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holtfan's review
5.0
2019 Review
Between this book and [b:Howl's Moving Castle|6294|Howl's Moving Castle (Howl's Moving Castle, #1)|Diana Wynne Jones|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1407450489l/6294._SY75_.jpg|2001], I think I need to go back and re-read all my old favorites. You see, I've been grossly deceived. In my memory the romance plays out in the last chapter and the rest of the book is about pioneer life or something.
Y'all, THE ENTIRE BOOK CENTERS ON THE ROMANCE.
I don't know how I missed it in my earlier readings. It quite worries me that I could remain so oblivious. But you know, when you re-read a book so many times you go in with preconceived notions...
Anyway, I still loved it. Even more, actually, now that I see how it all ties together. Perhaps a bit politically incorrect for modern standards (I wonder if that is why the library got rid of it?) but the overall message remains strong. The romance is adorable. The main character flawed but lovable. And that preacher guy a lot more annoying than I remembered.
Perhaps not quite so effusively recommended for all age groups as my earlier review would say, but certainly middle school on up.
Originally Review
Again, how could I have forgotten this book? It has been a favorite of mine since I first picked it up, over five years ago. It is great historical fiction and a wonderful story. Perfect for every age and makes a great read-aloud!!
Between this book and [b:Howl's Moving Castle|6294|Howl's Moving Castle (Howl's Moving Castle, #1)|Diana Wynne Jones|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1407450489l/6294._SY75_.jpg|2001], I think I need to go back and re-read all my old favorites. You see, I've been grossly deceived. In my memory the romance plays out in the last chapter and the rest of the book is about pioneer life or something.
Y'all, THE ENTIRE BOOK CENTERS ON THE ROMANCE.
I don't know how I missed it in my earlier readings. It quite worries me that I could remain so oblivious. But you know, when you re-read a book so many times you go in with preconceived notions...
Anyway, I still loved it. Even more, actually, now that I see how it all ties together. Perhaps a bit politically incorrect for modern standards (I wonder if that is why the library got rid of it?) but the overall message remains strong. The romance is adorable. The main character flawed but lovable. And that preacher guy a lot more annoying than I remembered.
Perhaps not quite so effusively recommended for all age groups as my earlier review would say, but certainly middle school on up.
Originally Review
Again, how could I have forgotten this book? It has been a favorite of mine since I first picked it up, over five years ago. It is great historical fiction and a wonderful story. Perfect for every age and makes a great read-aloud!!
litdrivengirl's review
4.0
A story about a young woman coming of age during prairie times Oregon. Learning to live with and except other people and doing a bit of growing up along the way. A simple, but sweet story good for all ages.
gliebherr's review
5.0
Really cute. Good plot. Good ending. Well developed characters.
And she is named after me, can it get much better?
Recommended to my family, etc. They liked it a lot.
And she is named after me, can it get much better?
Recommended to my family, etc. They liked it a lot.
oliviaisreadingnow's review
Okay, when you read this you have to keep in mind it was published in the eighties and is set in nineteenth century Oregon. The whole ten-year-old marriage/sold for money to a man older than her dead father/expected to perform “wife” duties once she turned fifteen is problematic, but it’s not as bad as it sounds.
That’s a lie, it’s bad, that should have never happened, and while this fictional Ginny was treated well by her husband, there were hundreds of other real stories like her that didn’t end so well.
But, for the tough thing this book portrays, I think it was admirable. It was simple, too—two hundred pages, nothing but the bare necessities, it was good for a nice one-sitting reading.
It was nice, and still very E rated. There were no mentions of uncomfortable subjects (you know). It’s safe, which is good because she’s fifteen and technically that’s illegal now. Her marriage, as well.
So maybe this book isn’t the best for our finally understanding, politically correct world, but it’s a nice idea with a pretty package, nothing special, just something that feels like it’s known to you before and you’ve come back.
That’s a lie, it’s bad, that should have never happened, and while this fictional Ginny was treated well by her husband, there were hundreds of other real stories like her that didn’t end so well.
But, for the tough thing this book portrays, I think it was admirable. It was simple, too—two hundred pages, nothing but the bare necessities, it was good for a nice one-sitting reading.
It was nice, and still very E rated. There were no mentions of uncomfortable subjects (you know). It’s safe, which is good because she’s fifteen and technically that’s illegal now. Her marriage, as well.
So maybe this book isn’t the best for our finally understanding, politically correct world, but it’s a nice idea with a pretty package, nothing special, just something that feels like it’s known to you before and you’ve come back.
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