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Emily of New Moon,
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Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all)
Yes. And I speak as a person who married at 20 to a man who was 37. We're still married happily, 36 years later. But he is waaaay to possessive of her from the git-go. All that stuff about how "I saved your life so now your life is mine" just raised my hackles. There were men like that in those days--still are; but that doesn't make it a good choice in a YA novel of that time, or this time, for that matter.
Regis Neilson
I just finished the first book and am so glad to see that I’m not the only one who’s weirded out by Dean Priest. If Emily were an adult he would be a fascinating potential love interest but as it is, he’s a blot on an otherwise wonderful book.
Lucy Madsen
This answer contains spoilers…
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Julie Gentino
Yes! I'm rereading the series for the first time in years, as a 36-year old myself (Dean's age when he met Emily), and he bothers me so much. He's kind to her but I find him selfish and manipulative in their relationship.
Victoria
I loved Dean and wanted him to be chaperoned with her at the same time. He's an interesting fellow, but ah yes, the creepy feeling occurred. I think, as does Eleanor that it's likely a set up for the future. I'm excited about this series!
Sarah
Dean's behavior would be extremely inappropriate today, but girls married very young back then. A thirteen-year-old was considered nearly nubile, and I got the impression from the physical description of Emily that she looks old for her age (has pretty much completed puberty). So yes, Dean is a creeper - but, contrary to what some here have asserted, he's no pedophile.
Teri-K
I think it's supposed to be sweet and innocent but I found it sick and creepy. The thoughts he thinks about her and innuendos... It was completely inappropriate and bothered me a lot. She's twelve, after all.
Mathilda Backlund
Dean’s right down a creep! I mean, he doesn’t care for Emily out of ulterior motives but selfish ones. Like someone also pointed out, he’s rather manipulative! No, I don’t like Dean AT ALL. It doesn’t matter that he’s lonely or ”suffering”. He’s still preying on a young & fatherless girl who sees him as a father figure while he clearly thinks otherwise. Asking her whether he’s handsome at their first meeting?? Creepy as…
Alexis
I am so glad that someone mentioned this, because my nine-year-old and I are reading “Emily“ together right now, because she loved “Anne” much. (Is never read “Emily” as a kid.) And she is adoring the books – she really is much more of an Emily than an Anne – but I have had to explain to her that it is not normal or appropriate for 14-year-old girls to have “friendship” with adult men. I said that perhaps it was acceptable at the time, but that now we know better, and that Dean should be hanging out with people his own age.
Eleanor
Yes, he seemed more than just a bit interested in Emily - perhaps setting up for a scenario in a future episode in her life. But, as her father's friend, he is 20+ years older than her, so is he a suitable life partner for Emily? I can't wait to read the next part of her story.
09081985
Ah, so its not only me! He comes across as such a creep. Eyeing a little girl and waiting for her to grow up to teach her 'artistic love making'..ugh!
Tcarusillo
I am currently listening to the audiobook. As soon as Dean said that he saved her life so now she was his, I was like, Creepy.... wait, isn't he 36?!?! So I went to Google and ended up here. I haven't even finished the chapter where they meet yet, but he is problematic and I really hope Emily gets away from him!
BozenekT
It is so interesting because in the edition I have (old Polish edition I reread after 20 years) Dean is 26 years old! I was wondering how it was possible for him to be a classmate with her father.
I learned he was 35 just now from your comments.
I wonder if it was old Polish censorship that made him younger on purpose...
I learned he was 35 just now from your comments.
I wonder if it was old Polish censorship that made him younger on purpose...
Markia
Yes, I am actually really creeped out by him
It is definitely not right for a grown man to be with a 12 year old girl like that. Its disgusting the way that he claims her life as his, and how he said he owned her. I dont even think that he should be hanging around her, let alone saying he owned her like that.
It is definitely not right for a grown man to be with a 12 year old girl like that. Its disgusting the way that he claims her life as his, and how he said he owned her. I dont even think that he should be hanging around her, let alone saying he owned her like that.
Mary
Yes, I’ve read these books before and loved them, but on rereading, well, Dean is a pedophile. He FIRST started going after her when she was a 12 year old. I have to wonder if LM Montgomery deliberately wrote him this way to highlight the problem with this grooming behaviour directed to young girls.
Candy Lawrence
Very, very bothered. I read these books at such an impressionable age. I never really twigged how inappropriate his behaviour was till I was very much an adult.
Lucia Moscarella
Yes! I get it that those where other times but like ew
Katie
I was so terrified that she was going to end up with him.
Heidi Lehman
I just finished reading this chapter to my 10 year old daughter. It made her feel as uneasy as it made me.
Denise
Interestingly, Ms Montgomery has said that Emily is much more autobiographical than Anne ever was. Makes you wonder if Dean (such a creepy pedophile) was “real”.
Rowan C
yes!! i really didnt like him
Frances Greenslade
Yes, I was puzzled by it. But I was glad when Emily began to realize she didn't always like his possessiveness. (I'm not sure if that was in the first or second book).
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