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Linda's Homecoming
When Linda Hollis' widowed mother remarries, Linda has to move to a small town to live with her new stepfather and his kids, who aren't at all nice to her. And to move to a small town after living in the apex of wonder, Manhattan? Linda has to go through a lot of trouble before she began to adapt and bring the rest of the family with her.
223 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1971
About the author
Phyllis A. Whitney
176 books543 followersPhyllis Ayame Whitney (1903 – 2008) was an American mystery writer. Rare for her genre, she wrote mysteries for both the juvenile and the adult markets, many of which feature exotic locations. A review in The New York Times once dubbed her "The Queen of the American Gothics".
She was born in Japan to American parents and spent her early years in Asia. Whitney wrote more than seventy novels. In 1961, her book The Mystery of the Haunted Pool won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Juvenile novel, and she duplicated the honor in 1964, for The Mystery of the Hidden Hand. In 1988, the MWA gave her a Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement. Whitney died of pneumonia on February 8, 2008, aged 104.
She was born in Japan to American parents and spent her early years in Asia. Whitney wrote more than seventy novels. In 1961, her book The Mystery of the Haunted Pool won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Juvenile novel, and she duplicated the honor in 1964, for The Mystery of the Hidden Hand. In 1988, the MWA gave her a Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement. Whitney died of pneumonia on February 8, 2008, aged 104.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 8, 2012
Phyllis Whitney has little perceptivenesses and a nice standard English that make up for many of the retro groaners, about How Women Are or about Going Steady, for instance.
November 16, 2023
Linda loves living in New York City, even though it's just her and her mother now that her beloved father has died. When her mother reunites with an old boyfriend and plans to move to the sleepy town of Cedarhill, Ohio, Linda tries hard to convince her mother to let her stay in NYC.
And now that's she there, she has to adjust to so much, including a bratty little stepbrother, Roddy and Babs, a beautiful, sullen stepsister. Babs's cat is so aggressive to Linda's dog, that poor Roughneck must stay in the basement. It's hard to imagine that Linda will ever be anything but resentful.
I am reading all the high school books I've found in my possession, and this was is certainly dated. But reading these old, well-loved, well-read tomes takes me back 50 or so years, and I like the journey.
And now that's she there, she has to adjust to so much, including a bratty little stepbrother, Roddy and Babs, a beautiful, sullen stepsister. Babs's cat is so aggressive to Linda's dog, that poor Roughneck must stay in the basement. It's hard to imagine that Linda will ever be anything but resentful.
I am reading all the high school books I've found in my possession, and this was is certainly dated. But reading these old, well-loved, well-read tomes takes me back 50 or so years, and I like the journey.
January 1, 2024
A short sweet story!
This would be a great read for a rainy day:)
This would be a great read for a rainy day:)
December 18, 2016
Growing-up with Phyllis A. Whitney's adult novels, I was surprised to love her youth mysteries. They are rare and cost hundreds of dollars. It was a book-hunting coup to discover a string of them two years ago! I am savouring them in order. However, her covers are seldom enticing and one forgets a legend wrote them. Surely every 100-novel authoress has a dud? When I saw "Linda's Homecoming" is a coming-of-age portrait, I meant to get it over with. I said that of her American war epics and she fooled me then too. This novel is excellent!
Phyllis filled a niche that television host Jeff Probst calls rare: blended families. She was above all, queen of tangible settings. Published in 1950 but feeling current because feelings are feelings: Linda is a confident seventeen year-old. She and her Dad, an award-winning photographer who died, were New Yorkers to the core. After a vacation to her hometown, her Mom wants to marry a museum curator she knew. Linda must join her and graduate there. A boy, girl her age, and a fierce cat are no welcome for Linda and her apartment dog. Neither the synopsis nor my write-up can capture how much you will like Linda, her Mom, the memory of her people-loving Dad, and root for them. I chugged to page 82 upon first reading.
Phyllis's writing guide explains that stories should have a standout element. Here, it is photography. Everyone snaps pictures but few strive for real photography. In this, the book's era is a gift. When there was only black & white film, the simplicity meant that amateurs could learn to run dark rooms at home. Today, only a few places develop film. Photography stores are nearing extinction. This portrait of family and a town's shared interest is wonderful.
Phyllis filled a niche that television host Jeff Probst calls rare: blended families. She was above all, queen of tangible settings. Published in 1950 but feeling current because feelings are feelings: Linda is a confident seventeen year-old. She and her Dad, an award-winning photographer who died, were New Yorkers to the core. After a vacation to her hometown, her Mom wants to marry a museum curator she knew. Linda must join her and graduate there. A boy, girl her age, and a fierce cat are no welcome for Linda and her apartment dog. Neither the synopsis nor my write-up can capture how much you will like Linda, her Mom, the memory of her people-loving Dad, and root for them. I chugged to page 82 upon first reading.
Phyllis's writing guide explains that stories should have a standout element. Here, it is photography. Everyone snaps pictures but few strive for real photography. In this, the book's era is a gift. When there was only black & white film, the simplicity meant that amateurs could learn to run dark rooms at home. Today, only a few places develop film. Photography stores are nearing extinction. This portrait of family and a town's shared interest is wonderful.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews