To kill a mockingbird (by Harper Lee)

(Amazon UK link)

I had to read Harper Lee’s classic novel ‘To kill a mockingbird’ when I was a teenager - I guess about fourteen. I don’t think I enjoyed it all that much. But I’m not sure I really understood it. The issues of segregation were completely new to me, in the UK in the 1970s, and I didn’t get why there was so much dialect even amongst the supposedly educated white people. 

I’ve had a copy of this book sitting on our shelves for the past thirty or so years, and kept thinking that maybe I should reread. But I only got around to doing so this week, and the reason is that the recently discovered sequel, ‘Go set a watchman’ is next month’s local reading club choice. I’m not quite sure how a sequel can have been written before the main book which shot the author to fame, but perhaps I’ll find out more when I read it.

In the meantime, I’ve been reading ‘To kill a mockingbird’ over the past few days. I knew, vaguely the story - that a white lawyer in a town in the deep south of the United States was defending a black man, accused of a crime. But I hadn’t remembered any of the details, nor the outcome. And I found it quite a gripping storyline.

Anne of Avonlea (by Lucy Maud Montgomery)

(Amazon UK link)

I reread the classic teenage novel ‘Anne of Green Gables’ by LM Montgomery last month, so a couple of days ago I picked up the first sequel, ‘Anne of Avonlea’. I last read it only a few years ago, but I’d forgotten most of the details. As with the previous book, it’s set in Prince Edward Island in Canada in the early part of the 20th century. 

There’s not a whole lot of plot; this book covers the two-year period when Anne, aged sixteen, is working as a teacher at the Avonlea school. Not just a teacher, but THE teacher - the only one in a class of several ages. It seems incredible to me now, over a hundred years after this was published, that someone so young could have so much responsibility.

But although Anne is quite nervous about it, and full of ideals which won’t necessarily help her, she turns out to be an excellent teacher. Most of the children love her, and she wins their respect by listening to them, explaining things they find difficult, and letting them know that she cares. Only one boy is continually disrespectful, sneering that a ‘girl’ can’t be a teacher…

Anne of Green Gables (by Lucy Maud Montgomery)

(Amazon UK link)

After finishing my re-reading of the ‘Emily’ books by Lucy Maud Montgomery last month, I decided I would reread her better-known series, starting with ‘Anne of Green Gables’.  I was slightly surprised to find that I reread this older children’s/teenage classic as recently as 2018, on my Kindle. But although I remembered the basic outline of the book - one I have read several times over the decades - and most of the characters, I had still forgotten a lot of the detail.

I hadn’t, however, forgotten the wonderfully written first paragraph of the book, describing a brook that twists and turns until it reaches Rachel Lynde’s house. There it runs entirely smoothly; not even a brook could misbehave in front of Mrs Lynde. It’s an excellent example of ‘showing’ rather than ‘telling’ a person’s character, although it could easily be missed: it doesn’t really make a very exciting start to the book, and is probably the longest single sentence I’ve ever come across.

Rachel Lynde isn’t the most important adult in the book. Her friends Matthew and Marilla, a brother and sister in their early sixties, are the real heroes. Marilla works hard to look after her house, Green Gables, while Matthew works on the farm. The story is set in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. He’s a reticent man, but realises he’s getting older and can’t manage on his own. So, after discussion with Marilla, they decide to adopt an 11-year-old orphan boy from an orphanage. In 1925, when this book was published, adoption was evidently a rather more straightforward procedure than it is these days.

The lion, the witch and the wardrobe (by CS Lewis)

(Amazon UK link)

I re-read ‘The magician’s nephew’ just over a month ago. Although it wasn’t written first, it’s the earliest of CS Lewis’s Narnia books, chronologically. It recounts the creation of Narnia, and hints at events to come. I wouldn’t recommend it being read first when introducing children to the series, but as an adult, I always prefer to read that one first. 

And now I’ve just finished the best-known Narnia book, ‘The lion, the witch and the wardrobe’. It’s the one that should be read first when someone is new to the series, either reading to oneself or when reading aloud to a child. I last re-read it in 2010 but I’m very familiar with the story, as I read it many times as a child and teenager. I’ve also seen both the BBC adaptation, and the film made in 2005. 

The story doesn’t give the wartime background that the film does, as it was written in 1950. Children old enough for the book would still have been familiar with the evacuation process, or would be able to ask older siblings or friends. So we see the Pevensie family sent to live with an elderly bachelor professor in the countryside. He has a housekeeper, the rather grumpy Mrs Macready, and three servants although they don’t come into the book. This seems like an excessive staff for one man, but was probably not unreasonable for the era. And it’s a huge house. 

The action starts by the end of the first chapter when the youngest child, Lucy, finds her way through the back of a wardrobe into the snowy land of Narnia. Lewis doesn’t give the children’s ages, but I see her as around eight or nine. Lucy is a friendly, outgoing child and she meets the faun Mr Tumnus. She goes to tea with him and they have a delightful afternoon, ending with him in tears, torn between his orders from the white witch and his observations about Lucy. 

When Lucy returns to the old house, no time has passed, and none of her siblings believe her account. She’s young enough that they think she’s making it up; yet old enough that they feel she should admit to this. She knows she’s telling the truth, and becomes upset. This is only made worse when her brother Edmund, who must be nine or ten, also finds Narnia, but then pretends that they were just playing a game…

While the main story involves all four children discovering Narnia, thrust into a fight between good and evil, I always liked the early part of the book. The children’s characters are clearly established: Peter, as the oldest, is usually the leader. Susan can be a bit fussy, but is very responsible and tries to look after her younger siblings. Edmund is rather self-centred and looks down on Lucy, while trying to make himself look better than he is. And Lucy is a free spirit, with a lot of intuition and courage.

The whole story is allegorical, although loosely so, and it’s entirely possible to read it without any idea of the underlying, deeper meanings. It’s a very good story, told with just the right pace for a child’s attention, and also enjoyable by teenagers and adults. When I first read the books I must have been about five or six; it wasn’t until I was maybe ten or eleven that I had a huge ‘aha!’ moment, and discovered who Aslan the lion represents. I’m still glad that nobody had told me, or tried to ‘explain’ the book to me. 

The book is ideal for children of about seven or eight and upwards, either as a read-aloud or for fluent readers to peruse themselves. I first read it to my sons when they were four and six, and they subsequently read this (and the others in the series) themselves. There’s some violence which could disturb a sensitive child, and the evil witch is quite chilling. But, as with all the best children’s books, good overcomes evil in the end. 

While it’s obviously not necessary to have read ‘The magician’s nephew’ prior to this, I do appreciate the links with it. I know who the professor is, and why he’s so interested in the children’s story. I understand the significance of the lamppost in the forest, and why there are animals who talk. I even understand why the wardrobe is magical. But none of that is relevant when reading for the first time. 

Recommended highly for anyone who has never read this series, or for those who have and would like a light but thought-provoking book to reread. 

Review copyright 2025 Sue's Book Reviews

Northanger Abbey (by Jane Austen)

(Amazon UK link)

It’s twenty-five years since I last read Jane Austen’s ‘Northanger Abbey’. As a teenager it was probably my favourite of her books. It pokes gentle fun at the gothic terror of some popular novels of the era, and has a rather naive (though likeable) heroine. I have twice watched an excellent TV adaptation of this novel, the last time just four years ago, but had forgotten much of the detail of the novel.

So, as I had it on my Kindle, I thought I would read it on a couple of recent coach and train journeys. I knew it was fairly light-hearted, and that it would be easy to put down, even in the middle of a chapter if necessary. 

Catherine is the main protagonist of this book, a 17-year-old girl from a large family, who loves reading. She’s the oldest girl, and sometimes imagines herself as the heroine of a gothic romance. But, as the author tells us in the first chapter, her circumstances don’t really help her. Her parents are content together, and the children are well treated. There are no secrets or mysteries in her life. Nor is there much excitement until their nearest neighbours, Mr and Mrs Allen, offer to take Catherine on a visit to Bath. 

It’s the first time she has travelled, and the first time away from her parents - who are very happy for her to go, and have no worries that she might fall in love inadvisably. And for the first few days, Catherine is rather bored. Mrs Allen talks incessantly, and has no acquaintances at all.  Then two things happen: Mrs Allen meets an old friend, Mrs Thorpe, who has several daughters. Isabella is about Catherine’s age and the two become friendly. The other thing is that a young man, Mr Tilney, invites her to dance. She likes him very much; in their conversation he appears to be a kindred spirit. But then he goes away…

Isabella already knows Catherine’s older brother James, who is in love with her. And Isabella’s rather dull brother John decides that he will pursue Catherine. He is self-centred and not insightful, while she is entirely innocent about romantic relationships outside novels. So their conversations have plenty of misunderstandings. 

I had remembered the outline of the story, but part of the beauty of Jane Asten’s writing is the irony and satire which she shows in conversation and action. Her ‘bad’ people are not all evil.  John Thorpe is a caricatured egocentric bore, and yet there’s nothing obviously ‘bad’ about him. Isabella is frivolous and materialistic, but seems shallow rather than being deliberately manipulative. And some of her nice people - like Mrs Allen - are annoyingly verbose and repetitive. 

I thoroughly enjoyed re-reading this novel. Of course it’s all set amongst the upper middle classes of society, those with money (even if not great riches), and used to having servants. It ignores the terrible poverty and scourge of disease of the era, and won’t appeal to those who prefer a rather grittier reality. It doesn’t appeal to everyone, but I like this kind of gentle satire. I found myself smiling several times at descriptions and conversations, rooting for Catherine when she seems to be ignored or rejected. 

'Northanger Abbey' was written as contemporary fiction around 1800, presumably based on Austen’s own life and observations. As such it is a fascinating account of social history amongst her class. It’s also a delightful satire of the gothic novels that were popular, and a sometimes moving account of a girl’s learning about society, and beginning to mature. 

Recommended. Widely available inexpensively in paperback form, or free from Project Gutenberg online or as an ebook. 

Review copyright 2024 Sue's Book Reviews

A Little Princess (by Frances Hodgson Burnett)

(Amazon UK link)

As a child, I had a short book called ‘Sara Crewe’, which I read regularly. It wasn’t until I was in my teens that I learned that the author, Frances Hodgson Burnett, had written a much longer novel called ‘A Little Princess’. I read it then, and don’t recall if I read it again as a young adult. The last time I know I read it was in 2004. 

Since I had a version of this book on my Kindle, and like re-reading children’s classics from time to time, I decided to read ‘A Little Princess’ again over the past few days.  It was first published in 1905 and is set in Victorian England. 

The general story, unsurprisingly, was familiar to me. The wealthy Captain Crewe works in India as a businessman. His wife died some years earlier, but his young daughter Sara has been his constant companion. She’s seven, and quite mature for her years,  having lived so much in adult company. 

But the climate of India was considered dangerous for children. So with much reluctance, Captain Crewe enrols his daughter in a boarding school for girls in London. He orders every extravagance, including a French maid, even though neither he nor Sara much like Miss Minchin, the headmistress. Their parting is poignant, but Sara is quite self-contained and doesn’t allow herself to cry.

Sara is also generous and altruistic, and quickly makes friends with some unlikely people. Her first friend is Ermengarde, a slow and overweight girl who has been spurned by the other girls. Then Sara befriends Becky the scullery maid who has to do all the hardest menial work, with almost no pay and only small amounts of food. She also becomes close to a younger girl called Lottie who cries a lot. 

All goes well, on the whole, for a few years. Sara and her father correspond regularly, and she is a good student who learns quickly and is happy to help others, such as Ermengarde. Sara has a gift for story-telling, using her imagination and verbal skills to bring history alive in a way that was not common in the early 20th century. She is also fluent in French, as  her mother had been French. 

Some of the older girls dislike her, jealous of her wealth and favoured position. Yet Sara is not spoilt despite all the possessions lavished upon her. She responds to jealousy or unpleasant comments from others with a dignity and generosity that is often difficult for her. She tries to live as if she were a princess with the responsibility of being kind, avoiding angry or spiteful remarks. 

Then, on Sara’s 11th birthday, disaster happens out of the blue. It would be a spoiler to say much more. But for the next section of the book she is reduced to the level of a serving maid, despised by the other students, treated appallingly by Miss Minchin. Her internal poise and gentleness are severely challenged, but even in her straitened circumstances she manages, on the whole, to exercise her imagination. She thinks of herself as an imprisoned or exiled princess and does what she can to help others, even when she has so little herself.

It’s a children’s book, so there’s a little of what Sara calls ‘magic’, in the sense of serendipity or circumstances conspiring to make things better. Not that it happens quickly. There are some quite traumatic situations described; not gratuitously, but also not leaving out the cold and dirt of London in winter, or the hunger felt by those with little or no food. 

Despite knowing that things were mostly going to turn out well, I found the last section of the book compulsive reading. The writing is excellent, in my view; typical of the era, with some authorial input, but bringing the young characters to life in such a way that I had tears in my eyes during most of the last chapter.

Although Sara is seven at the start of the book, I wouldn’t recommend this to children of less than about nine or ten. Some of the situations described could be quite disturbing to a younger or sensitive child. Apparently there were several films made of this book, most of which bore little resemblance to the novel. I’m fairly sure I saw one of them at some point, and it rather sanitised Sara’s life, as well as giving an extra (unlikely) happy circumstance at the end.  

I understand, after reading about them, that the only film adaptation that is true to the story is a BBC mini-series made in 1973, which, unfortunately, is not available on DVD. 

Frances Hodgson Burnett is best known for ‘The Secret Garden’, but my favourite of her novels for children is ‘A Little Princess’.

Review copyright 2024 Sue's Book Reviews

Peter Pan (by JM Barrie)

(Amazon UK link)

I was staying with my son and his family, and my 7-year-old granddaughter asked me if I would read the book ‘Peter Pan’ to her. She had seen parts of one of the films, and had heard some of the story (probably abridged) in an audio book. There was a very nice hardback edition on the shelf, so I agreed. I had no memory of ever having read the book, although parts of it are well-known and I had a rough idea of the story. 

It was written over 100 years ago so inevitably the language is dated; that wasn’t a problem, since my granddaughter is an avid reader herself, and I was able to explain words she didn’t understand. But as I read, I became increasingly disturbed by the content.  

We first meet the Darling family: two parents, living in London, with their three children: Wendy, John and Michael. Apparently Mr Darling was worried that he might not be able to afford to have children so there was a section where Mrs Darling (we never learn their first names) had to persuade him that they could keep Wendy. They don’t say what the alternative is: whether to put her up for adoption or send her into care (or the ‘workhouse’, as was a possibility in the early 20th century). But it’s a very odd concept to have in a children’s book. 

Yet there are parts that obviously are intended for children, such as the required nurse (as all middle class families had in those days) being a large dog known as Nana. Nana is an excellent nurse, looking after and protecting the children, and even getting them in and out of bed. And there’s the idea of ‘Neverland’, a kind of dream place that is different for each child, which they believe in when young but gradually lose as they grow older. 

But the first chapter or two focuses more on the parents than the children, and we learn of their devastation when, suddenly, all three have vanished. They don’t seem to have reported this to the police; they are heartbroken, but keep the windows open in case they come back again. As a parent and grandparent I thought this quite distressing; my granddaughter also thought it was very sad, although she told me that she thought the children would return. 

Peter Pan in the book is nothing like the elvish, mischievous Disney creation. He’s an ordinary boy who is selfish and manipulative: his mischief is not for fun, but to annoy or deceive people. His comments about mothers are bizarre - all the more so when the author inserts his own commentary. People look up to him because he loves rescuing them, but it appears to be so he looks good and people applaud him rather than because he has any empathy. 

Peter Pan has not grown up because he lives in 'Neverland', where people's ages don't change, but it's not at all clear how old he is. Other film productions of this have used boys who are young teenagers, but Peter, as we're told more than once, still has his first teeth - which suggests he can't be more than about eight or nine. However Wendy is supposed to be around the same age, and she clearly has the beginnings of a romantic interest in him, and it's stated that he is around the same age as she is. 

As for Tinkerbell, the fairy, she’s spiteful, jealous and possessive. Then she makes a huge sacrifice on behalf of Peter, and there’s a strange section (another that has become common knowledge) about children believing in fairies and how she can survive if enough children clap. 

The book is very sexist, typical of the era, and somewhat racist too, but most worrying was the indiscriminate violence. We learn, almost casually, that the evil Captain Hook lost his hand when Peter cut it off and fed it to a crocodile. Neverland is a place of almost constant fighting and danger, and Peter appears to like it that way.

By the time I had read about six or seven chapters, omitting a few sentences here and there, my granddaughter agreed with me that it really wasn’t a nice book and she didn’t want to hear any more. However, I was intrigued to know if it got better so I downloaded a very inexpensive version for my Kindle, and finished reading it when I got home. 

It really didn’t get any better. There’s a lot of violence, some quite serious threats of danger, and rampant killings with no compunction towards the end. Yet we also get insights into Hook's character based on reminiscences of his time at Eton. 

Yes, there’s a happy conclusion where the children (and the ‘lost’ boys) fly back to London, and Peter has a moment of understanding that allows him to let go. But I really don’t think this book with its original text is at all suitable for young children, certainly not those who are sensitive. And I didn't much enjoy it as an adult, either. Still, it's considered a classic and many people love the story, so don't necessarily take my word for it. 

  Review copyright 2024 Sue's Book Reviews

Persuasion (by Jane Austen)

(Amazon UK link)

It's been a while since I read any books by Jane Austen, and not far off two decades since I last read ‘Persuasion’. But it was chosen for this month’s local book group, after a request for a classic novel, and I read it on my Kindle.

I knew the story, more-or-less, helped by having seen a BBC film production of it in 2019. But as ever, I’d forgotten most of the detail. And, with Jane Austen, there’s a lot of detail! Indeed, I wondered what I had let myself in for as I read the first chapter; it’s long-winded, and really says very little other than that the heroine - Anne Elliot - lost her mother some years ago, has an older sister called Elizabeth and a younger one called Mary, who is married. She also has an extremely snobbish father.

The writer in me is impressed by the way Austen ‘shows’ rather than ‘telling’. It’s typical of her era (she wrote the book in 1815-1816) that her descriptions give not just a vague idea of what a character looks like, but shows them in a typical attitude. In this case. Anne’s father is perusing his favourite book, one that lists all the aristocracy, of which he is (in his mind, anyway) a significant member.

On the other hand, it’s very wordy… coming to the book after such a long period (and after having seen the films more recently) I did wonder just what I was getting into and whether I would manage to wade through in time for the meeting. However, I gradually became caught up in the story, so that the wordiness was no longer distracting.

Anne is a likeable heroine; she’s kind, unassuming, and - which gives the book its title - very persuadable. We soon learn that she broke an engagement eight years earlier to a young naval officer, Frederick Wentworth. Her father and sister didn’t approve, and her close friend Lady Russell also felt the match was unsuitable. Anne hasn’t forgotten him, and has not found anyone she likes nearly as much. So it’s a bit of a shock when she learns that he’s to be in the neighbourhood…

Much of the book is set in Bath, where Anne’s father and sister have gone for a while, to aid their dwindling finances. Anne herself stays with her sister Mary for a couple of months; Mary is married to a nice young man and has two children whom she finds very difficult; but Mary is both garrulous and a complainer, though essentially good-hearted. We see Anne in her role as aunt, as confidante, as someone whom everyone likes but who is often unnoticed.

There’s a large cast of characters, which I found a tad confusing at times. It’s not helped that three of the young men who feature are called Charles. But it didn’t matter too much; I followed Anne’s story, I felt for her confusion, embarrassment and growing rekindling of love, and I appreciated the gentle satire of many of the other characters.

Not my favourite Austen, but I was very glad to have the motivation to re-read ‘Persuasion’; recommended if you like this style of writing. It's widely available in paperback form, and for the Kindle. I downloaded the version I read free from Project Gutenberg.

Review copyright 2022 Sue's Book Reviews

Sense and Sensibility (by Jane Austen)

(Amazon UK link)

It's a while since I've read any Jane Austen. Her classic character-based books are quite long-winded, not something to be read quickly. I have downloaded copies of them all onto my Kindle as well as having print editions. Since they're long out of print they are freely available at Project Gutenberg, and make a nice addition to my Kindle collection.

I last read 'Sense and Sensibility' in 2003, so decided it would be a good book to read while travelling, and staying with our family on a ship. I keep my Kindle in my bag, and it's ideal to pull out to read for odd moments when I'm not doing anything else. I knew the overview of the story. I remembered that there weren't too many characters, and it would be easy to pick up or put away at a moment's notice.

Sense and Sensibility features the Dashwood sisters Elinor and Marianne. The have a younger sister too, but her part in the book is so minimal that I'm not sure why she's there. Their widowed mother cares for them all deeply and is a likable, sensible woman, entirely unlike the better-known Mrs Bennett of Pride and Prejudice.

As the book opens, the family is staying with the girls' half-brother John. He likes them all well enough, but he has a selfish and manipulative wife called Fanny. There's some satirical - and rather sad - humour early in the book, typical of Jane Austen, as John debates what exactly his father meant when, on his deathbed, he asks his only son to look after his sisters. The conversation is almost reminiscent of that between God and Abraham towards the end of Genesis 18, in an entirely different context.

After some months, the Dashwood women are offered a cottage by a distant relative, and decide to move there. But before that happens, Elinor, the 'sensible' sister, has formed a deep friendship with Fanny's brother Edward, and has started to fall in love with him. Elinor is prudent and wise; she's artistically inclined, and also self-controlled in her outlook. Austen cleverly shows these traits in her actions and conversations, and I built up quite a nice image of a kind and responsible eldest daughter. While minor characters are caricatured, Elinor is, to me, very believable.

Marianne, by contrast, is full of what the author calls 'sensibility'. She's extremely emotional, and lets everyone know what she's feeling. She veers between wild delight and the depths of misery, and is inclined to take things personally. She, too, is a well-drawn character, if possibly a tad exaggerated. She is determined that a first love lasts forever, and that older people - by which she means anyone of about thirty and above - are incapable of any strong passions, or indeed of feeling anything much.

The characterisation is wonderful, in my view, and the conversations beautifully done. There's a lot of satire and irony, much that is obvious to the reader while not being spelled out, or understood by the characters. I love the way that Jane Austen managed to show how ridiculous some of her creations are, and what they're thinking, based on their behaviour and dialogue.

Inevitably, given the era, there's a lot of class consciousness, where breeding and elegance are considered (by some) to be more important than kindness and generosity. We also become aware of Elinor's inherent good manners which enable her to treat others with respect and friendliness even when they annoy her. Marianne's sensibility is mostly inward looking, or expressed to her family, but can make her take others in dislike and behave, if not deliberately rudely, with abruptness, or by avoiding them entirely.

As the book progresses, the two sisters' romantic lives follow remarkably similar patterns, so the contrast is clearly shown between their vastly different reactions. Towards the end, each learns a little of her sister's way of dealing with emotions and life in general, and becomes better-balanced as a result.

Definitely recommended to teenagers and adults who like this kind of slow-moving character-based women's fiction. The link above is to a print edition but as it's long out of copyright, it's easily available free in ebook form, or inexpensively from charity shops.

Review copyright 2018 Sue's Book Reviews

Anne of Green Gables (by L M Montgomery)

(Amazon UK link)

I wanted something light and undemanding for a lengthy flight, and odd moments waiting at the airport. Scrolling through my Kindle, I realised I had several of the classic teenage fiction books by LM Montgomery, including most of the 'Anne' series. I downloaded most of them free from Project Gutenberg. 

It's many years since I read any of those, so I decided to read the first of them, which is probably the best known, 'Anne of Green Gables'. This was made into a film some years ago; more recently, I gather, a TV series was made based on the characters in the book.

I last read ‘Anne of Green Gables’ in 2003. While I recalled the general outline of the novel, I had forgotten most of the detail. So I very much appreciated getting to know the crusty, house-proud Marilla and her shy brother Matthew again. When we meet them, they are hoping to adopt an orphan boy of about eleven to help Matthew in his farm work. Matthew is sixty and beginning to feel his age; he's had some trouble with his heart, and is not supposed to do any heavy work.

We also meet the warm-hearted but strongly opinionated Rachel Lynde, their nearest neighbour, who likes to keep an eye on everyone she sees. The opening sentence of the book, which takes up almost an entire page, is a delight in its gentle wry humour, explaining that even the rambling brook has to straighten out when it goes near Mrs Lynde.

Matthew sets out in his horse and buggy to the station, to meet the orphan boy, but when he arrives he finds a girl: the red-headed Anne. He can't leave her alone, so he collects her but doesn't dare mention that he wanted a boy. Anne chats to him the entire way home, artlessly and cheerfully, appreciating everything she sees around her, exercising her imagination in myriad ways, and expressing utter delight that she is to be adopted, and to live in such a beautiful place....

It's no spoiler to say that despite Marilla's reservations, they decide to keep Anne, and that she brings sunshine and happiness to their lives over the next few years. Anne makes some close friends and also a sworn enemy when one of the boys in her class insults her hair. Each chapter is an incident in itself, demonstrating Anne's imagination and often careless ways, as she gets distracted, or forgets what she was supposed to be doing. She has quite a knack of getting into trouble, mostly through no real fault of her own.

I had, of course, recalled the dramatic climax to the book in the penultimate chapter. But I had forgotten the very moving sections that follow. It’s a book with a lot of emotion; as we see Anne’s maturing, and her effect on so many other people in the neighbourhood. Her careless, accident-prone nature and tendency to hold grudges ensure that she is not a ‘too good to be true’ heroine, but a sensitive, imaginative flesh-and-blood girl.

I loved the book as much as I did when I first read it. It was intended for young teenagers, but could be enjoyed by fluent readers of about eight or nine and older, as well as adults looking for a bit of nostalgia. It makes a great read-aloud too for those wanting to introduce their children to some of the classics.

Highly recommended. Though long out of copyright (and thus available free in e-book form) 'Anne of Green Gables' remains constantly in print in paperback, in many different versions. It's often found second-hand too.

Review copyright 2018 Sue's Book Reviews

Eight Cousins (by Louisa M Alcott)

(Amazon UK link)

Having recently re-read Louisa M Alcott’s classic series that begins with ‘Little Women’, I decided to re-read some of her other books too. I last read ‘Eight Cousins’ shortly after I acquired it back in 2009, and that was the first time in probably thirty years. I vaguely remembered that it was about a girl called Rose who had seven male cousins, but nothing much else.

As with others by this author, the book was written as contemporary fiction in the late 19th century. It’s set in small town USA, somewhere near a beach but the exact location doesn’t much matter. We meet Rose, aged thirteen and recently orphaned, after an experimental period living with her two great aunts who have the unlikely sounding names of Peace and Plenty. She has been away at school but didn’t like it at all.

What’s slightly mystifying is that she has not yet met her seven cousins, and is convinced she doesn’t like boys at all. Yet once she has met them, and decided they’re not so bad after all, she spends almost all her time with one or more of them as they all live nearby. In addition to the great aunts, Rose has four aunts. Jessie is her favourite; her husband is at sea, and she has four sons: Archie, who is sixteen, and three younger boys.

Then there’s Aunt Jane, who is quite strict although married to the friendly Uncle Mac. They have two sons: the bookworm, another Mac, and the dandy Steve. Aunt Clara is keen on fashion, and has one son, Charlie. Then there’s Myra, who is convinced Rose (and everyone else) is fading away, and wants them to take pills and potions and lie indoors. Myra is widowed and lost her only daughter some years ago.

All the aunts have different ideas about what should happen to Rose, and how she should be brought up. But she has been left to the guardianship of Alec, her late father’s brother. Rose meets Alec for the first time shortly after the book begins, and he proposes a year’s ‘experiment’ whereby he encourages her towards outdoor pursuits, nourishing food (without any of Myra’s medications) and a low-key relaxed (if formal, at times) education at home.

It’s clear that the author is on her hobby-horse with this book, which would have been quite radical in its day. Alec, who is a doctor, is very outspoken against some of the fads of the era, particularly corsets. And, naturally enough, Rose benefits strongly from his advice.

Each chapter outlines a different incident in Rose’s life, mostly involving her cousins, although she also befriends Phebe, the kitchen maid. The author is also quite outspoken against the injustices of poverty, and Phebe’s lack of education; while still seeing quite a distinct difference between the gentry and servant classes. Even then a moral is drawn as Phebe is thankful for all she has, while Rose tends to get bored, and complains about what she doesn’t have.

There’s a great deal of inherent sexism too, alongside the author’s attempts to show that Rose is every bit as intelligent and courageous as the boys, if not more so at times. We see her making a big sacrifice in one chapter, and several small ones when her cousins fall into scrapes, or are sick in any way. We also see her gentle influence on her cousins and the households where she lives or stays. Rose is almost too good to be true, but is so full of genuine doubts and questions, and so loving that she is quite an endearing character.

Inevitably the style of writing is old-fashioned, along with some of the principles and values; yet it remains an enjoyable book, interesting from the social history point of view, and in better understanding the attitudes of the times. The aunts are all slightly charactured, other than Jessie, but that doesn’t matter; despite their foibles, each one has her endearing side, and they all genuinely care about Rose.

Originally written for teenagers, this would probably appeal to children (mostly girls) over the age of about eight or nine who are fluently reading. It would make a good bedtime read-aloud book too, as each chapter is complete in itself. Many teens would find it too date or moralistic, but there are some good principles involved, and I love the way that family ties and loyalties are seen as supreme. I skimmed a few descriptive sections here and there, but on the whole liked it very much. There were one or two places which I found very moving.

There’s not all that much story; it’s mostly incidents over the course of Alec’s experimental year, but Louisa M Alcott does that kind of thing well, and I’d recommend it to anyone who likes her style of writing, or books of this era.

Regularly republished in paperback, often found second-hand, and available in Kindle and other e-book form too.

Review copyright 2018 Sue's Book Reviews

Little Lord Fauntleroy (by Frances Hodgson Burnett)

(Amazon UK link)

Browsing through my Kindle, looking for something light but enjoyable to read on a flight, I spotted ‘Little Lord Fauntleroy’, one of the children’s books by Frances Hodgson Burnett. She is probably best-known for her classic ‘The Secret Garden’ but I recalled reading and liking this (her first published book) many years ago.

The story is about a boy called Cedric, who lives with his mother in a fairly run-down New York neighbourhood in the late 1800s. His father, who was English, died some years earlier. Cedric is a lovable child, who has a knack of making friends with people of all ages: from the local grocer to a bootblack who struggles to make ends meet.

One day, a lawyer arrives from the UK, explaining that Cedric’s two uncles have also died, without any children, so he has inherited the title of Lord Fauntleroy; one day he will be an earl. The lawyer has been sent by Cedric’s grandfather, who disowned his youngest son when he married an American. He asks that Cedric and his mother move to England, so that Cedric can become accustomed to his title and duties. However, he refuses to see Cedric’s mother, and will install her in a house nearby.

The mother (we never learn her first name) is almost heartbroken, but she knows it’s the right thing to do. So without a word against the grandfather, they bid farewell to their many friends, and the only country Cedric has ever known, and embark on the long voyage to the UK.

The plot is probably well-known: the crusty old grandfather is pleasantly surprised by Cedric’s polite manners, and frank - but well-spoken - dialogue. He never liked his own sons much, but quickly becomes very fond of his young grandson. Much of the book describes their growing relationship, watched with astonishment by the Earl’s servants and the local Vicar.

Inevitably there’s a crisis - one which includes such an enormous coincidence that I found it a tad hard to swallow. But it’s a children’s book, initially serialised in a magazine, and extremely popular with its young readers. It paints a good picture of the contrast between aristocratic homes in England and the poorer parts of New York, but is not in any way anti-American despite the Earl’s sentiments. The author was clearly comfortable in both cultures, and shows well how different the two countries were, even 130 years ago.

Well worth reading for anyone - child or adult - who likes this era of fiction; it would make an excellent read-aloud too, with much to discuss and think about from a social history point of view.

Definitely recommended. I read it in about three hours, and it made an excellent distraction from an otherwise rather boring flight. Free versions are widely available from Amazon or Project Gutenberg, as well as paperback and other Kindle editions.

Review copyright 2017 Sue's Book Reviews

Good Wives (by Louisa M Alcott)

(Amazon UK link)

I re-read Louisa M Alcott’s classic novel ‘Little Women’ about four months ago. So I decided that it was time to re-read the sequel, known in the UK as ‘Good Wives’. She apparently wrote it in response to a huge demand from her readers to find out what happened to Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March, the four girls in her original story. In the US it is still considered to be part two of ‘Little Women’.

The book opens with quite a lengthy introduction, which I had completely forgotten about. Perhaps I read an abridged version last time, although as it’s sixteen years since I last read this book, my memory is vague. I had, of course, recalled the main points of the story but few of the details. The introduction takes us through a three-year period, telling us what has happened to each of the girls and some of the other important characters.

We are then taken directly into Meg’s wedding to John Brooke. This is evidently considered the first ‘interesting’ thing that happens since the announcement of their engagement at the end of ‘Little Women’. The wedding is simple, with family and close friends present. We then hear nothing more of Meg and John until a few chapters later, when we see the first tensions arising in their domestic bliss.

Meanwhile Amy, the youngest in the family, attempts to develop different artistic skills. She joins a class, where she finds it hard to make friends, and then decides to host a picnic lunch. This makes an amusing chapter, although I could also feel Amy’s stress and embarrassment when things go wrong. That chapter is followed by a look at Jo, the strongest character in the family, and - based on the author herself - a writer.

There’s not a great deal of plot, as these books are character-based. Each chapter gives an incident in the lives of one or more of the girls, with some humour, some stresses, and one very sad chapter towards the end. Inevitably there’s a fair amount of authorial aside, including some preaching and moralising - but the author evidently expects it to be taken with a large pinch of salt, and even comments, sometimes, on her commentary.

Inevitably a book first published in 1869 - nearly 150 years ago - is in places very dated. Feminists may decry the expectations put upon women of the era, and the idea of a husband being the head of the household. But the girls are surprisingly modern in their outlook, with distinct personalities. None of them, except perhaps Beth, is too good to be true. They all have their faults, and we see them mature and develop over the course of the book. Meg and Amy learn to be less envious of the good fortune of others, for instance, and Jo learns to be less outspoken.

‘Good Wives’ was originally written for teenage girls, but I suspect some modern teens today would find it too slow-moving. They might not have the maturity to appreciate the slow-moving but tender love stories that develop, or appreciate the morals and philosophies expounded.

However, I have always loved these books, and enjoy them just as much in my fifties as I did when I was in my teens. Highly recommended, but it’s best to read ‘Little Women’ first. Regularly re-printed, including some inexpensive and free editions for the Kindle as it is long out of copyright. Widely available second-hand. Make sure you get hold of un-abridged versions, as the shorter ones miss out rather a lot.

Review copyright 2017 Sue's Book Reviews

Pride and Prejudice (by Jane Austen)

(Amazon UK link)

Looking through my Kindle, while travelling, I discovered that I had downloaded free editions of some of Jane Austen’s novels, some years ago. When I checked, I realised that although I have seen both the BBC serial and the 2005 film of this particular book, I had not in fact read it for at least fifteen years, maybe longer.

I first discovered ‘Pride and Prejudice’, as so many do, at secondary school. I liked it then and have re-read it perhaps two or three times over the years; it was clearly due for a re-read. The opening sentence is one of those classics of irony, imputing the materialistic and shallow attitudes of Mrs Bennet to the author. Clearly not all young men possessed of a fortune are in want of a wife, but Mrs Bennet feels that they should be, and, moreover, that one of her girls would fit the bill nicely.

The general storyline is well-known due to the many filmed versions: Mr Bennet is well-meaning and intelligent, and has a sense of humour, but is basically lazy. His wife is materialistic and cares only what other people think; she has no original ideas of her own. They have produced five daughters, the youngest of whom - Lydia - is fifteen when the novel opens, turning sixteen during the course of the story. Jane, the eldest, is in her early twenties.

The five girls are all quite different in character. Jane is kind and beautiful, and cannot think ill of anyone. She’s quite close to Elizabeth, who is twenty at the start of the book, and is by far the most intelligent of the sisters. Lizzy has a sense of humour and a strong sense of honour. The middle daughter, Mary, is accomplished and hard-working, but tends to offer platitudes rather than producing any original thoughts of her own. Moreover, poor Mary lacks any true talent or ability to be charming.

Kitty, the fourth sister, is shallow and easily led; we don’t see much of her in the novel, and she seems somewhat extraneous to the plot, other than her closeness to Lydia, who is like her mother in many ways, but with few scruples and a great deal of envy and conceit.

Into the neighbourhood come Mr Bingley, owner of a large estate, and his friend Mr Darcy, who seems very stand-offish, even rude in his opinions of local society. Bingley is very taken with Jane, and Mrs Bennet is quite convinced that the two will make a match. We then meet Mr Collins, cousin to the Bennets and inheritor (by entail) of their home, since they have no male heirs. Mrs Bennet thinks he should marry Lizzy…

It’s a character-based novel, and the above is merely an initial idea of some of the main players. Austen had quite a gift of portraying personalities and while it’s not laugh-aloud humour, there’s a great deal of satire and places that made me smile; inevitably some of the people are caricatured (I really hope nobody like Mrs Bennet or Mr Collins actually exist!) but that doesn’t matter at all. Jane and Elizabeth are very nicely portrayed and contrasted; one only wonders how their parents managed to produce two such likeable and honourable daughters!

The plot is that of a romantic novel, with misunderstandings, initial prejudices, mistakes made, and a few traumas thrown in. It’s quite long-winded, typical of 19th century writings, and the main problem that occurs towards the end of the book, that shocks the entire neighbourhood, would probably seem unbelievable in today’s much more liberal society.

Nevertheless, much of what’s thought and felt seems quite modern, and since I had the time to ruminate and read in several brief periods, while travelling or at night, I read some of the descriptions which I might otherwise have skimmed or even skipped, and took the conversations slowly so as to hear the voices in my mind. I liked it very much; there’s a great deal more in the book than in any film version, and I’m very glad I had the opportunity to re-read it.

Note that the Amazon link given above is to a paperback versions of this classic novel. But it can often be found inexpensively second-hand, and there are several editions available inexpensively or free for the Kindle.

Review copyright 2016 Sue's Book Reviews

The Thirty-Nine Steps (by John Buchan)

(Amazon UK link)

Although my mother was quite a fan of the early 20th century Scottish writer John Buchan, I had never got around to reading any of his books. I suppose the ‘thriller’ genre put me off; even though I knew his books were considered classics, and not particularly gory, I prefer to read character-based family saga fiction. But after losing my mother a couple of years ago, I picked up this little volume from her shelves, knowing it was one of her favourites and that she dipped into it regularly.

I’ve finally sat down to read ‘The Thirty-Nine Steps’, and what a treat it was! It’s more an adventure story than a thriller, although the ending is quite tense. It was published 100 years ago, so inevitably it’s dated, but that didn’t pose a problem for me. I’ve read and enjoyed Jane Austen and those of her era which are a lot more old fashioned. This is more in the style of PG Wodehouse or Conan Doyle: terse, but fast-paced, and oddly light-hearted.

The book, as is stated in a brief note at the beginning of my edition, was deliberately written as what the author calls a ‘shocker’ - an exciting adventure story where the hero keeps on escaping by the skin of his teeth, rather like the comic strip stories that appeared in weekly magazines. And that’s just what it is. Those who criticise it for being implausible (or just plain silly) have rather missed the point.

And the author does it very well. Richard Hannay is the protagonist, an engineer who has been living in South Africa, who has returned to the UK. He’s been living in London for a while but is utterly bored with the socially active lifestyle he finds himself adopting. He has plenty of money, but nothing to make life more interesting. Then, as he’s about to give up his flat and leave, a stranger arrives on his doorstep with a worrying story about international politics and intrigue, one which means the stranger is in danger of his life…

Hannay gets involved, and over the next few weeks his life is quite the opposite of mundane. He flees to Scotland, both from the British police and from enemies of the country. He takes refuge with a series of unlikely people, dons many disguises, and - as with the kind of stories the author is emulating - manages to escape each scenario by cleverness or luck, before finally returning to London in the hope of sorting everything out. It’s no spoiler to say that he escapes; the story is told in the first person, so we know that he must be alive at the end.

It’s not a character-based story, but by seeing everything through Hannay’s eyes we get to know him quite well. I felt a bit sorry for some of the people he meets, but they’re mostly caricatured. Coincidences abound, but that’s part of the rules of this kind of story. And the writing is good - fast-paced, exciting, with just enough description to set the scene. In many places there are stereotypes and politically incorrect commentary, but that’s par for the course with this era and style of writing.

‘The Thirty-Nine Steps’ is just over 100 pages long so I read it in a few hours. The final chapters, which are more about politics, went a little over my head, but that didn’t matter at all. The ending is rather abrupt; I’d have preferred a bit more detail, but the final paragraph slotted extremely well into the realities of world history.

This isn’t a thriller in the modern sense of the word, but it’s one of the earliest of the genre, and may have inspired more recent novels on similar themes. It has to be taken with a very large pinch of salt, but still, I would recommend it to anyone interested in literature from this era, teenager or adult.

Continually in print in many versions, including ebooks (although it’s worth checking reviews first; some, apparently, have been quite poorly formatted). This novel has also been made into various films.

Review copyright 2015 Sue's Book Reviews

Cranford (by Elizabeth Gaskell)

(Amazon UK link)

Although I had, of course, heard of Elizabeth Gaskell ("Mrs Gaskell") as a classic 19th century writer, I had not read any of her books. Possibly I would never have done so, but for the BBC television series Cranford based on the book, of which we saw some episodes. I was intrigued, so when I spotted this available free for my Kindle, I downloaded it.

'Cranford' is a character-based novel set in the fictional town of the same name. First published in the middle of the 19th century, this is inevitably rather dated and rambling - yet surprisingly readable. Having said that, I felt rather as if I waded through the first couple of chapters on my Kindle, wondering when it was going to get to the point, or at least begin the story.

It opens with a lengthy description of the fictional town of Cranford, ruled by middle-class and upper-middle class ladies. While there was gentle irony in much of the description, I found myself drifting off at times. The disadvantage of reading on the Kindle is that it's difficult to flick through to see whether the style changes!

However, I persevered, and gradually the story gets going. The narrator - Mary Smith - does not live in Cranford but makes regular and lengthy visits there, usually staying with the delightfully vague Miss Matty and her sister. When there, she takes part in the everyday life of her friends: paying calls, discussing local events, playing card games. In that sense, it's a lovely piece of social history, giving glimpses - albeit caricatured - into life in this era, in this kind of small town. I could quite see why it was made into a TV series and also why it was so popular in that format.

There isn't a huge amount of plot in the book; people come and go, and rather a large number die (not untypical of the time). I didn't find myself empathising with anyone in particular, or moved - but I did smile a few times, and after the first few chapters, looked forward to finding out what might happen next. I was pleased that there was an encouraging, if rather coincidental ending.

I'm not strongly inclined to get hold of the sequels, but I enjoyed this as a bit of gentle historical fiction and am glad I read it.

Note that the above link is to  a paperback versions of 'Cranford', which is still regularly republished. Kindle versions are either free or inexpensive, and there are many other independently printed versions as this is long out of copyright. 

Review copyright 2014 Sue's Book Reviews

The great Gatsby (by F Scott Fitzgerald)

(Amazon UK link)

The author F Scott Fitzgerald is considered by many to be one of the best American writers of the 20th century. I had not, as far as I recall, read any of his books. So when I saw his best-known classic available free for the Kindle, I downloaded it, even though I expect we have a paperback edition somewhere.

'The great Gatsby' is a classic, set mostly in Long Island in the US around the turn of the 20th century. It's narrated by a young man called Nick who lives in modest circumstances next-door to the fabulously wealthy Jay Gatsby. Large and noisy parties are held regularly in Gatsby's home, but he isn't really close to anyone until he befriends Nick.

The author tells a reasonable story which I assume was realistic for the era. The characters all seem shallow and two-dimensional, only interested in money, cars and affairs. Perhaps this was intended, so as to show the shallowness of the era... but it didn't make for a terribly interesting book, in my view. Still, I read it over about ten days while eating breakfast, and it was quite readable, even if I could not bring myself to care about any of the people.

I would not personally recommend 'The great Gatsby' - but many readers love it. It's not a long book and I suppose it's worth reading as a bit of unusual social history. It's also interesting to learn that dubious morals and people's expectations really have not changed much in the past hundred years.

I don't suppose I will read it again. But then, I'm not really a fan of Dickens, either.

Note that the Amazon link is to a paperback editions of this classic, rather than the free Kindle version which can be downloaded on both sides of the Atlantic.

Review copyright 2014 Sue's Book Reviews

The adventures of Sherlock Holmes (by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

(Amazon UK link)

I was about ten when I first came across Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s books. Staying with a relative, I was hunting for some reading matter, and thought the Sherlock Holmes books sounded interesting. As, indeed, they were.

I know that one of the books I read around that time was ‘The adventures of Sherlock Holmes’, the first of the volumes of short stories. I know that because I also remember being utterly terrified by one of them - ‘The speckled band’ - and developed a rather irrational fear of hanging light switches as a result.

I’m pretty sure I re-read this book perhaps fifteen years ago (with the exception of ‘The speckled band’!), and then when I spotted it free for the Kindle, I downloaded it some time ago. I was inspired to read it while we were visiting family, and introduced to the recent British TV series 'Sherlock'
based on the famous detective. 

This time, I read the whole book including the chapter that frightened me. I was relieved to discover that from an adult perspective it really wasn’t as bad (or indeed as worrying) as I had found it at then. While Holmes’ habits of heavy smoking and opium use seem shocking today, they were apparently far more acceptable over a hundred years ago.

The fictional character of Sherlock Holmes is famous throughout the world for his incredible observation and brilliant deductions. His job was that of a freelance private detective, and the stories in this book provide a range of different backgrounds, people and crimes or other puzzling circumstances to be solved. The books were written as contemporary stories shortly before the end of the 19th century, but the language used is still quite accessible, and the plots, while rather far-fetched, make very interesting reading.

The twelve short stories in this book, narrated by Holmes’ friend and companion Dr Watson, are supposedly a kind of casebook of some of his more interesting cases. We get the idea that Holmes usually solved everyday problems that didn’t require much ingenuity; but he revelled in problems where the solution was not obvious. We meet him in this volume saving lives, donning fantastic disguises, rescuing people from horrible dooms, and finding jewels. I remembered the outlines of some of the plots, but it didn’t detract at all from my enjoyment at re-reading them.

I don’t know if many of today’s ten-year-olds would find the somewhat rambling style all that interesting, but for eclectic readers, and those who enjoy classics, this is a very readable and enjoyable volume. Probably more appropriate for teens and adults, and unlikely to be of interest to children less than the age of ten - although anyone watching the modernised versions of the stories may be interested in learning about the originals.

So, in general, I would recommend this. The Amazon link is to a paperback version of this, but it can often be found second-hand, and since it’s long out of copyright, it can be found (along with Conan Doyle’s other volumes) free for the Kindle on both sides of the Atlantic.

Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews 16th November 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