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3.37 AVERAGE
3.37 AVERAGE
Kilmeny of the Orchard is one of Montgomery’s shorter books. It centers around the mute but quite beautiful Kilmeny and the new school master. Kilmeny is hidden away from the outside world and Eric stumbles across her playing her violin in her orchard. They become friends and the story develops from there.
It was a pleasant light read but one of the most fairy tale like stories I’ve read by Montgomery. The blend of sorrow and joy is what makes this a story worth reading. Without that dynamic it would be quite silly even for me. Kilmeny is an intriguing character and Eric’s pursuit of her allows us to learn much more about who he is. The only thing that really bothered me about this book was the emphasis on her beauty. Why would her appearance make Eric’s father go from skeptical to approving about his son’s excitement?
It was a pleasant light read but one of the most fairy tale like stories I’ve read by Montgomery. The blend of sorrow and joy is what makes this a story worth reading. Without that dynamic it would be quite silly even for me. Kilmeny is an intriguing character and Eric’s pursuit of her allows us to learn much more about who he is. The only thing that really bothered me about this book was the emphasis on her beauty. Why would her appearance make Eric’s father go from skeptical to approving about his son’s excitement?
What if you were a paragon of manliness* and you met the perfect woman**?
*one of L.M. Montgomery's female characters in a false mustache
**a child who literally knows nothing
*one of L.M. Montgomery's female characters in a false mustache
**a child who literally knows nothing
The descriptions in the Kilmeny of the Orchard were very beautiful and it was also very easy to read this book. The story was sweet but also nothing too special and quite full of clichés. I don't think it will stay with me, but it did keep me entertained enough to finish the book.
Kilmeny of the Orchard is the product of the beginning of the 20th century - it can be seen everywhere: in the diction, in the plot, in the characters themselves... If you are a fan of such novels, I'm quite sure you will enjoy this book. However, this was not the best novel possible for me.
I didn't like the fact that it was easy to guess how the book would end, even at the very beginning. I was also annoyed by the main characters themselves - they were too perfect. Everyone seemed to love the narrator, who was a good-looking and intelligent guy with a bright future ahead of him. Kilmeny, the love interest of the narrator, was even worse. She was described as the sweetest, the most beautiful, innocent and musically talented person in the whole world, and everyone who met her started loving her instantly.
I also think that this book concentrated too much on the looks - the main characters were beautiful, people fell for Kilmeny's looks as though they were a proof of her nice personality, and the narrator even says that he could not fall in love with a non-beautiful girl.
The book would have had more interesting edges if all the obstacles weren't removed from the way before the end. In short, everything was too perfect for me.
All in all, this novel had a lot of things I didn't care about but it was also a nice book to read: a simple story of two people falling in love.
Kilmeny of the Orchard is the product of the beginning of the 20th century - it can be seen everywhere: in the diction, in the plot, in the characters themselves... If you are a fan of such novels, I'm quite sure you will enjoy this book. However, this was not the best novel possible for me.
I didn't like the fact that it was easy to guess how the book would end, even at the very beginning. I was also annoyed by the main characters themselves - they were too perfect. Everyone seemed to love the narrator, who was a good-looking and intelligent guy with a bright future ahead of him. Kilmeny, the love interest of the narrator, was even worse. She was described as the sweetest, the most beautiful, innocent and musically talented person in the whole world, and everyone who met her started loving her instantly.
I also think that this book concentrated too much on the looks - the main characters were beautiful, people fell for Kilmeny's looks as though they were a proof of her nice personality, and the narrator even says that he could not fall in love with a non-beautiful girl.
The book would have had more interesting edges if all the obstacles weren't removed from the way before the end. In short, everything was too perfect for me.
All in all, this novel had a lot of things I didn't care about but it was also a nice book to read: a simple story of two people falling in love.
Short, old fashioned and sweet but not one of Montgomery's best.
Full Review: http://iwishilivedinalibrary.blogspot.com/2013/10/kilmeny-of-orchard-by-lm-montgomery.html
Full Review: http://iwishilivedinalibrary.blogspot.com/2013/10/kilmeny-of-orchard-by-lm-montgomery.html
L.M. Montgomery is a long time and all time favorite author of mine. She writes the perfect girls story with just the right mix of adventure, drama and happiness. I find her books a comfort to read and have re-read most of her works many times over the years. They are classics for a reason and that reason is they are great. These are true comfort books for me and books I enjoy re-reading again and again.
This book is sweet in many parts, and fascinating. But part of the fascination lies in the bold assumption of a "correct" world view that seems more appropriate for eugenics, the Nazis, etc. While it's not taken to those lengths, the descriptions of good characters as more classically northern European, especially British, and the bad character as more Mediterranean, even relating his badness to his Mediterranean qualities--well, it's disturbing coming from such a beloved author. Her other books don't really show this attitude, so I was horrified to find it here.
on the other hand, if you can read the book with a critical mind, weeding out the disturbing prejudiced parts, you will find a both sad and sweet story, of forgiveness, unforgiveness, rejection, and love.
on the other hand, if you can read the book with a critical mind, weeding out the disturbing prejudiced parts, you will find a both sad and sweet story, of forgiveness, unforgiveness, rejection, and love.
My main reading loves? Sweet romances and L. M. Montgomery. This checked both boxes very nicely.
3.5 Stars!
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A beautiful fairy-tale type of romance. I read it in one sitting and enjoyed it very much, although it definitely has a lot of flaws. Just like fairy tales, the writing was magical and poetical, and it was definitely the strongest element of this novella. Just like fairy-tales, the romance was quite unrealistic and too much insta-lovey. Everything was based around the fact that Kilmeny was beautiful, as if she was nothing more than that. However, I could not help but enjoy the romance and the beautiful descriptions of Prince Edward Island's magical places.
.
A beautiful fairy-tale type of romance. I read it in one sitting and enjoyed it very much, although it definitely has a lot of flaws. Just like fairy tales, the writing was magical and poetical, and it was definitely the strongest element of this novella. Just like fairy-tales, the romance was quite unrealistic and too much insta-lovey. Everything was based around the fact that Kilmeny was beautiful, as if she was nothing more than that. However, I could not help but enjoy the romance and the beautiful descriptions of Prince Edward Island's magical places.