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3.37 AVERAGE
3.37 AVERAGE
Meh. Everything thing in this book is kinda flat. Characters, predictable (and not very charming) plot, everyone is so “perfect”, Kilmeny’s main quality is how beautiful she is and how much she desires to please Eric. Eric’s main “quality” is how much he can overlook her “flaw” of muteness because she’s just so beautiful. Every man who questions his judgement in his choice of Kilmeny is quickly won over by how gorgeous she is. Very exciting stuff. Haha. Definitely my least favorite of LMM’s works.
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
I think I would have rated this differently about 50 years ago, however this beautifully written love story felt a little too dated for today’s reader. I am an enduring fan of LM Montgomery’s work, and there was much to like about her story and her simple characters, but I didn’t get the sense of drama about the traumatic story of Kilmeny’s past or her reasons for not speaking. Overall it was enjoyable, and I liked a romance from the male perspective.
I’m not sure if my opinion was swayed by reading a very negative review, but I found it so weird every time Eric talked about Kilmeny’s childlike innocence etc. There’s talk about how his kiss makes her a woman etc. I realize it’s a product of it’s time, but for 2023 it reads as cringey.
Also generally not Montgomery’s best work.
Go read Just David by Eleanor Porter for a better story about using a violin to communicate.
Also generally not Montgomery’s best work.
Go read Just David by Eleanor Porter for a better story about using a violin to communicate.
This book lost me in two sentences: “I’m sure I could never care for an ugly woman”, and “It hurts me much worse to know I am ugly than it does to know I cannot speak”.
Between the endless beauty talk, Eric’s insistence on describing Kilmeny as “childlike”, and the existence of Neil, who, because he is “foreign”, is of course a vindictive font of unbridled emotion, there was no way this book was going to work for me. There were some lovely descriptions, and I liked the way Kilmeny expressed herself through music. But, unfortunately, she just can’t hold a candle to flawed heroines like Anne Shirley and Valancy Stirling.
Between the endless beauty talk, Eric’s insistence on describing Kilmeny as “childlike”, and the existence of Neil, who, because he is “foreign”, is of course a vindictive font of unbridled emotion, there was no way this book was going to work for me. There were some lovely descriptions, and I liked the way Kilmeny expressed herself through music. But, unfortunately, she just can’t hold a candle to flawed heroines like Anne Shirley and Valancy Stirling.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Well, I was a little disappointed. I loved the language and the writing and the magical feel of the orchard. But I didn't like the romance.
Eric starts out being a little creepy, to be honest. He starts out talking about her as a girl (as opposed to him being a man) and then suddenly realizes he's in love. Kind of yuck-ish.
And the ending could have been so much more. My girls and I are learning American Sign Language and building relationships in the Deaf community is an important part of that. I was really hoping for a story of inclusion and acceptance of Kilmeny's muteness but it did not turn out that way.
Ah, well, maybe I'll have better luck with the next Montgomery :).
Eric starts out being a little creepy, to be honest. He starts out talking about her as a girl (as opposed to him being a man) and then suddenly realizes he's in love. Kind of yuck-ish.
And the ending could have been so much more. My girls and I are learning American Sign Language and building relationships in the Deaf community is an important part of that. I was really hoping for a story of inclusion and acceptance of Kilmeny's muteness but it did not turn out that way.
Ah, well, maybe I'll have better luck with the next Montgomery :).