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The Booklist: Book Reviews
Anne Shirley is the heroine of Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Anne is twelve years old. She was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Walter and Bertha Shirley. When Anne was three-months-old, her parents died of typhoid fever. She has spent most of life either with cruel foster families or in orphanages. As a young girl, Anne became an imaginative day-dreamer to escape harsh reality of her life.
As the novel opens, Anne dreams of an ideal life with a loving family and friends. These dreams nearly come true when she learns she will be adopted by a family on Prince Edward Island. Anne's arrival surprises Avonlea natives Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert. The aging brother and sister mean to adopt boy to help Matthew on their farm, Green Gables. A miscommunication leads to Anne being sent instead. Matthew can't break the news to Anne that she wasn't what they wanted. Matthew loves the talkative, enthusiastic, and outspoken young girl. This shows the contrast between the characters; Matthew is an awkward, shy man. He finds no fault whatsoever in Anne accepts of her imaginative and dreamy ways. His sister, Marilla, is initially less approving of Anne. Although a boy is still wanted and needed, Anne is permitted to stay on probation. Eventually, even Marilla takes to Anne. This is the story of the amazing, red-haired, temperamental romantic orphan Anne Shirley, by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Anne deals with the (positive and negative) forces of Marilla Cuthbert, Matthew Cuthbert, Diana Barry, Gilbert Blythe, Josie Pye, Rebecca Dew, the Pringles, and many, many others. Anne's life is like a rollercoaster and will have you laughing and crying. Consider yourself cordially invited to enjoy one of the most timeless stories out there! Rating= ****.5 Rating: ***
I'll admit it, I was slightly surprised when my Aunt Helen sent me this book. First of all, I had never heard of it, second of all, it didn't seem like the books I normally read. But I decided to give it a try and enjoyed it immensely.
In Rebecca, Mrs. de Winter must adapt to her new life at Manderley, while
facing opposition from Mrs. Danvers, the housekeeper at Manderley and the
maid of Mr. de Winter's late wife. The other servants treat the second Mrs.
de Winter with an impersonal regard, but Mrs. Danvers views the inexperienced
girl with scorn. From the minute Mrs. de Winter meets Mrs. Danvers, she is
struck with a feeling of uneasiness and shame. It is obvious that Mrs.
Danvers is still loyal to Rebecca after the heroine finds Rebecca's former
room intact, maintained by Mrs. Danvers. It is soon apparent that Mrs.
Danvers wants to get rid of the second Mrs. de Winter. For a fancy ball at
Manderley, Mrs. Danvers suggests that Mrs. de Winter wear an exact duplicate
of an outfit worn by a woman whose portrait is in the gallery. Mrs. de
Winter wears the outfit to the cotillion, but her husband is horrified.
After being informed that Rebecca had worn the exact same attire at last
year's ball, the heroine retreats to her room, devastated. The day after,
Mrs. Danvers encourages Mrs. de Winter to commit suicide.
"Lift your head even higher and into the fire we go!" All right, that's taken from the SP musical (which is very, VERY different from the book), but it is such a powerful statement. But, we return to the novel. In Baroness Emma Orczy's masterpiece, romance, intrigue, and adventure collide. The year is 1792, during the French Revolution, and the elusive Scarlet Pimpernel is the hero of the time. He is an Englishman, that much is known, but the rest of his identity remains shrouded in mystery. He travels to Paris, saving nobles in the cleverest ways from the grasp of "Madame Guillotine." So what is main character Lady Marguerite Blakeney to do when she must find his identity, and then save him from certain death? Rating: ***.5
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Pierette's Review: Laura's note: Read it! I never have, but I want to after hearing the kudos it has received from numerous friends of mine, including Erin, Katie, Billy, and (of course) Claire, who wrote this review. So read it already!
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