rowanjo's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
read it so fast, amazing start to finish. I think that if I were valancy, I would also have fallen in love with the words of John Foster
anniken_sj's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
language_loving_amateur's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was recommended to me by a friend and I cannot get over how good this is. I wish I had read this when I was 12 and when I was 18 and when I was 23, and I'm glad I've read it now at 29. If you are familiar with the "I'm in this photo and I don't like it" meme, my first reaction to The Blue Castle was "I'm in this photo, and I might be okay with that."
Valancy is a daydreamer, and for years has kept her inner life to herself, and bowed to the wishes of her family. When she starts making choices for herself, there is fallout and there is joy.
The omniscient narrator does at times feel less personal, but it gives readers a well rounded picture of the society Valancy is choosing to separate herself from. While her family considers her rebellion sinful (attending a Methodist church instead of the Anglican church), the story shows how Valancy is often choosing to do what she thinks is right for the first time and being kind to downtrodden people in the community. The romance doesn't start until about half way through the book, but it is sweet and clean. Clean enough that I'll recommend it to my Grandma. The Blue Castle uses some tropes that I've seen before, and if "terminal illness" and "secret identity is revealed" are not things you like to read about, it probably isn't for you.
Valancy is a daydreamer, and for years has kept her inner life to herself, and bowed to the wishes of her family. When she starts making choices for herself, there is fallout and there is joy.
The omniscient narrator does at times feel less personal, but it gives readers a well rounded picture of the society Valancy is choosing to separate herself from. While her family considers her rebellion sinful (attending a Methodist church instead of the Anglican church), the story shows how Valancy is often choosing to do what she thinks is right for the first time and being kind to downtrodden people in the community. The romance doesn't start until about half way through the book, but it is sweet and clean. Clean enough that I'll recommend it to my Grandma. The Blue Castle uses some tropes that I've seen before, and if "terminal illness" and "secret identity is revealed" are not things you like to read about, it probably isn't for you.
amabile_cocco's review
funny
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sarahunabridged's review
5.0
An irresistibly hopeful story that is now a new favorite. L.M. Montgomery's nature writing in this book is unparalleled and this book's cast of characters are so memorable. I already can't wait to return to this book in years to come.
emmaanoble's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
spootilious's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Read: October 29, 2023
Title: The Blue Castle
Title: The Blue Castle
Author: LM Montgomery
Genre: Historical Romance
Rating: 2.5 / 5
Review:
Rating: 2.5 / 5
Review:
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this novel. I have never read Anne of Green Gables, then again from what I have heard, this book is nothing like those. So, I suppose that is a good thing. Regardless, I was pleasantly surprised by The Blue Castle. It is certainly quaint and adorable but feels far different from any other historical piece I’ve read.
The Blue Castle and may things about it that I do not care for of course. The representation of woman alone is enough to have me sighing (though it was expected, the cruelty of these women were not), the beauty standards as well were repetitively shoved in the readers’ face and the amount of time the main character was called ‘Not pretty’ to her face was quite annoying. The story line was extremely predictable and at points the author grew a bit longwinded on subject that weren’t relevant to the plot; and many of the characters were interchangeable to the point I couldn’t remember who was who.
All that being said, I enjoyed this book immensely. The writing was beautiful. Despite the lengthy bits, the story only seemed to drag in the first half of the novel but really picked up midway. The premise was adorable and I love the moral even if the ending was utterly unrealistic.
Quotes:
“Fear is the original sin. Almost all of the evil in the world has its origin in the fact that someone is afraid of something. It is a cold slimy serpent coiling about you. It is horrible to live with fear; and it is of all things degrading.”
TW:
Body Shaming, Chronic Illness, Classism, Cursing, Emotional Abuse, Gaslighting, Religious Bigotry, Terminal Illness.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Classism, Cursing, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Body shaming, Gaslighting, and Religious bigotry