A little country girl (by Susan Coolidge)

(Amazon UK link)

I very much enjoyed the 'Katy' series by Susan Coolidge when I was a child, and later as a teen and adult. So I was delighted when I discovered several other books by this author available free (since they are out of copyright) for my Kindle.

'A little country girl' is set towards the end of the 19th century, in the US. Orphaned Candace, who is 16 and a countrified innocent, goes to stay with her mother's cousin for the summer, and gets to know her three second cousins, girls of similar ages. Unsurprisingly they are all shocked at her dowdy clothes and lack of society manners, but Candace has a sweet, teachable nature and provides something of a breath of fresh air in her new surroundings.

It's remarkably similar in outline to Louisa M Alcott's novel 'An old-fashioned girl', a book I have loved since I first read it. Presumably this was a popular theme in that era, but unfortunately Coolidge's version was not so well-written or emotive. So it was hard not to compare it somewhat negatively.

Still, it's a nice story. There's perhaps a tad too much moralising, although this was not unusual for a writer of this period writing for older children. The characters were all somewhat stereotyped too, but at least it made it easy to distinguish them. I was particularly impressed by the way that the word 'discipline' was used in its correct sense of giving a gentle explanation to help someone learn.

I can see why this book has never had the kind of popularity that the better-known 'Katy' series has. But it was free for my Kindle, and made pleasant breakfast-time reading.

Review copyright 2014 Sue's Book Reviews

In the High Valley (by Susan Coolidge)

(Amazon UK link)

One of the things I particularly like about my Kindle is the ability to download free editions of books that are now out of copyright. While the best-known classics are usually still in print, or easily available online, there are other books by classic authors which were pretty much forgotten until ebooks became popular. 

Susan Coolidge is an author whose work I liked since I was about six; she is well-known for her 'Katy' trilogy, which I read and re-read as a child and teenager. However I had no idea until recently that there were two other books in this series, featuring other members of the family.

I read and enjoyed 'Clover', the fourth book, in December, and have just finished the final one, 'In the High Valley'. I suppose they were less popular originally as they do not feature Katy; she appears only briefly in each. This book is set some years after 'Clover', and takes place mostly in Colorado, where both Clover and Elsie are now married, their families amicably sharing a home in the High Valley.

However it begins in England, where we meet Lionel and Imogen, a brother and sister who are preparing to move out to High Valley. Lionel has already been there and has fallen in love with the place; Imogen is going to be his housekeeper and companion, but she is not really looking forward to it. 

She has a lot of negative preconceptions about Americans, and stereotypical ideas about what she is to find: having been through similar feelings myself, almost a century later, I very much appreciated this part of the book, sympathising greatly with Imogen - and also with Lionel who has to put up with her complaints!

The plot involves Imogen's gradual cultural adjustment and eventual acceptance of her new life; we hear very little about the two husbands' work on their ranches, which from my perspective is just fine. Since the book was written as contemporary fiction over 100 years ago (this one was first published in 1890) it's inevitably a bit old fashioned in style, but some of the personality clashes and opinions are quite appropriate for modern young women.

There is, perhaps inevitably, a rather too tidy double romance and a delightful happy-ever-after (or at least for the next year) conclusion, but it was nicely done and it made a fitting end to this series. When I used to read the first three books I always wished that there were more, so I'm very glad to have discovered them. Definitely recommended to anyone who has fond memories of the 'Katy' series.

I'm pleased to learn that this has now been reprinted in paperback form; the Amazon link is to a modern edition. However this can still be found free for the Kindle, either at Amazon or Project Gutenberg.

Review copyright 2014 Sue's Book Reviews

Clover (by Susan Coolidge)

(Amazon UK link)

I first came across Susan Coolidge when I was six (and given one of her books). But I had no idea, until recently, that her classic series about the Carr family (beginning with 'What Katy Did') had more than three books. Since they were written at the end of the 19th century they are all out of print, and thus available free from Project Gutenberg (and elsewhere) for the Kindle and other devices.

'Clover' is the fourth in the series,. Following on from 'What Katy Did Next' it begins with the preparations for Katy's wedding to Ned. Katy wants everything as simple as possible, and her family are willing to comply.

However, this book is about Clover, second in the family, and after Katy's wedding the oldest 'Miss Carr'.  The bulk of the book is about Clover travelling to Colorado with Phil, youngest of the family. He is a teenager but quite sickly, and his father wants him to have some good mountain air.  So the two travel into the unknown - albeit accompanied initially by friends - and take up residence in a small town called St Helen's.  

There's a lot of observation of scenery which I skimmed, but I particularly enjoyed a few amusing passages with Mrs Watson, a querulous elderly lady who was supposed to be helping the two young people... but who turns out to be more of a burden than a blessing.

It's (unsurprisingly) rather dated by now, so it makes good social history; even when written it would have been quite educational, describing as it does the features of Colorado that are so new and exciting to Clover and Phil, as seen through their eyes.

I have no idea why it was not in print when I was younger as it's a pleasant read, even though Katy does not feature heavily, but she appears more than once and I liked catching up with her, so to speak. I quite enjoyed getting to know Clover in her own right too, and was pleased when several young men start to pay attention to her, later in the book.

I assume that this was originally intended for teenagers, but suspect that nowadays it's of more interest to adults like me who grew up reading the 'Katy' trilogy and always hoped for more.

Definitely best to have read the 'Katy' books first. But for anyone who has read and liked them, I would certainly recommend this. Note that the link above is to a paperback version - it has at last been reprinted in book form - but there are several editions of the e-book of 'Clover' available at Amazon and elsewhere, mostly inexpensive or free.

Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews.

Nine little goslings (by Susan Coolidge)

(Amazon UK link)

The author Susan Coolidge is best known for her 'Katy' trilogy which begins with the classic 'What Katy did'. While I've been familiar with these books for many years, it's only relatively recently that I learned of several other books which she wrote. Since they are long out of copyright - she lived in the 19th century - they are all available free for download from Project Gutenberg.

‘Nine little goslings’, which I just finished reading, is a book containing nine short stories. They are intended for children of about seven to ten, I suppose, since that’s the age of the featured children. The first one particularly interested me, being about Johnnie (Joanna) Carr, from the Katy series. Johnnie has been quite a tomboy until she is ill for a while, and then finds herself dreaming about being a princess, or perhaps being adopted by a long-lost relative. For once dreams appear to be coming true when her unknown godmother arrives and takes a great interest in her, offering to bring her up as her own. Her wise father suggests a temporary arrangement, and after a few weeks, Johnnie is very thankful for this!

I had thought the whole book might be about the Carrs, but each of the nine stories stands alone, featuring different children. The titles of the chapters are taken from nursery rhymes - so the first is called ‘Curly Locks’. The second, ‘Goosey Goosey Gander’, is about a small boy who really doesn’t want to go to bed. He is generally obedient, but finds himself unable to sleep.. and then spots a ladder that leads to the roof. He has some quite surprising adventures before returning home.. and then, at the end, it’s implied that they might have been a dream.

Each story was a good length for me to read while eating breakfast, as I often do with Kindle books, so it took me a little over a week to finish this. I found some of the later stories a bit depressing, but they were probably typical of the era, when children did not all survive childhood, and medical care was rather basic. Some of them have fairly overt morals - such as the first, encouraging children to be content with what they have - while others are more fanciful, just for entertainment.

I’m not sure what kind of child these stories would appeal to in the 21st century; they’re certainly not easy-reads, and the long-winded style might make them seem boring to children who prefer fast-paced modern adventures. They would probably appeal to more thoughtful and eclectic readers - those who are as happy to read ‘Little House on the Prairie’ as ‘Harry Potter’ - or could possibly be read aloud to children of around seven to nine who still like bedtime stories.

I don't know that I would particularly recommend this, but it made a nice change from other books, and was an interesting insight into the world of the late 19th century in which the author lived.

Note that the Amazon link given is to a printed edition of this. There are also have Kindle versions if you prefer not to use the free Gutenberg edition. 

What Katy did next (by Susan Coolidge)

(Amazon UK link)

I was six when I first heard of Susan Coolidge. I thoroughly enjoyed her first book, 'What Katy did', although it was intended for slightly older children. I then re-read it at least two or three times during my teens, which I'm sure I understood it somewhat better. I was very pleased when I learned that there were two sequels, and read 'What Katy did at school' more than once. 

A couple of years ago I downloaded them, along with this book, and two further sequels which I had not previously heard of, for my Kindle. All were free, as they are long out of copyright. Susan Coolidge lived and wrote at the end of the 19th century.

'What Katy did next' is the third in the series which features the kind and headstrong Katy Carr. In this book, she is a calmer young woman of twenty who runs the Carr household efficiently, and is popular with the entire neighbourhood. She dreams of travelling to Europe, but her father is not wealthy. So it never occurs to her that she might have an opportunity to fulfil her dreams. She is thrilled when a rich neighbour offers to take her there as a companion, and also as extra help with the neighbour's daughter Amy.

Most of the book covers their travels by boat and train, including a brief visit to Katy's dear friend Rose Red who is now married with a delightful smiling baby. Although the book was written as contemporary fiction, it now feels like a lovely piece of social history. Katy retains her strong character and sense of justice - evident in the earlier books - alongside deep compassion and also a great sense of the ridiculous. While the characterisation is generally good, Katy stands out above the rest, possibly because she was somewhat based on the author's own personality.

There's not much plot, and the story is a bit meandering in places with a slightly intrusive author viewpoint here and there. I'm aware that this was the fashion a hundred or more years ago, but it could feel annoying to anyone who was not expecting it. I very much doubt if this would appeal to most of today's teenagers, or indeed many adults who prefer gritter, action-packed sagas. Nonetheless, I very much enjoyed re-visiting this book which I liked so much as a child.

Recommended, but best read after the first two in the series.

Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews, 9th March 2013

What Katy Did at School (by Susan Coolidge)

(Amazon UK link)

I first came across Susan Coolidge when I was six, and read all three of the main 'Katy' books as a child, again as a teen, and probably at least twice as an adult. However I had not read any of them for at least a decade, so decided to get hold of free Kindle versions as they are long out of copyright.

'What Katy Did at School' is the first sequel to 'What Katy Did', which I read just recently. This volume features a year when Katy, aged 16 and now recovered from her long illness, goes to a boarding school for a year with her sister Clover. There they meet the fascinating and rather daring Rose Red, and find themselves involved in various scrapes, not all of which were their fault in any way.

There's very little about the actual education in the school, although presumably it happens. The story is character-based, so there is a great deal about the girls and their various friendships. The author's cultural biases of the era come through rather clearly, seeing flirting with the boys' college next door as being decidedly unladylike, and causing Katy to form a society that considers itself above such things.

There are some mildly amusing parts of this story, but reading it again, my main impression is of what seems like very interesting American social history. The book was first published in 1873, so was contemporary about 140 years ago.

I had forgotten most of the anecdotes and very much enjoyed re-reading this classic on my Kindle. I'm not sure it would appeal to today's teenagers, but older children might like it, and it's certainly worth re-reading by those of us who remember it fondly from our own childhood.

Recommended. It stands alone, but would be better read after 'What Katy Did'.

Note that the Amazon link is to a paperback version of this book; there are many other possible editions available, including free Kindle e-books.

Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews, 29th August 2012

What Katy Did (by Susan Coolidge)

(Amazon UK link)

I first came across Susan Coolidge when I was six, and was given a nice hardback copy of this book as a school prize for something. I probably read it almost immediately, as I was a voracious reader even at that age, and certainly re-read it at least two or three times during my childhood and teenage years.

However, I don't recall the last time I read 'What Katy Did' or the sequels which I bought later in paperback editions. The books have been borrowed many times. It was only about a year ago that I learned about two further sequels to the series, and I was delighted when I learned that, as they're out of copyright, they are freely available for the Kindle. I downloaded them, and the three 'Katy' books too - and decided to read them all in e-book form.

This, the first book in the series, is about 14-year-old Katy Carr and her five younger siblings, who live with their busy doctor father and his rather frazzled and frequently cross sister, Aunt Izzy. Katy is good-hearted but frequently heedless, and hates being told what to do. The family are reasonably well-off, with a few maids and plenty of land, and have a great friend in Cecy, their next-door neighbour, who is involved in most of their games.

The first half of the story lets us into the lives and personalities of the children, particularly Clover, Katy's good-natured helpmate and the rather envious Elsie, who longs to be part of Katy's inner circle. We see Katy getting into mischief at home and at school, and continually wishing to be a better person... but equally being irritated by her aunt, and impatient with Elsie.

Their father's cousin Helen, a life-long invalid, comes to stay and exerts a good influence over the children despite being rather too good to be true. Then, when Katy has a horrible accident, Helen helps her move out of her initial depression and anger. This part of the book is a little cringeworthy; I skimmed some of it, but it wasn't too long. The last part of the book, as I remembered, was very encouraging.

Of course there's a moral to the story, as there was to most children's books of the era. Katy suffers through disobedience (although the author does admit that Aunt Izzy would have done better to explain her dictums) and matures through discipline and suffering. Yet the writing is good enough, and the characters sufficiently lively that it's still a good read and one that I thoroughly enjoyed perusing again.

Recommended as a classic to confident readers of about six and upwards, although probably intended for young teenagers originally.

Note - the Amazon link points to a paperback edition of What Katy Did, but it's long out of copyright and is freely available for the Kindle.

Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews, 12th August 2012