From the Bookshelf of Reading Through The Year With L. M. Montgomery (2022-23)…
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What Members Thought
This is the story of Valancy Stirling, a 29-year-old woman living with her mother and aunt in an Ontario town, and her attempt to really live life after spending 29 years under the thumb of her over-controlling mother and her siblings. It is simply maddening how every family elder directs and instructs her in every minor action she takes. No wonder she escapes into her imaginary Blue Castle, a place she can feel happy in.
Facing a health crisis, Valancy decides to rebel against this dominance an ...more
Facing a health crisis, Valancy decides to rebel against this dominance an ...more
Apr 27, 2018
Ashley Jacobson
rated it
it was amazing
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review of another edition
Shelves:
own,
read-fiction
2024- I really enjoyed this again. It was a great book to discuss in book club and we had a lot to talk about. It’s a fun, cheesy love story but it also has good characters and a plot worth reading.
2018- Funny and more mature story that is still true to the writing of LM Montgomery. I liked the character of Valancy and laughed many times. Many of the characters were enjoyable (or fun to not like). Not a kids story like Anne or even Emily, but a great one for older fans!
2018- Funny and more mature story that is still true to the writing of LM Montgomery. I liked the character of Valancy and laughed many times. Many of the characters were enjoyable (or fun to not like). Not a kids story like Anne or even Emily, but a great one for older fans!
The only book Montgomery wrote for adults. I loved it and highly recommend it if you are at a point in your life where you are trapped by the fear of the opinion of others.
My favourite hero was Gabriel Oak from Far From the Madding Crowd but Barney Snaith from The Blue Castle is an equal now.
My favourite hero was Gabriel Oak from Far From the Madding Crowd but Barney Snaith from The Blue Castle is an equal now.
I read this for the Back to the Classics 2018 reading challenge as the classic with a color in title category. This is one of the few books she wrote for adults and quite frankly I can see from reading this why. Granted the book is at times enjoyable but nothing like the wonders of this great author. The main character is familiar territory an unloved young person suddenly finding confidence but rather than being an orphan she is treated badly by her own mother, a much starker idea than even Jan
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I had a little bit of trouble getting into the book because I was also starting Kristin Hannah’s The Four Winds, and both take place in the early 20th century and are about skinny, unattractive “spinsters” who are in defiance of their family and want to finally live after years of inertia. And both have cardiac issues. In the case of Valancy, she finds out she has a year to live and she is prompted to take action even if it means ruining her reputation forever. What wonderful twists and turns in
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A book for older readers than the Anne series. I enjoyed the plot and loved the descriptions of nature, one of Montgomery's strengths. I would love to live in the Blue Castle!
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I had forgotten everything about this book, but it was well worth the reread.
Feb 27, 2014
John’aLee
marked it as to-read
Nov 11, 2017
Lorin Kitt
marked it as to-read
Jun 04, 2018
Amber
marked it as to-read
May 09, 2020
Maria
marked it as to-read
May 22, 2021
M.L. Milligan
marked it as to-read
Feb 18, 2022
Mirilovescuppycakes
marked it as to-read
Apr 09, 2022
Virginia Mold
added it
Apr 14, 2023
Jane
marked it as to-read
Aug 04, 2023
Pénélope Desforges
marked it as to-read
