by Gene Stratton-Porter
★★★★★
How did I miss this book when I was younger? It’s like a
slighter darker version of Anne of Green Gables, and I loved every second of
it.
Published in 1909, the story is about a young girl named
Elnora who lives in the country. She is going to high school for the first
time, but her lack of social skills and money makes the way difficult. Her
whole life has been spent on her farm with her cold, unloving mother. Her
father died in the Limberlost swamp the day she was born and her mother has
resented her ever since.
Elnora is such a unique character. She is stubborn and
driven to succeed. She's fiercely intelligent but incredibly compassionate. She
is patient, giving her mother the benefit of the doubt for years. She's a hard
worker, willing to make money to achieve her dreams. She has self-respect and
is willing to sacrifice in order to find true happiness. She reminded me a
little bit of Jane Austen’s Lizzy Bennet, particularly in a scene where one
woman comes to talk to her about her possible engagement.
There is so much I loved about this book. There's a
fantastic female lead who isn't just trying to win a man. The plot focuses on
relationships with her family and friends and pursuing her dreams. She stands
up for herself even when she doesn't fit in. She's a problem solver and isn't
overwhelmed when a slight obstacle gets in her path.
**SPOILERS**
Kate Comstock, Elnora's mother, is a fascinating
character. She’s so oblivious to the pain she causes her daughter because she’s
trapped in a prison of grief. She has one of the most drastic changes in
attitude and overall character development that I've ever read. The way it's
done it's completely believable, but it's still a 180 and it was so satisfying
to see her relationship with Elnora change throughout the book.
I love how the romantic aspect of the story played out
too. Elnora protects her own feelings and isn’t swayed the moment Philip gave
her a second glance. She waited until she was sure he didn't want anyone else
and she was not just a consolation prize. That’s so unusual to find in a novel,
especially one written more than 100 years ago. She wanted someone who loved
her deeply, not someone who settled for her in a moment of passion.
**SPOILERS OVER**
BOTTOM LINE: I fell hard for this novel. Elnora is so
determined and intelligent, she’s definitely become one of my new favorites.
The book is chocked full of wonderful characters, including her Uncle Wesley,
the young ruffian Billy and even her selfish, detached mother becomes a
character you care about.
BONUS: This is a Hoosier classic set in the Limberlost
swamp that is in northern Indiana. I visited the author’s home after finishing
the book and will post on my trip!
9 comments:
I've never read this but for some reason have read something about it recently elsewhere. It definitely sounds like something I would like as well.
My grandmother, who hardly ever talked about books, told me that this was one of her favorites when she was a girl, and that made me want to read it. She also gave me the first two Anne of Green Gables books. I love this one as well, & I still have a copy of it. Her mother is so awful through the first half, and her transformation is a delight. I haven't enjoyed the other books of Gene Stratton Porter's that I have tried though.
This is the book Lila Ames fell hard for in Gilead. Her husband brought it home to her and she just sank into it. Ever since then, I've wanted to read it. It's TBR'd on my Kindle.
A slightly darker version of Anne of Green Gables - that definitely got my attention! I'll have to check this one out.
This is one of my favorite novels ever; it's difficult not to fall in love with it. I actually scored a first edition of it for only $4 at a little bookstore that somehow overlooked it!
Diane - I always think that if I see something about a book more than once in a short time period, then I obviously need to check it out :)
Lisa - That's good to know about Porter's other books. I was wondering if I should try some of them.
Susan - You're right, I can't believe I didn't make that connection. I just read Gilead last year.
Belle - I hope you love it!
Elisabeth - That's awesome! I bought a 1916 edition for $6 at a used bookstore and it's just gorgeous.
Thanks for reminding me of a book I loved a long time ago. :)
Literate Housewife - It's so much fun to return to old favorites!
Great review!! I love both of your points in the spoiler section. At first, I felt Elnora’s mom’s transformation was not believable since it was so drastic, but you had a great point about her grief clouding her judgement of how much she was neglecting her daughter. And I loved the love story too! You’re right, it’s unusual that Elnora chose to wait and not be Phillip’s sloppy seconds. That brought a lot of romance to it and gave Edith a chance to be redeemed in the process, which I liked.
Here’s my review of the book, if interested: https://elle-alice.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-classics-club-girl-of-limberlost.html
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