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The Golden Name Day
When her mother becomes sick, Nancy is sent to live with her grandparents. She learns all about their Swedish heritage and discovers that everyone has a name day listed in the Swedish almanac. At least, everybody except Nancy. This book tells the story of how Nancy finds her place in her new home and finally gets a name day of her very own.
247 pages
Published
1966
by Harper & Row
(first published 1955)
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I'd actually give this one 4.5 stars.
I found this while I was doing some cleaning, so of course I had to stop for a reread. It's an old childhood book from my grandma's house that I loved when I was in elementary school, and it's still a charming read. It's about a girl staying with Swedish relatives while her mother is ill. The name-day of the title refers to the almanac of saints' name days, and the custom of celebrating the one for which you are named. Nancy is a more modern name and doesn't...more
I found this while I was doing some cleaning, so of course I had to stop for a reread. It's an old childhood book from my grandma's house that I loved when I was in elementary school, and it's still a charming read. It's about a girl staying with Swedish relatives while her mother is ill. The name-day of the title refers to the almanac of saints' name days, and the custom of celebrating the one for which you are named. Nancy is a more modern name and doesn't...more
When I read this book, I told the desk clerk in the Children's Room at the Albany Public Library how much I loved it. And I read another by Lindquist as well. Sometime later, when I was back in the library (one of my favorite places), Miss Miller said to be sure to stay around for a little bit and, not long afterward, she introduced me to Jennie Lindquist. Lindquist was the first person to tell me I could be a writer myself, if I really wanted to be. I was too much in awe (a "real" writer was ta...more
My friends and I were so in love with this book that we had a "Yellow Roses" club and to this day kick around the idea of getting matching yellow rose tattoos. One friend STOLE this from the public library; I managed to get my own copy on eBay.
At the turn of the century, nine-year-old Nancy’s mother becomes so ill that she must spend a year in the hospital. Nancy goes to stay in a small town with the Swedish-American Bensons, where she spends a surprisingly wonderful spring full of flowers, friends, and Swedish customs.
This is one of my favorite comfort books; it’s a gentle but lively story full of marvelous details, friendship, and love. In terms of the writing, I love how the author strung the episodes together like charms on the br...more
This is one of my favorite comfort books; it’s a gentle but lively story full of marvelous details, friendship, and love. In terms of the writing, I love how the author strung the episodes together like charms on the br...more
OH MY GOSH I REMEMBER THIS BOOK. I read it because my fourth grade teacher (WHO WAS ONE OF THE COOLEST PEOPLE EVER, BTW) recommended it to me and I loved it. Wellll in that case I read it seven years ago (damn, that makes me feel old) so I don't remember much about it except for that it was a really sweet story. And there was a nice little detail about the girl reading under a stained glass window and I thought it was a really awesome description. Or maybe that was in another book … I have no id...more
I loved this book as a child. Nancy's mother falls ill and she is sent to live with relatives in Sweden. She is bereft to learn that children in Sweden have "name days", like birthdays and that "Nancy" did not exist in the Swedish name day ledger. I remember two things vividly about this book: The yellow rose wallpaper she has in her room (want it SO badly), and when nancy's incessant whining about not have a name day causes her Grandmother to explode and send her to her room.
The Golden Name Day is my favorite book of all time. Every time I re-read it, I am instantly transported to the couch where my mom would read this series to me. This book is literally like a hug from the past. A delightful tale of a little girl visiting a farm while her mother is ailing. The only bad thing about this book is that it is out of print, and therefore extraordinarily expensive to purchase.
I never read this sweet, loving book as a child, but really enjoyed it now (as is my 6 year old). The characterizations are full and all the supporting characters truly love and support the main character. A fair amount of humor, craft templates, and Garth Williams illustrations make this book a winner.
Only drawback - it's out of print and can be a challenge to track down!
Only drawback - it's out of print and can be a challenge to track down!
I really had a hard time getting into this book even though it was very sweet. Basically the whole book was about how everything is perfect. Even the boys at the school were always kind and helpful. I just didn't find it anything interesting to me at all in it. Well, it had a little bit of Swedish culture mixed in, and it was interesting learning about name days, but not much else.
Ironically name days have been historically much more popular in Southern and Eastern Europe and only became popular...more
Ironically name days have been historically much more popular in Southern and Eastern Europe and only became popular...more
I loved this book as a child, probably mostly because the main character has my first name. But also because of the insight into the family's heritage.
Dec 10, 2008
Krista the Krazy Kataloguer
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
read-childrens-books,
read-newbery
I found this a pleasant, enjoyable story of a Swedish-American girl and the customs of her relatives. I wish it were still in print!
1 like · like · see review
I remember really enjoying this book!
I adored this book.
sweet, tender story.
A little bit of Nordic Americans and their culture. All the Swedish names are in the name book and, besides your birthday, you get a name day. But the little non-Swedish girl doesn't have a name in the book so they find a special day for her. Sweet but nothing ground breaking.
This was one of my favorite books as a young girl, and it is still one of my favorites! A great, sweet story of days gone by filled with wonderful examples of human kindness. A must-read for young girls and older girls alike!
Definitely one of my favorite books as a child and now I'm reading it to my daughter who found it, became interested in it, and asked me to read it to her. I hope that she can come to love it as I have for so many years!
May 09, 2013
Sara
marked it as to-read
Apr 07, 2013
Ferre Boys
marked it as to-read
Mar 24, 2013
Emily
added it
Mar 17, 2013
Sue
marked it as to-read
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Jennie D. Lindquist was a children's book author, as well as an editor for The Horn Book from 1951-1958.
More about Jennie D. Lindquist...
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Dec 05, 2009 09:55am