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163rd out of 395 books
—
2,078 voters
The Tale of Applebeck Orchard (The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter #6)
by
Susan Wittig Albert (Goodreads Author)
The latest delightful tale in Albert's Beatrix Potter series.
Out of spite for having his haystacks burnt, Mr. Harmsworth barricades a common path through his orchard-and Tabitha Twitchet and her Cat Council want answers. Reliable witnesses, including some Big Folk, say the arson was the handiwork of a lantern-wielding specter. The mournful ghost has a message-and Miss Po...more
Out of spite for having his haystacks burnt, Mr. Harmsworth barricades a common path through his orchard-and Tabitha Twitchet and her Cat Council want answers. Reliable witnesses, including some Big Folk, say the arson was the handiwork of a lantern-wielding specter. The mournful ghost has a message-and Miss Po...more
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published
September 1st 2009
by Berkley Hardcover
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Despite stylistic indulgences in large, hindering portions; I've reached novel six because I love this series. I'm invested in its atmosphere, the society of animals, and fusion of real events with mysteries. I love many key players and root for the romance history claims Beatrix and Will shared. After much hinting and messing around by Susan Wittig Albert, it gets going. If only the next-to-nothing increments had been spontaneous and direct, like the igniting of another relationship herein. Due...more
This was a very odd book. Perhaps it was written in the style of the old Beatrix Potter books (I am not sure I ever read them, although it seems i must have), that is the only reason i can think of for such a strange writing style. The story is told from two different perspectives, alternating between the perspective of the humans of the village, and the animals (cats, ferrets, badgers, dogs, horses, etc.). One chapter is by the humans, the next by the animals, and thus the story is told. And Be...more
Cute story featuring Miss Beatrix Potter as a well-liked spinster and owner of local property. She gets involved in a few local situations and puts in her thoughtful persuasive advice. I liked how she actually promotes the fate of Carolyn Longford, obtaining the support of the grandmother for the young lady to further her studies in London; and also taking an interest in young orphan Gilly and finding her a decent job as a dairy maid.
I have noticed the author's interest in describing women being...more
I have noticed the author's interest in describing women being...more
Dec 16, 2009
Caralyn
added it
I think I have a bit of Cottage Tales indigestion. Note to friends--these are charming tales, however, they are best consumed with some distance between them. I overindulged and read all six in the course of a few weeks, and though it was fun to travel to the Lake District with Miss Potter and her creatures, it was a bit too much whimsy all at once. Plus, it felt like the author was inserting the narrator's voice with more forcefulness in the later books. Still, the characters are dear, the myst...more
This is another hit. The path that the townspeople use as a shortcut through Applebeck Orchard has been cut off by Mr. Harmsworth, the owner. He claims that hikers burned his haystack and he wants to keep them from ruining his orchard. Beatrix finds out that he has had an offer to sell the orchard with the stipulation that the walkway be sealed. The animals are also looking for answers and Mr. Badger is looking for a badger who will take over the history when he retires. Beatrix and Mr. Heelis h...more
I broke my series rule and read this one out of order, but with no serious consequences. However, I was suprised by the author's change of voice from the first four books. At least in this one, the author is almost the narrator, speaking to the reader with asides and remarks about the characters and the story. I found it personable and not irritating, and sometimes very humorous.
This is a charming series and completely harmless, despite the anthropomorphism running rampant among the pages like b...more
This is a charming series and completely harmless, despite the anthropomorphism running rampant among the pages like b...more
This series is one of several that is starting to get on my nerves because of a literary device gone wrong. Eavesdropping on the lives of people and animals around Beatrix Potter is a cute device ... for a while. I enjoyed the genteel, unobtrusive narrator/eavesdropper of the first few books. This book in particular has an annoying, self-referential, and interfering narrator who thinks way too highly of inserting their opinions. I didn't enjoy the twee commentary and self-satisfied tone that the...more
I saw this book on the new releases shelf at the library and thought I'd give it a try.
This a fictional story based on fact and plotted in rural England where Beatrix Potter (one of the characters) lived after her fiance passed. The story alternates between the human world and the animal world, so don't be shocked when the Manx tells you of his problems.
I love the plot and characters. The only hesitation I have with reading the other books in her series (as I found out after I started reading,...more
This a fictional story based on fact and plotted in rural England where Beatrix Potter (one of the characters) lived after her fiance passed. The story alternates between the human world and the animal world, so don't be shocked when the Manx tells you of his problems.
I love the plot and characters. The only hesitation I have with reading the other books in her series (as I found out after I started reading,...more
The sixth in a series starring real life author and artist Beatrix Potter. And always, it is my preference to read sequentially and keep all the characters in order. Beatrix's story follows her autobiographical history but is told from the storytellers point of view who hears the animals speak and reveals details that wouldn't be observed from a Big Folk POV.
Can a ghost burn a hay stack? Some say it was so. Ornery Mr. Harmsworth barricades the footpath that passes through his orchard-- at a tim...more
Can a ghost burn a hay stack? Some say it was so. Ornery Mr. Harmsworth barricades the footpath that passes through his orchard-- at a tim...more
I really loved the Cottage Tales when I first began reading them. This book and the one before features a narrator that is much more vocal and "present" than in the previous novels, and I don't care for that that much. There are phrases like, "Let's follow them, shall we? We do want to hear what they say" .
Bottom line - The story line was pretty good, but the imposing narrator was a turn off. There is one more book out in the series. I will read it to stay current on the series, but I am not as...more
Bottom line - The story line was pretty good, but the imposing narrator was a turn off. There is one more book out in the series. I will read it to stay current on the series, but I am not as...more
The tiny community of Land between the Lakes is not an ordinary community. This municipality is not only the home of the ordinary shops, houses, and all of the regular buildings that make up a community. It’s also the home of a very active and smart animal population. These animals are not your ordinary animals too. They have professions, friendships, and lives like humans do. If may come as no surprise that this particular village is the home of Beatrice Potter. If you’re thinking that Beatrice...more
#6 in The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter series set in the English Lake District. As with others in this enjoyable series, there is a mystery to be resolved while much of the story focuses on the lives and interactions of the people and animals of the setting. It is an enjoyable combination of story lines. This mystery involves the burnings of farm property and the closing of public foot paths. Beatrix finds herself in the middle of everything; a force in the resolution of the several plot line...more
This is the 6th book in the Beatrix Potter Cottage Tales series. There is a mystery on who burnt down Mr. Harmsworth's haystack, which caused him to close the public path through his fields. This leads to a major uproar in the Sawreys, causing the locals much inconvenience. While the mystery is present, this book focuses more on several developing relationships, including the slowly unfolding romance between Beatrix and William Heelis. We also see some controversy in the animal world with Badger...more
Although I have been enjoying this series as a whole, I was even more bothered by the interruptions of the narrator in this book. The pace continues slow, even sluggish, and so much time is given to catching readers up on what happened in the previous books. And yet, I still like them. I like the characters and the animals. It's just getting harder to skim through the retelling bits, and with less payoff.
Besides very dull and slow, how many times does an author think she can talk down to you... like you're stupid you don't know anything about the time and place.
Paraphrased
"Unlike people in today's world that tell each other how they feel... that wasn't done"
"Maybe you would be appalled about 14yr olds going to work, when 14yr olds today go to the mall"
WHY bother?????
Paraphrased
"Unlike people in today's world that tell each other how they feel... that wasn't done"
"Maybe you would be appalled about 14yr olds going to work, when 14yr olds today go to the mall"
WHY bother?????
I love this series, where it's not always a true murder mystery, but has a question that needs to be answered by the end of the book. The author takes some real history about Beatrix Potter, uses some of her paperwork that she left behind and draws these stories about the farm(s) that Miss Potter did buy in real life... I can't wait for each book in this series.
This is written by the female half of one of my favorite authors, Robin Paige. Ms. Albert takes the true life person of Beatrix Potter and fictionalizes her into a mystery solving sleuth. And as Miss Potter wrote about animals and gave them human persona's and voices, so does Ms. Albert.
This the sixth volume in the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter series by Susan Wittig Albert. Geared toward younger readers, the plots are not heavy or serious. Naturally, there are talking animals (this is Beatrix Potter, after all), but they talk to each other and not to the humans, so it's completely believable. What's not so believable is the fairies and dragons and ghosts. But it's all in fun, and it's an enjoyable way to while away the boring bus ride to and from the office.
If you loved Beatrice Potter as a young reader, you'll love these new tales by Susan Wittig Albert. A bit fact mixed with wonderful fanciful mysteries and lots of sweet animals characters these are the books to curl up with when you wanted to be quickly transported to a quieter time.
This series is like a lovely piece of chocolate cake - it not nutritional substantive but a delightful sweet treat. I read these books as a break from reality. There light, quirky, and just plain fun. Like chocolate cake, too much of them would be, well, too much. But as a quick fun read once a year or so, they can't be beat. (I'm also sure I love these because I am an avid Beatrix Potter fan. If you do not her original little books, you may like Wittig's novel.)
I am continuing to enjoy this series. The beatrix Potter books and excellent videos have long been dear to my heart, and this series is very delightful and satisfying because of its connection to them, but also because of the piquant characters, setting, and plots.
The CD edition isn't given as an option. I enjoy the reader in this series. She definitely adds charm to the story. The last few books have been more fun to listen to, since the author seems to be adding more interaction between the narrator and the reader.
I don't like stories in which animals talk, but in this book, animals co-exist with humans, and both stories flow nicely. Delightful: a whole new universe with Beatrix Potter as a character and her small animal stories as inspiration throughout.
wow so much going on. glad Max found a home and a friend. And go Bosworth for realizing Hyacinth had talents other than the kitchen. Really enjoyed it. Picked it up Tues from my locally owned bookstore and finished it last night after work.
The part I dislike about this series are the chapters where the animals are talking. The part I really like are the parts with Beatrix Potter. She's such a strong female character that it makes the cutesy part with the animals okay.
These cottage tales regarding Beatrix Potter's life are gentle mysteries, romantic and give a great insight into the Victorian/Edwardian era. The animals' point of view of what is occurring is unique and different.
A book good for a preteen who has read and loved Beatrix Potter's little books. This story has both animal and human characters, takes place near a farm that Miss Potter owned in England. Cute.
I really like the simple joy this book bring to me. It is just fun and amusing. I have a fascination with Beatrix Potter, so I enjoy this book even though I know it is just a fantasy.
I actually read this book first as I didn't know it was a series. I will probably reread it when I reach that point in the series. I bet I will enjoy it more.
I sort of missed the actual story here. As in, the beginning and the end. This felt like exposition without an actual plot.
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Susan is the author/co-author of three mystery series and other books.
WIDOW'S TEARS,#21 in the China Bayles series
THE TALE OF CASTLE COTTAGE, #8 in the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter
THE DARLING DAHLIAS AND THE CONFEDERATE ROSE, #3 in the Darling Dahlias series, set in the early 1930s in fictional Darling AL
DEATH ON THE LIZARD, the 12th and last (2006) of the Robin Paige series, by Susan and Bill...more
More about Susan Wittig Albert...
WIDOW'S TEARS,#21 in the China Bayles series
THE TALE OF CASTLE COTTAGE, #8 in the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter
THE DARLING DAHLIAS AND THE CONFEDERATE ROSE, #3 in the Darling Dahlias series, set in the early 1930s in fictional Darling AL
DEATH ON THE LIZARD, the 12th and last (2006) of the Robin Paige series, by Susan and Bill...more
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