I may never look at a black Labrador in the same way again. In July 1964, on the eve of Churchill’s resignation from Parliament, Esther Hammerhans prepares her spare room for a lodger who turns out to be…a large, black dog. There are brilliant descriptions of Churchill’s luxurious estate with its fine gardens, furniture, fabrics and exotic knickknacks and mementos and Esther’s more modest flat full of cheap souvenirs; their homes are veritable museums to both the joys and the pains of their pasts. And in both their lives, Mr. Chartwell lurks, both repulsive and endearing. It is possible to love our misery and still find comfort in its familiarity. This was an odd little book, but wonderfully descriptive and precise. I would very much be interested in reading any further efforts from Ms. Hunt. I won this book on a book blog: http://savidgereads.wordpress.com In order to put our names in the hat, so to speak, we had to associate an animal with an emotion. I think I said something about cats and insouciance. But I think now I am truly haunted what I imagine is a big, fluffy bunny, who encourages me to eat cake for dinner, blow off yoga,smoke another cigarette, and stay up late poking about on goodreads, all the while whispering seductively in my ear that I can get fit, get up early, eat salad tomorrow