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Elsie Dinsmore #10
Elsie at Nantucket
Ready to put aside her mourning clothes, Elsie spends an idyllic summer with her family in seaside cottages on Nantucket Island, where minor disturbances include a test of Lulu's obedience and of Zoe's faith and trust in God.
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1884
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176 people want to read
About the author
Martha Finley
508 books159 followersMartha Finley was a teacher and author of numerous works, the most well known being the 28 volume Elsie Dinsmore series which was published over a span of 38 years. Finley wrote many of her books under the pseudonym Martha Farquharson.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_F... or, http://marthafinley.wordpress.com/
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_F... or, http://marthafinley.wordpress.com/
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 23, 2020
5 stars & 5/10 hearts. Everyone says the later Elsie books get worse and worse, so I keep picking them up dreading I’ll dislike them. Besides that, I always feel like people will be annoyed with me for liking them. Everyone hates Elsie, right? The books are the quintessential stupid-boring-goodygoody-Christian-books, right??
But I’m going to quit listening to that. And quit worrying. And quit procrastinating the books because of what “everyone” says. Because I love Elsie and I love the books and that. is. okay.
So. On with the review. For once, Horace Dinsmore takes a back seat! I was really happy about that, lol! He was actually really nice in this book. I loved his little chat with Elsie all about their Saviour <33 Captain Raymond was the guy I disliked a little. I just think he is especially hard on & a bit unfair to Lulu sometimes, and influences everyone else to be too. I know she needs discipline & upbringing, & she has lots of issues, & he loves her dearly & shows it—but I’m kind of tired of half the book centring around Lulu being bad—like, is she gonna get saved soon or what? 😅
However, I enjoyed this book. It was so fun to see all the characters again, and the plot was interesting. I love Nantucket thanks to Mobi Dick, so I enjoyed the setting!! The messages & lessons were all so good, too. Elsie is still a dear <3 Also I enjoy seeing the tenor of life for wealthy 1860s and 1870s people. What a life, like seriously 😂 (I mean, if they wouldn’t keep Gracie from all “exertion” she might actually GET STRONG!) And I enjoyed the little spiel on Waldenses! So overall—not the “best” Elsie book but a good continuation!
A Favourite Quote: “Sincere hatred of the system is not incompatible with sincere love to its deluded followers.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Nein, nein,” said John, shaking his head; “tis not so long as I vants Shakey to makes mit me a fence; put I tash! Miss Stanhope, he say he ton't can know how to do it; and I says, ‘I tash! Shakey, you peen goin' to school all your life, and you don't know de vay to makes a fence yet.’”
“Not so very strange,” remarked Edward, with unmoved countenance, “for they don't teach fence-making in ordinary schools.”
But I’m going to quit listening to that. And quit worrying. And quit procrastinating the books because of what “everyone” says. Because I love Elsie and I love the books and that. is. okay.
So. On with the review. For once, Horace Dinsmore takes a back seat! I was really happy about that, lol! He was actually really nice in this book. I loved his little chat with Elsie all about their Saviour <33 Captain Raymond was the guy I disliked a little. I just think he is especially hard on & a bit unfair to Lulu sometimes, and influences everyone else to be too. I know she needs discipline & upbringing, & she has lots of issues, & he loves her dearly & shows it—but I’m kind of tired of half the book centring around Lulu being bad—like, is she gonna get saved soon or what? 😅
However, I enjoyed this book. It was so fun to see all the characters again, and the plot was interesting. I love Nantucket thanks to Mobi Dick, so I enjoyed the setting!! The messages & lessons were all so good, too. Elsie is still a dear <3 Also I enjoy seeing the tenor of life for wealthy 1860s and 1870s people. What a life, like seriously 😂 (I mean, if they wouldn’t keep Gracie from all “exertion” she might actually GET STRONG!) And I enjoyed the little spiel on Waldenses! So overall—not the “best” Elsie book but a good continuation!
A Favourite Quote: “Sincere hatred of the system is not incompatible with sincere love to its deluded followers.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Nein, nein,” said John, shaking his head; “tis not so long as I vants Shakey to makes mit me a fence; put I tash! Miss Stanhope, he say he ton't can know how to do it; and I says, ‘I tash! Shakey, you peen goin' to school all your life, and you don't know de vay to makes a fence yet.’”
“Not so very strange,” remarked Edward, with unmoved countenance, “for they don't teach fence-making in ordinary schools.”
March 28, 2012
ELSIE AT NANTUCKET is #10 in the Elsie Dinsmore series. I like this one very much, especially for its descriptions of life on Nantucket Island where Elsie and her family are vacationing. The main focus here is on Lulu Raymond, Violet's stepdaughter. Lulu has a "bad summer," you might say. She rebels against adult authority and does so many naughty things that her good-hearted father, Captain Raymond, is finally compelled to whip her! Author Martha Finley has a talent for describing inconsequential domestic scenes as high melodrama. That being so, Lulu's mutiny takes on epic proportions. This is a great book for kids, who tend to exaggerate their own importance and so can relate to the little girl's struggle. I like ELSIE AT NANTUCKET because it teaches a moral lesson without being overly preachy. Earlier books in the series were too concerned with Elsie's near-perfection, while this one examines human failings in a much more believable way.
July 15, 2021
Found an original 1884 hardbound copy of this delightful book at my local independent bookstore and what a treasure it proves to be. Such a lovely story, strong characters, and a good deal of beautiful Scripture, too. Truly enjoyed this tale of family and friends frolicking and resting on the splendid island of Nantucket. A Victorian beach read for the ages.
December 31, 2016
Okay, I never actually reviewed this. Why? Because I feel like, almost, I should have liked this. I mean, it says "Christian Classic" right on the inside cover (on my edition). But.....
I felt like it was all too "perfect". I mean, Lu disobeyed her parents, but there was almost no other conflict. As a writer myself, I viewed this lack of conflict through a slightly critical eye, and thought to myself "how can they show their faith without any conflict for God to uphold them through?"
Honestly, most Christian books in my library system are about the same. The Christians are practically perfect, things hardly go wrong, and when things do go wrong, it's not the MC's fault. THIS IS NOT HOW THE REAL WORLD WORKS. Trust me, I know all about the real world.
I honestly think even most little kids I know would find Lu's behavior (even when she misbehaves!) unrealistic.
Kids, you can read this, it's clean. I've checked. Definitely clean.
Just don't expect it to be realistic.
Probably one of the best books out there, and because so many of my peers like this, I feel like I should as well. But how I feel I should feel and how I actually feel... Two different things. I wanted to like this. I WANTED TO LIKE THIS. I did. And some of the other Elsie books are REALLY GOOD, some of my favorites. But this one didn't capture me.
I felt like it was all too "perfect". I mean, Lu disobeyed her parents, but there was almost no other conflict. As a writer myself, I viewed this lack of conflict through a slightly critical eye, and thought to myself "how can they show their faith without any conflict for God to uphold them through?"
Honestly, most Christian books in my library system are about the same. The Christians are practically perfect, things hardly go wrong, and when things do go wrong, it's not the MC's fault. THIS IS NOT HOW THE REAL WORLD WORKS. Trust me, I know all about the real world.
I honestly think even most little kids I know would find Lu's behavior (even when she misbehaves!) unrealistic.
Kids, you can read this, it's clean. I've checked. Definitely clean.
Just don't expect it to be realistic.
Probably one of the best books out there, and because so many of my peers like this, I feel like I should as well. But how I feel I should feel and how I actually feel... Two different things. I wanted to like this. I WANTED TO LIKE THIS. I did. And some of the other Elsie books are REALLY GOOD, some of my favorites. But this one didn't capture me.
September 8, 2016
Free Book
Very enjoyable story for one who seeks solace in reading. Summertime on Nantucket in the olden days is described through one family's experience. Christian undertones throughout.
Very enjoyable story for one who seeks solace in reading. Summertime on Nantucket in the olden days is described through one family's experience. Christian undertones throughout.
January 2, 2015
Picks up where "Elsie's New Relations" left off. Violet's husband is home from the Navy and proposes that everybody go to a tiny town in Nantucket for the summer. They get there on a yacht, because no one important in these books ever has money issues.
Which reminds me: remember the crippled cousin who Elsie adopted? What ever happened to her? She was in one book - featured prominently - and then disappeared.
Anyway, I expect more of Lulu and Max and Grace doing terrible things like SWEARING and saintly (and still YOUNG!) Grandma Elsie forgiving them as long as they apologize to Jesus and promise God they'll never be bad again.
Which reminds me: remember the crippled cousin who Elsie adopted? What ever happened to her? She was in one book - featured prominently - and then disappeared.
Anyway, I expect more of Lulu and Max and Grace doing terrible things like SWEARING and saintly (and still YOUNG!) Grandma Elsie forgiving them as long as they apologize to Jesus and promise God they'll never be bad again.
January 11, 2013
This was a wonderful book to read.
Elsie's family decides to vacation in Nantucket for the Summer. It turns out to be an even better trip than they first thought. Captain Raymond is at home to watch over his children, instead of out at sea. But the storms that are raging could hurt a few members of Elsie's family that are out on a boating trip. The family just has to keep faith that God will protect their loved ones. With just enough positive, fun events to override those accidental-prone events, it makes the vacation season have just enough flavor.
I know you'll absolutely love this charming book.
Elsie's family decides to vacation in Nantucket for the Summer. It turns out to be an even better trip than they first thought. Captain Raymond is at home to watch over his children, instead of out at sea. But the storms that are raging could hurt a few members of Elsie's family that are out on a boating trip. The family just has to keep faith that God will protect their loved ones. With just enough positive, fun events to override those accidental-prone events, it makes the vacation season have just enough flavor.
I know you'll absolutely love this charming book.
July 9, 2012
This was an overall good book. It is the 10th book in a series of 28, and I already have several of the next few. But it had a good storyline, and good Christian values and lessons. A very enjoyable read!
August 15, 2012
This one was not one of my favorites. It was very slow to begin with, and it took a little while to really get interested. Lulu is a very disobedient child. Why is Violet not dealing with her child while her husband is gone?
May 31, 2014
I love the books by Martha Finley. I think that all the people might be a little too perfect, but it's still a great series.
December 28, 2011
They're all still perfect as ever, except little Lulu, and she's just a bit rebellious, but oh, it grieves her father so that she doesn't take this burden to Jasus and have him help her.
June 15, 2016
This series is a bit Calvinistic in its theology, and it's also a bit uber-Christian; i.e., the Christians are really, really good and the non-Christians are really, really bad.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews