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wyvernfriend's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting look at a life through favourite books and what she learned from them over the years.
One of the lessons to take from it though is that no matter what, everyone reads a book differently and no two people will have the same experiences or take the same lessons from any book, sometimes a book says different things to you over your life.
One of the lessons to take from it though is that no matter what, everyone reads a book differently and no two people will have the same experiences or take the same lessons from any book, sometimes a book says different things to you over your life.
nooneyouknow's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Memoir told through re-readings of the author's favorite books. Makes me wonder how my old favorites would stand up to reexamination now.
brandidean's review against another edition
3.0
More like 2.5 than 3.
I like reading about people talking about books, same as I like actually talking about books. But I didn't love this like I thought I might. I think it came down to I liked the parts about the books pretty well, and I even agreed with a lot of her conclusions. But the parts about the author I liked less. And I liked the first several chapters and the end better than the middle. So, so-so, overall.
I like reading about people talking about books, same as I like actually talking about books. But I didn't love this like I thought I might. I think it came down to I liked the parts about the books pretty well, and I even agreed with a lot of her conclusions. But the parts about the author I liked less. And I liked the first several chapters and the end better than the middle. So, so-so, overall.
kmthomas06's review against another edition
4.0
While I might not always agree with Ellis's reading of some heroines (I don't care what you say, I love Rilla Blythe and that's that and the fact you clearly have never read Jane of Lantern Hill is a bit of a worry but then I never read the Emily books so I'll call it even and be done), I do love a book that makes me think about the evolution of my heroines over time and a book that gives me new ones to go read in the future is even better.
Ellis has a very unique background that she brings to her re-examination of some of literature's favorite heroines that I could appreciate and liked having our very different backgrounds to compare and understand why we read the same characters differently. It reminded me of the best of my English classes in undergrad and Ellis has a charming voice that is also brutally honest about her mindset when she first ran into the heroines and her mindset upon revisiting them years later.
Ellis has a very unique background that she brings to her re-examination of some of literature's favorite heroines that I could appreciate and liked having our very different backgrounds to compare and understand why we read the same characters differently. It reminded me of the best of my English classes in undergrad and Ellis has a charming voice that is also brutally honest about her mindset when she first ran into the heroines and her mindset upon revisiting them years later.
kah's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.25
kathydubs10's review against another edition
5.0
I am so please that I finally got my hands on this book. I've wanted to read it since it came out but it's been hard to get at the library/when I'm away at school. Regardless, I FINALLY got it and it was fantastic. I wasn't really sure what to expect of the book, but what I got was awesome. I really enjoyed Samantha's walking us through her life, especially important developmental stages, and aspects of her identities. The way she wove in character analysis (both personal and literary) was awesome as well. I would say I've read about half of the books/stories she mentioned in the book, but this made me want to read the ones I haven't read as well (someday). I flew through this book quickly and easily, which is a testament to the author. I will for sure be looking to read more from her in the future and I think I will also try to read more of this kind of genre as well.
erine's review against another edition
4.0
I wish I could have sat down with Samantha Ellis and actually debated with her about all the books and heroines. Some bits I totally agreed with, others I'd love to protest, and I came away with a lot of new thoughts about some of my favorite books.
She crushed my long-standing relationship with Anne Shirley and Jo March, although she did give credit to Montgomery for Emily Byrd Starr and to Alcott for Jo's Boys. I cheered when she referred to Ballet Shoes (I LOVE Ballet Shoes), and enjoyed the souring of her relationship with Wuthering Heights, which I've never cared for. She gave me a little bit of hope regarding Tess of the d'Urbervilles, who I found terrifically depressing, and I'd really like to talk to her about Bathsheba Everdeen.
Favorite bit, relating to how folks apparently think that Charlotte's brother Branwell wrote Wuthering Heights: "This rumor... supposedly answers the question of how a woman who died a spinster at thirty, having never been in love, could have written one of the greatest love stories of all time." (202) And to me, the fact that Charlotte was apparently a spinster who died at thirty never having been been in love explains how she could have written such a horrifying story about two people who have no idea about love.
She crushed my long-standing relationship with Anne Shirley and Jo March, although she did give credit to Montgomery for Emily Byrd Starr and to Alcott for Jo's Boys. I cheered when she referred to Ballet Shoes (I LOVE Ballet Shoes), and enjoyed the souring of her relationship with Wuthering Heights, which I've never cared for. She gave me a little bit of hope regarding Tess of the d'Urbervilles, who I found terrifically depressing, and I'd really like to talk to her about Bathsheba Everdeen.
Favorite bit, relating to how folks apparently think that Charlotte's brother Branwell wrote Wuthering Heights: "This rumor... supposedly answers the question of how a woman who died a spinster at thirty, having never been in love, could have written one of the greatest love stories of all time." (202) And to me, the fact that Charlotte was apparently a spinster who died at thirty never having been been in love explains how she could have written such a horrifying story about two people who have no idea about love.
meowserly's review against another edition
5.0
Revisit your literary heroines with both a sense of compassion and a literary eye. Lots of humor and great insights.
fhammond_36's review against another edition
5.0
Loved the idea of this book having gone back to old books to revisit characters I loved and still loved most of them. Some books I read later and so I appreciate that a younger me might have been captivated by the heroines back then. And with this I've now got a list of new old books to go and discover. Thanks for the great present Davina!