The title of this collection alone was enough to arouse my curiosity. After all, Montgomery is always categorized as a writer of 'sentimental and romaThe title of this collection alone was enough to arouse my curiosity. After all, Montgomery is always categorized as a writer of 'sentimental and romantic' tales. Her work is always downplayed as children's tales though they very much depict the challenges and sorrows of young women in the 20th century.
This short story collection differs from that homely image of Montgomery that's so widely promoted. And for that, I'd like to award it five stars alone.
The stories are not all equally strong, but they offer a glimpse of Montgomery's diverse authorship; the dark aspect isn't always ghosts or supernatural elements, but very real worries such as alcohol abuse, adultery, broken hearts and sick aunts. Aspects that were always present in her books, but easily overlooked....more
Kilmeny of the Orchard offers an interesting detour from Montgomery's well-known and beloved heroines. Perhaps because despite its title, this book isKilmeny of the Orchard offers an interesting detour from Montgomery's well-known and beloved heroines. Perhaps because despite its title, this book isn't about Kilmeny at all. She's only a minor character in a story centered around Eric Marshall.
The book is rather one-dimensional and almost reads like a fairy-tale with its built-in miracle and happy ending. Everything works out beautifully, the villains are defeated and punished and the hero is rewarded beyond his dreams.
The funny thing is, sentimental as her works may seem, Montgomery hardly ever wrote fairy tales....more
I'm currently in the middle of rereading every Montgomery-piece I can get my hands on. And I'm equally surprised by the sheer volume of her writing anI'm currently in the middle of rereading every Montgomery-piece I can get my hands on. And I'm equally surprised by the sheer volume of her writing and how impossible it is to get my hands on.
In her lifetime, Montgomery wrote more than 500 short stories. Many have been forgotten, almost all are now out of print and are mainly considered footnotes to her legacy.
But a part of me thinks that's wrong. While arguably not her most impressive work, the short stories are where it all began. Much like her heroine Emily, Montgomery celebrated and triumphed every time a story was accepted by a newspaper or household magazine. It was her first taste of success, her first glimpse of her own name in print. And it enabled her to go on and write about Anne, Emily, Pat and Marigold.
This particular collection is not necessarily awe-inspiring, but it offers a fascinating glimpse into her writing process. With stories dating back as far as 1899 you really get a sense of the young Montgomery's writing.
And there's familiarity too; characters named Emily or Jim, stern aunts, lonesome children and of course, the beautiful Canadian landscape that runs through all of Montgomery's work. The stories are overly sentimental, flawed and predictable, but they're a joy to read all the same. And I cannot wait to dive deeper, to read more and gain a better understanding of the author who created so many of our favourite characters.
Next up: Akin to Anne. I'm just waiting for the mail to arrive ... ...more
Despite living in a country that shares borders with Germany, I hardly know anything about German literature. This is perhaps because so many of my clDespite living in a country that shares borders with Germany, I hardly know anything about German literature. This is perhaps because so many of my classes at university reduced German literature to war literature � important too, no doubt but leaving so many gaps in its wake.
So it has taken me years and years to finally read Buddenbrooks and discover the magnitude of this novel. It's a family chronicle that spans not only four generations, but wrestles with the ever-changing pecking order of the class society and the historical changes, the industrialism and the loss of the so-called 'old virtues'.
While the book starts with grandeur in brightly lit salons, it ends with decayed teeth, the loss of a good name and the utter meaninglessness of money in the face of tragedy. It's a large plot, brilliant executed and populated by flawed characters, running around in blindness and ultimately causing their own destruction.
This undoubtedly sounds bleak. But it's not without humor; morbid irony seeps through the pages, and it's impossible not to huff or giggle at the ridiculous characters and all of their too convenient principles.
I'm in awe of this book. And now I need to read more by Mann....more
I quite enjoy reading short stories at the moment. The compact stories fits perfectly with my mood these days; only demanding me to remain concentrateI quite enjoy reading short stories at the moment. The compact stories fits perfectly with my mood these days; only demanding me to remain concentrated for as long as I can manage with my scattered thoughts.
This short story was delightful. A very elegant study of how it is to see something wrong unfold and yet stand by, paralysed and unable to act....more
It took me a while to sink into this book. But when I finally did, I nearly drowned.
The Last Days of Leda Grey is set up as a frame narrative. A youngIt took me a while to sink into this book. But when I finally did, I nearly drowned.
The Last Days of Leda Grey is set up as a frame narrative. A young journalist visits a former actress, slowly trying to uncover her story. Mysterious film objects and curiosities appear, adding to the drama and the mystique in a very slow manner laced with metaphors.
And then, the journalist gets a hold of Leda's diary. And the narrative shifts. Finally.
The excerpts from the diary are by far the best part of the book. Leda's narrative voice is seductive and yet she crafts violent images, honouring the obscure and absurd fantasy worlds she so long took part of as an actress.
Honestly, I wish this entire book could have been told through Leda's diaries. As it is, it's a gothic drama told burdened by its many pages....more
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