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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
This book is so amazing... I fell in love with the movie the first time I saw it and when I found out that there was a book, I just had to read it as soon as possible. This book is one that I will probably read at least once a year. The story and writing carry you to Moonacre on the back of that little white horse. I’m also a sucker for happy endings and the ending of this book has got to be one of the best that I have ever read. Everyone married the person they loved. Even Miss Heliotrope found her long lost love. I also loved Robin and Maria together. For two people so young, they knew how to support each other and do what needed to be done. This is a true fairytale that should go down with the greats.
Didn't realise this was an abridged version - so disappointed!
Recommended by Laura, we loved it. Great animal characters, and great human ones, too!
Every thirteen year old girl’s dream self-insert self-indulgent overly-descriptive story. I’m not the target audience, though, so my opinion certainly isn’t the be-all end-all.
Newly orphaned thirteen-year-old Maria Merryweather travels with her devoted governess and dog to live with her uncle in the West Country of England. She is delighted to discover that her new home is a castle, and an otherworldly one at that. There are plenty of mysteries to unravel regarding her family history and the animals of the household play a wise and crucial role in the adventure. Maria delves into the past to learn what she must do to bring peace and happiness to Moonacre Castle and the village of Silverydew. While out-and-out magic remains on the periphery, she is aided by the very remarkable animals of the manor and several saintly, benevolent grownups. There is a knightly ghost of an ancestor, a best friend who visits her in her dreams, a lovably eccentric old Parson, a lady living under a hill, a lost pearl necklace, the poaching and thieving Men of the Dark Pines, the ruins of a monastery, and glimpses of an elusive white horse.
This is an elaborately decorative story, full of pink geraniums, intricate embroidery, miraculously appearing pastries, protective pets, family quarrels, long-separated lovers, breathtaking countryside views, smiling villagers, and sunbeams through stained glass windows. On one level it is adamantly old-fashioned, with a firm adherence to christian lessons and virtues, and a dedication to the traditional role of the aristocracy: being benevolently superior to the scraping villagers who adore them. For me Maria's plush life in the castle - waited upon hand and foot by devoted servants - was a little annoying. It's unusual to have your plucky heroine not undergo the slightest bit of hardship. Through every scary moment or encounter she actually has a lion by her side to protect her, for heaven's sake!*
But still... the effect of it all is rather enchanting. I know that many little girls love this kind of story precisely because of all the descriptions of rich clothes, delightful tower bedrooms, glorious gardens and delicious meals. This is wish fulfillment fiction at its most florid. What could be more appealing than to be unexpectedly installed in a castle as the Moon Princess, complete with devoted servants, animals and caregivers? (And your very own pony!) In the midst of all this luxury, Maria does take it upon herself to unravel the mysteries, reunite the lovers, reform the bad men, redress past wrongs, and win the ghost of the Merryweather patriarch eternal peace. The lessons Maria herself takes away from the adventure are those of piety and good manners: she mustn't be too vain, or too curious, and mustn't ever quarrel. The first two of these lessons are extremely odd - she mustn't be vain about her appearance, yet the book goes into a lot of detail regarding every outfit she puts on and every ribbon that goes into her hair. And she must reign in her curiosity... though she is in the middle of solving a whole assortment of mysteries. It's almost as if the old-fashioned female values are in direct conflict with the necessary personality traits of a modern, active heroine. (Remember this is set in the 1800s but was written in the 1940s, a time of great change in women's roles.)
Besides all the magic and history, there is also a fair amount of chaste romance as well - the happy ending (besides peace in the valley) involves every reunited couple marrying, including the 14-ish year old Maria and her dashing shepherd-boy Robin.
Be aware: the "white horse" of the title plays only the tiniest, albeit pivotal, role in the plot and is only rarely glimpsed. It is unfortunate that the cover art for this book inevitably pictures the horse predominantly, also giving away the fact that it's actually a unicorn.
In conclusion: This book is a dense read, with quite a complicated plot for a children's book. It is resolutely old-fashioned in its values and manners, with a strong (but not heavyhanded) religious theme running throughout. It is also a richly descriptive piece for anyone who loves fine clothes, gardens and food. The heroine is clever and good, and always ably assisted by watchful adults and animals. Magical and enthralling, with only the briefest episodes of fear and danger. Odd in many ways, but packs a punch.
*One weak story point that just didn't fly with me was the fact that Maria goes through most of the story thinking Wrolf is a large, strange dog, before finally realizing he's a lion. Now how likely is that, really?
This is an elaborately decorative story, full of pink geraniums, intricate embroidery, miraculously appearing pastries, protective pets, family quarrels, long-separated lovers, breathtaking countryside views, smiling villagers, and sunbeams through stained glass windows. On one level it is adamantly old-fashioned, with a firm adherence to christian lessons and virtues, and a dedication to the traditional role of the aristocracy: being benevolently superior to the scraping villagers who adore them. For me Maria's plush life in the castle - waited upon hand and foot by devoted servants - was a little annoying. It's unusual to have your plucky heroine not undergo the slightest bit of hardship. Through every scary moment or encounter she actually has a lion by her side to protect her, for heaven's sake!*
But still... the effect of it all is rather enchanting. I know that many little girls love this kind of story precisely because of all the descriptions of rich clothes, delightful tower bedrooms, glorious gardens and delicious meals. This is wish fulfillment fiction at its most florid. What could be more appealing than to be unexpectedly installed in a castle as the Moon Princess, complete with devoted servants, animals and caregivers? (And your very own pony!) In the midst of all this luxury, Maria does take it upon herself to unravel the mysteries, reunite the lovers, reform the bad men, redress past wrongs, and win the ghost of the Merryweather patriarch eternal peace. The lessons Maria herself takes away from the adventure are those of piety and good manners: she mustn't be too vain, or too curious, and mustn't ever quarrel. The first two of these lessons are extremely odd - she mustn't be vain about her appearance, yet the book goes into a lot of detail regarding every outfit she puts on and every ribbon that goes into her hair. And she must reign in her curiosity... though she is in the middle of solving a whole assortment of mysteries. It's almost as if the old-fashioned female values are in direct conflict with the necessary personality traits of a modern, active heroine. (Remember this is set in the 1800s but was written in the 1940s, a time of great change in women's roles.)
Besides all the magic and history, there is also a fair amount of chaste romance as well - the happy ending (besides peace in the valley) involves every reunited couple marrying, including the 14-ish year old Maria and her dashing shepherd-boy Robin.
Be aware: the "white horse" of the title plays only the tiniest, albeit pivotal, role in the plot and is only rarely glimpsed. It is unfortunate that the cover art for this book inevitably pictures the horse predominantly, also giving away the fact that it's actually a unicorn.
In conclusion: This book is a dense read, with quite a complicated plot for a children's book. It is resolutely old-fashioned in its values and manners, with a strong (but not heavyhanded) religious theme running throughout. It is also a richly descriptive piece for anyone who loves fine clothes, gardens and food. The heroine is clever and good, and always ably assisted by watchful adults and animals. Magical and enthralling, with only the briefest episodes of fear and danger. Odd in many ways, but packs a punch.
*One weak story point that just didn't fly with me was the fact that Maria goes through most of the story thinking Wrolf is a large, strange dog, before finally realizing he's a lion. Now how likely is that, really?
I put off reading this book for years (it was on my bookshelf as a child), and now I wonder why. Clearly written for children (albeit with some big words, especially as spoken by Marmaduke Scarlet), The Little White Horse is a delightful tale of love, forgiveness and restoration. Maria, the heir to Moonacre and its accompanying village of Silverydew, is led to discover the history of the locale soon after her arrival. I really enjoyed uncovering the secrets with her, and likewise how she came to resolve the problems that plagued the land and the people living there.
The thought that I wish to take away from this book is this quote: "...nothing worthwhile in this world is achieved without love and humility."
The thought that I wish to take away from this book is this quote: "...nothing worthwhile in this world is achieved without love and humility."
I just can't with this one. It's clearly right up my alley, but it's so damn juvenile. I think I've been reading too much modern YA fantasy. yeesh.
Reminds me of something I would have enjoyed immensely when I was very little (aside from the God references). In this world, everything is superlative, ivory white. The flowers always bloom perfectly, the temperature is alway right, and decades old animosity can be solved by a thirteen year old girl and a string of pearls.
This is a real cozy comfort read. But it was written In 1946 and that shows. There are frequent references to the dreadfulness of Feminine Curiosity! The heroine must restrain her curiosity and wait for people to tell her what she needs to know in order to solve the mystery and resolve the centuries old enmity between her family and a neighbor. The constant strictures against women being wickedly curious are grating, especially In the scene Where the cook Marmaduke Scarlet says:
"as for your lady governess, she is a distinct improvement upon that other duenna, who resided here before with the other young mistress, and who never stopped asking questions. Through the keyhole I have perceived her to be a woman of great saintliness of character and weakness of digestion, characteristics which by concentrating a lady's mind upon her own soul and her stomach, do not allow her to indulge in that feminine curiosity about the affairs of others which renders her so trying to the males whose domicile she shares."
So apparently women should restrain their curiosity, but it is all right for men to spy through the keyhole.
Even though I always get annoyed when I read this book I also love the British charm, the setting, and the descriptions of food. This book must have been written when Britain was undergoing rationing, so I suppose the food was just as much a fantasy for the author as it is for me when I read this it.
"as for your lady governess, she is a distinct improvement upon that other duenna, who resided here before with the other young mistress, and who never stopped asking questions. Through the keyhole I have perceived her to be a woman of great saintliness of character and weakness of digestion, characteristics which by concentrating a lady's mind upon her own soul and her stomach, do not allow her to indulge in that feminine curiosity about the affairs of others which renders her so trying to the males whose domicile she shares."
So apparently women should restrain their curiosity, but it is all right for men to spy through the keyhole.
Even though I always get annoyed when I read this book I also love the British charm, the setting, and the descriptions of food. This book must have been written when Britain was undergoing rationing, so I suppose the food was just as much a fantasy for the author as it is for me when I read this it.
A beautiful, beautiful book that whisks one away to a fairyland while managing a little bit of this reality too.