Paired this with Carney's House Party for our VSC discussion. A wonderful look into the life of an "ordinary" woman - Marion Willard Everett, the realPaired this with Carney's House Party for our VSC discussion. A wonderful look into the life of an "ordinary" woman - Marion Willard Everett, the real-life Carney from the Betsy-Tacy series. The letters begin with Marnie's early 20th century Vassar years and prove that the 'freshman 15' is indeed a universality. As Marnie marries and raises a family, the letters show her gumption in dealing with life's tragedies. And finally - my favorite part - comes the exchange of letters between Maud Hart Lovelace and Marnie, as Maud works on Carney's House Party.
Fabulous photos to pore over and clear, judicious writing from Dolnick. She lets the letters speak for themselves and fills in the background with her well-researched details.
"She stood for some time with the card in her hand before she went upstairs." I love that I don't consider this to be my favorite of the high school Be"She stood for some time with the card in her hand before she went upstairs." I love that I don't consider this to be my favorite of the high school Betsy-Tacy books, but I still consider it worthy of a 5-star rating. Maud's superb writing always gives me new ideas to sort over. With this re-read, I mostly focused on the theme of transitions and growing up. And, for my first time, I paid attention to the song that Mamie Dodd plays when Betsy and Joe finally dance together: "The girl I'll call my sweetheart, Must look like you...." Awwww, Maud....more
"Betsy loved to think up things to do, and Tacy and Tib loved to do them." This book was my introduction to the Betsy-Tacy series and I will always be "Betsy loved to think up things to do, and Tacy and Tib loved to do them." This book was my introduction to the Betsy-Tacy series and I will always be grateful to my sister for introducing it to me. I especially like this one because the girls are so naughty in it. I never made Everything Pudding, but I did play Mirror Palace.
Update: It's always fun to discuss this one with the VSC, because we always laugh so much. It's impossible for me to to choose my favorite of The Tomes, but I agree with our discussion leader who suggested that BTT is the funniest one in the series.
Still, and always, one of my favorites of the series. Maud gives us a compelling story here and now, while also setting us up for the rest of Betsy's Still, and always, one of my favorites of the series. Maud gives us a compelling story here and now, while also setting us up for the rest of Betsy's high school years.
The dedication is to Maud's parents and the love within the Ray family–ever present throughout the series–really shines through with this one.
Of all the boys, Cab is the most like Mr. Ray.
5-17-08: "There's no one I can be so silly with as I can with you," said Tacy. For the next VSC, we're comparing it with Jacob Have I Loved. I'm hoping for a revival of the great Bonnie Andrews debate. (I fall under the booo...hiss category.) ...more
Re-read for November VSC. Still think Jed is written as a too good to be true guy, but oh well. I am firmly convinced that the engaged–practically! siRe-read for November VSC. Still think Jed is written as a too good to be true guy, but oh well. I am firmly convinced that the engaged–practically! situation will wither away before it becomes real engagement.
Love this line which could be in a screenplay for the rom-com version: "Miss Bangeter, casting off dignity for once, caught Emily to her queenly bosom."
Read: 1-16-2006. I know I've read it since then, but where are my records?...more
Re-read for VSC discussion. "Tacy loved to say 'indeed.'"
09-23-2011: Here's a quote from the sentimental Mrs. Kelly that I had never noticed before: "MrRe-read for VSC discussion. "Tacy loved to say 'indeed.'"
09-23-2011: Here's a quote from the sentimental Mrs. Kelly that I had never noticed before: "Mrs. Kelly did not seem to notice the grown-upness. She took Betsy's round red cheeks in her hands and said, 'It's five years today that you and Tacy have been friends.'" I love Mrs. Kelly. Love that she saves Tacy's shorn curl in a candy box and that she remarks on the longevity of B&T's friendship.
05-22-2010 review: **slight spoilers toward the end** This is a particularly fun one to discuss at the VSC, because it'Re-read for 2014 VSC discussion.
05-22-2010 review: **slight spoilers toward the end** This is a particularly fun one to discuss at the VSC, because it's a strong favorite among the NY Chapter members, and that invariably leads to a raucous discussion.
I always enjoy my glimpse into Carney's sensible perspective. (I like things settled, too!) With my last read, I remember noticing what an excellent job MHL did with the tightened time frame of just one summer. This time around, I found myself comparing the Carney-Bonnie friendship with Betsy and Tacy. Although I'm no huge Bonnie fan, I love how MHL shows us that the C&B friendship is as strong as B&T's.
I also wonder what would have happened if Sam had never showed up. Would Carney and Larry have gotten engaged? Would they have been happy together? I think they would have been content with one another but would have never known the passion that Carney and Sam had.
Last read: 5-22-06 (has it really been that long?) 7-7-05 ...more
This works as a delightful stand-alone novel about friendship and family, but when I look at the entire series, I marvel at how MHL creates such a strThis works as a delightful stand-alone novel about friendship and family, but when I look at the entire series, I marvel at how MHL creates such a strong foundation for all the books to come. It always comes back to a present of a friend.
Simple language, but this is the most poetic one in the series.
Re-read for VSC. Last read: 1-28-07 (not counting audiobook listens)...more
With this latest VSC, we had a good discussion about how much Betsy has grown since her freshman year.
A new favorite Tib moment, after Betsy and Tib lWith this latest VSC, we had a good discussion about how much Betsy has grown since her freshman year.
A new favorite Tib moment, after Betsy and Tib leave church and discover that it had been snowing: "Fresh soft snow covered the steps, walks and lawns. It lay in mounds on the lacy branches of the evergreens. Still uplifted by the service, Betsy looked around. 'It seems like a miracle!' she cried. 'We should have worn overshoes.' [replied Tib]
9-23-08: "You might as well know...I don't hold hands. I just don't hold hands." Re-read this for the NY VSC meeting. Because I don't think of it as a favorite, I had almost forgotten just how wonderful it is. I was really struck, this time, by what a tough year it was for Joe. The Leap Year Dance chapter is one of my favorite chapters out of all the Tomes...heck, out of all literature!...more
Love the significance of the two picnics on the Big Hill. Also, "I like your hair straight" is one of the most romantic lines in all of literature.
07-Love the significance of the two picnics on the Big Hill. Also, "I like your hair straight" is one of the most romantic lines in all of literature.
07-27-2012 review: I love how, in the fall, when Betsy asks Joe about his family, she finds herself "facing the stone wall of his reticence." But when they meet at Butternut Center, it all comes pouring out of him. "He looked at her suddenly. 'I never told that to anyone before.'"
Previously read: 1-28-05 (how is this possible? maybe I forgot to record another re-read? maybe I've just been dipping into it now and then?)...more
Still haven't been to Venice, but I re-read this while in Rome.
5-14-2009 review: Oh how I love this book. I re-read it in preparation for my trip to (pStill haven't been to Venice, but I re-read this while in Rome.
5-14-2009 review: Oh how I love this book. I re-read it in preparation for my trip to (part of) the Great World. I especially love it because Betsy travels alone, something that I enjoy very much. Maud gives us everything with this one: the joys and frustrations of travel; culture & geography lessons; ROMANCE; yearnings for a bath; exciting news from a far-away friend. Not to mention the foreshadowing of the Great War and, oh, did I mention the romance?
The details of Munich and Venice are particularly rich. I haven't yet been to Venice but, when I visited Munich in 2004, I used Betsy's explorations as my itinerary. It was the perfect way to see the city.
"Joe sat up in bed, and Betsy told herself that she must never allow him to wear any pajamas but blue ones." It's been less than a year since I last re"Joe sat up in bed, and Betsy told herself that she must never allow him to wear any pajamas but blue ones." It's been less than a year since I last read this, but with Maud's writing that doesn't matter. This book only gets better and better for me and I continue to revel in the "rightness" of Betsy and Joe together.
3-3-09 review: "After a while he went back to the bacon." Chose to re-read this in honor of my sister's wedding. The older I get, the more I treasure it. It's inspiring and just plain fun to watch Betsy and Joe settle into married life. The other day someone was describing her ex-boyfriend and I almost shouted out, "You were dating a Rocky!"
Our VSC enjoyed discussing this along with Betsy-Tacy and Tib, particularly because all of Winona's Pony Cart takes place between chapters 5 and 6 of Our VSC enjoyed discussing this along with Betsy-Tacy and Tib, particularly because all of Winona's Pony Cart takes place between chapters 5 and 6 of BTT.
We had an interesting range of opinions, although I think we all agreed that this is the slightest of the series. Winona is spoiled, but she's also good-hearted and it must be hard to have a mother who is continually disappointed in your behavior. (Then again, I think Winona's mom is genuinely confused about how to handle her tomboy daughter, especially after raising two extra-girly ones.)
No doubt, MHL had fun with the already-known characters. Dennie is an imp; Betsy pretends that she isn't terrified of the pony; Tacy "assured [Winona] kindly" that it was okay to have no printed invitations; and Tib gets her most Tib-like line: "My father can eat spoiled catsup....He did it once and it didn't make him sick."
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