Always interesting to reread a book I loved as a child a million years later. Of course all the things I found disturbing this time, like the characteAlways interesting to reread a book I loved as a child a million years later. Of course all the things I found disturbing this time, like the characters being kidnapped, children taken away, held as slaves , thrown in prison, etc...affected me far less than the parts I remember liking, such as Miriam recutting the old dresses they were given and making them super stylish. I was very shallow.
Merged review:
Always interesting to reread a book I loved as a child a million years later. Of course all the things I found disturbing this time, like the characters being kidnapped, children taken away, held as slaves , thrown in prison, etc...affected me far less than the parts I remember liking, such as Miriam recutting the old dresses they were given and making them super stylish. I was very shallow....more
I remember getting this book, we went in a toy store to buy a birthday gift for someone and I spotted it and conned my mother into buying it for me. II remember getting this book, we went in a toy store to buy a birthday gift for someone and I spotted it and conned my mother into buying it for me. I was about 9. So that would explain why I thought these books were so great. Although I never warmed up to Nancy like I did to say, Trixie Belden. She's a Mary Sue and a half, and I notice now, awfully reckless and sometimes just plain stupid. But this is why you read these books when you are nine. ...more
I read all the early Susan Howatch novels years ago. Recently started on a re-read and I found I still loved Penmarric. I did not at the time, knowin I read all the early Susan Howatch novels years ago. Recently started on a re-read and I found I still loved Penmarric. I did not at the time, knowing little British history, make anything of it's connection to the story of Henry II. Same with this novel and it's retelling of Edwards I, II & III. (and I've since found out I'm descended from Edward I, so, it's granddad!) I remembered that I did not like this one as much as I liked Penmarric, and that remained true. Mainly because the last section slows to a crawl, and this slog for the last 100+ pages does lessen the impact of the ending. But still very entertaining overall. She's just so good at weaving the many characters, changing narrators, different locations and passages of time (while following a real life story line) into a cohesive tale....more
I first read this when I was in high school, and adored it and read it multiple times. As years passed I always meant to re-read it, then finally I beI first read this when I was in high school, and adored it and read it multiple times. As years passed I always meant to re-read it, then finally I became afraid to, fearing it would, well, suck - I don't always trust my youthful taste. Finally I just dove in and was surprised to see that it is based on the story of Henry II and his "Devil's Brood", which would have meant nothing to me at the time. (And how odd that I just watched "A Lion in Winter" a couple of weeks ago. Katharine Hepburn wears false eyelashes in 1183, sigh) And guess what, I still loved it. Complete melodrama, of course, but in 735 pages not a moment drags, it whips right along with calamity after calamity. Great fun....more
Oh DEAR. Here is an example of why sometimes one should not revisit books one truly loved in their youth. I used to check this book out of the school Oh DEAR. Here is an example of why sometimes one should not revisit books one truly loved in their youth. I used to check this book out of the school library when I was 10 & 11. Never owned it or read it any other time, but I had fond memories of it being really creepy and atmospheric. it's long out of print and I had never found a copy. Something reminded me of it the other day and I Googled, and found it available to read on Open Library.org. Oh joy! So I read it. Oh NO! It was awful. I hated the main character, Sallie. I didn't feel the remembered atmosphere of the old house that Sallie comes to to help nurse an old lady. I now remember the plot, the search for a copy of Edgar Allan Poe's "Tamerlane", yes, yes, that's good, but I DID NOT remember that they DO find it, but it gets destroyed by the bad guy bleeding all over it! But this doesn't bother them that much. "OH, there goes $31,000! Too bad!" Sallie and her new boyfriend say cheerily. (the latest copy of Tamerlane to sell went for over $660,000) And then the dear old lady dies and the house burns down, with all the antiques and portraits, but no one is upset, because, as Sallie said earlier, she might have appreciated all the beautiful old things had she not been "Sallie Eastman, modernist". !!!!!!!!!! ACK! Best for me to have left well enough alone. ...more
ha, haven't read this in SOOOO many years, but I used to reread it all the time. What was especially interesting about this now was Donna's 1961 visitha, haven't read this in SOOOO many years, but I used to reread it all the time. What was especially interesting about this now was Donna's 1961 visit to Los Angeles...Farmer's Market pre-The Grove...."lemons as big as grapefruit! " Pacific Ocean Park..(on the skids and then closed before I was old enough to go) Olvera Street, where "the waitresses have names like Rosita and Teresa! So Spanish sounding!" (although New Yorker Donna is afraid to try "spicy Mexican food") I have always wondered why aunt and uncle didn't take her to Disneyland. And of course she meets "Movie Stars", they are lurking on every corner, all just waiting to happily sign autographs!...more
I read a lot more Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew than Donna, but this was one of my favorites. I hadn't read it in so long that I had forgotten it, so II read a lot more Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew than Donna, but this was one of my favorites. I hadn't read it in so long that I had forgotten it, so I enjoyed the many oh, yeah, moments as it unfolded. (Donna Parker is a dreadful goody two shoes, but I did remember that, so I was mentally prepared.)...more
2/2020 Update. Yikes. Decided I might reread a couple of these, started with the first, and it's just begun and already animals are getting butchered 2/2020 Update. Yikes. Decided I might reread a couple of these, started with the first, and it's just begun and already animals are getting butchered and shot right and left. Once again, I realize how much more hard-hearted I was as a child. Abandoned my attempt. Let me just remember them fondly. * * * * * * * * Loved, loved loved these. Read them a zillion times....more
The rating is based on how much I loved this book as a child. Rereading it, I realized, not for the first time in revisiting old favorites, that I wasThe rating is based on how much I loved this book as a child. Rereading it, I realized, not for the first time in revisiting old favorites, that I was a blood-thirsty little cuss. I found a great deal of gore and animal killing that I had to turn past quickly today. I do remember always weeping copiously when her dog dies, but the key word is "always", I never SKIPPED that part. This time I couldn't even think about reading it. I do like the atmosphere of this book, living within sight of a Channel Island I had no problem picturing the setting and it was still interesting to see how she built and furnished her house. I used to love to play "survival" games in the back yard, making grass stew and bougainvillea punch and chocolate chip cookies out of mud and eucalyptus seed pods. This goes back on the shelf, I'll make do with my happy memories of it. ...more
I was the age of Ellen when I first read this, and I dearly loved this book. As my mother made a lot of my clothes and I loved big sashes I remember rI was the age of Ellen when I first read this, and I dearly loved this book. As my mother made a lot of my clothes and I loved big sashes I remember relating so strongly to the episode with the monkey print dresses. And the horror of Otis, I always knew a bunch of Otises. Weird to reread as an adult....more
Oh my goodness, I haven't read this book in so many years, and at one point I all but had it memorized, it was one of my childhood standards. As an olOh my goodness, I haven't read this book in so many years, and at one point I all but had it memorized, it was one of my childhood standards. As an older sister I thoroughly identified with Beezus, and wanted to drown Ramona. I still do....more
Update 2020: I used to love this book so much that I've been afraid to reread it until now, and like I thought, there was some pretty sappy romance, tUpdate 2020: I used to love this book so much that I've been afraid to reread it until now, and like I thought, there was some pretty sappy romance, the main couple are a case of Insta-love, after two meetings their love knows no bounds, that sort of thing. I was puked out a few times, but it's pretty well written,there is some decent dialog, and a lot of character involvement in real events. So better than I feared it might be. I'll let it keep it's stars, though, for old time's sake. * * * * * My rating of this harkens back to when I first read and re-read it at age 14. For all that it was one of my favorite books for a time, I've never reread it as an adult. I'm a little afraid to. Seems to me that even then I thought it was a little corny...... ...more
Haven't read this in years. I first read it at age 14, and I'm glad because I adored it then. Had I read it for the first time now I might have boggedHaven't read this in years. I first read it at age 14, and I'm glad because I adored it then. Had I read it for the first time now I might have bogged down early on, thinking it too old-fashioned or corny or whatever, crabby old cynic that I have become. Although it reads a bit like a YA novel,*and has a child as its main character, it is very adult in subject matter and often horrifyingly sad. It isn't quite the same reading experience now, but it's still a wonderful book.
Okay before I started my re-read of this book I read a bunch of bad reviews, many poorly spelled and petulant, written by teenagers assigned it in claOkay before I started my re-read of this book I read a bunch of bad reviews, many poorly spelled and petulant, written by teenagers assigned it in class. "It's boooooring!" they whined. "Oh shut up, brain-dead teen morons" I sneered. I read this book as a child in the throes of my Civil War addiction and seem to recall that I loved it. Or did I...I don't remember it at all and I've never owned a copy...most books I loved I read over and over. Anyway, I don't know what made me think of it, but I got a copy from the library and sat down, expecting to polish it off in one sitting and wallow in nostalgia. Then...uh oh. It was....surely not.....boring? Pretty adult vocabulary. Lots of historical background, most of which I knew, and it was still dull. Corn pone dialect ..'Jest heered ya got a festerin'hurt in that there fit with them boys'...sort of thing. Predictable sorrow..its a war novel after all. And a main character named Jethro, which will doom a person of a certain age to hours of struggling to get "the kinfolk said Jed move away from there!" out of one's head. Hmmm. Sorry, teens. I understand. Maybe what I most liked about this book was its title. Lovely title....more
Haven't read this in ages and ages. Quite nostalgic, but wow are these books dated. Written in the 50's , I originally read them in the 60's when theyHaven't read this in ages and ages. Quite nostalgic, but wow are these books dated. Written in the 50's , I originally read them in the 60's when they weren't so much. Like this:
"The stewardess stopped beside their seats then and introduced herself. "I'm a full blooded Apache Indian" she told them. "Barbara Slater is my American name and I was educated in public schools." She slipped into the empty seat beside Di. "My Indian name is too long to remember. So won't you please just call me Babs?"
"You look divine in that trim navy blue uniform", said Di enviously. "When I'm old enough I'm going to try to get a job as an airline hostess."
Babs smiled back at her. "This particular airline hires only full-blooded Indian girls for the New York to Tucson run. Some of us are Papagos and Pimas, and a great many of us are Navajos and Apaches. All of us, of course, have to be high school graduates."
This was a favorite of mine as a child, haven't reread it for many a moon. Actually I never owned it, used to check it out at the library but recentlyThis was a favorite of mine as a child, haven't reread it for many a moon. Actually I never owned it, used to check it out at the library but recently spotted a used copy and realized I had forgotten about it. I can see why I liked it, some nice suspense, interesting characters and atmospheric setting. ...more
I haven't re-visited any Trixies in awhile. Since I started with them at age nine, the early ones are pretty much set in stone in my brain, I re-read I haven't re-visited any Trixies in awhile. Since I started with them at age nine, the early ones are pretty much set in stone in my brain, I re-read them so many times. This one is full of famous lines referenced still....eyes like olive pits....if you can't blow a spot of dust off the table top, put something on top of it...If you want my CANDIED opinion... and "So, Mr. Britten, you ARE an imposter after all!" (a spoiler, but was there any doubt?!)...more
Another classic revisited....I loved this book as a child but even then I did know it was a rather sad story. And it is most certainly not your typicaAnother classic revisited....I loved this book as a child but even then I did know it was a rather sad story. And it is most certainly not your typical jolly young reader's tale. Harriet was a much bigger pill than I remembered, but she had a lot more reason to be than I realized at the time. Seemed more like an adult book masquerading as a child's. Yikes, it sort of depressed me, not what I expected at all. Interesting, these re-reads from ages ago........more
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