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The Betsy-Tacy Companion: A Biography of Maud Hart Lovelace
Covers each of the Betsy-Tacy books and the autobiographical events from the series. Includes over 400 photos of Lovelace and friends and family members who appear as characters in these books.
Hardcover, 515 pages
Published
May 1st 1995
by Portalington Press
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Jan 13, 2012
Melee
marked it as to-read
Augh! I really would love to read this, but so far the most affordable price I've found on the internet is about $80. Which is pretty good, sadly, considering the prices are generally somewhere between $100 and $200.
*incredibly long sigh*
I'm adding this to my list whose title is simply: "Books I Shall Continue to Scour the Net for Continuously as the Years March On".
I really need my own publishing company. And a couple million dollars to buy publishing rights &c.
*incredibly long sigh*
I'm adding this to my list whose title is simply: "Books I Shall Continue to Scour the Net for Continuously as the Years March On".
I really need my own publishing company. And a couple million dollars to buy publishing rights &c.
I love all the Betsy-Tacy books. I always have and I always will. As a young girl growing up in Minnesota in the 1970's, I wanted nothing more in the world than to find a way to go back in time and change the immortal trio of Betsy, Tacy and Tib into a quartet.
As I grew older, I realized that Maud Hart Lovelace, with her warmth, generosity and writing talent, had given thousands of girls, and maybe some boys too, the opportunity of being that unseen, but very welcome and important fourth member...more
As I grew older, I realized that Maud Hart Lovelace, with her warmth, generosity and writing talent, had given thousands of girls, and maybe some boys too, the opportunity of being that unseen, but very welcome and important fourth member...more
Well. I'm certainly not surprised that I LOVED this book. It was five hundred pages of details and visits about "old friends" of mine, about whom I read in the Betsy-Tacy books. Since the books so closely paralleled MHL's own life, author Sharla Scannell Whalen pointed out the similarities and differences and, deliciously, filled out "the rest of the story" I simply couldn't put this book down--I inhaled it over the weekend. The author is a true Betsy-Tacy fan--one of the very fortunate little g...more
3 likes · like · see review
Honestly, I think the Companion is a little bit embarrassing. There are also times when I disagree with Whalen's interpretation of events (within the text, that is)--which is fine, we know from group reads that we all read the text differently at times--but Whalen puts it forward as the only way to read it.
Back when the Companion was only a rumored future-project we were all excited, and it was exciting to find out some "what really happened" stuff when it first came out, but now I realize how m...more
Back when the Companion was only a rumored future-project we were all excited, and it was exciting to find out some "what really happened" stuff when it first came out, but now I realize how m...more
1 like · like · see review
So Sharla is crazy, and a borderline stalker, but this was really fun to read. I think I'm the only person to really appreciate this. A lot of good information (Winona was actually modeled on a few different people, but Maud Hart Lovelace decided to cut down on her characters. Or maybe it was Irma...I should reread it) and a lot of stupid information (dates were recorded wrong! Silly Maud Hart Lovelace!) But it was SUCH a great present (thanks Soph!)
1 like · like · see review
Okay, I absolutely understand the criticism of this book. Even in my enthusiasm, the writing style was grating and I was highly annoyed with her habit of underlining words to force the reader to emphasize them. But I really, totally, absolutely loved it. I think that's largely because I was so unfamiliar with the stories behind the stories that I wanted to know everything - even the addresses of characters I could only vaguely recall. (Okay, well, that may be overstating it. I could have lived w...more
I really enjoyed this book, and more than a decade after buying it, I still refer to it every so often, especially if I am re-reading a Betsy-Tacy book.
I do agree that it could have been better edited, but that's my only criticism.
I'm not sure why someone reviewed this and called it "depressing."
I do agree that it could have been better edited, but that's my only criticism.
I'm not sure why someone reviewed this and called it "depressing."
Perfectly fine book, but definitely for the MASSIVE Betsy-Tacy fan. Because I read them only casually (and a long time ago!), I could not enjoy the parallels the author draws between the books and Lovelace's life.
I have loved all of Maud Hart Lovelace's books since I was a child. This book compared the fictional characters with the real life characters. It's an obsession.
I'll probably get kicked out of the BT Society! This book is amazing in the amount of research and the sheer number of pictures. HOWEVER, I personally feel it is in need of a serious editor. A friend and I sat down and counted the number of times the words "actually" and "really" and gave up in disgust. Another thing that bothered me was when SSW brought up interesting important things about the people and then let them drop with nary another word.
So yes, I am glad this book was written, and I o...more
So yes, I am glad this book was written, and I o...more
Every true Maud Hart Lovelace fan should own a copy of this book and take it with you when you visit Mankato, Minnesota!
Ultimately interesting to Maudophiles. I would have rated it higher if she hadn't dissed Aunt Dolly.
1 like · like · see review
I will be *currently re-reading* this book for as long as I live. For the Betsy-Tacy obsessed only. Others will shake their heads at all the "needless" details and "random" information:)
A fascinating insight to one of my favorite authors!
Enjoyable but overly detailed. I was much interested to find out that Maud, unlike Betsy, didn't meet her husband in high school, but I had to wade through baby pictures of her friends to do it. The biographer has to create a forest, not just get lost in the trees.
cool
I love Maud Hart Lovelace and Betsy-Tacy. Maud is a great author who wrote such a wonderful series of book that unfortunately not enough people have read. I loved learning more about Maud and her family and friends. LOVED IT!
Just didn't get this book. I did enjoy the descriptions of the houses and the towns, I love architechture, but for the most part, I cant plow through another 300+ pages of a BT/Maud Hart Lovelace comparison/contrast. Will return this to the library for a true blue BT fan.
Jul 27, 2007
Courtney
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
All BT enthusiasts, although they would know about it already
Never has a better biography been written. The author did some hardcore thorough research and boy did it pay off. I haven't even read it in quite a while but it does my heart good just thinking about it. Oh Sharla Whalen, if only I could be like you. I am forever thankful.
Sep 08, 2007
Sab
marked it as to-read
Have read all the volume-related excerpts attached to each book in the series; the full BT Companion is winging its way to me from Amazon as we speak. Expect full and totally uncritical review slash Mankato travelogue posthaste.
This is one of the best biographies I have ever read. The author's research is so thorough and it was so fun to read about the real people behind the Betsy-Tacy series.
Mar 10, 2008
Arline
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Fans of Maud Hart Lovelace.
Recommended to Arline by:
Suzanne
A must for fans of Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy-Tacy series. The amount of research and time put into this book is mind-boggling.
This book is a great resource in exploring the lives of Maud's friends and family in Mankato.
The ultimate companion for us ultimate fans!
May 21, 2013
Christine
marked it as to-read
May 21, 2013
Andrea Huehnerhoff
marked it as to-read
May 19, 2013
Janie
marked it as to-read
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01 fév. 12:44
01 fév. 19:26