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In the High Valley: Being the fifth and last volume of the Katy Did series by Susan Coolidge
sandypotato's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
ketutar's review against another edition
3.0
Ok... it's better that [b:What Katy Did Next|730503|What Katy Did Next|Susan Coolidge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348327387l/730503._SX50_.jpg|1779240], but not much.
This is a "let's bash the Englishmen and be so damned pompously chauvinistic while we do it" book.
It's a story of a girl, named Imogen (did Susan Coolidge forgot she used the name already about the little liar in What Katy Did?), whose brother went to USA from England, and she was to move with him to take care of his household, like many spinster sisters did back at that time. She is horrible prejudices and snotty, because she doesn't know much anything about USA, other than what she has heard and read in novels etc. And what her brother tells, and he says everything is amazing, better than England, everything is good and beautiful and wonderful. She doesn't believe him, because she's prejudiced and a horrible person. I mean, who could ever love England, and prefer that horrible, wet, cold, savage, primitive, tiny island to Unites States of F-ing Amurica!
She meets first one American who bashed England, English weather, English food, English famous places, Englishmen, and basically anything English - there's nothing positive she has to say about England. Then she proceeds to tell a tall story about USA, how New York is basically nothing more than a fort and the Indians attack it all the time. Poor Imogen believes it all, and the lady laughs at her.
Then she meets another American, who tells her how USA is a melting pot, how everyone who moves in the USA is American, and all the people Imogen has been recognizing as Americans because they fit her horrible, unfair, stupid prejudices about Americans, aren't really Americans. You see, anyone having a negative opinion on the USA or Americans are prejudiced, but anyone having a negative opinion about England or the Englishmen is just a discerning and intelligent person.
Her brother keeps bashing her through the whole book because she is so mean and prejudiced, but thankfully she gets sick, and saintly Clover nurses her back to life, and she is a changed woman, a true American. She confesses her sins to her husband-to-be, and now loves America and Americans, like her brother.
So, when they have a double wedding, her brother and she, they don't mind that none of their family is there. The future spouses' whole family is there, and they have now left their parents, their siblings, their childhood home and that stupid, ugly little island called Great Britain, and are now Americans, so their American family is the only family they need or want. Not a tear is dropped, not a thought is wasted on dear mother or motherland.
Hooray for Amurica! The best and most beautiful country in the world!
This is a "let's bash the Englishmen and be so damned pompously chauvinistic while we do it" book.
It's a story of a girl, named Imogen (did Susan Coolidge forgot she used the name already about the little liar in What Katy Did?), whose brother went to USA from England, and she was to move with him to take care of his household, like many spinster sisters did back at that time. She is horrible prejudices and snotty, because she doesn't know much anything about USA, other than what she has heard and read in novels etc. And what her brother tells, and he says everything is amazing, better than England, everything is good and beautiful and wonderful. She doesn't believe him, because she's prejudiced and a horrible person. I mean, who could ever love England, and prefer that horrible, wet, cold, savage, primitive, tiny island to Unites States of F-ing Amurica!
She meets first one American who bashed England, English weather, English food, English famous places, Englishmen, and basically anything English - there's nothing positive she has to say about England. Then she proceeds to tell a tall story about USA, how New York is basically nothing more than a fort and the Indians attack it all the time. Poor Imogen believes it all, and the lady laughs at her.
Then she meets another American, who tells her how USA is a melting pot, how everyone who moves in the USA is American, and all the people Imogen has been recognizing as Americans because they fit her horrible, unfair, stupid prejudices about Americans, aren't really Americans. You see, anyone having a negative opinion on the USA or Americans are prejudiced, but anyone having a negative opinion about England or the Englishmen is just a discerning and intelligent person.
Her brother keeps bashing her through the whole book because she is so mean and prejudiced, but thankfully she gets sick, and saintly Clover nurses her back to life, and she is a changed woman, a true American. She confesses her sins to her husband-to-be, and now loves America and Americans, like her brother.
So, when they have a double wedding, her brother and she, they don't mind that none of their family is there. The future spouses' whole family is there, and they have now left their parents, their siblings, their childhood home and that stupid, ugly little island called Great Britain, and are now Americans, so their American family is the only family they need or want. Not a tear is dropped, not a thought is wasted on dear mother or motherland.
Hooray for Amurica! The best and most beautiful country in the world!
sarahrosebooks's review against another edition
2.0
This edition was horribly presented. Some of the sentences would randomly cut off and start again on the next line, the spacing was all over the place, and there were a fair few spelling errors, as well.
The story is really just an add-on to give each Carr sibling a spouse (here, Clover and Elsie are already married, and Johnnie and Dorry find their spouses). We are given a Clarence-like character who magically changes her manners and ways after an illness (which seems to be the trope that the author likes to use to mould her characters into agreeable people).
Again, the story highlights how great it is to be a proper little homemaker and not at all like Mrs Watson.
I wish these books didn't exist, and then I could have finished with the third and just imagined them all living happily ever after. I know the first three have the same tropes and messages - Katy herself is the prime example of this, but I read them as an inexperienced child, not knowing then what I know now. I still have a fondness for these characters, but I didn't enjoy this book at all.
The story is really just an add-on to give each Carr sibling a spouse (here, Clover and Elsie are already married, and Johnnie and Dorry find their spouses). We are given a Clarence-like character who magically changes her manners and ways after an illness (which seems to be the trope that the author likes to use to mould her characters into agreeable people).
Again, the story highlights how great it is to be a proper little homemaker and not at all like Mrs Watson.
I wish these books didn't exist, and then I could have finished with the third and just imagined them all living happily ever after. I know the first three have the same tropes and messages - Katy herself is the prime example of this, but I read them as an inexperienced child, not knowing then what I know now. I still have a fondness for these characters, but I didn't enjoy this book at all.
britlitteacher's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
sophiethebookdragonneedstea's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
beccakatie's review against another edition
3.0
Once again, Coolidge somehow spreads her character and world building out over the majority of the book, and the main plot points all seem to fit into the last few chapters.
Regardless of the pacing, however, it was lovely to be reunited with all of the Carr family and see them happy and settled with their new lives and relationships, but still as loving and supportive as they were in What Katy Did.
This is a very sweet book to end the series with, and the reader can truly appreciate the happiness of the family and imagine what future joys will lie ahead for them in the High Valley.
Regardless of the pacing, however, it was lovely to be reunited with all of the Carr family and see them happy and settled with their new lives and relationships, but still as loving and supportive as they were in What Katy Did.
This is a very sweet book to end the series with, and the reader can truly appreciate the happiness of the family and imagine what future joys will lie ahead for them in the High Valley.
tronella's review against another edition
3.0
The last of the Katy series. More interesting than the previous two, but the ending was not very satisfying and all of the female characters seem to end up having the exact same personality. They all live happily ever after, as polite well-dressed housewives who are good at decorating but not too snobby.
sarahjanet's review against another edition
4.0
God, this was satisfying. I had no idea this book existed until now, and suddenly I have resolution on all of my beloved childhood friends.
wordnerdy's review against another edition
2.0
http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2015/08/2015-book-208.html
OK, I think I see why these last two weren't in print when I was a kid--they are super boring compared to the first three. This last one in particular is kind of a dud. It introduces a couple of new characters, but one isn't interesting and the other is pretty insufferable, at least until Clover teaches her otherwise, of course. And they then inevitably get married off, also of course. There's no conflict in these last two books and there's less cute stuff in this one, because Clover and Elsie are grown and married. What a disappointment this was!
OK, I think I see why these last two weren't in print when I was a kid--they are super boring compared to the first three. This last one in particular is kind of a dud. It introduces a couple of new characters, but one isn't interesting and the other is pretty insufferable, at least until Clover teaches her otherwise, of course. And they then inevitably get married off, also of course. There's no conflict in these last two books and there's less cute stuff in this one, because Clover and Elsie are grown and married. What a disappointment this was!
emlinthegremlin's review against another edition
4.0
A wonderful end to the What Katy Did series. I always thought that this book was more of a prolonged epilogue - nothing much happens, but the characters are so delightful that one can't help turning the page!