What I Read in November Part III . . .
Marjorie's Busy Days by Carolyn Wells-- Children's classic (Middle Grades Historical Fiction)
This children's book first published in 1908 is about a mischievous 12-year-old girl Majorie (also called "Midget" or "Mops") and her daily escapades with her friends and siblings. Marjorie can't help but get up to hi-jinks but she always listens to her parents' scoldings and promises not to do it again. Then she goes and does something else... To tell you what she gets up to would spoil the plot but it's very charming and funny. I really liked Marjorie. She's a real little girl who isn't perfect by any means and doesn't really want to try. She means well but ... she just can't help herself. Her whole family is loving and close-knit. Her parents may despair at some of her antics but they always have a hug and a kind word for their children when needed. I don't know why this series hasn't become a classic the way Anne of Green Gables did. It's a lot of fun and good slice of life for a wealthy girl living in the New York area in 1908.
Read this if you love Anne of Green Gables, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and the American Girl Samantha books.
Return to Thrush Green by Miss Read-- Historical Fiction
Spring comes to Thrush Green bringing changes to the sleepy village. Miss Fogarty is happy in her new classroom and content with her lodgings. She's thrilled when an old friend decides to move to Thrush Green. Miss Watson is a lovely supervisor, but the two women just aren't that close. May 1 brings Ma Curdle's fair back to the village but Ben notices that adults crave more sophisticated enjoyment and many of the rides have become too expensive to fix. Should he sell to a big-time promoter or should he limp along with his grandmother's fair? Molly is in favor of moving back to Thrush Green where she can keep an eye on her father. Albert Piggot has grown more dirty and cantankerous since his wife left him. Joan Young and Ruth Lovell receive bad news from Ealing- their father is ill and unable to work. He'll be returning to Thrush Green to recuperate and will want his house back. What will the Youngs do? Harold Shoosmith, a recent comer to the village, is upset by all the gossip surrounding the lovely widow who is searching for a place to live. Attracted by her car, he endeavors to help her find a place to stay in Thrush Green.
This series came back to it's roots in this book. I love the depiction of village life, unaltered in the last few years since we left the characters. There are three incredibly Victorian sisters to satisfy convention when modern life intrudes. I got caught up in the plot right away and wondered how everyone would work everything out. My favorite character is Dotty Harmer and her endless menagerie of animals. I can actually see myself as the crazy old lady of the village taking in stray animals. She adds a lot of humor to the story. I was pleased to catch up with Molly and Ben though I feel sorry for Molly to have such a nasty father. All the plots are predictable but no less enjoyable. The romance is very sweet.
Marjorie's Busy Days by Carolyn Wells-- Children's classic (Middle Grades Historical Fiction)This children's book first published in 1908 is about a mischievous 12-year-old girl Majorie (also called "Midget" or "Mops") and her daily escapades with her friends and siblings. Marjorie can't help but get up to hi-jinks but she always listens to her parents' scoldings and promises not to do it again. Then she goes and does something else... To tell you what she gets up to would spoil the plot but it's very charming and funny. I really liked Marjorie. She's a real little girl who isn't perfect by any means and doesn't really want to try. She means well but ... she just can't help herself. Her whole family is loving and close-knit. Her parents may despair at some of her antics but they always have a hug and a kind word for their children when needed. I don't know why this series hasn't become a classic the way Anne of Green Gables did. It's a lot of fun and good slice of life for a wealthy girl living in the New York area in 1908.
Read this if you love Anne of Green Gables, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and the American Girl Samantha books.
Return to Thrush Green by Miss Read-- Historical FictionSpring comes to Thrush Green bringing changes to the sleepy village. Miss Fogarty is happy in her new classroom and content with her lodgings. She's thrilled when an old friend decides to move to Thrush Green. Miss Watson is a lovely supervisor, but the two women just aren't that close. May 1 brings Ma Curdle's fair back to the village but Ben notices that adults crave more sophisticated enjoyment and many of the rides have become too expensive to fix. Should he sell to a big-time promoter or should he limp along with his grandmother's fair? Molly is in favor of moving back to Thrush Green where she can keep an eye on her father. Albert Piggot has grown more dirty and cantankerous since his wife left him. Joan Young and Ruth Lovell receive bad news from Ealing- their father is ill and unable to work. He'll be returning to Thrush Green to recuperate and will want his house back. What will the Youngs do? Harold Shoosmith, a recent comer to the village, is upset by all the gossip surrounding the lovely widow who is searching for a place to live. Attracted by her car, he endeavors to help her find a place to stay in Thrush Green.
This series came back to it's roots in this book. I love the depiction of village life, unaltered in the last few years since we left the characters. There are three incredibly Victorian sisters to satisfy convention when modern life intrudes. I got caught up in the plot right away and wondered how everyone would work everything out. My favorite character is Dotty Harmer and her endless menagerie of animals. I can actually see myself as the crazy old lady of the village taking in stray animals. She adds a lot of humor to the story. I was pleased to catch up with Molly and Ben though I feel sorry for Molly to have such a nasty father. All the plots are predictable but no less enjoyable. The romance is very sweet.
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