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moonlightcupofcocoa's reviews
200 reviews
Jane Austen's Favourite Brother, Henry by Christopher Herbert
emotional
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for the ARC! As always, all opinions shared are 100% my own.
As a Jane Austen fan, and an addict to anything about her life, the moment I laid my eyes on this cover, I knew I had to read it. I had read some material about her father especially before, but never really about her siblings. All I knew about Henry was that he was a priest.
While I was curious just how much material we have about him (considering I feel that we barely know enough about Jane herself), I was delighted to see that the author did extensive research about the socioeconomical and cultural environment that the Austens lived in. From traditions about pregnancy, childbirth and childrearing to banks, taxes and loans, the book immerses the readers into the world that both Jane and Henry grew up in allowing us to learn more about them. Some moments and subjects were lighthearted, others were painful to read about such as slavery.
In addition to that, through Jane's letters and Henry's writings (as well as sermons later), we start to form a much more comprehensive idea about not only who they were but also their beliefs. Was Henry as religious as we think he was? Why was Henry her favourite? What about their relationship with their father and what were some of his beliefs? How did Jane come to publishing her books?
The author presented the information in an accessible, friendly manner that engages the reader to form their own opinion while learning about the late 18th century and 19th century. Henry was not put on a pedestal in this biography, and I appreciated that.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading the book. While there is still much we don't know about Henry, and Jane herself, I learned a lot. Many resources and references were also shared at the end of the book so I know I will dig even deeper now.
As a Jane Austen fan, and an addict to anything about her life, the moment I laid my eyes on this cover, I knew I had to read it. I had read some material about her father especially before, but never really about her siblings. All I knew about Henry was that he was a priest.
While I was curious just how much material we have about him (considering I feel that we barely know enough about Jane herself), I was delighted to see that the author did extensive research about the socioeconomical and cultural environment that the Austens lived in. From traditions about pregnancy, childbirth and childrearing to banks, taxes and loans, the book immerses the readers into the world that both Jane and Henry grew up in allowing us to learn more about them. Some moments and subjects were lighthearted, others were painful to read about such as slavery.
In addition to that, through Jane's letters and Henry's writings (as well as sermons later), we start to form a much more comprehensive idea about not only who they were but also their beliefs. Was Henry as religious as we think he was? Why was Henry her favourite? What about their relationship with their father and what were some of his beliefs? How did Jane come to publishing her books?
The author presented the information in an accessible, friendly manner that engages the reader to form their own opinion while learning about the late 18th century and 19th century. Henry was not put on a pedestal in this biography, and I appreciated that.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading the book. While there is still much we don't know about Henry, and Jane herself, I learned a lot. Many resources and references were also shared at the end of the book so I know I will dig even deeper now.
Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Being Good by Louie Stowell
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
My brother and I have a tradition of gifting each other Diary of a Wimpy Kid books since childhood. As a lover of all things mythology, when a friend recommended it to us, I honestly couldn't resist. It was very fun! I can absolutely see younger readers loving this. Well-paced, has a good message and the audiobook especially was very well done.
The Wisdom of the Romantics by Michael K. Kellogg
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Prometheus Books for the ARC! As always, all opinions below are 100% my own!
This book was meaty. In a good way! It digs deep into the lives and works of some of the biggest names in Romanticism, giving you a real sense of who they were and where they came from. It's not exactly light reading, but it does a good job easing the readers into each figure. Some chapters were definitely trickier than others (yes, I am glaring at you, Hegel -- Not that anyone should be surprised about that).
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I took my times with it so I could really soak it all in. If I'm being honest, I probably would've gotten even more out of it if I'd read an intro to Romanticism first (I believe the author wrote one actually) and maybe even read some of the works myself before reading about them here.
If you intend on reading one of the included works, I suggest you do that first to avoid spoilers then come back to this book for a deeper dive. I believe you will find the experience very rewarding. That's what I intend on doing myself in the near future!
This book was meaty. In a good way! It digs deep into the lives and works of some of the biggest names in Romanticism, giving you a real sense of who they were and where they came from. It's not exactly light reading, but it does a good job easing the readers into each figure. Some chapters were definitely trickier than others (yes, I am glaring at you, Hegel -- Not that anyone should be surprised about that).
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I took my times with it so I could really soak it all in. If I'm being honest, I probably would've gotten even more out of it if I'd read an intro to Romanticism first (I believe the author wrote one actually) and maybe even read some of the works myself before reading about them here.
If you intend on reading one of the included works, I suggest you do that first to avoid spoilers then come back to this book for a deeper dive. I believe you will find the experience very rewarding. That's what I intend on doing myself in the near future!
The first witches: women of power in a classical world by Alexis Hannah Prescott
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
Big thanks to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for the ARC! As always, all thoughts here are 100% my own.
It’s probably no shock that I love reading about classical history. And witches. So, when I came across The First Witches by Alexis Hannah Prescott, I just knew I had to read it. And let me tell you, it absolutely delivered.
This book takes you through history exploring the evolution of witches, who they are and how they were portrayed in literature. From the Illiad and the Odyssey, through Metamorphoses and Macbeth to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the book not only highlights key references but also compares the witches in question to show how socio-political influences shaped their depictions. Then, it dives into how all of this has impacted Western literature, and the Western world in general.
Even though I was familiar with some of the arguments the book presents, the way it lays everything out is both informative and super accessible. It felt like it was organizing my own thoughts, introducing me to more details and making everything click in a whole new way. And all in under 200 pages!
Plus, the footnotes and the references section are extensive and provide with even more resources and books to dig into!
All in all, I adored this book. So much so that I found myself thinking about it while watching several movies recently!
It’s probably no shock that I love reading about classical history. And witches. So, when I came across The First Witches by Alexis Hannah Prescott, I just knew I had to read it. And let me tell you, it absolutely delivered.
This book takes you through history exploring the evolution of witches, who they are and how they were portrayed in literature. From the Illiad and the Odyssey, through Metamorphoses and Macbeth to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the book not only highlights key references but also compares the witches in question to show how socio-political influences shaped their depictions. Then, it dives into how all of this has impacted Western literature, and the Western world in general.
Even though I was familiar with some of the arguments the book presents, the way it lays everything out is both informative and super accessible. It felt like it was organizing my own thoughts, introducing me to more details and making everything click in a whole new way. And all in under 200 pages!
Plus, the footnotes and the references section are extensive and provide with even more resources and books to dig into!
All in all, I adored this book. So much so that I found myself thinking about it while watching several movies recently!
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Abortion, Pregnancy
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Review to come
Hallowed Souls by Cierra Reyes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
While this was a 3.5 read for me, I have no doubt it will be a favourite for many others! Before diving into my thoughts, thank you to the author for the ARC. All opinions presented here are 100% my own.
One thing that stood out for me was the prologue. It's rare for me to enjoy a prologue so much. I tend to read them, of course, but usually they don't hook me right away. In this book, it was quick, intriguing and well-executed and definitely got me excited about what’s to come. So much so that it left me wanting to read a prequel from Curren POV.
The pacing of the story does slow down quite a bit afterwards (until about the 19% mark if I recall correctly) as the FMC is introduced along with her gang. At first, their teasing felt overly frequent and a little too silly, but the more I got to know them, the more I appreciated their bond. Honestly, isn’t that how real friends are together? You quickly realize just how much they all mean to one another, and I personally started loving the dynamic.
Leah and Liam were standout characters for me, but my absolute favourite character in the whole book has to be Valeria. Her personality and her character development throughout the book was impressive. She was always quietly strong, and I was rooting for her to discover more of her inner strength.
The plot and worldbuilding were also highlights. The reveal towards the end was wonderfully executed where you *could* tell something was coming, but it still catches you enough by surprise.
My biggest hesitation with the book was the romance. I tend to prefer slow-burn, subtle relationships in fantasy, which was one of the reasons I got excited about the book when I first came across its announcement on social media. While the romance is technically a side plot, and it is slow-burn in that no spice happens between the MMC and FMC, it felt more prominent than I originally expected, and the attraction developed much faster than I had anticipated considering the characters' backgrounds.
That said, the chemistry is definitely there, and their playful dynamic was enjoyable. Though it might not have worked for me, I know many readers will absolutely swoon over their relationship. I know I'm in the minority.
Overall, this was a wonderful debut and I'm very excited to see what the author writes next. If this book is anything to go by, I have no doubt we're in for some amazing stories by the author!
P.S: Where can I sign up for a real-life Kerberos?
One thing that stood out for me was the prologue. It's rare for me to enjoy a prologue so much. I tend to read them, of course, but usually they don't hook me right away. In this book, it was quick, intriguing and well-executed and definitely got me excited about what’s to come. So much so that it left me wanting to read a prequel from Curren POV.
The pacing of the story does slow down quite a bit afterwards (until about the 19% mark if I recall correctly) as the FMC is introduced along with her gang. At first, their teasing felt overly frequent and a little too silly, but the more I got to know them, the more I appreciated their bond. Honestly, isn’t that how real friends are together? You quickly realize just how much they all mean to one another, and I personally started loving the dynamic.
Leah and Liam were standout characters for me, but my absolute favourite character in the whole book has to be Valeria. Her personality and her character development throughout the book was impressive. She was always quietly strong, and I was rooting for her to discover more of her inner strength.
The plot and worldbuilding were also highlights. The reveal towards the end was wonderfully executed where you *could* tell something was coming, but it still catches you enough by surprise.
My biggest hesitation with the book was the romance. I tend to prefer slow-burn, subtle relationships in fantasy, which was one of the reasons I got excited about the book when I first came across its announcement on social media. While the romance is technically a side plot, and it is slow-burn in that no spice happens between the MMC and FMC, it felt more prominent than I originally expected, and the attraction developed much faster than I had anticipated considering the characters' backgrounds.
That said, the chemistry is definitely there, and their playful dynamic was enjoyable. Though it might not have worked for me, I know many readers will absolutely swoon over their relationship. I know I'm in the minority.
Overall, this was a wonderful debut and I'm very excited to see what the author writes next. If this book is anything to go by, I have no doubt we're in for some amazing stories by the author!
P.S: Where can I sign up for a real-life Kerberos?
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
Did not finish book. Stopped at 2%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 2%.
I thought I would be able to read despite having pregnancy as one of my triggers, but unfortunately couldn't.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pregnancy
The Blythes Are Quoted by L.M. Montgomery
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This review will have spoilers to Rilla of Ingleside.
I will admit that I'm a bit emotional writing this review. So much so that by the time I post it, it'll probably be a few days as I felt the need to sit with it. This is the last 'Anne' book available to me. I've read all others in the series (including the 'Further Chronicles from Avonlea' which I hated) and its bittersweet coming to an end.
What makes this even harder is the more I read about this book's publication history, the more I realized that L. M. Montgomery was suffering while writing it. At least parts of it. This book was supposed to help both the readers and the author to relive some of what made the Anne books so successful. And obviously to benefit from the series, financially.
This book was first released towards the end of the author's life. It was delivered to her publisher on the day of her death in 1942, but the publisher declined to issue it at the time. It's speculated that it's due to the darker tone of the book as well as anti-war messages in the poems and stories seeing that this was in the middle of the second world war.
Then, the book was published as 'The Road to Yesterday' in the 70s. Still, not in its entirety. It was shortened and reorganized (from what I saw anyways).
So, we actually didn't get it in its entirety until 2009 when Montgomery scholar, Benjamin Lefebvre, came across extended manuscripts giving us the full book.
The book is formatted differently in that it is split into two halves: Pre-WWI and Post-WW1/Beginning of WW2. In each half, we have stories with poems in the middle. All the poems are either by Anne or Walter (read after his death). While I liked the poems enough, I loved the commentary as Anne reads the poem out loud to her family.
The stories don't feature the Blythes, but they are mentioned over and over again in them. So much so, that sometimes it feels like fanservice and gets a tad annoying. They can do no wrong. They are either loved or are envied.
The book, also, stands out from the rest of the series in that it features a lot more explicitly darker themes like adultery, illegitimacy and revenge. Not talking about petty revenge here. Desperate, bitter and painful revenge.
But ultimately, I found myself enjoying the book and getting emotional all through it. Especially towards the end when you can feel Anne's pain and it really starts to feel like goodbye.
Like the other short story collections, I will be reviewing each of the short stories and using the average for the actual book. I won't be reviewing the poems, but I will name the two that especially spoke to me.
Some Fools and a Saint (4 stars): I enjoyed this story. It reads more like a horror story (with the caveat that to some extent you know the ending from the beginning, even if I have no idea how it could be true till the end).
An Afternoon with Mr. Jenkins (4 stars): It made me very uncomfortable, and I was so ready for things to go absolutely wrong (especially after Further Chronicles of Avonlea) but ultimately it ended up being bittersweet and almost (ALMOST) wholesome. It was still very dark when you stop and think about it.
Retribution (2.5 stars): This was painful to read which I believe is mostly intentional. This is a story about revenge and how it consumes one inside out.
The Twins Pretend (4 stars): It's cute. A bored wealthy man run into equally bored, opinionated twins. And they convince him to makeover an old, abandoned house.
Fancy's Fool (4 stars): This one was haunting, and I enjoyed it. Cute ending. I enjoyed the writing in it.
A Dream Comes True (4.5 stars): I honestly ended up laughing while reading this one. The main character is an idiot, and I enjoyed watching him learn an important lesson: Careful what you wish for.
Penelope Struts Her Theories (2 stars): It was an okay story. Ultimately, a happy ending but I think I didn't enjoy it as much as there were hints of misogynistic beliefs at the time regarding parenting.
The Reconciliation (3 stars): It was short and ... kinda silly. Ultimately leads nowhere.
The Cheated Child (3.5 stars): We revisit the themes of an orphan child finding his chosen family after living with many hateful, selfish relatives. Cute ending.
Fool's Errand (2 stars): Love at first sight, that should have been cute but honestly felt a bit ... too sentimental and illogical.
The Pot and the Kettle (3 stars): This felt a bit longer than it needed to be but was ultimately cute. A woman feeling terrible for lying about her identity ends up discovering other lies.
Brother Beware (1 star): It was supposed to be a romantic story, but honestly, it’s not. A man, intent on stopping his brother from marrying a woman, ends up kidnapping her and locking her at an island before they fell in love with each other instead.
I will admit that I'm a bit emotional writing this review. So much so that by the time I post it, it'll probably be a few days as I felt the need to sit with it. This is the last 'Anne' book available to me. I've read all others in the series (including the 'Further Chronicles from Avonlea' which I hated) and its bittersweet coming to an end.
What makes this even harder is the more I read about this book's publication history, the more I realized that L. M. Montgomery was suffering while writing it. At least parts of it. This book was supposed to help both the readers and the author to relive some of what made the Anne books so successful. And obviously to benefit from the series, financially.
This book was first released towards the end of the author's life. It was delivered to her publisher on the day of her death in 1942, but the publisher declined to issue it at the time. It's speculated that it's due to the darker tone of the book as well as anti-war messages in the poems and stories seeing that this was in the middle of the second world war.
Then, the book was published as 'The Road to Yesterday' in the 70s. Still, not in its entirety. It was shortened and reorganized (from what I saw anyways).
So, we actually didn't get it in its entirety until 2009 when Montgomery scholar, Benjamin Lefebvre, came across extended manuscripts giving us the full book.
The book is formatted differently in that it is split into two halves: Pre-WWI and Post-WW1/Beginning of WW2. In each half, we have stories with poems in the middle. All the poems are either by Anne or Walter (read after his death). While I liked the poems enough, I loved the commentary as Anne reads the poem out loud to her family.
The stories don't feature the Blythes, but they are mentioned over and over again in them. So much so, that sometimes it feels like fanservice and gets a tad annoying. They can do no wrong. They are either loved or are envied.
The book, also, stands out from the rest of the series in that it features a lot more explicitly darker themes like adultery, illegitimacy and revenge. Not talking about petty revenge here. Desperate, bitter and painful revenge.
But ultimately, I found myself enjoying the book and getting emotional all through it. Especially towards the end when you can feel Anne's pain and it really starts to feel like goodbye.
Like the other short story collections, I will be reviewing each of the short stories and using the average for the actual book. I won't be reviewing the poems, but I will name the two that especially spoke to me.
Some Fools and a Saint (4 stars): I enjoyed this story. It reads more like a horror story (with the caveat that to some extent you know the ending from the beginning, even if I have no idea how it could be true till the end).
An Afternoon with Mr. Jenkins (4 stars): It made me very uncomfortable, and I was so ready for things to go absolutely wrong (especially after Further Chronicles of Avonlea) but ultimately it ended up being bittersweet and almost (ALMOST) wholesome. It was still very dark when you stop and think about it.
Retribution (2.5 stars): This was painful to read which I believe is mostly intentional. This is a story about revenge and how it consumes one inside out.
The Twins Pretend (4 stars): It's cute. A bored wealthy man run into equally bored, opinionated twins. And they convince him to makeover an old, abandoned house.
Fancy's Fool (4 stars): This one was haunting, and I enjoyed it. Cute ending. I enjoyed the writing in it.
A Dream Comes True (4.5 stars): I honestly ended up laughing while reading this one. The main character is an idiot, and I enjoyed watching him learn an important lesson: Careful what you wish for.
Penelope Struts Her Theories (2 stars): It was an okay story. Ultimately, a happy ending but I think I didn't enjoy it as much as there were hints of misogynistic beliefs at the time regarding parenting.
The Reconciliation (3 stars): It was short and ... kinda silly. Ultimately leads nowhere.
The Cheated Child (3.5 stars): We revisit the themes of an orphan child finding his chosen family after living with many hateful, selfish relatives. Cute ending.
Fool's Errand (2 stars): Love at first sight, that should have been cute but honestly felt a bit ... too sentimental and illogical.
The Pot and the Kettle (3 stars): This felt a bit longer than it needed to be but was ultimately cute. A woman feeling terrible for lying about her identity ends up discovering other lies.
Brother Beware (1 star): It was supposed to be a romantic story, but honestly, it’s not. A man, intent on stopping his brother from marrying a woman, ends up kidnapping her and locking her at an island before they fell in love with each other instead.
Here Comes the Bride (4 stars): I can’t say that anything specific happened in this. A wedding is told through the eyes and thoughts of the guests. Most of the story was the housekeeper telling Susan how the wedding came to be and the truth behind a lot of the gossip going on. And yet, somehow, I ended up enjoying this. I think I liked that we got to see the progression between what the gossips were thinking during the ceremony and reception to finding out what really happened.
A Commonplace Woman (3 stars): This was a sad one. Almost everyone in this story is a jerk, except for the poor dying old lady. While they waited for her death so impatiently, the woman relived her life and the secrets she kept from all around her, proving that she did indeed live a full life they never knew about.
The Road to Yesterday (2 stars): As a woman revisits her old home, she runs into the boy that she used to hate growing up only to realize she’s falling for him. I think I would have enjoyed this more had it been longer. I do know that it all takes place over one day so there was little time for things to progress more naturally. The ending just seemed a bit abrupt and a little … too ‘plot-twisty’.
Favourite Poems: The Night, There is a House I Love, Farewell to an Old Room
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, Death of parent, War
Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol
Further Chronicles of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Similar to its predecessor, these are short stories set in Avonlea. Out of 15 stories, Anne only appears (and narrates) one story. I believe she was also mentioned in one or two others. Other characters such as Marilla and Matthew are also mentioned in passing. But outside of this, these stories have nothing to do with the main series.
That being said, there is a major difference between this book and the previous one. This one was actually published without permission from L. M. Montgomery. I am not certain what the state of the stories were in before they were released, but it's clear that she didn't want them to be published. So much so that she sued the publisher and even won after a lengthy legal battle.
I kept going back and forth about whether or not to read this one. Ultimately, I was too curious. And well, this is one of the cases where curiosity killed the cat.
While the stories feature many of the common themes we see in L. M. Montgomery stories (such as: Orphans finding a new chosen family, family members with secrets, couples marrying after years of separation due to silly arguments or misunderstandings, etc), the stories themselves aren't as good. Some are questionable even.
Like the last collection, I'll be reviewing each story on its own then using the average rating for the whole book.
NOTE: While I try to avoid spoilers and I will keep things very vague, I feel I need to reveal some things as content warnings!
1. "Aunt Cynthia's Persian Cat" (3 stars): I honestly don't remember much about the story. It was short and uneventful mostly. I didn't like it but didn't dislike it either.
2. "The Materializing of Cecil" (4 stars): This is a silly story that I ended up enjoying more than I expected. A woman makes up a long, forgotten suitor only for her lie to start chasing her.
3. "Her Father's Daughter" (3.5 stars): This was not bad, but the ending ended up feeling a bit too cliche and cheesy even if it did have some good emotional moments in the middle.
4. "Jane's Baby" (2 stars): I really didn't like this one. The characters are all very selfish and illogical. The resolution was fine but felt forced.
5. "The Dream-Child" (4 stars): This story ended up haunting me. Something about L. M. Montgomery's writing in this one is different. Much darker. Much more painful. Good enough resolution (at least to me)
6. "The Brother Who Failed" (3.5 stars): The idea for the story itself is a bit cheesy, but honestly a good message. It benefited from not being overly long.
7. "The Return of Hester" (2 stars): Not our beloved Hester Gray, no. I'm honestly not entirely sure what to make of this one. While there are hints of hauntings and mystery in Anne books, in general, this one took it to the extreme where we actually see a paranormal event.
8. " The Little Brown Book of Miss Emily " (2 stars): Even though this is the only story that primarily features Anne, and is actually the only time we get first-person narration by Anne in general, I didn't like the story. Anne and Diana are unfortunately very self-possessed and judgmental in it. And not for any good reason. They learn a good lesson in it, but I didn't enjoy the story.
9. "Sara's Way" (2 stars): I didn't hate anything particular in this story. It just felt like ... nothing happens per se. One moment, the main characters dislikes a person. Then, suddenly, likes him because everyone else is against him. Only because of that.
10. "The Son of his Mother" (2 stars): The story covers mothers' jealousies and over-protectiveness. Ultimately, the ending was okay, but the mother is unhinged and it comes off as very unhealthy and creepy. Granted the mother also learns an important lesson, but...
11. "The Education of Betty" (0 stars): I never thought I'd ever give an L. M. Montgomery story this low of a rating. And, in her defense, apparently and unfortunately, cases like this were acceptable at the time. I still felt very uncomfortable and was in denial that it could possibly be leading towards that ending. CW: Practically child grooming.
12. "In Her Selfless Mood" (2.5 stars): I don't know what the intention of this story was. The self-less character got to die in the room she wished for in the end. That's it. She was used by everyone around her all her life and accepted that. And that was the pay-off of the story in the end.
13. "The Conscience Case of David Bell" (2 stars): I... honestly don't even know what to say here, haha. It's fine. Was too long for what it tried to do in the end. Don't be judgmental, you don't know what people are actually thinking or going through.
14. "Only a Common Fellow" (3 stars): A story about second chances, staying true to your word and reuniting lovers. It was too short, I believe, but ultimately I enjoyed it enough.
15. "Tannis of the Flats" (0 stars): Includes racist stereotyping against Native Canadians. I don't believe that L. M. Montogomery herself meant harm. She does show the main character as the one who is actually selfless and good-hearted and I believe the actual questionable wording is through the eyes of a racist, pompous jerk of a character. But still I really hated this story and ultimately felt uncomfortable with the depictions.
That being said, there is a major difference between this book and the previous one. This one was actually published without permission from L. M. Montgomery. I am not certain what the state of the stories were in before they were released, but it's clear that she didn't want them to be published. So much so that she sued the publisher and even won after a lengthy legal battle.
I kept going back and forth about whether or not to read this one. Ultimately, I was too curious. And well, this is one of the cases where curiosity killed the cat.
While the stories feature many of the common themes we see in L. M. Montgomery stories (such as: Orphans finding a new chosen family, family members with secrets, couples marrying after years of separation due to silly arguments or misunderstandings, etc), the stories themselves aren't as good. Some are questionable even.
Like the last collection, I'll be reviewing each story on its own then using the average rating for the whole book.
NOTE: While I try to avoid spoilers and I will keep things very vague, I feel I need to reveal some things as content warnings!
1. "Aunt Cynthia's Persian Cat" (3 stars): I honestly don't remember much about the story. It was short and uneventful mostly. I didn't like it but didn't dislike it either.
2. "The Materializing of Cecil" (4 stars): This is a silly story that I ended up enjoying more than I expected. A woman makes up a long, forgotten suitor only for her lie to start chasing her.
3. "Her Father's Daughter" (3.5 stars): This was not bad, but the ending ended up feeling a bit too cliche and cheesy even if it did have some good emotional moments in the middle.
4. "Jane's Baby" (2 stars): I really didn't like this one. The characters are all very selfish and illogical. The resolution was fine but felt forced.
5. "The Dream-Child" (4 stars): This story ended up haunting me. Something about L. M. Montgomery's writing in this one is different. Much darker. Much more painful. Good enough resolution (at least to me)
6. "The Brother Who Failed" (3.5 stars): The idea for the story itself is a bit cheesy, but honestly a good message. It benefited from not being overly long.
7. "The Return of Hester" (2 stars): Not our beloved Hester Gray, no. I'm honestly not entirely sure what to make of this one. While there are hints of hauntings and mystery in Anne books, in general, this one took it to the extreme where we actually see a paranormal event.
8. " The Little Brown Book of Miss Emily " (2 stars): Even though this is the only story that primarily features Anne, and is actually the only time we get first-person narration by Anne in general, I didn't like the story. Anne and Diana are unfortunately very self-possessed and judgmental in it. And not for any good reason. They learn a good lesson in it, but I didn't enjoy the story.
9. "Sara's Way" (2 stars): I didn't hate anything particular in this story. It just felt like ... nothing happens per se. One moment, the main characters dislikes a person. Then, suddenly, likes him because everyone else is against him. Only because of that.
10. "The Son of his Mother" (2 stars): The story covers mothers' jealousies and over-protectiveness. Ultimately, the ending was okay, but the mother is unhinged and it comes off as very unhealthy and creepy. Granted the mother also learns an important lesson, but...
11. "The Education of Betty" (0 stars): I never thought I'd ever give an L. M. Montgomery story this low of a rating. And, in her defense, apparently and unfortunately, cases like this were acceptable at the time. I still felt very uncomfortable and was in denial that it could possibly be leading towards that ending. CW: Practically child grooming.
12. "In Her Selfless Mood" (2.5 stars): I don't know what the intention of this story was. The self-less character got to die in the room she wished for in the end. That's it. She was used by everyone around her all her life and accepted that. And that was the pay-off of the story in the end.
13. "The Conscience Case of David Bell" (2 stars): I... honestly don't even know what to say here, haha. It's fine. Was too long for what it tried to do in the end. Don't be judgmental, you don't know what people are actually thinking or going through.
14. "Only a Common Fellow" (3 stars): A story about second chances, staying true to your word and reuniting lovers. It was too short, I believe, but ultimately I enjoyed it enough.
15. "Tannis of the Flats" (0 stars): Includes racist stereotyping against Native Canadians. I don't believe that L. M. Montogomery herself meant harm. She does show the main character as the one who is actually selfless and good-hearted and I believe the actual questionable wording is through the eyes of a racist, pompous jerk of a character. But still I really hated this story and ultimately felt uncomfortable with the depictions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Abandonment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Catians: Volume 1 by Cortney Cameron
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
First things first, thank you to the creators for the free copy! As always all thoughts here are 100% my own.
Catians is a series that speaks to Cat lovers. Three teen characters find themselves selected by their feline companions to put an end to looming danger endangering both humans and cats.
While the humor and plot can be somewhat cheesy sometimes, it's in the best way possible. In a way, it reminds me of Saturday Morning cartoons or classic anime. The plot is interesting and pacing is well done.
But in addition to that, all the small references to cats' antics, and creative ways to explain why cats are the way they are, caused me to chuckle several times throughout the chapters. I am looking forward to the next volume.
Only warning is there is animal harm and death in this. Nothing major on the screen that I can remember, but just in case someone is heavily triggered by this, I wanted to point it out.
Catians is a series that speaks to Cat lovers. Three teen characters find themselves selected by their feline companions to put an end to looming danger endangering both humans and cats.
While the humor and plot can be somewhat cheesy sometimes, it's in the best way possible. In a way, it reminds me of Saturday Morning cartoons or classic anime. The plot is interesting and pacing is well done.
But in addition to that, all the small references to cats' antics, and creative ways to explain why cats are the way they are, caused me to chuckle several times throughout the chapters. I am looking forward to the next volume.
Only warning is there is animal harm and death in this. Nothing major on the screen that I can remember, but just in case someone is heavily triggered by this, I wanted to point it out.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Violence
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Death of parent