T.C. Robson - reviewed on 8/8/2008 + 147 more book reviews

A book with that man on the cover? Already a favorite. And I haven't even started on the words inside the book.

Unlike Sarah Marshall's Daniel Craig biography, Challen's House is comprised of biographies of the main cast of the popular medical drama, including its creator David Shore, and an episode guide of seasons 1 through 3 that beats all others. But let's take it a chapter at a time...

First, the scrumptious Mr. Laurie's bio: Intertwining common facts with lesser- and little-known ones, Challen provides an in-depth look at many, if not all, of the facets of the British actor's life just short of his days in diapers. He covers everything from his rowing days at Cambridge, where he earned a degree in anthropology ("...the most convenient subject to read while spending eight hours a day on the river," quoth Laurie); his battle with depression (while watching a stock car charity race, "...it suddenly hit me: I was bored. I thought, this can't be right," the actor said in a past interview); and his almost-makes-you-want-to-slap-him humbleness regarding his career ("I'm sort of reasonably good at a lot of things but not great at anything yet," he has said). I fail to agree.

Second, the rest of the diagnostic team: Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein), Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard), Foreman (Omar Epps), Cameron (Jennifer Morrison), and Chase (Jesse Spencer) all have their lives put under the microscope as well, including Edelstein's partying past as Lisa E, Leonard's several runs on the theater stage, and Spencer's start with Australian soap Neighbours. All of these five-page biographies give a deeper insight into the characters they portray in House, and even give tips about certain details in the show (so that why Cuddy's password is 'partypants'...).

Creator David Shore gets a lengthier chapter, covering his pre-script writing days as a legal eagle in London, Ontario, Canada, and his sudden urge to head for L.A. As pointed out by the proceeding episode guide Challen provides, Shore is always careful in dropping a plug or two for the Great White North in House's character dialogue. A clever way of keeping to his roots.

The 233-page seasons 1-3 episode guide is the best part, not only providing eye-opening and accurate recaps on each episode but also recalling the Adventures of House's Cane (its special section called the 'Support Staff' - don't ya just love a play on words?), and even inaccuracies and flub-ups in the episodes (Didn't Chase have two gloves instead of one in the scene before?). Challen's views of certain situations and their meanings are refreshing and new, allowing a fan of the show's to look deeper into each characters' actions and giving a newcomer a great taste of what to expect from the dramedy.

Now, I wonder if this Hugh-Laurie built house is on the real estate market...

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