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c4nd1e's review
I read this when I was a kid and I remember liking it. I didn't finish it when I tried to re-read it though. My tolerance for books that I don't enjoy has diminished over the years.
amibunk's review
4.0
2018 update:
On a whim, I picked up my old copy of this book and gave it a quick re-read. When I was younger it was the evil spirit of Emily that made me shiver, but now when I read this book what I find so horrific is the backstory of Mrs. Canfield's relationship to her husband. This is a simple, but quite effective, ghost story that feels timeless and I enjoyed it as much as an adult as I did as a child.
On a whim, I picked up my old copy of this book and gave it a quick re-read. When I was younger it was the evil spirit of Emily that made me shiver, but now when I read this book what I find so horrific is the backstory of Mrs. Canfield's relationship to her husband. This is a simple, but quite effective, ghost story that feels timeless and I enjoyed it as much as an adult as I did as a child.
zerp's review
I read this when I was a kid and I remember liking it. I didn't finish it when I tried to re-read it though. My tolerance for books that I don't enjoy has diminished over the years.
changeablelandscape's review
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This was fine but not really what I was expecting -- not really a creepy ghost story, more a story about the protagonist (Louisa) growing up a little and falling in love, and trying not to deal with the spooky stuff. The ghost plot felt like it was there more to comment on marriage and motherhood than like it was really the backbone of the book -- Emily was a terrible child because of her parents' marriage and she is a terrible ghost until her mom stands up to her, and then the problem is solved, so will Louisa learn these valuable life lessons about being a wife and mother? I didn't hate it, but I wouldn't reread it.
mcsangel2's review
4.0
This book is proof that one can read a YA ghost story for the first time as an adult and love it! Highly recommended!
ashleylm's review
2.0
Not a beloved favourite from my youth--I just read it for the first time, and I'm 54 at present.
The viewpoint character did almost nothing except yearn to be held by a big strong man—it's amazing to me how up-to-date someone like Jane Austen can feel, and how terribly dated and stilted some works from only half a century ago are by comparison!
The ghost's antics failed to elicit any concern from me, let alone actual horror. I wasn't dazzled by the actual sentences (if little happens, but it's beautifully depicted, that's its own reward). Nobody particularly seemed like an actual, authentic person (let alone an interesting actual authentic person), so this was disappointing.
(I realise it's a book for children, but that's very little excuse. The best of childrens literature can hold its head high against the best of adult fiction, I don't lower the bar for them).
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
The viewpoint character did almost nothing except yearn to be held by a big strong man—it's amazing to me how up-to-date someone like Jane Austen can feel, and how terribly dated and stilted some works from only half a century ago are by comparison!
The ghost's antics failed to elicit any concern from me, let alone actual horror. I wasn't dazzled by the actual sentences (if little happens, but it's beautifully depicted, that's its own reward). Nobody particularly seemed like an actual, authentic person (let alone an interesting actual authentic person), so this was disappointing.
(I realise it's a book for children, but that's very little excuse. The best of childrens literature can hold its head high against the best of adult fiction, I don't lower the bar for them).
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
sarahgamal666's review
4.0
I did not really get into the plot that much or didnt find it interesting,, but the way this was narrated completely made up for it. although yes it wasn't boring there wasn't a moment where I was truly bored, just not a very interesting plot. However, the way it's written is truly captivating and makes it hard to put down