Coming Home To Hummingbird House, Book 4 of the Hummingbird House Series by Jane Harvey

Absorbing, Intriguing, Entertaining

Contemporary Fiction

Coming Home To Hummingbird House, Book Four of The Hummingbird House Series by Jane Harvey - Novelist

Now

April and Paul are making plans to move out of Hummingbird House to a home of their own. Joshua has moved in, and Paul still isn’t comfortable around him, and what is the reason Joshua taking an interest in April’s sister, Kelly? Paul doesn’t think he’s old enough for his age to be causing him physical problems. Why then is he finding that exerting himself is giving him discomfort, and how will April and Paul react when Kelly’s ex-husband Russ starts making waves? What mystery is to be discovered when fittings are moved in April and Paul’s flat in the midst of ensuring that it is left habitable for the next tenant?

1984

With such a long history of being in each other’s lives, and Betty having been on her own for more than a decade, is something more flourishing between our favourite landlady and her ex-tenant, Arthur? How does Betty get on at recruiting tenants in the wake of so many changes to the boarding house? Why is Arthur acting so evasive when she suggests he move back into Hummingbird House, and how does seven-year-old Mark react when he is unexpectedly reunited with an old friend?

When I read that this was to be the last in the Hummingbird House Series, I was disappointed, because I felt that there was plenty more mileage to be had from the characters. I follow Jane Harvey online. She posted on the release date, offering an opportunity for people to pose questions about the series. I asked her why she was closing Hummingbird House, and I do understand her reasoning. However, this fourth book hasn’t really done anything to make me feel any different. Even with the comings and goings of tenants that have occurred over the years and also those who remain in Betty’s boarding house, there are characters who still have more of a story to tell, such as Jonty and Ben, who are my favourite characters, and Joshua, who we don’t really know yet. It would be nice to see April and Paul further their relationship, or not, and Olive grow up. I will also miss Betty. I feel that I don’t yet know enough about Sandra and her dynamic with her son. So I really hope there is more to come, as has been alluded to. Whilst the descriptive passages encompassing April and Paul’s house move were well detailed, I did feel that they were slightly laboured. However, one thing that Jane does particularly well is write dialogue, and I greatly enjoyed that, this time around. I read the book in digital form, and the illustrations that I have seen via Amazon and Jane’s page are a good depiction of what she has created. I also bought a Hummingbird House notebook which I love so much I can’t bring myself to use it. The illustrations in it are beautifully done. Both the length of, and the chapters contained within ‘Coming Home To Hummingbird House,’are ideal if you are looking for a relatively quick but cosy read.

1984

Arthur and Betty’s relationship is very sweet and very demure in the way that they tiptoe around each other. Arthur being slightly more forward and Betty modest and unassuming. I did smile, and was surprised at Betty’s innocence when she declined the offer that Arthur makes that she stay at his flat, and also when she doesn’t want him helping her make her bed. Although, as we know from past books, Dorothy was a very overbearing mother with old fashioned values, and being married to William was hardly an introduction to the Karma Sutra. Even when talking with the builder, she is shocked to find herself talking about appliances that evoke images of intimate self care. As Jane very eloquently puts it, ‘Arthur wanted to be her safety, he made her feel safe, like coming home’. They both find it hard to discuss matters of the heart and dance around anything of any importance, avoiding contention. But it is plain to see that they do have deep feelings for each other. Neither one wants to cause the other anxiety or inconvenience, however, when faced with a situation that neither of them can control, it is probably inevitable. The issue with Arthur is never labelled, and I wonder why the author maybe chose to do that. I think from various clues, it is obvious what it was. I was waiting for the big reveal, but it never came. Had there been, I feel perhaps it might have evoked more emotion in me. When he is broaching the subject of marriage and she says she likes her single life, which you can’t blame her for, I felt Arthur’s crashing disappointment, but I also thought it might have been a bit soon. Her concern at leaving her emotions open to be that vulnerable is no doubt relatable to many.

I was initially puzzled as to why Betty was shaken by the letter from Jonty, but then realised that Betty would probably have assumed that something terrible had happened given Sandra’s history. I thought it was adorable how hesitant Betty, was about asking Arthur to stay the night for the first time, and then how elated she was the next day and it was an amusing moment when Betty feels that there would have been a certain impropriety, after their night of passion, if Arthur hadn’t warn a vest to the breakfast table. In many ways, they remind me of a couple with values from the nineteen fifties, so I was pleased when Arthur makes it clear that he wants to do his share of the chores! I could relate to Betty being wearied by the workman, and it was so sweet of Arthur to purchase something for her that he thinks may help.

Jonty and Mark bonding over the ‘Cresta’ incident was hilarious! I Googled, as I don’t recall it from childhood, and it really does look like revolting stuff! Arthur demonstrated how in tune he is with Betty by considering that the return of Jonty, plus the renovations, would evoke past memories, not all of them good. When Betty hears about Sandra’s behaviour, I did wonder why she didn’t pick up the phone and attempt to contact her long term best friend. Arthur hypothesising on Sandra’s behaviour was I imagine, a little annoying for Betty.

Arthur’s reasons that he finally reveals to Betty for why he originally ended his tenancy at Hummingbird House, are again adorable, but when they have words over why he is procrastinating at moving back in, her silence and walking away speaks volumes, and probably more than shouting, but is quite infuriating. After he has a turn and Betty is asking him a series of questions to see if he has all his faculties, his retort of ‘I never talk about politics, you know that,’ was so unexpected and just brilliant!! Anyone who has ever had a serious health issue, will recognise how Arthur feels, when he tells Betty that he just hasn’t had the energy or head space to think about moving in with her. I thought the author’s description of how the couple feel and act after seeing the doctor was very appropriately written. The sombre mood was captured perfectly. I felt for Betty how she kept delaying the realisation of what was actually happening, putting off that dreadful moment of clarity, when that’s all that’s left. The mention of Betty noting the progress of Arthur’s investigations in her ‘Filofax’ took me back!

I really understood how Betty must have felt at the time, not just with Arthur, but with all the other trappings of her busy life, and her plans to make it even more hectic. She was going to have to spread herself thinly, and it is sad when she makes the comparison of not having him living at Hummingbird House being ‘time out’ for her, in comparison to when he would be residing there full time, as him moving in was supposed to be a time of joy and unity for them. I completely relate to what their relationship will become, compared to what it perhaps could have been and they might have hoped for.

When the new tenant arrives, perhaps not making the best first impression, although him living there would have lessened Betty’s financial burden somewhat, I can’t imagine it helped with her day to day, with his ineptness of independence. Betty’s prim and proper and reserved nature comes out again when she is concerned about how Arthur will react to her being alone in the house with a man, never mind their conversations in his car. I was kind of disappointed that we never got to see how Betty’s new paying house guest, and Arthur interacted, especially after Betty’s secret that she hasn’t told him, is revealed to the reader. Betty acknowledging that all routine and daily consistencies had gone out the window and her having to create a new normal is a feeling I know only too well. Whilst reading Betty’s thoughts over how Arthur would get on once he was home, particularly with something as simple as the power shower, I thought it sweet that she should have taken into consideration something so minor. However, I suspect that her fears are unwarranted as, demonstrated in the last chapter, she has plenty of help on hand. It was so touching how Jonty and Mark were there for them. The description of the three men and the image it evoked, did make me chuckle and feel quite emotional.

Now

As we left them last time preparing to do so, April and Paul are moving out of Hummingbird House, and the author reminds the reader of Paul’s struggles with his mental health. This I was glad of because it was something I had forgotten. I felt at this point that the reader is lead to believe that there is something amiss with Paul more than just his state of mind.

I thought the banter as they clear the flat, was very natural, and I was particularly struck at how despite his hang ups, Paul is easy going and sociable, even when April teases him or comes across as quite forceful, and perhaps overbearing. I immediately suspected the reason for the wording that they uncovered, but not the connection to a person.

I had forgotten the reason for Paul’s attitude towards Joshua, so I got to discover this all over again and was curious as to why he and Kelly seemed close. I’d felt from maybe the last book or the one before that, there was something simmering under the surface between Paul and Kelly, so I actually assumed that this was why he wasn’t a fan of Joshua’s. We are also told that Paul hasn’t mentioned anything of his reservations about Kelly and Joshua to April, and I wondered why. April’s consideration when it came to Paul going to the new house without her, was really heart-warming. I can relate to Paul in this instance, and the challenge of dealing with chaos and clutter when you have an underlying irritation of such things. When Olive and Dai return and Paul sees Jonty looking out of his window, the reason he realises for him doing so, made me love Jonty even more!

It was nice to learn that Betty and Sandra are still in touch and I immediately had sympathy for Sandra when I learnt of her latest ailment. I felt that Paul spent a lot of time showing concern for April’s older sister, which only fuelled my suspicions that there could be more to it. It was interesting that Paul overhearing Kelly talk to Betty about matters of the heart, led him to think about Betty’s past and it was maybe, a pity that this was only touched on and not explored further. Paul is, I think, disproportionately appalled when April tells him of Russ’s plans with regards to his daughter, and I thought this a strange reaction.

Once again and throughout the book, the reader is lead to believe that Paul may have some health issues, but this is never really explained. I wonder if it is something that the author is keeping in abeyance to use in the future. I was quite jealous of the description of Paul and April’s kitchen and was reminded of Paul’s old occupation, and the existence of stainless steel soap. I have ordered some out of curiosity! LOL The phrase used by the author ‘He loved to feed people, and now he got to feed people he loved’, really encompassed what kind of a person he was for me. I was impressed with Paul’s acknowledgement to himself that they should keep in touch with Betty as I would have expected April to have had that thought.

My suspicions of something brewing between Paul and Kelly are once again heightened when Kelly asks to meet him, and Paul feels self conscious about them being alone without April. He is also quick to notice a detail in her appearance. When he relays details of their meeting to April later on, I was surprised that he was so willing to get involved. It was funny that Kelly was so stunned that Paul should want to use the telephone, and that Russ should be so adverse to this means of communication, and that the sisters didn’t show complete faith in him to handle the situation, when I would have said that he was the better person for the job! The unwavering closeness between Kelly and April regardless of whatever they might be going through, was really touching. Paul’s camaraderie with Russ thereafter, I suspect was more about keeping the piece than any blokey bonding!

When Betty thoughtfully brings Jonty and Paul refreshment I laughed at the comment from Jonty and was slightly perplexed and thought Paul was a bit of a snob, until I realised his issue. Oddly enough I couldn’t equate the young Jonty with the adult Jonty, and when Betty shows him what they have found in the now vacant flat, it was like a lightbulb moment that the creation of their findings would have been something that the pair of them shared.

Jonty only being able to navigate using landmarks was a nice little quirk to give him and fitted his personality I thought. Paul enjoying Olive’s squeals of delight at the new house, I thought was a lovely detail. When Joshua gives Kelly the gifts for her and Olive, that sealed it for me that there was nothing going on between the pair of them, as the gifts were much too thoughtful for Joshua to be interested in a woman! LOL I was more suspicious that Paul resented the gifts! I laughed out loud when Paul was concerned about the way in which April is carrying the wine glasses and likewise about Olive carrying the crisps, as I would be the same, LOL. Jonty commenting on Paul’s appearance was both amusing and sweet.

The last couple of chapters in the ‘now’, reminded me of a lot of details I had forgotten, and although I’m not sure how I would have ended it, it didn’t give me the satisfaction that I had perhaps been expecting. The conclusion for both endings, really left me with more questions than answers, so in that vein, I hope Jane revisits the characters or ‘Hummingbird House’ as a whole sometime in the future, continuing with both eras.