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Dec 16, 2009

k8lane rated it:

An independent story from the author of Anne of Green Gables, written for an older audience. An important and underrated part of the Montgomery collection -- in this story, a young woman (young by our standards, an old maid in her time) rebels against her oppressive family and a conservative society to achieve a few basic but essential moments of happiness. On the surface this may look like flowers and fluff but, for the time, this was a subversively pre-feminist novel. Valancy becomes psycholog More...

1 comment like (23 people liked it)

Oct 06, 2010

Abigail rated it:

If you have ever felt that life was drab and gray, have secretly longed to rebel against monotonous conformity and stifling convention, or escaped - if only in spirit - to your own private castle in the air, then you will recognize yourself in Valancy Sterling, the heroine of L.M. Montgomery's classic novel, The Blue Castle.

Twenty-nine years old and still a spinster, Valancy leads a cheerless existence, bullied by her emotionally distant mother and whiny Cousin Stickles. Hemmed in on More...

2 comments like (11 people liked it)

Jun 13, 2010

Chandra rated it:

This could so easily gone the way of fluffy romance. If I'm honest there's nothing extraordinary in the actual story line. Something like it has been done a thousand times and the ending is a bit contrived. But there are so many things that sets this apart from a typical romance novel.

First, the writing - LMM was an amazingly gifted writer. It's why her popularity persists 100 years after the publication of the beloved Anne of Green Gables. There are so many little grains of be More...

13 comments like (15 people liked it)

Mar 14, 2008

Chelsea rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

6 comments like (6 people liked it)

Jan 25, 2012

bookyeti rated it:

My rating: 4.5/5

Best remembered for her well-loved red-headed heroine, Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Maud Montgomery's understated more 'grown up' novel, The Blue Castle, deserves equal, if not a higher echelon of praise. An invigorating exercise in general satire, The Blue Castle's characterization borders on Dickens-like caricature as Montgomery introduces an array of amusing, egotistical and decidedly silly relatives of the heroine, Valancy Stirling.

Social and familial p More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Sep 06, 2007

Crystal rated it:

This is my favorite novel by LM Montgomery, even though it's not necessarily typical of her books. It is the sweetest romance I have ever read, full of laugh out loud moments and obnoxious "villains". in fact, this books annoying characters are on a par with Jane Austen's best. it's a great story of learning to be free of society's bonds and expectations, of finding love when and where least expected, and of the joys that come when you open your heart to them. I completely recommend t More...

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Oct 21, 2011

Sarah rated it:

Well, this was a rather dark comedy! Because it's Montgomery, you almost don't notice how dark it is. There's depression, alcoholism, terminal illness...

Her protagonist Valancy begins the story as a mousy spinster and then makes a pendulum swing to full on Joan Crawford. (She literally chops up a rose bush!) She rebels against her prim and proper family, recklessly and indiscriminately. I preferred the sweet, shy Valancy but I understand that this is a wish-fulfillment narrative. And More...

5 comments like (2 people liked it)

Dec 30, 2008

Marian rated it:

Great book. I knew nothing of the story when I started reading. The first 50 or so pages were a struggle. At first, I didn't love Valancy. She seemed too weak, too respressed, too sick and too miserable. No wonder she never got to keep her own pile of dust.

However, all this was a careful set up for a huge change of character. Upon learning of her impending death, Valancy becomes brave, opinionated, whitty, caring and often extremely funny. With her new freedom she lives the kind of More...

9 comments like (1 person liked it)

Sep 17, 2007

Wendy rated it:

This is a great favorite of mine. Valancy is intriguing and the hero dreamy. The extended family is very, very funny. Best of all, the writing is brimming with Atmosphere that makes you feel like you're in another world.

Must go review The Ladies of Missalonghi, which blatantly stole the plot from this book. I'd heard about the lawsuit and was willing to give the author the benefit of the doubt... until I read it.

5 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jan 09, 2009

Salma rated it:

What is it about LM Montgomery that makes you want to take the next plane to Prince Edward Island? I finished reading The Blue Castle with the same engrossed delight I had in meeting Anne Shirley years ago.

Valancy Stirling is plain, shy, bossed around by everyone and compared constantly (negatively) to her wonderful cousin Olive- the big-chested blond who gets all the rich men. (lol- some things in society never change). And horror of all horrors- she's 29 and STILL SINGLE! The Stir More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Mar 10, 2009

Jessica rated it:

This just became one of my all-time favorites! In fact, this may be my favorite L.M. Montgomery book, and I'm a huge "Anne" fan! I loved Valancy saying exactly what she thought to her stuffy family. I loved the drama and the romance, and the beautiful descriptions of the Canadian wilds. What a great book! It's a treat to read, just a joy with every page!

7 comments like (4 people liked it)

Jan 13, 2009

Nancy rated it:

L. M. Montgomery wrote a lot of better books than her classic Anne of Green Gables. This is my personal favorite - the story of old-maid Valancy (poor girl is only 29, for God's sake) who believes that she has only six months to live and decides to live it the way she wants to. The scene where she suddenly decides to say what she thinks instead of merely thinking it - at a big family dinner! - is one of my favorite scenes (in ANY book) of all time. Also, hero Barney Snaith makes Gilbert Blyth More...

3 comments like (3 people liked it)

Jun 21, 2011

Alyssa rated it:

Wow, I wasn't expecting it but i LOVED it!

When a friend recommended this book to me she explained a little bit of it and i have to say that i was not sure i would like it. but i decided . . L.M.Montgomery . . . it deserves a chance. and i'm glad i gave it one!In completing this book i honestly couldn't put my finger on WHY i loved it so much. I think that Montgomery captures the essence of the desire of everyones soul in Valancy not only perfectly but beautifully. she is not pretty or More...

3 comments like (1 person liked it)

Oct 27, 2007

Christine rated it:

A couple of years ago when I was vacationing in Prince Edward Island Canada to see the sights of my beloved childhood characters Anne and Emily, I came across this book in one of the gift shops. I thought that I had read nearly all of LMM's books but had somehow missed this one. I fell in love with it instantly! At the time I read this I was in my early thirties and unmarried. I felt that Valancy was such a kindred spirit and could relate to her woes so easily. One of my favorite parts was More...

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Sep 11, 2011

Debbie rated it:

This was the perfect home-sick-from-work, tea-and-a-good-story one-day read. Exactly what I needed today, so my rating is probably a bit high--the ending is admittedly contrived. But I just love this kind of old-fashioned, satisfying story. I had a vivid picture in my mind of Valency's Blue Castle on the island and the surrounding woods and it was such a gorgeous contrast to her previously drab life with no beauty to be found. Though a love story is a large part of the plot, this isn't a rom More...

3 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 17, 2011

Edie rated it:

LOVED this book! A great reminder to be true to one's self and live in the present!

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 15, 2007

Joanne rated it:

This was one of my favourite books from my teenage years, when I spent much of my time dreaming about my own blue castles. It's a romantic wish-fulfillment story about an unmarried, plain girl who finds the courage to strike out on her own after she receives bad news from her doctor. A fun read for romantically-inclined dreamers.

My copy is also a foreign translation where the heroine's name is the same as my own! I was quite disappointed to find this wasn't the case in the origina

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 30, 2011

Writemom1 rated it:

Written by Anne of Green Gables author L.M. Montgomery, The Blue Castle is sweet, sports delightfully clever prose, but has a predictable plot.

I enjoyed the descriptions of Valancy's despair and frustration with her life in the autocratic, unforgiving family when the story begins. The characters are written so truly and with Valancy's reactions to them so honest that they resonate, even if the family members are one-dimensional. Is there a whole family so bigoted and narrow-minded? Do More...

0 comments like

Nov 12, 2011

Lauren rated it:

This is a book that I re-read at least a couple of times a year. I always loved the Anne books growing up, but this one also spoke to me from an early age and has stayed with me. It's the ultimate comfort read for me now, and I can dip into it practically anywhere for the delicious prose and the wonderful hero and heroine.
It's truly wonderful to see Valancy learn to live without fear: how she learns to follow her own moral code instead of the conservative community around her when she tend More...

0 comments like

Aug 13, 2011

Methodtomadness rated it:

Valancy Stirling, the heroine of L.M. Montgomery's The Blue Castle, is quite possibly Montgomery's most likable yet. She's sort of a grown-up, borderline spinster version of Anne of Green Gables, only with less beauty, more brains, and less of an inclination toward Anne's rapturous flightiness. When she stops bewailing her pathetic life and actually starts to change it, Valancy's a delight to watch; in particular, the fantastic, amusing scenes in which she astonishes her formerly overbeari More...

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Jul 24, 2011

Myla rated it:

I loved reading Blue Castle for a number of reasons. One is that this was different from L.M. Montgomery's usual books and I always like reading books by authors who are getting out of their comfort zones and expanding their horizons (so long as they make good books and Blue Castle was!) Secondly, i'm a sucker for books that have their protagonist change for the better and since Valancy dramatically changed in Blue Castle I was oh so happy. Also, i hated Valancy's family so much I just wanted to More...

0 comments like

Jul 11, 2011

Tracey rated it:

This is possibly my favorite of L.M. Montgomery’s books, Anne included. It’s a tremendous Mary Jane story... Valancy Stirling is given terrible news which jolts her from the deep and muddy rut her life has run in – and everything changes. From poking I found a reference to the book as a “fairy tale”; I suppose, in a way, that’s so, with the references to Bluebeard’s castle and the transformations of Valancy and Barney Snaith. It has dark edges, this romantic tale, not least of which is Valancy More...

0 comments like

Jun 10, 2011

Peep (Pop! Pop!) rated it:

This was such a sweet, sweet story! If you ever want to know what a classic, clean fall in love story is like, this is the book to read! It reminded me of that old adage: You're got to fight for your right to partY!

The set up for Valancy's ~~adventure~~ awakening was very good. I too found myself bored and wanted to do something fun as well, like I was right there with Valancy. And her family, sheesh! That's all I can say. I think it was nice that they were a family that stuck together More...

32 comments like (3 people liked it)

Mar 24, 2011

Mariel rated it:

This is a lovely book, sweet with sentiment without being sentimental.
I'm a depressive sad sack, however, so my review isn't going to be the pleasant and lovely review that anyone will want to read, I'm afraid.

So I'm feeling depressed and looking over and back again (similar to Bilbo's journey but not exactly. No 'shrooms) my bookshelves for something to stimulate the low mood a bit. I consider a favorite, but I'm afraid that this bad mood will ruin it for me. Sad, isn't it. (F More...

2 comments like (4 people liked it)

Mar 20, 2011

Barbara rated it:

The cover on this site is too juvenile to do the book justice. L.M. Montgomery wrote this book as an adult novel. The cover shown gives it a cast of a mass produced romance. What makes the book unique is its extraordinary shyness in many layers unfolding as a romance, but by no means a given. We all wonder what alternate paths, and worlds would produce of our lives. Often lives without reading, and escape through imagination have no other salvation. Ever. The beginning of this book was in m More...

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Feb 28, 2011

Pattyrflg rated it:

This was a book group selection. The story takes place in the early 20th century in a small Canadian town. Valancy Stirling is 29 years old and is considered an old maid. She is ridiculed by her family, made fun of and is the butt of the family's jokes. She has no real friends. Valancy feels she has never really lived and that she has always done what her family wants her to do. Her mother uses emotional blackmail to control her. A letter from Dr. Trent changes her life. She breaks out of the f More...

0 comments like

Feb 16, 2011

Michelle rated it:

I needed a quick, fun, finish-in-one-sitting book right now, and this was perfect. But I think it went beyond that, and would make a great discussion book. I preferred the synopsis on the back of my book to the one posted here (and I'm so glad they have an edition without the cheesy romance cover—I doubt I ever would have read it if I'd seen that cover first):

"Valancy has never been in love and, at twenty-nine, fears she never will be. She lives a drab life with her overbearing More...

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Nov 27, 2010

Erin rated it:

This book has eluded me for years. Initially I thought I had read it, but it turns out it was an Emily book. As I got more into writing and then promoting The Heroine's Bookshelf, it seemed like every person I met was telling me to read it. Finding it at a book store then became the difficulty...until a Twitter friend generously and unexpectedly mailed me a copy.

In a fit of impulse, I opened it up yesterday and devoured it in two sittings.

This is a book that becomes ev More...

2 comments like

May 11, 2010

Becky rated it:

Written by L.M. Montgomery of Anne of Green Gables (which I love) fame, I was eager to read this book that was recommended by my sister AND sister in law. Then it sat on my nightstand for 6 weeks...Then when I finally started it I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. 48 hours later I was done! This wonderful book is full of humor, romance, self discovery, and misunderstanding. I loved that the story comes full circle for everyone involved and in a very entertaining way.
This book is about a 29 yea More...

0 comments like

Apr 18, 2010

Matt rated it:

This book is one of my wife's favorites, and it's written by the author of the Anne Of Green Gables books.

In spite of this being a book that seems geared toward a female audience, I actually enjoyed it quite a lot. The protagonist in the story is a depressed young woman named Valancy who basically hates herself & her life. She's unmarried, bored, and seems to be a sort of useless appendage to her stuffy, annoying family.

The book is basically about her overcoming other peo More...

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