtea @Sace I'm so sorry! I had just read that part, and, being quite upset myself, I wasn't thinking of being careful about spoilers. Again, I'm sorry to have mentioned it. But, yes, brace yourself. 2w
Sace @bookandbedandtea no worries at all! I had already seen some comments so I suspected something anyway. 2w
51 likes6 comments
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Sace
Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore
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Image from Google.
I am really enjoying this one. Harriet is a busybody who really doesn‘t help anyone 🤣

#FurrowedMiddleBrowClub

bookandbedandtea Harriet is so annoying! Elinor needs better friends. 2w
51 likes1 comment
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bookandbedandtea
Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore
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Y'all! Mrs Bankes hasn't even moved in yet (although a bunch of her stuff has been sent) and I. Am. Stressing. Out!

(Picture is of the only botanical print in my house 😉🌼)
#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

LeahBergen Right? This book gave me anxiety 😆😆 2w
bookandbedandtea @LeahBergen I read a few more chapters this evening then had to give myself a break. Guess I'll be reading this a little at a time. 🫣 2w
28 likes2 comments
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CarolynM
Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore
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Pickpick

What to do when someone tramples all over your clearly set boundaries, breaks every promise they‘ve ever made and flagrantly lies whenever convenient, all with a smile on their face? No, not a politician, a thoroughly unsatisfactory tenant! Miss MacFarren‘s response, supremely well supported by the remarkable Maxine, is a delicious revenge. I felt a little sorry for Joss, but he was so easy to manipulate! And Jimjams😢
#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

LeahBergen Haha! Great review! And I love the photo - don‘t let her in to your lovely home to muck up your things! 😆😆 2w
Leftcoastzen Beautiful flowers!💐 2w
Ruthiella Beautiful picture! 😍 For a good portion of the book, I was so stressed on Elinor‘s behalf. 🫣 2w
See All 12 Comments
JenlovesJT47 How long do we have to read this one? I haven‘t started it yet 😳 2w
quietjenn What a pretty picture. 2w
Centique Wow those flowers! 😍 2w
CarolynM @LeahBergen Thank you. And there is no way I‘d have her through my garden gate, let alone in my house! Ugh! 😆 2w
CarolynM @Leftcoastzen @Centique Thank you - they are a sweet gift from a friend😊 2w
CarolynM @Ruthiella Thank you 😊 I was a bit tense in the early stages, then I got cross, but once Maxine got started I was just laughing😆 2w
CarolynM @JenlovesJT47 There‘s no time limit, you can read it any time you like. We will be starting a new Furrowed Middlebrow book in May, but no worries if you are only just getting around to this one then, or even later 🙂 2w
CarolynM @quietjenn Thank you 😊 2w
TrishB You have a very belated birthday book ready to collect! I‘m not sure if you get notification so just letting you know 😘 2w
74 likes1 stack add12 comments
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Ruthiella
Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore
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Pickpick

Be free my little friends!

Oh Jimjams. I had flashbacks to Mr. Jones in “Murder While You Work” 😱🐶💔

Quiet, middle aged Miss MacFarren takes in a lodger to make ends meet. Mrs. Banks comes with great references…but something‘s not right. Should have listened to your gut instinct Elinor MacFarren! This is a kind of domestic horror (the housekeeping kind-no blood or guts) with a little romance & film satire tossed in.

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

LeahBergen Oh, Jimjams! And those starving little birds! I could‘ve killed that woman!!! Wasn‘t she FOUL? 3w
LeahBergen And you are so right … the domestic/housekeeping “horror” was so anxiety-inducing that I thought I might need some meds! 🤣🤣 It was like my worst nightmare. 🤣🤣 3w
Ruthiella @LeahBergen She did not suffer enough! 😠 I‘m not sure the psychology was right. I‘ve known children responsible enough to care for pets! 😱 3w
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LeahBergen @Ruthiella Exactly! Me, too. 😠 3w
quietjenn I am still pretty early in the book, but yes! I keep wanting to yell "There is a housing shortage! You can be choosy! If you take an instant dislike, there is a reason!' 3w
Ruthiella @quietjenn You‘re gonna do a lot of shouting! 😂 3w
CarolynM I love your photo and opening line 🤣 What a horror Tonia was! But I loved Maxine😆 2w
Ruthiella @CarolynM Thanks! 😊 Maxine was delightful! 2w
69 likes8 comments
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LeahBergen
Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore
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Pickpick

Middle-aged spinster, Miss MacFarren, is reduced to taking in a lodger at the end of WWII. Mrs. Bankes comes highly recommended and seems perfect but problems arise on the very first day. To save her beautiful house filled with antiques, Miss MacFarren must find a way to somehow rid herself of this horrible tenant and a course of “domestic warfare” begins. I loved it and think it‘s now my favourite book by this author!

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

TheBookHippie Oh I love the Stafford dogs! 3w
ShelleyBooksie Love those bookends!! 3w
Tamra Cute! 😍 3w
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Ruthiella I found the start unbearably tense… the damage 😱the poor birds 😱 Mrs. Manders 😱! But, at the 30% mark, relief (and romance) is in the air. I hope (suspect) the comeuppance will be satisfying! 😆 3w
rubyslippersreads Gog and Magog! 3w
LeahBergen @Ruthiella I was so anxious at the start! 😬😆 3w
LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads Pretty close! 😆 3w
CarolynM Lovely review and fantastic photo😍 I‘m about 50 pages in and I agree it feels a bit tense so far @Ruthiella 3w
MemoirsForMe Stunning bookends! 😍 3w
LeahBergen @CarolynM Thanks! I can‘t wait to hear if it gives you “tchotchke anxiety”, too. 😂 3w
LeahBergen @MemoirsForMe Thanks!😊 3w
74 likes1 stack add12 comments
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LeahBergen
Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore
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As someone who collects (odd) antiques myself … this book is giving me anxiety.

Miss MacFarren, please get rid of the “bull in a china shop” lodger. I fear for the safety of your Gallé cats! ??

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Leftcoastzen What quirky cats ! 1mo
Ruthiella Those are quite quirky!😹Thanks for the research. I‘m also quite worried about the lodger… It doesn‘t bode well. 🙀 1mo
quietjenn I think the cats are a little worried too 😹 1mo
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Cathythoughts A bull in a china shop lodger …. Oh no 😳😂 1mo
LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @Ruthiella They are quirky! I had to look them up and couldn‘t believe how “modern” they looked for the era. They are circa 1900 but look almost 1980s. 😆😆 1mo
LeahBergen @Ruthiella And yes, the lodger has me biting my fingernails! 1mo
LeahBergen @quietjenn 😂😂 1mo
LeahBergen @Cathythoughts It‘s seriously making me anxious! She‘s broken all sorts of things, got cigarette burns on others, and now she‘s using the expensive cats as doorstops! 😂😂 (edited) 1mo
CarolynM Those cats give me the creeps🥺 Looking forward to starting the book, though🙂 4w
LeahBergen @CarolynM I had to look them up after the description of them in the book! 😆 4w
elkeOriginal Lodger 😬 but cats🥰 3d
70 likes11 comments
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LitsyEvents
Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore
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Repost for @Ruthiella

Hello #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub reading friends! Our second group read of 2025 kicks off in March. This‘ll be the 3rd title from Moore that we‘ve read together. IMO her books aren‘t particularly cosy- they definitely have a few sharp edges. Let‘s see how this one turns out🤔 Read at your own pace & be sure to tag the group when you post. Anyone is welcome to join us. Let @Ruthiella know if you want to be added to the tag list

Ruthiella Thank you! 😊 1mo
27 likes1 comment
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Ruthiella
Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore
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Hello #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub reading friends! Our 2nd group read of 2025 kicks off in March. This‘ll be the 3rd title from Moore that we‘ve read together. IMO her books aren‘t particularly cosy - they definitely have a few sharp edges. Let‘s see how this one turns out. 🤔

Read at your own pace and be sure to tag the group when you post.

Any one is welcome to join us. Please let me know if you‘d like to be added or removed from the tag list.

willaful Sadly I can't find this at any of my libraries, so probably will have to miss out. :-( Even interlibrary loan can't get it. 1mo
Ruthiella @willaful Well that‘s disappointing! ☹️ 1mo
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CarolynM Looking forward to this one even more than usual😃 Doris Langley Moore is becoming a favourite with me. 1mo
bookandbedandtea This author is new to me. Looking forward to it. 😀 1mo
Tamra Thank you! 😁 1mo
Ruthiella @CarolynM I know. The two we‘ve read so far have been witty and with a bite. 👍 1mo
Ruthiella @bookandbedandtea I hope you enjoy it. 😃We‘ve previously read in the group from the same author All Done by Kindness and (edited) 1mo
Ruthiella @Tamra You are welcome! 🙏 1mo
LeahBergen Yay!! I‘m looking forward to this as I so enjoyed the previous two! 1mo
LeahBergen @willaful I see that there‘s a Kindle version on Amazon for $3.99 (if you read e-books) 1mo
quietjenn Thanks for the reminder. I hope we like this one as much as the other. I'm more than ok with a little bite in my reading right now. 😏 1mo
Ruthiella @LeahBergen I‘m super curious about it! 1mo
Ruthiella @quietjenn I‘m looking for to finding out what this one is about. 1mo
Kimzey Thanks! Looking forward to it. 1mo
Ruthiella @Kimzey Me too! 1mo
58 likes1 stack add16 comments
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Sace
Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore
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Thanks to some kindle credits I got the next selection for the #furrowedmiddlebrowclub for free!

Ruthiella Awesome! 1mo
LeahBergen Yay!! 👏👏 1mo
48 likes2 comments