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the_herbal_carnivore's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 ☆
A family audio-read-aloud during meal times, this book was full of adventures and laughs and a wonderful follow-up story to the first book! My children enjoyed it.
A family audio-read-aloud during meal times, this book was full of adventures and laughs and a wonderful follow-up story to the first book! My children enjoyed it.
sallyavena's review against another edition
4.0
I don't think I could ever tire of Enright's story telling. She has a way of being descriptive without being too flowery and a way of bringing her characters to life. Fun quick read.
situationnormal's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not sure any charming and simplistic childhood-in-the-country books are going to quite live up to L.M. Montgomery's books for me, anymore. That said, I did like this duology for being short and sweet.
jellogirl2010's review against another edition
5.0
I think I liked this more than the first one. There was more of a story but it still had that delightful slice of life feel to it. The ending, of course, was my most favorite part.
karajrapp's review against another edition
3.0
Still enjoyable and well-told, just not as original as Enright's other books.
rebelbelle13's review against another edition
4.0
This was a delightful, cozy, atmospheric, nostalgic little middle grade, and a worthy follow up to the original story. Most of the novel does focus on fixing up the Villa Caprice and finding things around the old mansion, and shifts gears a bit from the first installment. It still has the same feeling as the first, with the children slowly making discoveries and truly enjoying everything about the houses of Gone-Away Lake. It does seem that fortune is literally on their side with all of the things they find, including jewelry, furniture, and a host of other valuable collectables, but if you go along for the ride, you'll find the Blake family is worthy of these treasures, and rather humble.
Some of the choices the children make seem rash and irresponsible, but these were different times, parents didn't hover, and not everyone had a TV.
I really wish that Enright had made a prequel novel series with Minnie-Ha-Ha and Baby Belle and the other Gone Away children, back in the hay-day of the lake, with the parties and summers and friendships of the 'gay 90's'. As it stands, Minnie and Pin do tell stories and have flashbacks, but it's not the same.
I would have loved this series as a child, and I'm sorry I missed out on reading it when I was the same age as Portia. I think it truly would have been a favorite.
Some of the choices the children make seem rash and irresponsible, but these were different times, parents didn't hover, and not everyone had a TV.
I really wish that Enright had made a prequel novel series with Minnie-Ha-Ha and Baby Belle and the other Gone Away children, back in the hay-day of the lake, with the parties and summers and friendships of the 'gay 90's'. As it stands, Minnie and Pin do tell stories and have flashbacks, but it's not the same.
I would have loved this series as a child, and I'm sorry I missed out on reading it when I was the same age as Portia. I think it truly would have been a favorite.
misajane79's review against another edition
5.0
Sigh. Wendy might have to check my bag to make sure I don't "accidentally" take this book with me.
How I wish I was reading this last year, when I was remodeling my own neglected house. Tragically, we didn't discover any treasures to fund the restoration. The ultimate house fantasy book, and full of everything that makes Enright one of my new favorites.
One of my favorite lines:
"I like to see neglected houses getting fixed," Portia said. "Of course, I know houses can't possibly think but sometimes I have a feeling they can feel."
How I wish I was reading this last year, when I was remodeling my own neglected house. Tragically, we didn't discover any treasures to fund the restoration. The ultimate house fantasy book, and full of everything that makes Enright one of my new favorites.
One of my favorite lines:
"I like to see neglected houses getting fixed," Portia said. "Of course, I know houses can't possibly think but sometimes I have a feeling they can feel."
misslulabelle's review against another edition
5.0
I had been waiting to get my grimy little paws on the sequel to "Gone Away Lake" since I had to return it to the library before it had been read, many years before. An utterly delightful book, chock-full of gems.
aknas22's review against another edition
5.0
[b:Return to Gone-Away|547853|Return to Gone-Away|Elizabeth Enright|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175707449s/547853.jpg|535112] and [b:Gone-Away Lake|175824|Gone-Away Lake|Elizabeth Enright|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172437655s/175824.jpg|535113] have a certain magic that seems to work on the young and the old. My two little sisters (11 and 9 years old) loved these books and so did I.