Scan barcode
emilybartonspinks's review
1.0
This book was the unfortunate beginning to my eventual disenchantment with L.M. Montgomery. As someone who has read, and loved the Anne books, Story Girl, and Emily of New Moon, I was honestly surprised by the degree to which I detest this pathetic novel, and how the book led me to like all of her books less. For starters, there is nothing new in this story. I felt like I'd met all the characters before, and had heard all the subplots. It's rather a compilation of all of Montgomery's sappy and predictable romances neatly compiled into one easy to swallow volume. Maybe that wouldn't bother someone who hadn't already read a lot of Montgomery's work, but it's enough that I wouldn't recommend it to someone who had read her before. But this wasn't the real reason I dislike this book. The story (SPOILER ALERT, but honestly, this spoiler doesn't really give away the story, and is a helpful warning) ends with one of the most profoundly sexist and racist paragraphs that I've found in this genre of literature. It was a vivid reminder that white imperialism is thing. And the character who delivers the profoundly offensive statement is one the heroes. The reader is meant to laugh and close the book with satisfaction after this closing statement, but I can assure that this wasn't my reaction, nor would I hope it would be yours. With the removal of the final two paragraphs, this book honestly would of been fine. Not a favorite, or one I'll read again, but tolerable. In fact, I improved my copy by tearing out the last two paragraphs, and burning them. If after all this anyone still feels as if reading this book would be a good use of their limited time on this earth, be my guest. But you can't that you weren't warned.
susansomeone's review
4.0
This is an excellent use of all the would-be side characters in other LM Montgomery stories. It's wacky and takes us barely deep enough into the characters to see the humour in their wild situations. In a few ways it's a product of the time it's written in, but overall an enjoyable read.
melindamoor's review against another edition
3.0
My second book by [a:L.M. Montgomery|5350|L.M. Montgomery|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1188896723p2/5350.jpg]. I enjoyed it, though not as much as her [b:The Blue Castle|35126039|The Blue Castle|L.M. Montgomery|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494682711l/35126039._SY75_.jpg|1298683].
snowgal430's review
4.0
So many stories within the story. At first it was hard keeping all the characters and storylines separate, but never a dull moment.
ruthie_the_librarian's review
4.0
When I first read this back in my early twenties, I didn't really like it - I was all about Anne at the time, and this is quite a different kind of story. I'd re-read since then, but still I didn't rate it much. But it came up in November for a re-read on the kindred spirits email list, and so I thought I'd give it another go. Christmas, and other books, got in the way a bit as I started the first few chapters then it got lost in a pile on my table, but yesterday I sat & read the last 3/4 of it, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is waspishly funny. It has an absolutely huge jumble of characters, and somehow they sit perfectly together as real individuals, in an enormous interwoven family group. The skill of LMM as a writer is on display throughout, as she captures character, dialogue, plot, scene setting, emotional punches and humour. It's cleverly done, I had totally forgotten the resolution to the story so it kept me guessing. I found myself caught up in all the multiple stories - goodness knows how she kept them all straight in her head as she wrote.
It's a shame it ends on a racist note - I wonder if now publishers would edit that final brief chapter out, since it's unnecessary to the story?
Anyway, I'm glad I came back to it again to see what a gloriously deft writer she was.
It's a shame it ends on a racist note - I wonder if now publishers would edit that final brief chapter out, since it's unnecessary to the story?
Anyway, I'm glad I came back to it again to see what a gloriously deft writer she was.
anothernicole's review
4.0
I think I first read this book when I was 14 or 15, and--oh! how I loved it. I still remember how hard I laughed, that first time, at Aunt Becky's levee. And I was so charmed by all the intertwining stories of love and loss and pride and hope and agony and such. Montgomery's Anne books will always be my favorite of hers, of course, but this became a very close second almost immediately. That was more than twenty years ago. And I've re-read it a few times since then, with (iirc) the same delight. But this time when I read it, I felt...older or something. Impatient. The melodramatic, overly-sentimental, sweeping language began to grate on me a tiny bit. I wanted to hurry everyone into their little conclusions, not wanting to watch the sunsets or hear the wind moan this time. Maybe it's just my mood lately. Maybe it's my age now. In a way, this will always be a favorite; I can never not love Roger...Joselyn...Drowned John...Margaret...Ambrosine and that ridiculous ring...Brian...but the flowery language and High Romanticism did wear on me a little this time around. I've had this ranked 5 stars ever since I added it to Goodreads, but I've put it to 4 stars today.
panda_incognito's review
2.0
I'd rate this two and half stars. It started out brilliant and hilarious, but got boring and strange by the end.
sahrathebookworm's review against another edition
4.0
برای من که اصلا طرفدار جمع‌های بزرگ و شلوغ و خانوادگی نیستم، خوندن این کتاب یه تجربه جالب بود. می پرسین چرا؟ خیلی واضحه، چون انگار به یه مهمونی بزرگ دعوت شدین اما حواس هیچکس متوجه شما نیست. هرجایی که بخواین، هر گوشه و کناری می‌تونین سرک بکشین و همچنان توی اون مهمونی باشین. (کاش همه مهمونی ها همچین قابلیتی داشتن که هر وقت ازش خسته می‌شدی میتونستی مثل کتابت فقط ببندیش و بری سراغ کارهای دیگه
mwhiting522's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
quietjenn's review against another edition
3.0
2022 reread: Maybe 3/12 this go-around? In some ways, this book has held up better than some others. It's one where various things about it have stuck with me, since the time I originally read it. There are still a pretty overwhelming number of characters and it's difficult to get a handle on them all. And I in know way think this qualifies as a children's book, despite the fact that Montgomery wrote it and some kids read/have read it. It can still feel too slow and wordy and I rolled my eyes a lot at these characters and it still ends with a racist joke. But I did find it easy to settle in and immerse myself in it once it got going.
Original: It's pretty easy to see why this is not one of L.M. Montgomery's most famous and well-loved - although the plethora of gushy four and five star reviews here are evidence enough that it is still very beloved. If I'd read it when I was younger, I might be among them but today - not so much. It's incredibly slow and hard to get into. I think I actually started it at least three time before finally feeling it and that's mostly due to the fact that it's pretty confusing for the first third of the book. There are literally dozens of characters and they're all related and thus have very similar names and they are all super-invested in inheriting a jug. I think a little befuddlement and incredulity is warranted.
That said, once I hit about the forty percent mark, I was all in and I devoured the rest of the book with gusto. It's definitely melodramatic and it reminded me a lot of Peyton Place, if everyone was Canadian, related to each other and not quite so scandalous. But there are certain characters and story lines that resonated in a very satisfying way.
But then we came to the end and the book, quite literally, ends on a racist joke. Which - totally not expecting and while I know it is a product of its time was still really jarring and disappointing.
Original: It's pretty easy to see why this is not one of L.M. Montgomery's most famous and well-loved - although the plethora of gushy four and five star reviews here are evidence enough that it is still very beloved. If I'd read it when I was younger, I might be among them but today - not so much. It's incredibly slow and hard to get into. I think I actually started it at least three time before finally feeling it and that's mostly due to the fact that it's pretty confusing for the first third of the book. There are literally dozens of characters and they're all related and thus have very similar names and they are all super-invested in inheriting a jug. I think a little befuddlement and incredulity is warranted.
That said, once I hit about the forty percent mark, I was all in and I devoured the rest of the book with gusto. It's definitely melodramatic and it reminded me a lot of Peyton Place, if everyone was Canadian, related to each other and not quite so scandalous. But there are certain characters and story lines that resonated in a very satisfying way.
But then we came to the end and the book, quite literally, ends on a racist joke. Which - totally not expecting and while I know it is a product of its time was still really jarring and disappointing.