Oct. 12, 2007
Summer Reading Review ~ A Girl of the Limberlost
Posted in Book Reviews
Have you ever experienced the feeling where something you read as a child seemed really strange, or just plain terrible, but when you were older and reread it, you loved it? I had something like that going on when I read A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter. Now I didn’t have an extreme dislike when I tried reading it years ago, but I didn’t really understand the characters at that point, and I gave up on it without any regrets. When I picked it up this time around, though, I was ready for it, and it was good.
Elnora Comstock has a difficult life. Her mother watched her father drown in a quagmire early in their marriage, and she has been a bitter and angry woman every since. Elnora is turning into a sweet young lady in spite of her cold home, and her fondest desire is to complete her high school education and go on to college. In order to cover the expenses that go along with high school, Elnora works to collect moths and arrowheads from the woods and sells them to several people in town. Along the way, she strives desperately to break through her mother’s bitterness and reach the love she desperately longs for.
This book almost seemed to have two halves. The second half of the book was a romance with a whole different conflict. Now I know I’ve said this before, but I usually don’t like romance. But certain kinds of romances do work for me. I like to call those “unselfish romances”, and this was one of them. So I enjoyed the second half of the book, perhaps even more than the first.
One neat part of the book was the nature aspect of it. Reading about the different moths and caterpillars that Elnora worked with was very interesting. One of my favorite moments of the book is when Mrs. Comstock watches the wings of a moth open and soliloquizes on the wonder of God’s creation.
One more thing. The ending of this book has to be one of the most perfect ones I’ve read in a long time. The author tied up the loose ends really nicely, and it just felt right. I was very pleased with that.
So, it was an excellent book, and one that I would definitely recommend that you add to your to-read list. I plan to read her other book set in the Limberlost, Freckles, when I get a chance.
Comments
Oct. 12, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
I read that book years ago, and will reread it this year with my daughters. Freckles is my all-time favorite since i was 10 years old, however.
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Oct. 13, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
I enjoyed Freckles when I read it a couple years ago... I'll have to put Girl of the Limberlost on the to-read list. Thanks for the review!
Heidi @ Mt Hope Chronicles
http://mthopeacademy.blogspot.com/
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Oct. 13, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by totustuus
I'm glad you liked it!! Elnora was a fun character...she was just one of those that you really enjoy reading about. I haven't read any of Gene Stratton Porter's other books, yet.
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Oct. 14, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Bluejane
Thank you for letting me in on that friends page thing!
Eyebright and I have been wondering how you can do that for a while now.
It will come in very handy.
I have never read Girl of the Limberlost, but I have heard of it. I might have to check it out.
Bluejane
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Oct. 16, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Earthling
I've never read that book. I've seen the movie though, I think. I'll have to check it out some time. :)
RYC:
I actually thought about posting that entry on my other blog, but I do have most of the same readers, plus I have more at this blog. Maybe sometime I'll post it over there, as well, when I get more readers. I'm glad you liked it! :)
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Oct. 16, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Free2bme
Hmmm...I remember reading that but only a little bit about the book.
I remember feeling sad and not enjoying the book too much. Maybe I didn't understand it cuz I was young.
You are such an avid reader, I love it!
Debs
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Oct. 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Volleybabe
That sounds like a really good book!
I wanted to say just how much I enjoy your book reviews. You give enough info to let me know what goes on in the book but you don't spoil it. There's nothing I hate more that finding out the end of a story before your ready for it!
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Oct. 18, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by guardedmodesty
oooh!! I want to read that! you do such a wonderful job of describing the book that i'm almost drooling! keep up the good reviewing work.
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Nov. 1, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by totustuus
Hey, it's been a while. :-) So what books did you read in October? I started and finished only six, but some of them were pretty hefty. ;-)
Have you ever been to librarything.com?? It's pretty neat!!
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