kocham twórczość pani lucy całym sercem, serio. nie wiedziałam. czego się spodziewać po tej książce i postanowiłam nie mieć żadnych oczekiwań, ale zostałam przemilo zaskoczona. piękna lektura, podnosząca na duchu, momentami komiczna, momentami wzruszająca, romantyczna - ot, cała pani montgomery. kiedyś na pewno do niej wrócę.
(kończyłam czytać na wykładzie z matematyki. warto było nie słuchać o pochodnych)

This was so. freaking. CUTE.

Having been exposed to The Blue Castle at the age of 31, I now realise I made a terrible mistake by not ever cracking the spine of L.M. Mongtomery's more famous novel, Anne of Green Gables when I was younger. Based on the witty and poignant writing I found in Castle, I think I would have absolutely devoured Green Gables in my bookish hey-dey back in school. Regardless, I have no regrets at reading this book now, because it was just a delight.

Valancy Stirling is 29 years old, and unmarried. This is a big deal--published in 1926 as it was, being an unmarried spinster was a fate perhaps worse than death, bringing ridicule and self-loathing. And being an unmarried spinster to a family such as the Stirlings, who could safely be called The Worst Family Ever... well.

"Got your rubbers on?" called Cousin Stickles, as Valancy left the house. Christine Stickles had never once forgotten to ask that question when Valancy went out on a damp day.
"Yes."
"Have you got your flannel petticoat on?" asked Mrs. Frederick.
"No."
"Doss, I really do not understand you. Do you want to catch your death of cold again?" Her voice implied that Valancy had died of a cold several times already. "Go upstairs this minute and put it on! Remember you had bronchitis two years ago. Go and do as you are told!"

Valancy takes refuge from the demure and meek life that is drilled into her by her fiercely miserable family, dreaming of her own private Blue Castle, the home where she can live the life of her choosing. She dreams of suitors and a life of whimsy. There is also the readings of John Foster Wallace, esteemed nature author, to take her away from her miserable existence. (I have to say, even the depictions of the writings of this fictional author were amazing!)

Then she visits the doctor for a troubling heart spell--and everything changes. Valancy begins to forge her own life much to the gasps and chin-wobblings of her family.

Gosh, it's safe to say I absolutely adored this book. It's sweet and endearingly funny. I loved the search for independence, the unveiling of the person Valancy always managed to hide away. She's sharp as a tack but not mean, just a delightful source of the puncturing of all the pompous balloons that is her family. And characters such as Roaring Abel and Barney Snaith... well.

A read worth engaging in if you want a little old-fashioned delight in book form.

Ahoy there mateys! Apparently, I had never read this one but I absolutely loved it. Valancy Stirling is celebrating her 29th birthday and is unmarried and miserable. Her only solace was an imaginary world of the blue castle but it be time she faces that facts about never being happy or loved and the long, miserable days ahead. Then Valancy is given a horrible medical diagnosis with a limited time to live. And well she basically decides to do what she wants with it. It was glorious. Valancy is sorta obnoxiously fun to her ridiculous relatives and begins to comes to terms with the new version of herself. Ye would think that death is a burden but Valancy is finally free to do as she pleases. But of course shenanigans ensue. I guessed three of the twists at the end and missed one but loved every moment. I do think that a tangled web is better but this was close. So glad to decided to read these standalones that I didn’t know I had missed! Arrrr!

Sweet

Loved it! Great rec from my big sister!

This was so funny!! And lovely. The main character reminds me of Daria - hating everyone and everything about her life, thinking snide little sarcastic thoughts. It made me laugh a lot. The second half is really beautiful too. I’d never read a book by L.M. Montgomery, and this was a really wonderful introduction.

update : toujours aussi bien, un des seuls classiques qui peut me faire laugh out loud

favorite book of the year ?

Four and a half well-earned stars.

I only came across this book when I saw it being discussed with no small fervor in social media. Readers were all but shouting out quotes from its pages, seemingly to make sure others across the street from them were aware of this hundred-year-old beauty.

Whether or not you are a fan of the 'Anne of Green Gables' books, Lucy Maud Montgomery (the author) is worth the attention, showed amazing prowess and skilled, deliciously-crafted humor in writing this unpretentious little novel that deals with familial bullying, class, social status, tragedy, and trying to tackle circumstances seemingly beyond our control.

Without giving too much away, the book is split into two parts and revolves around Valancy Stirling, a 29-year-old unmarried woman of plain looks who is considered not just by her family members, but society overall, as an "old maid" and a "spinster". She is very much treated as the ugly duckling by the entire family (save one), and puts up with it, recognizing her place and status in society and life. To endure the scorn from her particularly egregious mother, she lets her mind drift to another place, and daydreams of a life in a beautiful blue castle with a man she loves and who reciprocates her love. It's the only respite she can find.

Part one of the book comes to a quick close when Valancy learns, via a letter from her doctor, that something which had been troubling her for some while is a critical heart condition, one that will tragically take her life in the coming year. It could actually strike her dead at any minute, with no notice. Valancy makes a life- (and plot-) changing decision to take hold of her life, no longer allowing herself to be a doormat, and making every effort she can to embrace happiness. And if that means she must leave her family, so be it.

Part two of the book is so improbably amazing that I can't even dare describe it further for fear of spoiling the ride.

The characters that Valancy lives with and encounters throughout the novel just come to life off the page. Montgomery's style in the 'Anne' series really comes into its own here, peppering incidents seen through Valancy's eyes with a subtle humor or heart-tugging sweetness. There are traces of tragedy throughout the book, some expressed, some implicit in the atmosphere of Valancy's family home and her new surroundings, but always with purpose and not without strengthening Valancy's resolve to be herself, whoever that may be.

The final chapters may have been a bit too overdone, but they seal the deal for many readers, so I recognize my own shortcomings in this regard. Does Valancy ever truly find her blue castle? If so, is she able to hold onto it?

The writing is absolutely perfect, particularly Montgomery's ability to capture the nature of Canada's forests, either through her own narrative or the writings of Valancy's favorite author, quoted often throughout the book. And the book is anything but saccharine - all of the sweetness is as real as honey on the comb.

The book is freely available digitally (thank you, public domain laws!) through standardebooks org. Do yourself a favor and grab a copy. And let me know what you think.

LM Montgomery is a gifted storyteller, no doubt about it. In the beginning, the miserable circumstances she described and outrageously annoying characters reminded me of a Roald Dahl book.

As a quiet rebel, I admired Valancy. It takes a lot of bravery to defy the overly formal, closed-minded institutions that worry so much about keeping up appearances.

I laughed and I cried. Great book!