I suppose I do not remember these conversations as clearly as I put them down. But I do remember much of that beginning of my life in the Grange. Some impressions I received those first days were true ones, some were false indeed. I sensed something strange, hot, secretive, even evil, in the household, but how strange, how hot, how secret, how evil, I did not of course know.
Reading is a tool. It can initiate conversations, concretize abstract ideas, foster empathy and imagination, and even enhance concentration. But sometimes, one just really needs a comfort read. Something easy, engaging, and just plain fun.
And studies show spending a just six minutes a day with a book (ANY book), whether it be powering through Infinite Jest or breezing through a romantasy find from #BookTok, can reduce stress up to 68% percent! So here's why you should pick up this forgotten gem the next time you need the book equivalent of a warm hug:
The Pink House (1950) is a cozy gothic read about a disabled little girl named Norah who goes to live with her cruel extended family after her mother passes away. The longer she lives there, the more secrets she uncovers about the family. It reminds us of a New England Downton Abbey, with plenty of familial drama and romance tucked away in the pages.
When we meet Norah Holme, she is coddled, confined, and put into a box by all those around her. Even the few with good intentions cannot look past the "disabled" label society has put her in.
The only person who sees her for the brilliant, introspective person Norah truly is is her "Aunt" Poll, the equally brilliant, tough-loving, hard-working caretaker of the Dickinson family. Like Norah, Aunt Poll consistently fights the "spinster" stereotype society tries to put her in for being an unmarried young woman in the 1950s. Aunt Poll promises Norah that, while her life will objectively be harder than the rest of her casually cruel cousins due to her disability, with tenacity and resilience, she can have a good one.
If you've read The Little Princess, or enjoyed any books about overcoming adversity, carving out your place, or slow burn romances, we cannot recommend this book enough.
Who was Nelia Gardner White?
In addition to The Pink House, Nelia Gardner White wrote over 25 novels and countless articles in magazines like Good Housekeeping and Ladies Home Journal. She even gained national acclaim after winning the Westminster Press Fiction Contest in 1948. But sadly, this prolific author is largely unheard of today, even by feminist lit lovers. In fact, we're the first independent press to reprint The Pink House since it's initial print run in the 50s.
The Pink House is a quieter novel.
It doesn't contain allegorical messages.
It doesn't scream overarching symbolism.
It doesn't make sweeping claims about life in the 1950s.
It's inherently a cozy coming-of-age novel about belonging, perseverance, and independence.
But that doesn't make it any less deserving to be a literary classic. We would even argue we need more cozy classics in literature (and our shelves.)
Happy reading!