Welcome to Shelf Control — an original feature created and hosted by Bookshelf Fantasies.
Shelf Control is a weekly celebration of the unread books on our shelves. Pick a book you own but haven’t read, write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up! For more info on what Shelf Control is all about, check out my introductory post, here.
Want to join in? Shelf Control posts go up every Wednesday. See the guidelines at the bottom of the post, and jump on board!
Title: The House on the Strand
Author: Daphne du Maurier
Published: 1969
Length: 352 pages
What it’s about (synopsis via Goodreads):
Dick Young is lent a house in Cornwall by his friend Professor Magnus Lane. During his stay he agrees to serve as a guinea pig for a new drug that Magnus has discovered in his scientific research.
When Dick samples Magnus’s potion, he finds himself doing the impossible: traveling through time while staying in place, thrown all the way back into Medieval Cornwall. The concoction wear off after several hours, but its effects are intoxicating and Dick cannot resist his newfound powers. As his journeys increase, Dick begins to resent the days he must spend in the modern world, longing ever more fervently to get back into his world of centuries before, and the home of the beautiful Lady Isolda…
How and when I got it:
I bought the e-book edition several years ago.
Why I want to read it:
I’ve been seeing several bloggers sharing posts for Daphne du Maurier Reading Week (hosted by Heavenali) — and while I wasn’t thinking about this in time to participate, seeing the posts reminded me that I have a bunch of Daphne du Maurier books that I need to read! In fact, the only boos of her that I’ve read is the one that pretty much everyone has read, Rebecca. But I know there’s so much more to explore, and I do want to make a point of reading more of her books.
The House on the Strand caught my attention as soon as I first came across it. I mean… hello? Time travel fan here!
I’d guess time travel was a much less written-about fiction device at the time when this book was published. It was one of the author’s later books (published 30 years after Rebecca) — I’m so curious about how she portrayed the time travel elements, as well as what the overall reaction to the book was at the time of publication. (I know I could look up this piece, but would rather wait until after I’ve actually read the book).
I believe I have 4 or 5 of the author’s books sitting unread on my physical or virtual bookshelves. The House on the Strand seems like a great place for me to start.
What do you think? Have you read this book? Do you have a favorite Daphne du Maurier book to recommend?
Please share your thoughts!
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- Write a blog post about a book that you own that you haven’t read yet.
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Bookshelf Fantasies 
Not read this one yet Lisa, but I’ve enjoyed most books that I’ve read by her–My Cousin Rachel, Jamaica Inn, Frenchman’s Creek and the King’s General among the novels, and The Breaking Point among her short story collections.
In fact my reaction at seeing your post this week was, but you could have read this for DDM week. Hope you get a chance to join in next year.
I’m terrible at reading for scheduled events, and actually, didn’t realize DDM week was coming until it was already here! Maybe next year — I’ll try to plan ahead! I do want to read all the books you’ve mentioned!
This is my first Shelf Control post – https://booksplease.org/2022/05/18/shelf-control/
I have read and enjoyed The House on the Strand. I love all of Daphne du Maurier’s books that I’ve read. My favourite is Rebecca, but I also loved My Cousin Rachel, The Scapegoat and Jamaica Inn. But I don’t think you can go wrong if you read any of them really! And her short stories are excellent.
Thank you for commenting and for sharing your link — welcome to Shelf Control!! I do have copies of My Cousin Rachel and Jamaica Inn too, Now I just need to get to all of them!
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I’ve never even heard of this book! But wow, it sounds good. I’m really curious to see how du Maurier would tackle time travel 😁
Oh, that’s absolutely why I’m interested!!
I read it for DDM week last year. It was good but not my favorite–here’s my review (no pressure to read it) https://hopewellslibraryoflife.wordpress.com/2020/06/01/review-house-on-the-strand-by-daphne-du-maurier/
Fabulous, thanks for sharing your link!!
I liked Rebecca, and I’ve read and liked several of du Maurier’s short stories. My Cousin Rachel was good, too, but I haven’t read this particular book.
My Cousin Rachel is another one on my shelf!
Time travel isn’t something I really enjoy, to be honest. I mean, I read The Time Traveler’s Wife and I thought at the time it was good but today, I’m thinking, some of the elements are kind of yucky (a grown adult man appearing naked in front of a 10 year old girl…), and sorry, but I no longer buy the whole genetic disorder bit. Still… it was original, but I’m really not interested any more.
I still enjoy a good time travel story… but regarding The Time Traveler’s Wife, I loved it at the time, but now watching the TV adaptation, the yuck factor is a lot more evident.
Ah… I’ve been avoiding the TV show. Never saw the movie either. The book had its good points, but I think I’ll leave it at that.
Hi everyone! I’m a new romance book blogger at The Romance Book Fairy. I’m happy to be here and I’m looking for bookish friends with whom to talk about romance books 🙂
So this is my first Shelf Control post: https://theromancebookfairy.wordpress.com/2022/05/18/wednesday-memes-1-may-18-2022/
Welcome! Great to meet you, and thanks for sharing your link! Looking forward to reading your posts.
I haven’t read this one but was given a copy a few months ago. I have read a number by this author. My Cousin Rachel and Jamaica Inn are favourites of mine.
Lynn 😀
I’m looking forward to reading both of those as well!