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marthabethanreads's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
tr4278's review against another edition
They don't write novels like this anymore! It truly has everything: a dastardly villain, a resourceful heroine, crumbling English estates, an imprisoned (Broadway) princess...not to mention a super charming typewriter salesman. Burnett's novels are so good at portraying cultures and slices of life and THE SHUTTLE is one of her best.
krobart's review
4.0
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2018/01/02/day-1163-the-shuttle/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2018/01/02/day-1163-the-shuttle/
pattydsf's review against another edition
4.0
At the beginning of this year, I saw this title on a "best of" list put out by Fiction_L. Fiction_L is a listserve of wonderful librarians who help each other out with Readers' Advisory questions. At the end of each year they ask for folks to respond with their best reads of that year. The Shuttle was mentioned.
I had no idea that Frances Hodgson Burnett wrote any books aimed at adults. That was one of the reasons I was intrigued. The other reason was that my hobby (besides reading) is handweaving. I figured the book has to be on my "to read" list. Fortunately it was available for my Kindle for free. I just didn't know it would take me all year to read it.
The early twentieth century was a different time and books written then require some patience from twenty-first century readers. There is much more description - the paragraphs and the chapters are longer. In this novel the action took longer to happen than I am used to. I had to have some time available to sit and read - I couldn't pick this up and just read for a few minutes.
This novel was well worth the attention it took. The story of the Vanderpoels, Nigel Anstruthers and Mount Durstan was, for me a fascinating look at a world that I would never have been a part of. I have no interest in being part of this world, but like many others I am curious about those who have money.
The world has changed since 1907, but human nature has not. Burnett's take on the world of the super rich was an interesting character study into various kinds of people. Betty Vanderpoel was a woman I would have liked to meet. Her worldview was different that I would have expected from a woman of that era. I am curious if Burnett's own life influenced this character.
I am very glad I got to read this. It reminded me that some books are worth the time they take - reading fluff all the time is like eating dessert for every meal.
It is wonderful that folks are making this type of book available for electronic readers. Not all books can stay in print, but we should be able to read them if we desire.
I would recommend this to those who love Burnett's children's stories, also to romance readers looking for a bit more to think about and to those who have not read a book published more than 100 years ago. It is good to see what books used to be like.
I had no idea that Frances Hodgson Burnett wrote any books aimed at adults. That was one of the reasons I was intrigued. The other reason was that my hobby (besides reading) is handweaving. I figured the book has to be on my "to read" list. Fortunately it was available for my Kindle for free. I just didn't know it would take me all year to read it.
The early twentieth century was a different time and books written then require some patience from twenty-first century readers. There is much more description - the paragraphs and the chapters are longer. In this novel the action took longer to happen than I am used to. I had to have some time available to sit and read - I couldn't pick this up and just read for a few minutes.
This novel was well worth the attention it took. The story of the Vanderpoels, Nigel Anstruthers and Mount Durstan was, for me a fascinating look at a world that I would never have been a part of. I have no interest in being part of this world, but like many others I am curious about those who have money.
The world has changed since 1907, but human nature has not. Burnett's take on the world of the super rich was an interesting character study into various kinds of people. Betty Vanderpoel was a woman I would have liked to meet. Her worldview was different that I would have expected from a woman of that era. I am curious if Burnett's own life influenced this character.
I am very glad I got to read this. It reminded me that some books are worth the time they take - reading fluff all the time is like eating dessert for every meal.
It is wonderful that folks are making this type of book available for electronic readers. Not all books can stay in print, but we should be able to read them if we desire.
I would recommend this to those who love Burnett's children's stories, also to romance readers looking for a bit more to think about and to those who have not read a book published more than 100 years ago. It is good to see what books used to be like.
klela's review against another edition
3.0
Bella la storia anche se un pò troppo lunga. Culture a confronto, romance, intrighi e villaggi inglesi tra 1800 e 1900...tutto sommato una buona lettura.
misajane79's review
4.0
My copy is from Persephone, and you just can't qo wrong with that publisher. I've loved Burnett for years, but never read an adult novel, even though one of them has been on my shelf for years. This was a classic Victorian novel, with a dastardly (and truly horrifying--a real mixture of realism and ridiculousness) villian and spunky heroine. It was a wonderful examination of American money and British class issues, set alongside a good bit of women's history. And it was a page turner. Yes, in parts it is almost ridiculous, but I just couldn't put it down and I love it despite its almost Victorian gothic nature.
ellingtonfeint's review against another edition
4.0
DAMMIT I JUST LOST THE WHOLE THING STUID KEYBOARD EW
Ok SO. Let's summerise what I was up to for lack of ability to do anything else at this point.
Betty: The best and most noble girl, a queenly bearing and an American head for business.
Mount Dunstan: A strong, proud man, with a bad family who left him with nothing but a bad reputation and a ruining house.
Together: They make the most impressive and magnificent couple to ever tread the earth.
Their Obstacle: His pride and her money.
The other main plot: Betty comes to save her sister from her dispicable husband.
Rosy: Has been crushed and imprisoned by her awful husband (more on him later) but was and can be again a loving beautiful trusting girl.
Side Characters: Ughtred, what a name! Rosy's son who found himself born into a terrible situation requiring him to grow up almost as soon as he was born.
G. Selden, the typewriter salesuuuuman who becomes the string drawing them all together.
Mr Penzance, Mount Dunstan's personal friend turned prophet.
The villagers; Mrs Welden, Old Doby, Kedgers, Betty's relationship with them and her businesslike care of them all is lovely. Betty was born to look after and run a small English village.
The Villian: Sir Nigel Anstruthers. Boy have I got a lot to say about him.
At first he was the perfect villain to love to hate, but as the story progressed he became little better than a lunatic, driven out of his own mind by his selfish desires and schemes which he was so confident in but which were baulked at at every turn. In the beginning his motivation was greed for the millions his wife's family had and his plan was to dominate her and crush her till she gave it all to him. but later, ten years later, his wife's allowance was under his control being squandered, and Betty arrives.
At this point the psychological war begins. But rather than two strong minds warring, we have a desperate, delusional mind, going mad as his schemes get deeper and deeper and yet don't fully work, and a young, strong mind, which is clear and backed by logic.
So rather than Sir Nigel being a villain with a clear motivation, he simply disintegrates into a madman, so that he is pitiable rather than the cold terrifying villain he started out as. He never manages to pull himself out of the abyss, but, proud in his own way, he continues in his own path, determined to succeed until the bitter end.
and although as a madman he is dangerous with the danger of a obsessed unreasoning mind, he is not unbeatable since his mind is at that point, not capable of the clear scheming that he would need to conquer Betty, not that anyone could.
Conclusion: So that's that. I would read this book again for Betty and Rosy and Mount Dunstan and the Village and the heroics and the Garden and the nobilty of the whole occasion. I would not read it again for the sake of a well done victory over the villain because of the reasons stated above. Actually I'm a little annoyed that Sir Nigel took up such a big part of this review when he was so annoying and this book was so good!
Ok SO. Let's summerise what I was up to for lack of ability to do anything else at this point.
Betty: The best and most noble girl, a queenly bearing and an American head for business.
Mount Dunstan: A strong, proud man, with a bad family who left him with nothing but a bad reputation and a ruining house.
Together: They make the most impressive and magnificent couple to ever tread the earth.
Their Obstacle: His pride and her money.
The other main plot: Betty comes to save her sister from her dispicable husband.
Rosy: Has been crushed and imprisoned by her awful husband (more on him later) but was and can be again a loving beautiful trusting girl.
Side Characters: Ughtred, what a name! Rosy's son who found himself born into a terrible situation requiring him to grow up almost as soon as he was born.
G. Selden, the typewriter salesuuuuman who becomes the string drawing them all together.
Mr Penzance, Mount Dunstan's personal friend turned prophet.
The villagers; Mrs Welden, Old Doby, Kedgers, Betty's relationship with them and her businesslike care of them all is lovely. Betty was born to look after and run a small English village.
The Villian: Sir Nigel Anstruthers. Boy have I got a lot to say about him.
At first he was the perfect villain to love to hate, but as the story progressed he became little better than a lunatic, driven out of his own mind by his selfish desires and schemes which he was so confident in but which were baulked at at every turn. In the beginning his motivation was greed for the millions his wife's family had and his plan was to dominate her and crush her till she gave it all to him. but later, ten years later, his wife's allowance was under his control being squandered, and Betty arrives.
At this point the psychological war begins. But rather than two strong minds warring, we have a desperate, delusional mind, going mad as his schemes get deeper and deeper and yet don't fully work, and a young, strong mind, which is clear and backed by logic.
So rather than Sir Nigel being a villain with a clear motivation, he simply disintegrates into a madman, so that he is pitiable rather than the cold terrifying villain he started out as. He never manages to pull himself out of the abyss, but, proud in his own way, he continues in his own path, determined to succeed until the bitter end.
and although as a madman he is dangerous with the danger of a obsessed unreasoning mind, he is not unbeatable since his mind is at that point, not capable of the clear scheming that he would need to conquer Betty, not that anyone could.
Conclusion: So that's that. I would read this book again for Betty and Rosy and Mount Dunstan and the Village and the heroics and the Garden and the nobilty of the whole occasion. I would not read it again for the sake of a well done victory over the villain because of the reasons stated above. Actually I'm a little annoyed that Sir Nigel took up such a big part of this review when he was so annoying and this book was so good!
mx_malaprop's review
3.0
The Shuttle could have easily gotten four stars from me. The beginning is strong, and the ending is compelling. The middle, however, gets a bit laborious with condescending vignettes in which characters from backgrounds of wealth or nobility feel ever so edified in interacting with characters from more humble backgrounds. The story could have been a bit more economically crafted.
The protagonist, Betty Vanderpoel, seems to have virtually no flaws. She's repeatedly referred to as having "genius," and her extraordinary beauty is described perhaps a bit more than necessary, so though she's an interesting character, she's not quite plausible. Throughout the story money seems to be an easy answer to a multitude of problems, which also detracts a bit from general plausibility.
That said, there's a lot about The Shuttle that makes it worth reading (though if you end up skimming a passage here and there, well, no one has to know ;-)). If you grew up reading The Secret Garden and A Little Princess, you'll probably enjoy the similar story world. Also, it shares a common theme with Edith Wharton's The Buccaneers, i.e. marriages between well-to-do New Yorkers and English nobility of the turn of the 20th century, so if you liked The Buccaneers, you might be interested in Burnett's treatment of the subject.
The protagonist, Betty Vanderpoel, seems to have virtually no flaws. She's repeatedly referred to as having "genius," and her extraordinary beauty is described perhaps a bit more than necessary, so though she's an interesting character, she's not quite plausible. Throughout the story money seems to be an easy answer to a multitude of problems, which also detracts a bit from general plausibility.
That said, there's a lot about The Shuttle that makes it worth reading (though if you end up skimming a passage here and there, well, no one has to know ;-)). If you grew up reading The Secret Garden and A Little Princess, you'll probably enjoy the similar story world. Also, it shares a common theme with Edith Wharton's The Buccaneers, i.e. marriages between well-to-do New Yorkers and English nobility of the turn of the 20th century, so if you liked The Buccaneers, you might be interested in Burnett's treatment of the subject.
readingtheend's review
4.0
absolutely obsessed with the way Bettina talks to the wicked husband when he finally shows up in town. every conversation she has with him is A+ perfect no notes. also this book is a lot more about home reno than I expected, and that was Great. every time someone said anything about a building having a new roof, I was consumed with relief and happiness