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3.37 AVERAGE
3.37 AVERAGE
A sweet, quick read that is perhaps a bit old-fashioned, Kilmeny of the Orchard offers beautiful imagery and a story of unconditional love. Although a bit predictable and laden with parts that made me feel more was needed (i.e. more sympathy for Neil, more experience of the real world for Kilmeny's part), I couldn't put it down and thought that, once again, Lucy Maud Montgomery delivered an enchanting story.
Ahoy there mateys! I couldn’t remember if I had read this one or not. Turns out not. This book was published in 1910, two years after anne of green gables. What a silly romance this was! It was so melodramatic. There is a man, Eric, who goes to PEI to teach and meets a mute girl, Kilmeny, in a garden playing a violin. He immediately falls in love with her beauty and innocence and child-like nature. Sigh. So they meet in the garden in secret. He gets called out for his thoughtless behavior and tries to make it right. Then he kisses Kilmeny and awakens her womanhood. More melodrama occurs. This involves an evil Italian whose base nature emerges. Of course Kilmeny’s disability and circumstances of her birth make her a horrible match for Eric. But she be pretty. “Magic” occurs, her disability vanishes, and her gorgeous face stops all objections. Bah! I would have thought this was a debut book and was surprised it was written after Anne. Too silly for me. Arrr!
I’ve always had problems with LM Montgomery’s feminism and this book is tres problematique, probably the worst of what I’ve read.
If it weren't for LM Montgomery's descriptive prose, this would have been a total loss.
Here's our plot: a young man newly moved to a remote area stumbles upon an abandoned orchard and a young woman. Said young woman is the Most Beautiful Girl to ever live, was born into unusual circumstances and so has only met a handful of people in her entire 18 years, has never seen a mirror, and can't speak. Although she can only write, her commentary is perfectly unspoiled and full of innocent "oh"s. She has, dare I say it, no personality at all. She exists only to be a tabula rasa (of, again, astonishing beauty) for our young man. And this is the value he places on her - he has no use for an intelligent or knowledgeable wife, apparently.
Here, some predictable spoilers
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Kilmeny refuses to marry because of her muteness, because heaven forbid her forgettable boyfriend marry someone with any sort of problem at all, and then suddenly can speak perfectly after an act of bravery. No speech impediments at all! Now everyone who doubts her suitability meets her, and her beauty alone convinces them otherwise.
You don't have to be much of a feminist to find problems with this plot. Kilmeny is only valued for her beauty and innocence, and both of those are beyond measure. It's easy to see why a long time Montgomery reader like me had never even heard of this one. Pass.
Here's our plot: a young man newly moved to a remote area stumbles upon an abandoned orchard and a young woman. Said young woman is the Most Beautiful Girl to ever live, was born into unusual circumstances and so has only met a handful of people in her entire 18 years, has never seen a mirror, and can't speak. Although she can only write, her commentary is perfectly unspoiled and full of innocent "oh"s. She has, dare I say it, no personality at all. She exists only to be a tabula rasa (of, again, astonishing beauty) for our young man. And this is the value he places on her - he has no use for an intelligent or knowledgeable wife, apparently.
Here, some predictable spoilers
*
*
*
*
*
*
Kilmeny refuses to marry because of her muteness, because heaven forbid her forgettable boyfriend marry someone with any sort of problem at all, and then suddenly can speak perfectly after an act of bravery. No speech impediments at all! Now everyone who doubts her suitability meets her, and her beauty alone convinces them otherwise.
You don't have to be much of a feminist to find problems with this plot. Kilmeny is only valued for her beauty and innocence, and both of those are beyond measure. It's easy to see why a long time Montgomery reader like me had never even heard of this one. Pass.
Rated for the description of the orchard. The main characters Edward and Kilmeny (and Neil) were really flat and cliché, but the writing was descriptive and some of the side characters were more likeable.
When I read this book as a little girl: heart eyes.
When I read this book as an adult: yikes.
When I read this book as an adult: yikes.
Re-read 1/13/2013
I first read this in my late teens or early twenties and loved it. I found it oh-so-sweet and romantic. And then I didn't read it again, because I didn't own it and I didn't really think about it too much. But after re-reading, I can't give it five stars. I still liked it. It's just not a five-star book. I've seen other people comment on undertones of eugenics and racism in this book, but it's not clear to me that Montgomery included these things APPROVINGLY. Just that it's part of some of the characters. And really, she does indicate that some of these views are wrong - David Baker and Eric's father are both worried that Kilmeny isn't a fit spouse for Eric because of her parentage and/or muteness, but they're won over once they meet her, and they realize it doesn't matter. Although it's troubling that what wins them over instantly is her BEAUTY. Come on, Maud.
I first read this in my late teens or early twenties and loved it. I found it oh-so-sweet and romantic. And then I didn't read it again, because I didn't own it and I didn't really think about it too much. But after re-reading, I can't give it five stars. I still liked it. It's just not a five-star book. I've seen other people comment on undertones of eugenics and racism in this book, but it's not clear to me that Montgomery included these things APPROVINGLY. Just that it's part of some of the characters. And really, she does indicate that some of these views are wrong - David Baker and Eric's father are both worried that Kilmeny isn't a fit spouse for Eric because of her parentage and/or muteness, but they're won over once they meet her, and they realize it doesn't matter. Although it's troubling that what wins them over instantly is her BEAUTY. Come on, Maud.
Eric Marshall has accepted a teaching post in the quaint village of Lindsay, with the intent of staying but the few brief months to finish the term of the previous head master. While exploring the surrounding country side, Eric discovers an abandoned apple orchard that so betwixts him, he lingers to enjoy its beauty. After but a few minutes his meditative state is startled by the strings of a violin, played beautifully by an enchanting, mistress who is also enjoying the orchard. As Eric approaches this young maiden, she is so started by his presence she runs in fear back to her family’s farm. Eric is immediately mesmerized by this young woman and is determined to find out her identity. What he learns is that Kilmeny Gordon, an orphan who lives with her aunt and uncle, is not what she seems: A woman with immense talent and beauty but without the ability to speak, she has lived a very cloistered life. Eric is determined to woo Kilmeny and is convinced that his love will conquer her muteness.
This was a delightful novel. L. M. Montgomery’s works are wholesome stories about love and survival.
I liked that this book was from a male perspective, where most of Ms. Montgomery’s works are written in the female voice.
She is superb in describing the flora and fauna of Lindsay and the surround areas. She also meticulously weaves a story about Kilmeny’s mother and her marital misfortune, that it is believed it has cursed Kilmeny’s future.
Another wonderful contribution by L. M. Montgomery.
This was a delightful novel. L. M. Montgomery’s works are wholesome stories about love and survival.
I liked that this book was from a male perspective, where most of Ms. Montgomery’s works are written in the female voice.
She is superb in describing the flora and fauna of Lindsay and the surround areas. She also meticulously weaves a story about Kilmeny’s mother and her marital misfortune, that it is believed it has cursed Kilmeny’s future.
Another wonderful contribution by L. M. Montgomery.
While I thought the premise of this book was intriguing, especially given Kilmeny's muteness, I felt that the cause of her muteness was completely out of the realm of possibility. I knew what the problem in the story would be and it felt very overdramatic to me. Many times it seems like the quantity of Montgomery's writing was a greater priority than the quality. That being said, it was a sweet story.
Like most of Montgomery's writings, there were problematic viewpoints. I hated the term dumb which was repeatedly used for mute. There was also an assumption that muteness meant lack of intelligence. There was also a clear prejudice against Italians, likening them to uncivilized heathens and also making the foreigner the villain.
Like most of Montgomery's writings, there were problematic viewpoints. I hated the term dumb which was repeatedly used for mute. There was also an assumption that muteness meant lack of intelligence. There was also a clear prejudice against Italians, likening them to uncivilized heathens and also making the foreigner the villain.