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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
As many other reviewers have commented, this book reminded me quite a bit of "Anne of Green Gables". Rebecca is a positive, happy person, not nearly as dramatic as Anne. Anne found a benefactress in Marilla Cuthbert, although Marilla had originally wanted a boy to help around the farm. Rebecca's benefactress, her Aunt Miranda, had originally wanted Rebecca's sister Hannah to come live with her. Anne and Rebecca turned out to be more what Marilla and Miranda needed rather than wanted. Both girls love learning and would not have had their education were it not for their patronesses. Just as Matthew Cuthbert took a back seat to Marilla, so does Aunt Jane to Miranda, but Anne has a special relationship with Matthew as Rebecca does with Jane. Anne finds a kindred spirit in Diana and Rebecca finds a bosom friend in Emma Jane. I could go on and on with the comparisons, the stories are that similar. And while I liked this book, I still prefer my beloved Anne Shirley.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
Loveable characters:
Yes
Pleasant enough combination of wholesome energy, humor, and a main character with Mary Sue Syndrome. Everyone likes Rebecca; the few who don't are essentially villains. By the end of the book, Rebecca believes all people are intrinsically good, and her only character flaws miraculously fade away due to maturation.
This book is charming enough, but it definitely has a few moments that did not age well, especially for a children's book. The blatant racism about Rebecca's darker complexion was unexpected, but I realize that this was published over 100 years ago and so that was common at that time. Just was not expecting it out of a novel written for children.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Although I read this book as a child (probably many times, from the condition of my copy), I'd forgotten most of it. How endearing Rebecca is! How she makes me laugh with her poetry! I'm so glad I revisited this book.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
DNF
Pages read 50/309
I grew up watching Shirly Temple movies with my Grandmother. One of those movies was Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, which does appear to be an adaptation of this novel. Why it is labeled that, I do not know because they have almost nothing in common save for the title and the characters' names. This makes it hard for me to rate this book fairly because I don't know how much I'm biased by the differences. I don't have strong memories of the movie, I actually had to stop and look up the plot when I got to page 50 of this book because I was trying to remember why I liked the movie when the book was so dull.
The answer is that the movie is about a little girl who won a singing competition, but then went missing due to unfortunate miscommunication and wound up living with her aunt. The book is a plot-lite, slice-of-life book about a little girl going to live with her aunts because her widowed mother has too many mouths to feed. There is no singing competition or really any driving conflict other than everyone loving Rebecca. Everyone, that is, but her aunt. But it's not like her aunt is terrible to Rebecca. At least, she's not in the bit I've read and I'm not interested in reading more. I'm not remotely engaged by the text or interested in the rather dull characters, so I'm DFNing this one.
Fellow Shirly Temple fans should probably steer clear of this one, too, as it's going to be a letdown if you're expecting anything even remotely similar to the movie. I'm not sure who I'd recommend it to as I think a lot of other books - such as Anne of Green Gables - did this premise better.
Pages read 50/309
I grew up watching Shirly Temple movies with my Grandmother. One of those movies was Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, which does appear to be an adaptation of this novel. Why it is labeled that, I do not know because they have almost nothing in common save for the title and the characters' names. This makes it hard for me to rate this book fairly because I don't know how much I'm biased by the differences. I don't have strong memories of the movie, I actually had to stop and look up the plot when I got to page 50 of this book because I was trying to remember why I liked the movie when the book was so dull.
The answer is that the movie is about a little girl who won a singing competition, but then went missing due to unfortunate miscommunication and wound up living with her aunt. The book is a plot-lite, slice-of-life book about a little girl going to live with her aunts because her widowed mother has too many mouths to feed. There is no singing competition or really any driving conflict other than everyone loving Rebecca. Everyone, that is, but her aunt. But it's not like her aunt is terrible to Rebecca. At least, she's not in the bit I've read and I'm not interested in reading more. I'm not remotely engaged by the text or interested in the rather dull characters, so I'm DFNing this one.
Fellow Shirly Temple fans should probably steer clear of this one, too, as it's going to be a letdown if you're expecting anything even remotely similar to the movie. I'm not sure who I'd recommend it to as I think a lot of other books - such as Anne of Green Gables - did this premise better.
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
This is a slice-of-life, character-driven story with a low-stake plot. The story is predictable and has a chill vibe as Rebecca adjusts to life in Sunnybrook Farm and interacts with people who have mostly good intentions. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and Anne of Green Gables have a lot of similarities.
Rebecca is a likeable and delightful main character. No one can escape her unique and charming personality. However, the author tries too hard to make Rebecca different from other girls, by portraying other girls in a negative light.
The characters are undeveloped and unmemorable. My favourite character in this book is Aunt Miranda. She might be one-note, but her grumpiness is endearing.
There is a weird romantic subplot, but, thankfully, it's a small part of the story. I know this book is written in a different time, but the romance is creepy and I'm so glad it doesn't go anywhere.
This book is a product of its time, so there's racism, discrimination and Christianity being used to promote the white saviour complex.
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm has a strong beginning, but fizzles out towards the end. The ending is rushed and there's no resolution.
This is a quaint, calming and cosy read, but I wasn't emotionally invested in the story.
Rebecca is a likeable and delightful main character. No one can escape her unique and charming personality. However, the author tries too hard to make Rebecca different from other girls, by portraying other girls in a negative light.
The characters are undeveloped and unmemorable. My favourite character in this book is Aunt Miranda. She might be one-note, but her grumpiness is endearing.
Spoiler
However, I didn't feel any emotions when she passed away.There is a weird romantic subplot, but, thankfully, it's a small part of the story. I know this book is written in a different time, but the romance is creepy and I'm so glad it doesn't go anywhere.
Spoiler
I get Rebecca's childhood crushing, but why in the world is Mr. Adam Ladd romantically interested in a school child?This book is a product of its time, so there's racism, discrimination and Christianity being used to promote the white saviour complex.
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm has a strong beginning, but fizzles out towards the end. The ending is rushed and there's no resolution.
This is a quaint, calming and cosy read, but I wasn't emotionally invested in the story.