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forestidylls's review
4.0
I have no recollection of reading this before, though according to Goodreads, I have. Apparently I liked it about the same then as well. I enjoyed this book, which intertwined an amazing amount of different people's stories. It rather reminded me of her short stories, but all woven together into a novel. It did take longer than normal to get into and begin really caring what happens, but once I did, I sat and read it through.
juventina's review
3.0
Took off two stars because the last sentence was so shocking and unexpected that it genuinely felt like a slap to the face. I don’t know why Maud thought it was necessary to add such a racist ‘joke’ but I can understand it was probably something that wouldn’t make any of her readers blink twice. I’m still extremely disappointed in her though.
themoonphoenix's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
abitterknitter's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
Oh. My. Word. I'm finally done. This felt like every plot line LMM ever thought up but never put in its own book stuck together. Far too many characters to keep track of and then the blasted jug gets broken and no one gets it anyway. .25 stars just because Aunt Becky's stupid ploy made some people do the hard thing to live better lives with people they loved.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Animal death, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Sexism, Alcohol, Car accident, Death, Body shaming, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, and Racial slurs
ravenreader's review against another edition
The first chapter seemed surpisingly off-putting. I checked reviews and discovered this ends with a horrible racial slur, which promptly ended any inclination on my part to keep reading.
jakolinka's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
beccatalksbooks's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Fatphobia, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Animal death and Sexism
rchluther's review
5.0
This is my favorite of all Montgomery's books. I love the whole Dark and Penhallow clans. I love all the little loves and hates and side stories. I love the ridiculousness of the jug. It's not perfect, in spite of my 5 stars. I do get tired of all the "damning" of things, as if it's the only way LMM could figure out how to make it aimed towards adults. The last line is almost unforgivable as well, even accounting for the differences of time and place. But oh the stories! So many different stories woven together in a tangled web. It's just awesome. And of course, the real question... Who should have gotten the jug?
missbryden's review against another edition
4.0
Overall, it was more interesting than I expected it to be. I’ve had it on my shelf for years, having collected most of Montgomery’s books, and I finally picked it up after a recent reread of other favorites of hers.
From character descriptions and scenery descriptions you can tell it's still clearly Montgomery, but you can also tell it's one of her only "adult" novels from the characters who swear (and not just written "d---") and the references to marriage beds (still references only, but not so oblique as say Anne was about her excitement about having a baby [b:Anne's House of Dreams|77394|Anne's House of Dreams (Anne of Green Gables, #5)|L.M. Montgomery|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1442471048l/77394._SY75_.jpg|1133797]).
The large cast of characters (this is about a whole clan, not just one heroine or couple or family) was confusing but the variety also helped illustrate the more cynical reality of adulthood than many of her other books do. It was still enjoyable, looking at characters falling in love at first sight and then finding the less sparkling truth, but not the kind of feeling you get in Montgomery's other adult book, [b:The Blue Castle|95693|The Blue Castle|L.M. Montgomery|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1684723987l/95693._SY75_.jpg|1298683], or in her more girlish series and books.
A racist last line, uttered by a character, rather than the narrator, rather spoiled the story I'd really come to enjoy. Also, I would not have ended it with these two Sams, they were not among my preferred characters. It didn’t have to end with a romantic happy couple, but it could have at least ended with the happy spinster. In general I would also like to read about more spinsters making a life for themselves.
my Pinterest board of references
From character descriptions and scenery descriptions you can tell it's still clearly Montgomery, but you can also tell it's one of her only "adult" novels from the characters who swear (and not just written "d---") and the references to marriage beds (still references only, but not so oblique as say Anne was about her excitement about having a baby [b:Anne's House of Dreams|77394|Anne's House of Dreams (Anne of Green Gables, #5)|L.M. Montgomery|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1442471048l/77394._SY75_.jpg|1133797]).
The large cast of characters (this is about a whole clan, not just one heroine or couple or family) was confusing but the variety also helped illustrate the more cynical reality of adulthood than many of her other books do. It was still enjoyable, looking at characters falling in love at first sight and then finding the less sparkling truth, but not the kind of feeling you get in Montgomery's other adult book, [b:The Blue Castle|95693|The Blue Castle|L.M. Montgomery|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1684723987l/95693._SY75_.jpg|1298683], or in her more girlish series and books.
A racist last line, uttered by a character, rather than the narrator, rather spoiled the story I'd really come to enjoy. Also, I would not have ended it with these two Sams, they were not among my preferred characters. It didn’t have to end with a romantic happy couple, but it could have at least ended with the happy spinster. In general I would also like to read about more spinsters making a life for themselves.
my Pinterest board of references