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Her Father's Daughter
The story of Linda Strong and her family
486 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1921
86 people are currently reading
598 people want to read
About the author
Gene Stratton-Porter
123 books676 followersShe was an American author, amateur naturalist, wildlife photographer, and one of the earliest women to form a movie studio and production company. She wrote some of the best selling novels and well-received columns in magazines of the day.
Born Geneva Grace Stratton in Wabash County, Indiana, she married Charles D. Porter in 1886, and they had one daughter, Jeannette.
She became a wildlife photographer, specializing in the birds and moths in one of the last of the vanishing wetlands of the lower Great Lakes Basin. The Limberlost and Wildflower Woods of northeastern Indiana were the laboratory and inspiration for her stories, novels, essays, photography, and movies. Although there is evidence that her first book was "Strike at Shane's", which was published anonymously, her first attributed novel, The Song of the Cardinal met with great commercial success. Her novels Freckles and A Girl of the Limberlost are set in the wooded wetlands and swamps of the disappearing central Indiana ecosystems she loved and documented. She eventually wrote over 20 books.
Born Geneva Grace Stratton in Wabash County, Indiana, she married Charles D. Porter in 1886, and they had one daughter, Jeannette.
She became a wildlife photographer, specializing in the birds and moths in one of the last of the vanishing wetlands of the lower Great Lakes Basin. The Limberlost and Wildflower Woods of northeastern Indiana were the laboratory and inspiration for her stories, novels, essays, photography, and movies. Although there is evidence that her first book was "Strike at Shane's", which was published anonymously, her first attributed novel, The Song of the Cardinal met with great commercial success. Her novels Freckles and A Girl of the Limberlost are set in the wooded wetlands and swamps of the disappearing central Indiana ecosystems she loved and documented. She eventually wrote over 20 books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
September 10, 2023
This tale could be summed up, almost, by a movie line from The Scarlet Pimpernell--"Look how they buzz round her, like bees to honey".
The world of Lilac Valley revolves, entirely on its axis, around the heroine, who is a socially conscious, top scholar, a published author/illustrator, a locally renowned chef, a sports car enthusiast, a nature expert, --oh, and a junior in high school! Of course, she is wholly unspoiled by the world and completely undiscovered by it until one day a boy happens to notice her practical shoes, starting a turn of events that explodes into a many-faceted jewel of opportunities. Suddenly, she has the vision and independence to fight for justice on many different levels, and at least three men, of different ages, are swooning at her feet, which, with her wide-eyed naivete, she is oblivious to. That could be acceptable to many Stratton-Porter readers (myself included) who have learned to appreciate the bright dreams of Utopian characterization (though I will admit, in my hypocritical heart, that while I love the "perfection" of her male characters I am often annoyed by the interpretation of it in her heroine's.)
It would be dramatically acceptable if not for the eye-opening racism that had an appalling, underlying theme. Here is the answer for those of us too young to have lived through the events leading up to the internment of the Japanese, who have ever wondered, "What were they thinking?!" This is no, "To Kill a Mockingbird" where the prejudices are portrayed as the enemy, this is a full-bodied embrace of what is referred to often, as "the Yellow Menace" and which ultimately emerges as a white supremacist conceit. It was hard to read but studied in the time period that it was written, through the hindsight lens of history, it could be an important reminder to us of how far we can stray when we are fearful and ignorant. So, in that light, it was a usefully alarming lesson to me.
Of course, we can't finish a Gene Stratton-Porter book without the Dickens-like alter ego. No worries on that point--it is portrayed here in its finest china doll coolness and fragility by the worldly sister and her presumably weak and duped dandy.
The world of Lilac Valley revolves, entirely on its axis, around the heroine, who is a socially conscious, top scholar, a published author/illustrator, a locally renowned chef, a sports car enthusiast, a nature expert, --oh, and a junior in high school! Of course, she is wholly unspoiled by the world and completely undiscovered by it until one day a boy happens to notice her practical shoes, starting a turn of events that explodes into a many-faceted jewel of opportunities. Suddenly, she has the vision and independence to fight for justice on many different levels, and at least three men, of different ages, are swooning at her feet, which, with her wide-eyed naivete, she is oblivious to. That could be acceptable to many Stratton-Porter readers (myself included) who have learned to appreciate the bright dreams of Utopian characterization (though I will admit, in my hypocritical heart, that while I love the "perfection" of her male characters I am often annoyed by the interpretation of it in her heroine's.)
It would be dramatically acceptable if not for the eye-opening racism that had an appalling, underlying theme. Here is the answer for those of us too young to have lived through the events leading up to the internment of the Japanese, who have ever wondered, "What were they thinking?!" This is no, "To Kill a Mockingbird" where the prejudices are portrayed as the enemy, this is a full-bodied embrace of what is referred to often, as "the Yellow Menace" and which ultimately emerges as a white supremacist conceit. It was hard to read but studied in the time period that it was written, through the hindsight lens of history, it could be an important reminder to us of how far we can stray when we are fearful and ignorant. So, in that light, it was a usefully alarming lesson to me.
Of course, we can't finish a Gene Stratton-Porter book without the Dickens-like alter ego. No worries on that point--it is portrayed here in its finest china doll coolness and fragility by the worldly sister and her presumably weak and duped dandy.
August 29, 2008
As someone who loves, loves, loves A Girl of the Limberlost, it hurt me to read this racist piece of trash from the same author.
November 11, 2023
This was a nightmare come to life. As a girl, I adored A Girl of the Limberlost and Freckles. GSP was an Edwardian era female author that championed women's rights as well as being a strong proponent of protecting the natural world. Her books are an enchanting combination of mild romance and fascinating studies of flora and fauna where you accidentally learn something as you read.
The heroine of this book is an out and out racist over the Japs and the Yellow Peril, the rise of blacks in the South, and the brown skins. The Japanese receive the brunt of the ire as apparently they are infiltrating the country and beware as they will take over. It was really sickening.
GSP's heroines are usually pretty Mary Sue, but Linda is up there in her Mary Sueness. She has a vapid, fiancee stealing, materialistic sister who happens to be an embezzler. Sister steals the BF's fiancee not Mary Sue. Heroine underage and too perfect anyway as all the boys thinks she's the bees knees.
Linda is the kind of heroine that if she thinks it and does it, it must be right. She cautions the Judge's son that the Jap, her words not mine, is stealing his thunder and he needs to defend the American way by studying more. She poses as a man she knows and writes letters to her BF that is still sad about being dumped for the h's sister because writing false love letters to someone is always a good thing.
The bad sister being shamed by nouveau riche relatives that made new money and the uppity Jap being tossed off a cliff pretty much define some of the social and racist ideas of the time.
I'm kind of reeling here that this is the same author that created adorable and honorable Freckles.
Book is getting a second star because racism or not, Porter's writing about the infant Los Angeles flora and fauna is categorically beautiful and will make anyone confronted with LA traffic and pollution want to weep.
The heroine of this book is an out and out racist over the Japs and the Yellow Peril, the rise of blacks in the South, and the brown skins. The Japanese receive the brunt of the ire as apparently they are infiltrating the country and beware as they will take over. It was really sickening.
GSP's heroines are usually pretty Mary Sue, but Linda is up there in her Mary Sueness. She has a vapid, fiancee stealing, materialistic sister who happens to be an embezzler. Sister steals the BF's fiancee not Mary Sue. Heroine underage and too perfect anyway as all the boys thinks she's the bees knees.
Linda is the kind of heroine that if she thinks it and does it, it must be right. She cautions the Judge's son that the Jap, her words not mine, is stealing his thunder and he needs to defend the American way by studying more. She poses as a man she knows and writes letters to her BF that is still sad about being dumped for the h's sister because writing false love letters to someone is always a good thing.
The bad sister being shamed by nouveau riche relatives that made new money and the uppity Jap being tossed off a cliff pretty much define some of the social and racist ideas of the time.
I'm kind of reeling here that this is the same author that created adorable and honorable Freckles.
Book is getting a second star because racism or not, Porter's writing about the infant Los Angeles flora and fauna is categorically beautiful and will make anyone confronted with LA traffic and pollution want to weep.
Read
December 5, 2009How can I rate this? As a kid I read it over and over. Read again 40 years later I realized how racist it was. Horrors!
March 29, 2022
I've been wanting to read this book, but I was even more intrigued with all the reviews saying how racist this book is. This book was published in 1921, years before Pearl Harbor, Porter was using her book as a way to tell others what she thought about trading with Japan. I'm not condoning how she may belittle others in this book, but you have to think that it's how people thought back then and it was all they knew.
Overall, this is another grand book to read and hard to put down. Porter puts the emphasis on not changing yourself for others, seeing the good in others when it's hard to, and enjoying all things made by God.
Overall, this is another grand book to read and hard to put down. Porter puts the emphasis on not changing yourself for others, seeing the good in others when it's hard to, and enjoying all things made by God.
Read
June 14, 2009Russell and I were watching a thing on National Geographic about white supremacists, and it reminded me of this book. I absolutely loved Girl of the Limberlost and Laddie, so I looked for other stuff by this author. It was mostly the same stuff: nice girl, lots of plants, but there was this sub plot about how we have to keep the white race above all the others. I was horrified, but I couldn't stop reading. What an eye opener to the the thoughts of that time period. I also read a short story by L.M. Montgomery that disturbed me in a similar way. So take this as a warning not to pick this one up, and enjoy the other stuff by her.
October 20, 2012
Set in the bucolic rurality of Los Angeles County, circa 1920, Her Father’s Daughter is the tale of Linda Strong, a high school junior who struggles to get from under the thumb of her scheming, shallow sister Eileen. The author uses the conflict as a frame from which to wax poetic on the wonder of California nature, joy of automobiles and locally-grown foods, silliness of fashionable society… and – most unfortunately – the superiority of white people.
I could have brushed aside the lecturing on nature – she really does love her subject and it shows. I could have forgiven her tedious sermonizing about shallow, fashionable females – it’s genuinely meant, even at its most self-righteous.
I could even overlook her perfect heroine, so natural, so pure, so strong. She is already a published author, skilled artist, impeccable scholar, dedicated naturalist and wise philosophizer at the tender of age of seventeen. Just talking to Linda makes the other characters nobler, smarter, more unselfish and more moral than before. All the men folk adore her. It’s annoying, but Mary Sue heroines used to be the style.
I cannot, however, overlook the appalling racism. Among her other virtues, Linda likes to pontificate on the superiority of white races and the dangers of everyone else. Had such convictions been mentioned once or twice, merely in passing, I could have ignored it. But no, Linda NEVER STOPS HARPING on it. When events throughout the story “prove” her right, I was ready to throw her through the window.
Even without this glaring, insurmountable flaw, Her Father’s Daughter would have been a dull, unremarkable, mediocre, eye-rolling story. Added dollops of racism make it infuriating. I found it a most disappointing offering from an author I had previously enjoyed.
I could have brushed aside the lecturing on nature – she really does love her subject and it shows. I could have forgiven her tedious sermonizing about shallow, fashionable females – it’s genuinely meant, even at its most self-righteous.
I could even overlook her perfect heroine, so natural, so pure, so strong. She is already a published author, skilled artist, impeccable scholar, dedicated naturalist and wise philosophizer at the tender of age of seventeen. Just talking to Linda makes the other characters nobler, smarter, more unselfish and more moral than before. All the men folk adore her. It’s annoying, but Mary Sue heroines used to be the style.
I cannot, however, overlook the appalling racism. Among her other virtues, Linda likes to pontificate on the superiority of white races and the dangers of everyone else. Had such convictions been mentioned once or twice, merely in passing, I could have ignored it. But no, Linda NEVER STOPS HARPING on it. When events throughout the story “prove” her right, I was ready to throw her through the window.
Even without this glaring, insurmountable flaw, Her Father’s Daughter would have been a dull, unremarkable, mediocre, eye-rolling story. Added dollops of racism make it infuriating. I found it a most disappointing offering from an author I had previously enjoyed.
December 6, 2010
A person has to know about the hysteria during WWII to understand the prejudice in this book.
May 22, 2024
I would recommend this one, but only after some other titles by this author first. It was overall pretty good, and the setting( California) really enthralled me since it hit close to home. The racism was quite excessive. I understand that it was a different world back then, but it still felt a bit much. Overall it was a good easy read, there are just better books by her.
September 18, 2017
2.5 stars. I liked it, but at the same time, I didn't like it!
What I liked:
I did like Linda even if she was "larger than life" and did have some strong racial prejudices.
I found some of the thoughts the main character talked about interesting seeing when this was written (between the World Wars).
Katy, and Peter, an Donald were all likeable characters.
The story plot kept my interest (though it started to drag by the second "Jane Meredith" installment), and the ending left me feeling satisfied that everything ended "right."
What I didn't like:
The strong racial prejudices that were mentioned many times in the book.
That there was no Bible, or prayer, or anything like that. It was all being good on your own, or a little bit of "saying your beads."
Some of the descriptions (Jane Meredith) got a little old.
I did find it strange that the main character is a high school student who has such amazing talent, everyone, except Eileen, love her, two guys want to marry her, and she is a perfect specimen of womanhood.
I probably won't be reading this book again, but it wasn't bad, if you can get past the prejudices.
What I liked:
I did like Linda even if she was "larger than life" and did have some strong racial prejudices.
I found some of the thoughts the main character talked about interesting seeing when this was written (between the World Wars).
Katy, and Peter, an Donald were all likeable characters.
The story plot kept my interest (though it started to drag by the second "Jane Meredith" installment), and the ending left me feeling satisfied that everything ended "right."
What I didn't like:
The strong racial prejudices that were mentioned many times in the book.
That there was no Bible, or prayer, or anything like that. It was all being good on your own, or a little bit of "saying your beads."
Some of the descriptions (Jane Meredith) got a little old.
I did find it strange that the main character is a high school student who has such amazing talent, everyone, except Eileen, love her, two guys want to marry her, and she is a perfect specimen of womanhood.
I probably won't be reading this book again, but it wasn't bad, if you can get past the prejudices.
June 25, 2024
What a pity this book is such a product of its time - between the world wars. It has such a lovely exploration of the flora of California, and is very pro-marriage and pro-family. Unfortunately it is also very white-supremacy and anti-Japanese; again a product of the era in which it was written. If one can read it with that understanding, it is a story well-worth reading.
April 15, 2021
I usually enjoy Stratton-Porter's naturalist themed books, Freckles, A Girl of the Limber Lost, etc., but this one is an exception. I was blind-sided by the intense racism against everyone red-skinned, yellow-skinned, brown-skinned, and black-skinned. The author focuses most of her racism on "Japs" and plies us with stereotypes along the way, but she makes it clear that her white supremacist mindset relegates all other races to inferior status as well. I realize this was written in 1921, but I just didn't expect to have this thrown in my face in one of this author's generally naturalist themed books. It is interesting to note that this is the attitude that led to the Japanese internment camps during WWII.
Also, looking at it through today's conservation practices, I had a difficult time with the heroine finding a rare species of plant in a beloved canyon and just yanking it out by the roots to plant in her home garden. And then there is the constant lauding of the the pristine beauty of the beautiful, fictional Lilac Valley in the same breath as the heroine and her entourage are discussing how to best fill it up with houses so that everyone can enjoy it???
Also, looking at it through today's conservation practices, I had a difficult time with the heroine finding a rare species of plant in a beloved canyon and just yanking it out by the roots to plant in her home garden. And then there is the constant lauding of the the pristine beauty of the beautiful, fictional Lilac Valley in the same breath as the heroine and her entourage are discussing how to best fill it up with houses so that everyone can enjoy it???
September 21, 2017
Pros - Nature descriptions
Cons- Racism (apparently endemic to the time period) ; unbelievably faultless protagonist
Cons- Racism (apparently endemic to the time period) ; unbelievably faultless protagonist
tried-to-read
August 28, 2019Unfortunately, this is not one of Gene's best works. Usually, Gene's books are very compelling to read, very interesting, and are filled with warm humanity, love, and hope. The racism in this book and the prevailing white supremacy were a total turn-off. The romance was insipid and the heroine talked way too much. I could not bear to go on.
December 26, 2011
Girl of the Limberlost was one of my favorite childhood books, but this one just finally drove me nuts. The author seemed too fond of Linda, and way too eager to show her off. Linda apparently gets the shorter end of the stick - she and her sister Eileen are orphaned four years before the plot, and because Eileen is older, she assumes the majority of their income as her own and leaves Linda in rags. It is easy to feel angry at this injustice, and proud of Linda for stepping up and asking for what is hers in a very assertive, non-manipulative manner. But then you hear the inner thoughts of the other characters, and they all think, "wow, Linda is so brainy/such a hard worker/so beautiful", and they all make this very clear. But the author says so many times how unfair Eileen is, and how Eileen gets everything. Then, in the next scene, Linda is making another friend, or another man is falling in love with her, or she is having another big break. Linda sails through the plot with so much confidence and pride that you figure she's doing well enough on her own, and there is no use feeling too sorry for her. But the last straw is Linda's numerous diatribes about how the white race is superior to every other one, and how any non-white race is only capable of copying the ingenious creativity of white people. That was the end of it for me. And these men, who seem more like decorative butterflies, just flutter around Linda saying, "You know, I think you must be right."
Yuck. In many ways, Linda just seemed like a version of Teddy Roosevelt, dressed up as a girl. (This is not to imply that Teddy Roosevelt had white supremacist leanings). But, her whole charm, as Porter presented her, seemed to be in this upper class, white American pride of hard work, brains, and natural giftedness overcoming all obstacles. While hard work and brains do accomplish a lot, I had a hard time trusting the message, probably because it struck me as so blatantly arrogant.
Yuck. In many ways, Linda just seemed like a version of Teddy Roosevelt, dressed up as a girl. (This is not to imply that Teddy Roosevelt had white supremacist leanings). But, her whole charm, as Porter presented her, seemed to be in this upper class, white American pride of hard work, brains, and natural giftedness overcoming all obstacles. While hard work and brains do accomplish a lot, I had a hard time trusting the message, probably because it struck me as so blatantly arrogant.
July 15, 2014
If only Gene Stratton-Porter could have developed this story properly, without using it as a vehicle for racist ideas. I understand that WWI was devastating and the time after the war was shaky and uncertain--a whole way of life was gone--and if she had only expressed her fear of being taken over by another country, we maybe could cut her some slack. She does express fear that verges on hysteria. But she goes much further and states that all 'colored' people are inferior to the white races who have been the ruling race so far. Um, what about the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans? (Are Greeks and Romans white or persons of color?) Then there's ancient China and India. She also implies that only whites are made in God's image. And then to kill a 'Jap' with no remorse on the part of the killer and accomplice? The worst part about it is that this was a children's book and who knows how many children have read it from the 1920's on. Strangely, toward the end of the book she makes a speech praising Native Americans and the damage our civilization did to them. Oh, well, whoever said racism was rational?
But, if you can somehow ignore all that (or, well, at least be prepared for it), the story is typical GSP but not quite fleshed out as it should be: well written, engaging, with a lovable heroine and beautiful descriptions of nature. I enjoyed the recipes using native plants. Just don't let your children read it.
But, if you can somehow ignore all that (or, well, at least be prepared for it), the story is typical GSP but not quite fleshed out as it should be: well written, engaging, with a lovable heroine and beautiful descriptions of nature. I enjoyed the recipes using native plants. Just don't let your children read it.
July 20, 2015
I've read most of GSP's books. It's a fun connection to my grandmother, knowing that she loved this author as a girl. The books set in California have been especially interesting to me from an historical perspective, having been born and raised there.
That said, when I first read this book, like most of today's readers, I was shocked and appalled by the anti-Japanese sentiments. This is a book aimed at teens and you can see how "the enemy amongst us" thinking led indirectly to the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII.
How to review a book, filled with hatred for a group, that is pretty well written and has other unrelated story lines? You can see that people go from 1 to 5 stars. I would lean towards giving it one star. However, like the film Birth of a Nation, it gives us real insight into some of the thinking of the time and what led people to believe, say, and act in ways that are incomprehensible to most modern Americans. For that window into the past, it is worth reading if you have the stomach for it and if you go in knowing what to expect.
I wouldn't recommend it for children. Also, I'm glad I didn't read this book early on when I was reading through her titles. It might have discouraged me from reading the gems.
That said, when I first read this book, like most of today's readers, I was shocked and appalled by the anti-Japanese sentiments. This is a book aimed at teens and you can see how "the enemy amongst us" thinking led indirectly to the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII.
How to review a book, filled with hatred for a group, that is pretty well written and has other unrelated story lines? You can see that people go from 1 to 5 stars. I would lean towards giving it one star. However, like the film Birth of a Nation, it gives us real insight into some of the thinking of the time and what led people to believe, say, and act in ways that are incomprehensible to most modern Americans. For that window into the past, it is worth reading if you have the stomach for it and if you go in knowing what to expect.
I wouldn't recommend it for children. Also, I'm glad I didn't read this book early on when I was reading through her titles. It might have discouraged me from reading the gems.
August 28, 2013
I'm between a 3 and a 4 on this one ... I really enjoyed Linda as a smart accomplished tomboy character who is polar opposites with her sister. The story has a fairy-tale quality to it; Linda is the put-upon, neglected orphan. Her fashionable older sister hoards all the money for her own use and is a real two-faced conniver when it comes to men and friendships. It was super entertaining and I really enjoyed that and how Linda is an accomplished naturalist. It's not realistic--the characters are a bit too good, a bit too evil, and a bit too silly at times. The plot is far-fetched overall.
But I was okay with those things. My big problem with this story is that it is extremely racist. To the point of being laughable, except it's in earnest. WOW, I cannot believe certain claims that are made throughout the entire story about white supremacy and the supposed inferiority of people of non-white races. I know part of that was the time period, but it was really disappointing from Gene. And it was central to the overall plot. So I would not recommend this book necessarily, although I would love to re-write it and tell a better story.
But I was okay with those things. My big problem with this story is that it is extremely racist. To the point of being laughable, except it's in earnest. WOW, I cannot believe certain claims that are made throughout the entire story about white supremacy and the supposed inferiority of people of non-white races. I know part of that was the time period, but it was really disappointing from Gene. And it was central to the overall plot. So I would not recommend this book necessarily, although I would love to re-write it and tell a better story.
July 1, 2020
I’ve been rereading some of the books I loved as a girl, so I picked this one up the other day. I was completely caught off guard by how grossly racist this was. It’s really disappointing because I enjoy so many things about Gene Stratton-Porter’s writing. Like many of the other books she writes, this one had so much fascinating information about plants and the dessert. I also have a serious aversion to books about girls with multiple men chasing them, but it would have been forgivable if it weren’t for the racism. It’s so bad. If I hear one more word about the superiority of the white man and the suppose inbred dishonesty and sneakiness of the Asian I think I’ll scream. I really do try to keep in mind the historical context of the story. I get that this was a fairly accepted attitude of society at this time, but it’s so disgusting.
I don’t think we do ourselves any favors by canceling something because it’s offensive and despicable. Turning away because it’s ugly and makes us uncomfortable profits absolutely no one. But I have absolutely no intention of picking this up again. Will I keep reading about it and keeping my eyes and ears open? Absolutely. But no one needs this.
I don’t think we do ourselves any favors by canceling something because it’s offensive and despicable. Turning away because it’s ugly and makes us uncomfortable profits absolutely no one. But I have absolutely no intention of picking this up again. Will I keep reading about it and keeping my eyes and ears open? Absolutely. But no one needs this.
April 24, 2015
When you read early 20th century fiction you have to be prepared for some level of racism. Most of the time it's limited to stereotypical portrayals of minor characters or the occasional "N" word - things that are easily ignored and don't affect your overall enjoyment of the story. "Her Father's Daughter," however, belongs in an entirely different category. From the first pages to the climax the racist themes are preached by the 17 year old heroine. There's nothing subtle about it - pages and pages of warnings against the "yellow peril" and the dangers of all the other non-white races. Blech.
Other than that it's just your typical overly perfect, gifted, rich and beautiful heroine whom everybody loves struggling to make her way in the world.
Other than that it's just your typical overly perfect, gifted, rich and beautiful heroine whom everybody loves struggling to make her way in the world.
July 25, 2010
This is one of those books that makes me sad. Gene Stratton Porter was an excellent writer and naturalist. I enjoy most of her work. This book, though, reflects some of the worst prejudices of her time in its anti-Asian bias. I didn't enjoy reading it, but I don't want to forget about it either. It's important to remember that these attitudes existed. The prejudice demonstrated in this book, which was published in the early 1900s, foreshadows the attitudes that led to the internment of the Japanese during World War II.
October 27, 2011
Times were indeed different back in the days of Gene Stratton-Porter but this book was far too racist and bigoted for me to be happy with. The book is one long lecture on how white people are superior than any other race, and not only that but other races are low and debased. I would not recommend this book to anyone. Too bad that I tarnished the happy memory of some of the better titles by the same author.
November 28, 2007
Sadly, this is not up to the usual GSP standard of excellent writing. A novel about two sisters, this book occasionally delves into anti-Japanese sentiment (common at the time the story was written, but very unpleasant to see now), and the characters are not terribly interesting. A disappointment.
December 1, 2016
So so awful. The creepy older man lusting after 17 year old girl, the killing that was brushed under the rug, the super bratty and controlling heroine, and worst of all the incredibly hateful racism. Steer clear!!!
February 5, 2017
THIS BOOK! I love it so much! The story, the characters, the nature. . . In my top five by GSP. Sigh, beauty!
June 28, 2023
goodreads, you are
IN ZERO (0) WAY READY FOR THE ABSOLUTE RAMPAGE I AM GOING TO GO ON
as soon as I actually have three free seconds.
July 5, 2019
Hm...this is the last of hers I'm going to read, and yes, you can see by the end that her whole idea of the Japanese element "had to be the way it is" for the rest of the story to fit as nicely together as it does...this does not make it a great idea :)
And this would be one of those books where you read, thinking something will happen soon, and meanwhile you know you're gathering (slowly) lots of tidbits, but you don't know why any of them are in the least important; and by the time the book ends, you say, "ooohhh, yes, okay, it's one of these books," and everything (thankfully) (rather) comes together, and if you're not any more gung-ho than you probably are after getting to the end, then your lazy brain doesn't want to think of any better way she could have tied things together, or to think of any better way she could have introduced all the parts, either; you just sort of laugh and say well, that was rather a strange book and move on.
And yet, except for the racist stuff (yes, I realize--now--better than I think I did before--how the world was when people apparently really thought and would put into books like this, these attitudes about other cultures [heck, did the fact that the U.S. seems to have felt this way this strongly for...like, all the years after WWI, actually have a bearing on the Japanese attitude towards the U.S. by about 20 years afterward?]) I don't know that there are any other strong reasons why this can't be called a decent book. Again, she does an interesting job of putting into words things that girls 80-100 years later think and say, but it seems on the modern side; so if you find out that girls thought and said those things in the nine-teens, then maybe they were thinking and saying them in 3800 B.C. and 50 A.D. as well.
It's still a "totally different" style from what seems her best signature style, for the most part; so I'm glad that Keeper of the Bees has so much of what you expect from her, coming "after" this book (although maybe it was actually written earlier).
And this would be one of those books where you read, thinking something will happen soon, and meanwhile you know you're gathering (slowly) lots of tidbits, but you don't know why any of them are in the least important; and by the time the book ends, you say, "ooohhh, yes, okay, it's one of these books," and everything (thankfully) (rather) comes together, and if you're not any more gung-ho than you probably are after getting to the end, then your lazy brain doesn't want to think of any better way she could have tied things together, or to think of any better way she could have introduced all the parts, either; you just sort of laugh and say well, that was rather a strange book and move on.
And yet, except for the racist stuff (yes, I realize--now--better than I think I did before--how the world was when people apparently really thought and would put into books like this, these attitudes about other cultures [heck, did the fact that the U.S. seems to have felt this way this strongly for...like, all the years after WWI, actually have a bearing on the Japanese attitude towards the U.S. by about 20 years afterward?]) I don't know that there are any other strong reasons why this can't be called a decent book. Again, she does an interesting job of putting into words things that girls 80-100 years later think and say, but it seems on the modern side; so if you find out that girls thought and said those things in the nine-teens, then maybe they were thinking and saying them in 3800 B.C. and 50 A.D. as well.
It's still a "totally different" style from what seems her best signature style, for the most part; so I'm glad that Keeper of the Bees has so much of what you expect from her, coming "after" this book (although maybe it was actually written earlier).
June 17, 2023
There are some excellent reviews of this book on Good Reads, so I will try not to be redundant. Personally, I enjoyed the story. Porter is a great writer, and knows how to weave a narrative. I appreciated that by the end the sisters were able to reconcile.
Yes, it’s a highly racist book, but also it’s indicative of an era. Gene’s strengths in writing about the beauty of nature, love and godly wholesome living are clouded by ignorance, fear and prejudice. It’s easy to judge, and say that what she wrote was wrong, Biblically and ethically. But also what she saw was wrong and she was writing about that. Grownups entering into school with children, and people coming to take from not join and strengthen a nation. Had the book been a bit more rounded, you’d have gotten to see the Japanese perspective, and at least realized the situation is complex, with many different points of view. I was shocked the Japanese man was killed! I didn’t think that necessary.
I think what bothered me the most was all these men falling over themselves in love with a high school girl. It’s just a bit odd given that generally you don’t even think of someone that much younger than yourself as even a possibility. Linda is a Mary Sue, with unlimited resources, knowledge and skill. All these things aside though, it’s still an enjoyable tale. Just not one of my favourites by GSP.
Yes, it’s a highly racist book, but also it’s indicative of an era. Gene’s strengths in writing about the beauty of nature, love and godly wholesome living are clouded by ignorance, fear and prejudice. It’s easy to judge, and say that what she wrote was wrong, Biblically and ethically. But also what she saw was wrong and she was writing about that. Grownups entering into school with children, and people coming to take from not join and strengthen a nation. Had the book been a bit more rounded, you’d have gotten to see the Japanese perspective, and at least realized the situation is complex, with many different points of view. I was shocked the Japanese man was killed! I didn’t think that necessary.
I think what bothered me the most was all these men falling over themselves in love with a high school girl. It’s just a bit odd given that generally you don’t even think of someone that much younger than yourself as even a possibility. Linda is a Mary Sue, with unlimited resources, knowledge and skill. All these things aside though, it’s still an enjoyable tale. Just not one of my favourites by GSP.
June 16, 2018
Gorgeous landscapes
The prose sings when it describes the landscape of California in the early 20s, and we glimpse the effect of WWI on popular thought as literature tries to cheer lead the population on to greater heights--but there's an ugly narrowness to the vision that makes large portions of the plot difficult to read.
Capability and innovation are praised as chief virtues, bringing handsome rewards, while a kind heart covers a multitude of sins.
The tangle of love interests ties most of the characters into knots to be happily combed out at the end of the book, with our heroine meddling more than Jane Austen's Emma and to less effect. The scoundrel is dealt with off-page and the questions of intellectual property and honor would have made a more "square" climax than the sensationalized anti-immigration plot. (I'm not quite curious enough to dig into newspapers of the time to decide if that plot-thread is based on something that happened or if it's fearmongering propoganda. Either way, it marred an otherwise fluffy bit of idealism.) In the end, when all the problems are solved and the industrious rewarded, it is the California flora that appears as the true and worthy beauty.
The prose sings when it describes the landscape of California in the early 20s, and we glimpse the effect of WWI on popular thought as literature tries to cheer lead the population on to greater heights--but there's an ugly narrowness to the vision that makes large portions of the plot difficult to read.
Capability and innovation are praised as chief virtues, bringing handsome rewards, while a kind heart covers a multitude of sins.
The tangle of love interests ties most of the characters into knots to be happily combed out at the end of the book, with our heroine meddling more than Jane Austen's Emma and to less effect. The scoundrel is dealt with off-page and the questions of intellectual property and honor would have made a more "square" climax than the sensationalized anti-immigration plot. (I'm not quite curious enough to dig into newspapers of the time to decide if that plot-thread is based on something that happened or if it's fearmongering propoganda. Either way, it marred an otherwise fluffy bit of idealism.) In the end, when all the problems are solved and the industrious rewarded, it is the California flora that appears as the true and worthy beauty.
October 6, 2018
A Young Woman Who Loves Life
Written during WWII or soon after, this is the story of a young girl, Linda Strong raised by her Father in California who shares his knowledge of the beauty of the state with her when he was alive. When her parents pass away unexpectedly, she is left with her sister Eileen in a big house with much wealth. Her sister wastes much of the money on herself until one day young Linda has an awakening and realizes what is happening. She takes matters into her own hands, talks to the town banker and learns to provide some for herself doing what she enjoys. Immigrants are part of the story who at that time in history, were.. not welcome in the US as they may be now. Romance, enjoyable repartee, California flora and fauna as well as outdoor recipes, and even murder are all pieces of this wonderful old story. Delightful reading. Keep in mind the period it was written to be more amenable to the story.
Written during WWII or soon after, this is the story of a young girl, Linda Strong raised by her Father in California who shares his knowledge of the beauty of the state with her when he was alive. When her parents pass away unexpectedly, she is left with her sister Eileen in a big house with much wealth. Her sister wastes much of the money on herself until one day young Linda has an awakening and realizes what is happening. She takes matters into her own hands, talks to the town banker and learns to provide some for herself doing what she enjoys. Immigrants are part of the story who at that time in history, were.. not welcome in the US as they may be now. Romance, enjoyable repartee, California flora and fauna as well as outdoor recipes, and even murder are all pieces of this wonderful old story. Delightful reading. Keep in mind the period it was written to be more amenable to the story.
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