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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
I absolutely trudged through this book. It's written a laborious style which could be overcome with a compelling plot, but sadly this book is lacking. The "herione" of the book is a flat character, and most of the others unsympathetic and uninteresting. (The only interesting character was the mother, and I found the "romantic interest" absolutely nauseating.) There was no consistent story arc...it felt almost like a collection of short stories, and the various subplots seemed to go nowhere. I also found it overly morally simplistic.
I'm almost angry that I took time out of my life to finish this book.
I have a feeling my book club is gonna hate me....
I'm almost angry that I took time out of my life to finish this book.
I have a feeling my book club is gonna hate me....
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
lighthearted
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Think of it as a Midwestern Cinderella story, but with no glass slipper and plenty of moths. Gene Stratton Porter was at the peak of her skills when she wrote "A Girl of the Limberlost," which starts off as a young girl's struggle against her mother's virulent hatred -- and soon evolves into an enchanting little romance.
Elnora Comstock has barely signed up for college when she discovers that she can't afford it -- tuition and textbooks cost too much, and her shabby clothes are mocked by her classmates. Even worse, her half-crazy, malicious mother refuses to cough up any money.
But she soon finds that she can pay another way -- a strange lady called the Bird Woman is willing to pay money for moths, butterflies, caterpillars and chrysalids, which Elnora can easily find in a vast dangerous swamp called the Limberlost. And her friends Margaret and Wesley are happy to help her in any way they can -- clothes, a violin -- until the day when Mrs. Comstock comes to a shocking realization about her daughter.
Then Elnora encounters a wealthy young man named Philip Ammon, who has the same love of nature that she has -- as well as a wealthy socialite fiancee named Edith. But when a party in honor of Edith and Philip's engagement is wrecked by a butterfly and a fit of jealousy, he begins to realize what his true feelings for Elnora are...
"A Girl of the Limberlost" can be divided into two sections -- the first is a Cinderellaesque story about a strong, intelligent young girl who is pursing her music and education, despite her nasty old mother's loathing of her. But once that storyline is wrapped up, the second half of the book becomes a haunting, passionate love story.
Stratton-Porter was at her peak when she wrote this -- her prose is overflowing with natural beauty ("the whole earth was purple with a thick blanket of violets") and some very tough personal situations, such as when Margaret and Wesley take in a badly-abused young boy. And both halves of "A Girl of the Limberlost" reach a emotionally harrowing climax as two of the characters are forced to see the raw ugliness of their actions.
But the romance is also really adorable, especially since it's based on friendship and both parties only realize it belatedly. And Stratton-Porter adds in a touch of romance for other characters, including old married couples and snotty socialites.
Elnora is a likable, realistic girl that you'd like as a friend -- kind, charitable and hardworking, but has flashes of temper. And Philip Ammon is a rather sweet if clueless guy. Mrs. Comstock starts out as a crazy old lady who wallows in her grief and obsession with her dead husband, but Stratton-Porter rebuilds her into a character you can like and respect; Edith also starts off as a nasty snotty rich girl who cares more about social status than love, but the author puts her through the grinder and makes her more likable.
"A Girl of the Limberlost" is both a brilliant coming-of-age tale and a lush little romance, set against an epic backdrop of natural beauty. Definitely a must-read.
Elnora Comstock has barely signed up for college when she discovers that she can't afford it -- tuition and textbooks cost too much, and her shabby clothes are mocked by her classmates. Even worse, her half-crazy, malicious mother refuses to cough up any money.
But she soon finds that she can pay another way -- a strange lady called the Bird Woman is willing to pay money for moths, butterflies, caterpillars and chrysalids, which Elnora can easily find in a vast dangerous swamp called the Limberlost. And her friends Margaret and Wesley are happy to help her in any way they can -- clothes, a violin -- until the day when Mrs. Comstock comes to a shocking realization about her daughter.
Then Elnora encounters a wealthy young man named Philip Ammon, who has the same love of nature that she has -- as well as a wealthy socialite fiancee named Edith. But when a party in honor of Edith and Philip's engagement is wrecked by a butterfly and a fit of jealousy, he begins to realize what his true feelings for Elnora are...
"A Girl of the Limberlost" can be divided into two sections -- the first is a Cinderellaesque story about a strong, intelligent young girl who is pursing her music and education, despite her nasty old mother's loathing of her. But once that storyline is wrapped up, the second half of the book becomes a haunting, passionate love story.
Stratton-Porter was at her peak when she wrote this -- her prose is overflowing with natural beauty ("the whole earth was purple with a thick blanket of violets") and some very tough personal situations, such as when Margaret and Wesley take in a badly-abused young boy. And both halves of "A Girl of the Limberlost" reach a emotionally harrowing climax as two of the characters are forced to see the raw ugliness of their actions.
But the romance is also really adorable, especially since it's based on friendship and both parties only realize it belatedly. And Stratton-Porter adds in a touch of romance for other characters, including old married couples and snotty socialites.
Elnora is a likable, realistic girl that you'd like as a friend -- kind, charitable and hardworking, but has flashes of temper. And Philip Ammon is a rather sweet if clueless guy. Mrs. Comstock starts out as a crazy old lady who wallows in her grief and obsession with her dead husband, but Stratton-Porter rebuilds her into a character you can like and respect; Edith also starts off as a nasty snotty rich girl who cares more about social status than love, but the author puts her through the grinder and makes her more likable.
"A Girl of the Limberlost" is both a brilliant coming-of-age tale and a lush little romance, set against an epic backdrop of natural beauty. Definitely a must-read.
I'm not yet a Kindle convert, but I love it for books in the public domain. It's nice to never be without the complete Jane Austen, for example!
A lot of classic children's literature is in the category. I'd never read any of the Anne of Green Gables series, for example, until I put them on my Kindle. This is another, and it's just as wonderful. I had forgotten that it was also one of my father's childhood favorites until I was re-reading his memoirs recently and came across a reference to it. Great characters, amazing setting. Suitably feminist. Happy ending. Highly recommended.
A lot of classic children's literature is in the category. I'd never read any of the Anne of Green Gables series, for example, until I put them on my Kindle. This is another, and it's just as wonderful. I had forgotten that it was also one of my father's childhood favorites until I was re-reading his memoirs recently and came across a reference to it. Great characters, amazing setting. Suitably feminist. Happy ending. Highly recommended.
At first I thought if Kya of Crawdads and Pollyanna had a baby, you’d get Elnora, but as the book went on, we lost any sense of Kya and were left with heaps of Pollyanna with extra sugar and chocolate sauce on top. I enjoyed the biological bend and the relationships between neighbors, friends, classes, family, etc. The scene where Elnora’s mother went out to find moths and was splattered with moth juice was great. But the syrupy sweetness eventually gave me a headache—I guess my sensibilities aren’t what the early 20th c were after. The characters had potential and started off well but never really developed past the middle. The ending was just a bit too convenient for me to give it more than three stars, and I knocked off another for the predictability of it. Fun, moral, good for young readers.
Personally I wasn't the biggest fan of this book, there is no doubt that this book has a lovely writing style, but I just didn't enjoy the actual story that much, it didn't interest me. I may be slightly biased because I had to read it for school though.
A delightful light-hearted read
How, growing up in Indiana near Gene Stratton-Porter’s home, I never read this before now, I’ll never know. This was on my daughter’s reading list for her homeschool curriculum and I thought I’d give it a quick scan. I ended up staying up until 1 am two different nights as I couldn’t put it down.
The story is charming and full of happy endings, perhaps a bit cheesy over 110 years later, but as I read it during the pandemic, I needed cheerful.
How, growing up in Indiana near Gene Stratton-Porter’s home, I never read this before now, I’ll never know. This was on my daughter’s reading list for her homeschool curriculum and I thought I’d give it a quick scan. I ended up staying up until 1 am two different nights as I couldn’t put it down.
The story is charming and full of happy endings, perhaps a bit cheesy over 110 years later, but as I read it during the pandemic, I needed cheerful.