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lil1smith's review against another edition
4.0
This book has all the old charm and nostalgia that you could look for in a book. For me the beginning was a little slow (in fact I've started this book several times before getting through the beginning), but after that I wanted to keep reading. It was quaint, made me smile many times, and had the perfect amount of a romance, while also having some deeper underlining messages.
erincataldi's review against another edition
3.0
I wish I had read this as a child. Back then Little House on the Prairie books were still cool and I dreamed of being an innocent outdoors-woman. Now... not so much. I found Elnora to be a little too perfect, I would have killed for a fault or two. She always obeys her mother, does, what it right, always helps her neighbors, never encourages young men. She's too good! I wanted some excitement. Her tempestuous mother I could at least relate to even though she was a bitch. This book is the second in the Limberlost series although you needn't have read it. This story follows Elnora as she enters high school, enters society, and starts to earn money by collecting moths, butterflies, and other swamp specimen. She grows from a naive little country bumpkin to a refined little lady who is yards smarter and kinder than anyone else. Slow reading, but not bad. It's written well but would do best for younger readers.
what_ella_reads's review against another edition
5.0
I've read this book twice so far. I recommend it to any one who likes historical fiction.
maya65's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
bookstakenzie's review against another edition
3.0
The writing style of this book is packed with warmth and imagery, and it transports you to another time and place. We follow Elnora, who is a sweet character full of integrity, although she is sometimes flat in that she can do no wrong. The main themes of this book are learning how to become more loving and caring people, and the theme of naturalism, as nature is the focal point of Elnora's adventures. This book is a really great choice for a quick classic read.
One great aspect of this book is that it explored multiple character perspectives, and shows how these characters can change for the better, and how they can fix relationship issues by reinterpreting actions and intents of others in a better light. The author gives many characters emotional backgrounds that they have turmoil and realizations through, some of them processing trauma to become better people. There are some issues with this lacking nuance, depth, and realism which is further explained below. This doesn't hinder the quality of the whole book, but you may want to keep your brain engaged while reading.
Spoilers for character arc issues:
I have a few small issues with the execution of these ideas: for one, the character issues of the mother are fixed in complete 180°, which is problematic. The mother's parenting is by modern day knowledge abusive, and there is parentification of the main character. Because the mother has a 180° change from mean to the most perfect nice mother ever, this can discredit the traumatic effects on Elnora, and promote the idea that if you stick with abusers they will eventually change for you. The author attempts painting psycho and emotional backgrounds for characters and then reversing them to change them to a realized state. The intention is good, but because of the time period and the length of the book, it lack nuances and realism, showing the amount of depth you might see in a comedic play. This doesn't negate the whole book, however I would recommend reading it with your brain turned on and referencing other educational resources, so that you can enjoy the character arcs, but analyze/apply them in a better way.
One great aspect of this book is that it explored multiple character perspectives, and shows how these characters can change for the better, and how they can fix relationship issues by reinterpreting actions and intents of others in a better light. The author gives many characters emotional backgrounds that they have turmoil and realizations through, some of them processing trauma to become better people. There are some issues with this lacking nuance, depth, and realism which is further explained below. This doesn't hinder the quality of the whole book, but you may want to keep your brain engaged while reading.
Spoilers for character arc issues:
I have a few small issues with the execution of these ideas: for one, the character issues of the mother are fixed in complete 180°, which is problematic. The mother's parenting is by modern day knowledge abusive, and there is parentification of the main character. Because the mother has a 180° change from mean to the most perfect nice mother ever, this can discredit the traumatic effects on Elnora, and promote the idea that if you stick with abusers they will eventually change for you. The author attempts painting psycho and emotional backgrounds for characters and then reversing them to change them to a realized state. The intention is good, but because of the time period and the length of the book, it lack nuances and realism, showing the amount of depth you might see in a comedic play. This doesn't negate the whole book, however I would recommend reading it with your brain turned on and referencing other educational resources, so that you can enjoy the character arcs, but analyze/apply them in a better way.
cari1268's review against another edition
3.0
I thought I was going to enjoy this one far more than I did... As it was, Elnora was too syrupy sweet and perfect for me to like her or relate to her much. Her mother's transformation was too quick, sudden, and didn't quite make sense to my mind. (Loving someone and grieving for them makes you mean and realizing that they didn't love you in return makes you sweet? Huh???) Furthermore, the plot felt rather repetitive for the first half. I admit that it did get more interesting once Phillip started coming around, but even then, I had a hard time enjoying their story. The last thing that bothered me about this book was all the parts that involved moths. There were a lot of pages with moths in them! That insect absolutely grosses me out (I'm with Edith!) and so it was almost too much for me to have to read so much about them. Yuck.
Not everything about this book was awful. It reminded me a lot of "A Little Princess" or "Anne of Green Gables". It was quaint and sweet. I think little girls would love it. I liked the lessons about independence, hard work, and forgiveness. I would give this book 2.5 stars if I could, but I'll round it up.
Three Stars.
Spoiler
Elnora finds herself in a desperate situation made only worse by her mother, is too proud to consider the help offered, and is able to mostly fix the problem by herself. Oh, and her mother always does something nice for Elnora to make up for her earlier meanness.Spoiler
They're constantly alone with each other and yet never stray into any inappropriate territory due to Phillip being engaged to another woman. That's a little unrealistic, but bravo for them! Here's where the story lost me. When Phillip is finally freed from his engagement, he knows immediately that he wants to marry Elnora even though he had never dared allow such thoughts to run through his head before. Whaaaaat? Also, it was so unromantic that Elnora was his second choice.Not everything about this book was awful. It reminded me a lot of "A Little Princess" or "Anne of Green Gables". It was quaint and sweet. I think little girls would love it. I liked the lessons about independence, hard work, and forgiveness. I would give this book 2.5 stars if I could, but I'll round it up.
Three Stars.
krism's review against another edition
5.0
I am fascinated by this author! The Smithsonian Magazine says Gene Stratton-Porter was as famous in the early 1900s as J.K. Rowling was with the Harry Potter series. She was an author, nature photographer, and naturalist from Indiana. She moved to Los Angeles and became one of the first women to own a movie production company. Between 1895 and 1945, only 55 books sold over a million copies. Stratton-Porter wrote five of them, far more than any other author of her time. Nine of her books were made into films.
Her books are set in nature, and have strong lead characters. I was introduced to Stratton-Porter though a gift: a first edition copy of The Harvester, published in 1911. The main character is modeled after Henry David Thoreau and it is a moving love story. This book, A Girl of the Limberlost is about a hard working girl, filled with grit and compassion, who overcomes obstacles by using her wits.
I wish I'd read these books when I was young. Yes, they are sentimental but I like the wholesome values and the appreciation of nature. I'll be on the lookout for more of her books.
Her books are set in nature, and have strong lead characters. I was introduced to Stratton-Porter though a gift: a first edition copy of The Harvester, published in 1911. The main character is modeled after Henry David Thoreau and it is a moving love story. This book, A Girl of the Limberlost is about a hard working girl, filled with grit and compassion, who overcomes obstacles by using her wits.
I wish I'd read these books when I was young. Yes, they are sentimental but I like the wholesome values and the appreciation of nature. I'll be on the lookout for more of her books.
enolas's review against another edition
5.0
Well, if I didn't know otherwise I'd absolutely believe this to be written by L M Montgomery. It truly has the same flavour as her sweet books about plucky girls with tragic back stories. I loved it and, as ever with this type of book, the only sadness is that it has to end. I'll definitely be hunting up more of Gene Stratton-Porter's work.
dklouise021's review against another edition
3.0
It was very interesting, but hard to get through for me.
pattydsf's review against another edition
4.0
I was never much of a rereader. I knew that there was a lot to read and I wanted to get to as many books as possible. I think I was 40 before I was willing to admit that I wasn't going to be able to read every book that I was interested in. However, A Girl of the Limberlost was an early reread for me. My grandmother had a copy and I read often at her house. I don't think there were many other books that appealed to me in that house.
Recently, I decided if I was going to exercise more, I would have to come up with a reason to get on the treadmill. Reading became the obvious incentive. The books I read at the gym, I only read at the gym. Further incentive became revisiting some old favorites that I could get from Project Gutenberg. That way I had the books on my iPad, but they didn't cost me anything.
Stratton Porter's classic is the first book I picked up from this website and I enjoyed every word. I had remembered much of this story, but it was fun to revisit Elnora Comstock, her mother and the rest of the characters. There is bit Horatio Alger in this book, but I can read past that and enjoy the place and plot. Elnora was the strong, young woman I remembered.
I recommend this novel to any adult who missed it when they were younger. Written in 1909, I am not sure this would appeal to many teens of the 21st century.
Recently, I decided if I was going to exercise more, I would have to come up with a reason to get on the treadmill. Reading became the obvious incentive. The books I read at the gym, I only read at the gym. Further incentive became revisiting some old favorites that I could get from Project Gutenberg. That way I had the books on my iPad, but they didn't cost me anything.
Stratton Porter's classic is the first book I picked up from this website and I enjoyed every word. I had remembered much of this story, but it was fun to revisit Elnora Comstock, her mother and the rest of the characters. There is bit Horatio Alger in this book, but I can read past that and enjoy the place and plot. Elnora was the strong, young woman I remembered.
I recommend this novel to any adult who missed it when they were younger. Written in 1909, I am not sure this would appeal to many teens of the 21st century.