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dastacy's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
heather_boo's review
5.0
I had a little bit of trouble getting into the book because I was also starting Kristin Hannah’s The Four Winds, and both take place in the early 20th century and are about skinny, unattractive “spinsters” who are in defiance of their family and want to finally live after years of inertia. And both have cardiac issues. In the case of Valancy, she finds out she has a year to live and she is prompted to take action even if it means ruining her reputation forever. What wonderful twists and turns in this book. Truly enjoyable.
kellyrenea's review against another edition
5.0
Book 4 of 2023: The Blue Castle by Lucy Montgomery
Valancy Stirling, a young woman of twenty-nine, has spent her entire life living in the shadow of her overbearing mother and gossipy extended family. She has never dared to defy their low expectations of her or attempted to gain independence and had long abandoned any hope of marriage. But when she receives a devastating diagnosis, Valancy decides it’s time to take control of her life and live it to the fullest. As she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, Valancy encounters a cast of quirky, vividly drawn characters who help her kindle a newfound passion for life.
I adored The Blue Castle! I cannot believe this was the first time I have ever read the novel, but I had never heard of it before joining my book club. My recommendation to everyone is to read this fabulous book - you will not be disappointed.
My favorite quote from the book:
“I’ve been trying to please other people all my life and failed,” she said. “After this I shall please myself. I shall never pretend anything again. I’ve breathed an atmosphere of fibs and pretences and evasions all my life. What a luxury it will be to tell the truth! I may not be able to do much that I want to do but I won’t do another thing that I don’t want to do. Mother can pout for weeks—I shan’t worry over it. ‘Despair is a free man—hope is a slave.’”
Valancy Stirling, a young woman of twenty-nine, has spent her entire life living in the shadow of her overbearing mother and gossipy extended family. She has never dared to defy their low expectations of her or attempted to gain independence and had long abandoned any hope of marriage. But when she receives a devastating diagnosis, Valancy decides it’s time to take control of her life and live it to the fullest. As she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, Valancy encounters a cast of quirky, vividly drawn characters who help her kindle a newfound passion for life.
I adored The Blue Castle! I cannot believe this was the first time I have ever read the novel, but I had never heard of it before joining my book club. My recommendation to everyone is to read this fabulous book - you will not be disappointed.
My favorite quote from the book:
“I’ve been trying to please other people all my life and failed,” she said. “After this I shall please myself. I shall never pretend anything again. I’ve breathed an atmosphere of fibs and pretences and evasions all my life. What a luxury it will be to tell the truth! I may not be able to do much that I want to do but I won’t do another thing that I don’t want to do. Mother can pout for weeks—I shan’t worry over it. ‘Despair is a free man—hope is a slave.’”
hannahdiane's review
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
thebookgirly's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
callienicole's review
5.0
Well, if I needed proof that L. M. Montgomery was delightful outside of the Anne series, this book did it. I loved this one! It was charming and funny, and far-fetched and perfect.
Valancy is an "old maid" at 29 years old. With a very controlling mother and extended family, she is not allowed to do anything she likes for fear of reproach and public disgrace. That is, until she finds out that she has a heart problem and has a year left to live. She decides that it's terribly wrong to die when you haven't had a chance to live, and she goes about "living".
While I wouldn't say I always approved of her attitude (she is terribly pessimistic and disrespectful toward the beginning of the book), I wouldn't say you would read this book for an example of how to be. Valancy's attitude doesn't change until her circumstances do, so not a great positive role model in that respect. No, if you read this book, you read it for the pure fun of a funny, far-fetched story. It's very reminiscent of a modern rom-com, only written 100 years ago. I loved every minute of it! If you need something light and fun, try this one!
Valancy is an "old maid" at 29 years old. With a very controlling mother and extended family, she is not allowed to do anything she likes for fear of reproach and public disgrace. That is, until she finds out that she has a heart problem and has a year left to live. She decides that it's terribly wrong to die when you haven't had a chance to live, and she goes about "living".
While I wouldn't say I always approved of her attitude (she is terribly pessimistic and disrespectful toward the beginning of the book), I wouldn't say you would read this book for an example of how to be. Valancy's attitude doesn't change until her circumstances do, so not a great positive role model in that respect. No, if you read this book, you read it for the pure fun of a funny, far-fetched story. It's very reminiscent of a modern rom-com, only written 100 years ago. I loved every minute of it! If you need something light and fun, try this one!
meek's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
fantasticraccoon's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
jessienoelle's review
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This is one of my all-time favorite books. It's a sweet little story about love, life, and being brave enough to make your own way in the world.
pinkbookscoffee's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery is one of those backlist classic books I’ve meant to read for years. I’ve loved the Anne of Green Gables book series since I was a young girl, but I haven’t read many of her other books. I read this mostly from an actual paperback book.
I think The Blue Castle is as good a classic romance as a Jane Austen book, though it takes place about a hundred years later. It’s one of the few adult novels that L.M. Montgomery wrote.
This book has social commentary, humor, tears, romance, and a wonderfully written cast of characters. Plus cats! This is a cat-friendly book. The chapters are short. There are 45 chapters in this book that’s about 250 pages long. If you’re looking for short chapters, this book has them.
I think The Blue Castle is as good a classic romance as a Jane Austen book, though it takes place about a hundred years later. It’s one of the few adult novels that L.M. Montgomery wrote.
This book has social commentary, humor, tears, romance, and a wonderfully written cast of characters. Plus cats! This is a cat-friendly book. The chapters are short. There are 45 chapters in this book that’s about 250 pages long. If you’re looking for short chapters, this book has them.
"Fear is the original sin," wrote John Foster. "Almost all the evil in the world has its origin in the fact that some one is afraid of something. It is a cold, slimy serpent coiling about you. It is horrible to live with fear; and it is of all things degrading."
The beginning of the book is slower with lots of social commentary and introductions to Valancy’s family and her expected societal limitations. The social and religious commentary alone was riveting.
In many ways, I’m glad I read this book for the first time as an adult married woman and mother. I think I appreciated the nuance more than I would have ten years ago. I thought and talked about The Blue Castle intensely for days after I finished reading it.
The last 25% of the book is packed with reveals and emotional excitement.
I cried big tears at Cissy Gay’s story of her baby’s death, then for her own death a few pages later.
The only problem with this romance is that Barney Snaith is perhaps the worst name for a romantic lead I’ve ever heard.
I’m interested in how much detail is on the page compared to what we’re supposed to understand is going on off-page. In my experience, intimacy is rarely mentioned in a book like this. A “respectable” book published in 1926.
To “make love” means romantic speech or “sweet nothings” and seems to have no “bedroom” implications. I’ve read this in “older” books before, but it was especially noticeable here that this was still accurate. On the drive home after they get married, Valancy says she doesn’t “want him to make love” to her, and suggests that she just wants him to talk to her like usual.
But I wanted you to talk. I don't want you to make love to me, but I want you to act like an ordinary human being.
Then as soon as they get to the island, they have their first kiss. I think we are to understand from this first kiss, that they have an intimate physical relationship.
Barney lifted Valancy out of the canoe and swung her to a lichen-covered rock under a young pine-tree. His arms were about her and suddenly his lips were on hers. Valancy found herself shivering with the rapture of her first kiss. "Welcome home, dear," Barney was saying.
And a bit later, this line.
And that little kissable dent just between your collar bones.
That sounds quite intimate to me. Interestingly, none of the “marriage of convenience” style tropes such as sleeping apart happened. That’s not where the romance is. A sweet and wonderful relationship is described for them, from companionship to implied physical intimacy. The conflict comes from the unknowns in his past as well as her assumed quickly approaching death.
All this, and still Valancy does not believe he loves her. She truly thinks he’s just been pitying and humoring her. This is frustrating to the reader but is not unbelievable given her emotionally abusive upbringing.
Thankfully, they sort it all out in the end.
The hypocrisy of her family! Ugh!