What do you think?
Rate this book
Keeping Days #2
Glory in the Flower
A fourteen-year-old New York girl keeps a journal of her experiences and adventures from January to June of 1901
Library Binding
First published March 1, 1974
90 people want to read
About the author
Norma Johnston
57 books30 followersNorma Johnston was born in Ridgewood, New Jersey, USA, the only child of Marjorie (Pierce), a teacher and Charles Eugene Chambers Johnston, an engineer. She read voraciously--especially mysteries, to which her family was addicted. She was ducated at Ramsey public schools and Montclair State College, later studied acting at the American Theatre Wing and elsewhere, and received a teaching certificate from Montclair College. She was actress, director, designer, stylist, retailer, teacher, counselor, entrepreneur, preacher, editor, ... and in between all her other careers she was the author of more than 70 novels, mainly gothic romances for teens. She become a a full-time writer in 1973.
Johnston also wrote under the pseudonyms of Nicole St. John, Pamela Dryden, Lavinia Harris, Kate Chambers, Catherine E. Chambers, Elizabeth Bolton, and Adrian Robert.
Johnston also wrote under the pseudonyms of Nicole St. John, Pamela Dryden, Lavinia Harris, Kate Chambers, Catherine E. Chambers, Elizabeth Bolton, and Adrian Robert.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 18, 2010
I'm upgrading this to five stars because I decided I liked it as well as or better than The Keeping Days.
I stayed up late last night and read the whole thing through, even though I had no business doing so.
The childbirth scene reads totally differently now that I've had my own childbirth experiences. Mama is glad the doctor isn't there, because she can do things her own way -- and her own way involves staying upright and moving around as long as possible, which is now recognized as a really good idea if you can manage it. She's really good at listening to her body and knowing what's going on (which only makes sense after six kids).
The part about Celinda and her mother amazed me too, looking at it from the adult point of view. We finally see that Celinda's mother is truly abusive (had she maybe done this sort of thing before, but no one saw?). No one calls the authorities, probably because no one wants a fuss in their nice neighborhood (see also: Mary Lou Hodge), but commendably, the Sterlings *do* make darned sure that Celinda is safe before they let her go home. They don't let the incident be swept under the rug. I don't know whether the authorities would have or could have done anything, but at least with the Sterlings around, Celinda didn't need child protective services.
I stayed up late last night and read the whole thing through, even though I had no business doing so.
The childbirth scene reads totally differently now that I've had my own childbirth experiences. Mama is glad the doctor isn't there, because she can do things her own way -- and her own way involves staying upright and moving around as long as possible, which is now recognized as a really good idea if you can manage it. She's really good at listening to her body and knowing what's going on (which only makes sense after six kids).
The part about Celinda and her mother amazed me too, looking at it from the adult point of view. We finally see that Celinda's mother is truly abusive (had she maybe done this sort of thing before, but no one saw?). No one calls the authorities, probably because no one wants a fuss in their nice neighborhood (see also: Mary Lou Hodge), but commendably, the Sterlings *do* make darned sure that Celinda is safe before they let her go home. They don't let the incident be swept under the rug. I don't know whether the authorities would have or could have done anything, but at least with the Sterlings around, Celinda didn't need child protective services.
August 11, 2016
This book picks up where Keeping Days left off. Tish reflects on the past six months and is determined to be more mature in the next six months and handle what life gives her. She has a lot of new things to juggle this year: school, homework, Mama's impending new arrival, not to mention the revival of the Brownings literary society and the school's production of Romeo and Juliet in which Tish and her sort-of-boyfriend Ken play the leads! There's also continued altercations with Mary Lou Hodge, the town hoodlum Doug, who happens to be Ken's brother, worrying about big brother Ben, younger sister Marnie and trying to sort out her feelings for Ken. Through it all, Tish writes faithfully in her journal and learns a lot about herself and her family in the process. I enjoyed this second book much better than the first. The plot seemed more interesting and realistic and I could relate to Tish's feelings about High School and wanting to maintain the same level of academic success she had always been known for. The story is told is beautifully written prose with some very moving passages. The style seems too introspective and sophisticated for Tish's character though, but that's really my only complaint.
December 4, 2025
Ugh.
This is going to hurt. Me. It’s going to hurt me.
I was drawn to this book by the cover. I love vintage. An as a child of the 70’s and 80’s this book appealed to me. I had a skirt and shirt like Tish's. But not the shoes. I was too young when they were in fashion.
But wait! Our protagonist’s name is Tish! And my name is Tish(a).
Land Sakes!
Oh. My. Yah. Wait again. Tish’s beau is named Ken. Guess what my husband’s name is? If you guessed Ken, you’d be right.
This book. Was it made for me???
No.
No it was not made for me.
Sadly, Tish was not super likeable. I tried. Oh man, did I ever.
The storyline was great. I loved how each chapter was by month. It should have been enjoyable. But Tish was a wet dishrag. Selfish. Blind (deliberately unseeing) to her friends and family’s needs. Unappreciative of her wonderful friends and family.
Why???? This could have been so much more. I’m so sad.
2.75 stars rounded up to 3.
This is going to hurt. Me. It’s going to hurt me.
I was drawn to this book by the cover. I love vintage. An as a child of the 70’s and 80’s this book appealed to me. I had a skirt and shirt like Tish's. But not the shoes. I was too young when they were in fashion.
But wait! Our protagonist’s name is Tish! And my name is Tish(a).
Land Sakes!
Oh. My. Yah. Wait again. Tish’s beau is named Ken. Guess what my husband’s name is? If you guessed Ken, you’d be right.
This book. Was it made for me???
No.
No it was not made for me.
Sadly, Tish was not super likeable. I tried. Oh man, did I ever.
The storyline was great. I loved how each chapter was by month. It should have been enjoyable. But Tish was a wet dishrag. Selfish. Blind (deliberately unseeing) to her friends and family’s needs. Unappreciative of her wonderful friends and family.
Why???? This could have been so much more. I’m so sad.
2.75 stars rounded up to 3.
October 5, 2020
This is book 2 but it was the first one I read in the series. I have sometimes wondered if the author should have begun with this book. I did love these books as a teen and I still do. This book is about how challenging it can be to handle success. The characters remain true to form through the series. I continue to enjoy these even though I'm old and cranky and get a little annoyed by the sheer amount of exposition.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2021
Wish I had reviewed this right after reading it because my thoughts are fuzzy now. I'm guessing my childhood self would not have found this as overwrought as I do now. It's probably for the better that I didn't read this back then, because it would have been dangerous for me to assume that my first love would be like Tish and Kenneth's. Lloyd Dobbler was danger enough. Loved the childbirth chapter.
November 20, 2024
Re-reading this series I remember LOVING as a kid. The first book was as good as I remembered; this second one not so much. The main character is much more tiresome on this go-round, and someone I would probably not want to know in person. Looking forward to seeing if #3 improves; I don't remember as much about it as I did these first two.
July 31, 2014
7/2014 Familiar territory, sure. But this time I took something different away (and not just the fact that the orphan-asylum coat is brown, not plaid- why did I think it was plaid?) and I think I've figured out what has always bothered me about this book. I always cry when Tish is almost as annoying in this book as Ken is later in the series.
6/2010 Johnston tackles the big questions in this series. Tish had something to say to me when I was 12, and she has something entirely different to say to me now. I love books that I can come back to endlessly, and endlessly find something different in. I also love that the copy I have now is the library copy I read over and over as a kid. That may be my chocolaty fingerprint on page 112.
5/2008 And once I re-read the first one, I couldn't stop there could I? No.
6/2010 Johnston tackles the big questions in this series. Tish had something to say to me when I was 12, and she has something entirely different to say to me now. I love books that I can come back to endlessly, and endlessly find something different in. I also love that the copy I have now is the library copy I read over and over as a kid. That may be my chocolaty fingerprint on page 112.
5/2008 And once I re-read the first one, I couldn't stop there could I? No.
November 30, 2015
This is the second book in "The Keeping Days" series and it picks up exactly where the previous book ended. The series follows the Sterling family, especially 14 year-old Tish Sterling, who live in The Bronx New York in 1901. Tish's life isn't always easy, and like most teenagers, she is often misunderstood. This book is nostalgic with the remembrance of first love. I was also very surprised that Tish was allowed as much freedom in 1901 with her first love Kenneth as she was. Her older sister Bron was always chaperoned but not Tish. In this book Tish's courage is called upon when mama goes into labor on a snowy January with no one around. Bron finally makes up her mind and marries. The book touches on pregnancy, child abuse, delinquent boys, and unwanted unmarried pregnancy.
September 27, 2009
Book #2 in the "Keeping Days" series...otherwise known as "Vicki travels down memory lane"
I liked this book better than the first. Tish plays Juliet in 'Romeo & Juliet,' and it's a lovely little book. I DO agree she's quite self-centered in this one--but that's from an adult view. A 14/15-year old is bound to be self-centered...remember that age? I did enjoy it (and yes, will read it again at some point, guilty pleasure)!
I liked this book better than the first. Tish plays Juliet in 'Romeo & Juliet,' and it's a lovely little book. I DO agree she's quite self-centered in this one--but that's from an adult view. A 14/15-year old is bound to be self-centered...remember that age? I did enjoy it (and yes, will read it again at some point, guilty pleasure)!
November 21, 2009
I read this this evening and it was fantastic. This book definitely had more mature/coming-of-age themes, than the funny-family themes of the first, but the thing is, it was done SO WELL. Absolutely believable. I almost cried. Excellent, excellent, I'll have to find the next books in the series, though I'm scared I'll be let down since I have such high expectations. Read it.
June 13, 2010
Except for the regrettable sermonizing by Pa Sterling in the Celinda chapter (am not appeased because it's identified as such), I think this is probably the best of the Tish books. What say you all? It isn't funny like The Keeping Days is, but even so.
January 31, 2010
I loved thi series when I read it. In later years, I could not remember its name. I despaired of ever finding them again, until I came across a book report I wrote in junior high school. I hope to re-read these. I wonder if they'll stand the test of time?
July 13, 2010
Actually, I think four stars.
January 26, 2011
The first book I ever cried over .. .
June 6, 2011
This book seemed much sadder to me than the first in this series. I felt very sorry that her family couldn't stand behind her when she needed them to!
May 4, 2007
Beautiful book!
March 9, 2008
I just love this whole series and have read many times...
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews