Member Reviews
This was a sweet story of L.M. Montgomery short stories. I love her short stories though they can be a bit sentimental. However, in small doses I always find them to be such a delight. To be honest, this wasn't my favorite short story collection. For the earlier ones especially there may be a reason why the stories were lost to time for so long. What makes this collection special for Montgomery fans is the editor's note at the end of each story. It's normally a couple of paragraph and just provides a little bit of information about what was going on in Montgomery's life, where the story falls chronologically in comparison to her other books, and if there is any connection between the story and any of her other works. I think I looked forward to the editor's note as much as the story itself! This is a nice treat for fans but otherwise is just okay.
I received an encrypted PDF copy of this collection of short stories from Netgalley and Nimbus Publishing in exchange for an honest review. I was not able to view that pdf, so bought a paperback copy as soon as it was available on September 20, 2017.
Though I love Lucy Maud Montgomery I had not read any of these short stories released under the title of After Many Years. Both the stories and the notes concerning their provenance and publishing history were very entertaining. I am pleased to add this to my classics collection, and to enthusiastically recommend to my friends and family.
This was positively delightful! A collection of rarely seen early work from Montgomery one can see how her writing style developed over the years. A must read for fans of L.M. Montgomery.
I've been slowly making my way through the Anne series this summer, and as I saw this book mentioned on someone's blog, I just couldn't pass it through. Luckily, I found it up for request on NetGalley, and I got it right away.
I have to say, Montgomery's stories are definitely pleasant to read, but you can't read too many of them. There's just something a little too cutesy and sugary about them – especially the early ones. It's not hard for me to understand why they are like that – they were published in Christian magazines and were supposed to 'inspire children to be kind', but if you think Anne of Green Gables was a bit much at times – trust me... You haven't seen Montgomery's early stories.
But this might sound like I didn't like it – I did! Although it's a firm 3 stars, and no more. There were definitely some wonderful stories, and it's truly surprising to see Montgomery's writing and topic choices start changing throughout her life – it's strange reading about cars and [almost] self-sufficient ladies in her books, and it's even stranger to read Montgomery write about the war. (Although, I have to say, it was truly amusing to read how much they abhorred the automobile in Prince Edward Island! Cars have always been a given to me, although thought of as a thing that brought progress, I couldn't have thought people feared and hated them! To the extent of campaigning against them..? Wow!)
Anyway. 3 stars it is, but there's still something truly magical about reading stories that have been lost and found, and were written by no less but one of the biggest Canadian literary miracles. If you are a fan of Montgomery's, you will surely enjoy this.
A must read for every Montgomery fan! This book is stuffed full of stories that show how Montgomery's writing developed over the years. I enjoyed every single one..Each piece has a scholarly preface and notes. I am thrilled to have had the chance to read and review this title.
This collection of short stories by L.M. Montgomery isn't as enjoyable as the novels but it does have Montgomery's charm and magic. Filled with unusual characters and descriptions of the beauty of Prince Edward Island, they are a joy to read. Any Montgomery fan will want to read them.
There's the naughty orphan boy who makes friends with the old judge, old Miser Tom who sits under the apple tree, the strange and messy family who provide their judgemental neighbours with a wonderful dinner and the matchmaker who uses reverse psychology to get a young couple together.
These are just some of the memorable characters in these stories. Montgomery has an almost mystical relationship with nature so even trees, such as the apple tree, become like people in her stories.
I prefer her series, but I have always loved L M Montgomery's stories as well so it was wonderful to find a new collection.
I received this free ebook from Net Galley in return for an honest review.
Book received from NetGalley.
This is another book that caused me to squeal like a fangirl when NetGalley approved me, and I admit I'm a huge fan of this author's works. I have loved L.M. Montgomery's books ever since my Grandmother bought me my first copy of Anne of Green Gables when I was 8. I'm always thrilled when they find more of her "lost" stories most of which were published in the various magazines of the era. The reasons the book got a 4-star rating was due to many of the stories being a bit extreme in the soppy morality tales of the era and the fact that many were fairly familiar to anyone who has read the majority of Montgomery's novels since she changed various things slightly and reused them. Other than that the stories were cute and quick to read and the explanations at the end of how and where they found them as well as where and when they were originally published just added to the enjoyment of the book for me. This is definitely a must for any L.M. Montgomery fan.
As a completist I was pleased to read these stories but it is easy to see how some of them had slipped under the radar
A delightful collection of short stories by this beloved author. Written with the charm of her Anne series, there is also a sense of humor and lesson in human character. Very enjoyable!
This book is the equivalent of a cosy comfort blanket, it immediately took me back to my childhood and reminded me of the hours I spent reading the Ann series, Jane of Lantern Hill and The Story Girl. It is a collection of lesser known published short stories, and it was fascinating to see outlines of plot and characters which appeared in more developed form in other works. I also particularly enjoyed the little explanatory paragraphs included at the end of each story which talked about what was happening in Montgomery's life at the time they were written and what the inspiration could have been.
A delightful read for any L.M. Montgomery fan
Ventuno racconti pubblicati nel corso di quarant'anni, e mai più dati alle stampe fino a questa edizione.
E' questo il baule dei tesori che le due curatrici regalano ai lettori: la possibilità di incontrare per la prima volta Lucy Maud Montgomery, o di ritornare alle atmosfere idilliache e stimolanti insieme dei suoi romanzi, apprezzando nel frattempo l'evoluzione del talento e dello stile di una grande scrittrice.
Una lettura tonificante, per l'ironia e i personaggi sempre peculiari e ben caratterizzati che popolano queste pagine, appannata appena dai primi tre o quattro racconti, sfacciatamente moralizzanti: scritti, d'altronde, per una rivista cristiana, e inevitabilmente tarati sia nello stile, ancora acerbo, che nei temi.
Ma poi - che ricchezza, e quanti sorrisi in una raccolta che, per una volta, regala solo serenità.
I don't know how this book was. The file for download was corrupt. Very disappointed, really looks stellar.
Three writers shaped me as a child, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Judy Blume and L.M. Montgomery. This 'new' collection of short stories from L.M. Montgomery brought me back to those lazy summer days, of walking to the bookmobile for my weekly haul of books.
This collection gathers 21 stories which have not been republished since their original publication, from periodicals and circulars.
As with all Montgomery's writing, there is beauty and hints of darkness. The familiar themes of orphan children come to play here, as they did here as they did with the famous Anne.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this delightful collection.