Perhaps a lost art form these days. But once a necessity; a vital part of life. The ability to express oneself on paper wereThe art of letter-writing.
Perhaps a lost art form these days. But once a necessity; a vital part of life. The ability to express oneself on paper were a gateway to the world, connecting relatives, creating opportunities and simply catching up.
This story collection contains a collection of Montgomery's short stories that all revolve around letter-writing, journaling – or perhaps finding long-lost letters and notes, ultimately changing lives. And it's quite fun too read; certainly very romantic and tenderhearted.
The love stories dominate the collection and while they can be a bit too repetitive, I found myself smiling; touched by a story of a young girl receiving a fake prom invitation and having the night of her life; of a girl pretending to be someone she wasn't only to find out she was the right one all along; or perhaps the tale of a misplaced love-letter bringing joy to an older woman.
Reading Montgomery is such a heartwarming experience. This was no exception....more
A clever little plot that didn't at all turn out how I thought it would.A clever little plot that didn't at all turn out how I thought it would....more
I can't believe it took me this long to realise how fun reading Agatha Christie could be! I can't believe it took me this long to realise how fun reading Agatha Christie could be! ...more
What a curious little tale. I haven't read much by Lagerlöf, but this short story left me wanting more.What a curious little tale. I haven't read much by Lagerlöf, but this short story left me wanting more....more
I always feel like apologizing whenever I read a Hemingway novel (or in this case, short story) and don't love it as much as I thought I would. It's nI always feel like apologizing whenever I read a Hemingway novel (or in this case, short story) and don't love it as much as I thought I would. It's not you, Hemingway, it's me. Perhaps it's just not meant to be. Or perhaps I should keep trying. At this point, I'm not sure.
(Though I do love A Moveable Feast with a passion. This may be due to Owen Wilson though.)...more
Sadly, this was not among my favourite Montgomery collections. It felt too sentimental, its characters almost too good and its plot devices too repetiSadly, this was not among my favourite Montgomery collections. It felt too sentimental, its characters almost too good and its plot devices too repetitive. Perhaps I wasn't in the mood and the timing was wrong – or perhaps this was just a bit too much of a good thing....more
A wonderful collection of short stories and poetry by some of the history's most acclaimed writers. Louisa May Alcott's fairy tales were a special treA wonderful collection of short stories and poetry by some of the history's most acclaimed writers. Louisa May Alcott's fairy tales were a special treat – and I think I'm inspired to go hunting for more, which may be the ultimate success criteria for a collection such as this; making readers hungry for more....more
Odd stories that never succeed in causing goosebumps. Perhaps they would benefit from being whispered in the dark or told around a campfire; as they aOdd stories that never succeed in causing goosebumps. Perhaps they would benefit from being whispered in the dark or told around a campfire; as they are, they're too short to delight and too stiff to be shocking. ...more
This book has been standing on my bookshelf for so long, that I've entirely forgotten why I wanted to read it in the first place.
It has survived the jThis book has been standing on my bookshelf for so long, that I've entirely forgotten why I wanted to read it in the first place.
It has survived the journey from one apartment to another and several bookshelf purges. So many times, I've been holding it in my hands, wondering whether it had to go, or if I really wanted to read it.
For some reason, I've always kept it with me. Something that I'm now quite grateful for.
Because this was a pleasure to read. A familiar take on the almost Austenesque marriage plot; but in this case revolving around a woman with plenty of suitors, but a strict family trying to live up to what's expected of them – and of a potential marriage.
There's drama. Scorned suitors, scolding marriage advisors, and a younger sister arranging secret meetings. All set in Japan against the backdrop of a forthcoming war.
While it was perhaps a bit too long in places, it was a bittersweet tale of a family gradually torn apart; of sisters and lovers and hope and disappointment. It was definitely worth the wait....more
I love reading Penguin Black Classics – because I never know what I'm going to find.
This turned out to be two short stories; one about faith and one aI love reading Penguin Black Classics – because I never know what I'm going to find.
This turned out to be two short stories; one about faith and one about family ties during the French Revolution. Both filled with wonderful insight and wit.
While the stories themselves perhaps don't make unforgettable reading experiences, the book has done its job as an appetizer and made me hungry for more. Which is the point with these tiny volumes after all. ...more
I enjoyed this immensely. But that may not be due to Hardy's words as much as the fact that I spent a glorious summer night listening to my boyfriend'I enjoyed this immensely. But that may not be due to Hardy's words as much as the fact that I spent a glorious summer night listening to my boyfriend's voice as he read the poems, doing different dialects and treasure hunting for words he didn't know.
After all, poetry is meant to be read aloud. It only increases the loveliness of the rhymes, giving shape and breathing life into the words.
This poetry collection itself is quite lovely. Filled with tragic love poems tinged with regret. Hardy is mourning the loss of his wife through these lines and verses; simultaneously painting a portrait of his wife and dealing with his grief....more
Over the years, it has almost grown into a physical and palpaple thing; my longing for the sea. It overpowers me when I least expect it, making the paOver the years, it has almost grown into a physical and palpaple thing; my longing for the sea. It overpowers me when I least expect it, making the pavement and the apartment buildings cave in around me to the point where I can hardly breathe.
I grew up by the sea. By the wild, roaring and fierce powers of Denmark's Western Coast. And when I close my eyes, I'm still there. Listening to the waves crashing in.
It's a hard thing to explain, this odd connection between the forces of nature and one's home. Yet Montgomery still manages it in the opening story of this collection, The Magical Bond of the Sea. Here a young woman tries to leave her homestead for better options and a brighter future – and throws it all away, just to be able to return.
In this short story collection, many of Montgomery's characters travels to the sea in order to spend a carefree holiday by the shores – some resulting in marriages or even tragedy. Many hearts get broken and mended, but the stories that truly touched me were the ones where Montgomery explores the fierce nature of the sea and the power it holds on its inhabitants.
Montgomery always excels in poetic descriptions of nature, possessing the ability of a photographer to magnify even the smallest details. As evidenced in quite a few of these short stories....more
I've only just realised how similar Gaskell and Dickens are. How synchronized their versions of England are; how they both lead their characters throuI've only just realised how similar Gaskell and Dickens are. How synchronized their versions of England are; how they both lead their characters through hard work and toil, through overlooked tragedies – only to conclude with endings with a heavy tinge of bitterness.
And so, it only seems that natural that the two writers in fact knew each other. That the short stories in this collection first appeared in Dickens' Household Words.
Most of all, these short stories are tales of work; of social stature and class hierarcy. Of women and their rights (or lack thereof) in marriage. While Gaskell does tend to preach a bit and depict her heroines as saints, her imagery of working class England is perfect as ever....more
Perhaps the least sentimental and most fun of Montgomery's short story collections that I've read so far.
And I did not expect this.
Perhaps because of Perhaps the least sentimental and most fun of Montgomery's short story collections that I've read so far.
And I did not expect this.
Perhaps because of its rather pompous title – or because of Montgomery's almost mythic descriptions of climbing to the alpine path that so beautifully runs through her entire authorship, I imagined this to be a rather solemn book about characters who had to fight, tooth and claw, to achieve their dreams.
Instead, it was a collection of lighthearted and rather silly tales about people who tricked their way into marriages or jobs or who stumbled on a stroke of luck. There's actually very little achievement in this book, and more coincidences. But that's what makes it fun.
However some of the stories are horribly dated and betrays a prejudiced world-view – and I would take this into consideration when starting the book. ...more
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