You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.37 AVERAGE
3.37 AVERAGE
Picked up this book because so many of my friends love it, it was a cute-ish story though perhaps not Montgomery's best. I'm glad I read it, it had some beautiful descriptions, but it was also rather predictable and not suspenseful and might have made a good tragedy...
But still, very cute :)
But still, very cute :)
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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:
No
Eric Marshall agrees to substitute teach a school in a small Prince Edward Island village. He stumbles across an abandoned orchard and meets the beautiful Kilmeny, who is mute and plays the violin beautifully. Eric begins to fall in love, but gradually he discovers Kilmeny’s tragic past.
This is one of my top favorites of this author’s works! So bewitchingly lovely! Every time I reread this book I am swept away in the enchantment of the orchard and the innocence of first love.
I really love Kilmeny’s character! She is sheltered and naïve, but she’s very intelligent and even wise in her own way.
The only sour note in the book is the little bit of prejudice against an Italian character who is “lowborn“. If it was necessary to have a villain in the story, I’m not sure why it was necessary for him to be Italian. It seems out of place with the rest of the story, and with the rest of this authors books.
I really love the beautiful writing style that describes the loveliness of the orchard, the flower blossoms, and the sweetness in the wind. It would be easy to fall in love surrounded by the beauties of nature in a lovely orchard like that.
This is one of my top favorites of this author’s works! So bewitchingly lovely! Every time I reread this book I am swept away in the enchantment of the orchard and the innocence of first love.
I really love Kilmeny’s character! She is sheltered and naïve, but she’s very intelligent and even wise in her own way.
The only sour note in the book is the little bit of prejudice against an Italian character who is “lowborn“. If it was necessary to have a villain in the story, I’m not sure why it was necessary for him to be Italian. It seems out of place with the rest of the story, and with the rest of this authors books.
I really love the beautiful writing style that describes the loveliness of the orchard, the flower blossoms, and the sweetness in the wind. It would be easy to fall in love surrounded by the beauties of nature in a lovely orchard like that.
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved it. It was the right length and the flow was really good. The characters were endearing and the story was sweet. It is a pretty light read but definitely worthwhile.
A short and charming story set on the gorgeous Prince Edward Island. Descriptions are superb and every line regarding the island, weather, or the flora paints such a vivid picture and instills a great yearning to actually be experiencing it with all the senses. As for the general story...boy meets girl, woos girl, overcomes small obstacle, and true love prevails. There's not much to say.
As for more particular plot points, I have some complaints.
The racism, founded on practically nothing, against the Italian Neil was unfounded till very nearly the end when his jealousy over Kilmeny causes him to be ever so slightly homicidal. Reading this from our somewhat evolved take on racism, it almost felt like that was there just so that everybody could say "Ah, we KNEW he was a bad egg!!"
Also, LMM may have done this before many other authors, but who here is tired of beautiful, gorgeous 12/10 girls genuinely believing that they are ugly? Now, yes, Kilmeny grew up in a house with no mirrors (because her mom took them all away because vanity) but STILL. She is mute, not blind. And just in general, her beauty is too overplayed. Seems like everyone is horrified to hear that Eric might marry a mute until they realize she's hot, and then that's totally cool. You go, you dog.
As for more particular plot points, I have some complaints.
Spoiler
I'm not buying the very not scientific idea that Kilmeny's mother's sin/stubbornness while pregnant causes Kilmeny to be mute.The racism, founded on practically nothing, against the Italian Neil was unfounded till very nearly the end when his jealousy over Kilmeny causes him to be ever so slightly homicidal. Reading this from our somewhat evolved take on racism, it almost felt like that was there just so that everybody could say "Ah, we KNEW he was a bad egg!!"
Also, LMM may have done this before many other authors, but who here is tired of beautiful, gorgeous 12/10 girls genuinely believing that they are ugly? Now, yes, Kilmeny grew up in a house with no mirrors (because her mom took them all away because vanity) but STILL. She is mute, not blind. And just in general, her beauty is too overplayed. Seems like everyone is horrified to hear that Eric might marry a mute until they realize she's hot, and then that's totally cool. You go, you dog.
This was a sweet little story from the author of the Anne of Green Gables series.
slow-paced
Well, that was a shame. The premise sounded great and it could have been a really interesting story but instead it was just one cliche after another, and some downright daft things for example, Kilmeny believes she is ugly and has never seen herself in a mirror, yet she is able to dress immaculately and put her hair up neatly...seriously? Without a mirror? The blurb on Storygraph makes this sound much better and deeper than it is!
Like just about everybody and their brother, I loved the Anne of Green Gables series. I've also read many of Montgomery's other works, and enjoyed them. Kilmeny of the Orchard is another such story. I felt that the characters were shallow. Kilmeny was too good, sweet, and innocent to be realistic. Eric was originally attracted to her because of her beauty, and even says that he wouldn't love someone who wasn't beautiful. While he claims to love her character, it is usually summed up by her sweetness and all around goodness. In my experience, a marriage needs to be founded on more than sweetness because sometimes when you are tired or angry, it isn't always possible to be sweet.
Not only is Eric shallow, but also his relatives. Both his cousin and his father think that he has lost his mind to want to marry Kilmeny, but they change their minds as soon as they see her. She must be some knockout to make grown men stop questioning her suitability as a wife as soon as she enters the room.
Not only is Eric shallow, but also his relatives. Both his cousin and his father think that he has lost his mind to want to marry Kilmeny, but they change their minds as soon as they see her. She must be some knockout to make grown men stop questioning her suitability as a wife as soon as she enters the room.