Scan barcode
A review by missbryden
A Tangled Web by L.M. Montgomery
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