Welcome to our wrap-up for The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery.
Past discussions:
Week One, Chapters 1-8
Week One, Chapters 1-8
Week Four, Chapters 25-32
Week Five, Chapters 33-45
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Pop Culture:
I don't think there's a movie adaptation, although I'd love to know if you know of one. According to Wikipedia, there was a 1996 musical adapted from the book. Has anyone see the musical?
So what I'm going to talk about in this section is mostly popular culture about the author, Lucy Maud Montgomery.
First up, there's an ongoing podcast called Story Girl that is going through Montgomery's life. Nicole talked about it in the comments early on. It's sort of interesting, but I feel like I wanted the authors to use more sources than just Montgomery's letters and journals because she wrote those for an audience. She knew they'd be read and wrote them with a certain perspective in mind.
I also thought it was sort of gross that her granddaughter admitted that she released the note written by Montgomery's death bed as a way to increase interest in the 100th anniversary of Montgomery's death. I mean...
Sarah sent me a link to a story about how the star of the successful Anne of Green Gables miniseries Megan Follows is going to play Montgomery in an upcoming series based on the author's life.
Is anyone listening to Story Girl? Will you be watching the Follows series?
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TBC Questions to Ponder:
1) What's you rating for this book? I gave it 4/5 stars. I didn't love it as much as some of you did. I was annoyed with Valancy for being a door mat and not seeming to learn any lessons. But, you know, sometimes a light diversion in the middle of the collapse of democracy is a good thing.
2) Do you have a blue castle of your own, somewhere you escape to in your mind? What is it?
3) If there was ever a film adaptation of "The Blue Castle," who would your dream cast be?
4) What did you like about Montgomery's writing style? Was there anything you didn't like?
5) If you had to have dinner with three members of Valancy's family who would it be and why?
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Most Iconic Line Poll:
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CBBC Questions to Ponder:
1) Last year I ran another CBBC in August that wrapped up in the beginning of September. That turned out to be terrible timing for me personally. Would anyone be upset if I moved the schedule to start mid-September and run through October in the fall? Please discuss the pros and cons.
2) I have been keeping a list of books folks have suggested for future CBBC reads, but I'm always open to more if you have any ideas. Drop your suggestions in the comments!
I voted for "other" but the thirty seconds quote would be another favorite. I liked this book a lot. It inspired me to go read Emily of Blue Moon series, annd I hav e to say I prefer The Blue Castle. Brisk pacing, funny and poignant. There's a limit to how much rhapsodixing about nature I can take. ( and she wound up with the wrong guy!!).
ReplyDeleteBut...what is the other quote? I need to know!!
DeleteI am listening to Story Girl - of course! - and I am really enjoying it a lot.
ReplyDeleteI gave The Blue Castle a 3.5, I like it but there are many Montgomery books that I enjoy much more. I can tell that I felt similarly as a young person because I didn't reread it in the same way I reread other Montgomery books (notably Emily Climbs, Emily's Quest, Jane of Lantern Hill, Anne's House of Dreams).
Dinner with Valancy's family sounds TERRIBLE but it might be entertaining!
Thanks again for doing this, Engie, it's a lot of fun. I will participate whenever you run it however I can.
I think dinner would be SO MUCH FUN. Think of all the baiting you could do. I would have a blast, I think. Poor Olive wouldn't know what hit her. Although it does seem a little mean to punch down like that, maybe.
DeleteFirst of all, any time that's good for you is good for me, for CBBC. I know it's a lot of work for you, and I appreciate it. I don't have any book recommendations, but I'll be interested to see what's on your list.
ReplyDeleteI would give this book... 4.5/5? I REALLY liked it. I think the ending was a little too much- i would have been fine if Valancey discovered she wasn't going to die, that Barney was actually the author of her favorite books (I'm blanking on the name right now- John Foster?) and she and Barney fell in love for real. I didn't need the part with Barney's father, and them becoming rich and leaving to travel around the world. But- it also didn't ruin it for me. I guess what I'm saying is, I would have liked a more nuanced ending, but maybe LM isn't that kind of author. This was the first book I've read of hers, so I'll have to read more.
And... someone made a musical out of this? That's kind of weird! I've never seen or heard of it.
You've never read Anne of Green Gables? I'd love to know how an adult feels about that book on a first read. You're like a cool social science experiment for me.
DeleteCan you imagine the musical? Lots of trilling about trees and moonlight? LOL.
I rate books based on how they make me feel, and Blue Castle was a three-cat-heart-eyes (my highest rating).
ReplyDeleteHeck yeah I will watch the Megan Follows movie!
I liked Story Girl, though I ended up bailing on the most recent episode, which was listener reactions. I was there for more deets on Montgomery, not everyone's memories of when they read Anne of Green Gables.
No problem with moving CBBC to Sept/Oct - I will be delighted to read any time. I think that the end of summer/start of the school year is a bit tough for folks with younger kids, so I have to think that it's going to be a pro for most folks.
I also bailed on the most recent Story Girl ep, Birchie. I bailed during the first phone call when I audible found myself saying "I don't care about this person." LOL. I am mean, I guess.
DeleteI would give the book a 3/4 rating. I have been listening to Story Girl which I have found interesting as I don't know much about Montgomery's life. Apparently a movie is in the works with an independent production company called Cinegryphon Entertainment. Here's an article from 2022: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/lucy-maud-montgomery-the-blue-castle-movie-adaptation-1235140653/
ReplyDeleteI am fine with the next CBBC moving to Sept/Oct. As for dinner with Valancy's family - I'd go hungry!
Thanks for another fun CBBC, Engie!
Jacquie!! Switching to a four star system! You're a real rebel!!
DeleteI can't believe all of you are saying you don't want to have dinner with Valancy's family. It would be SO MUCH FUN.
I'd rate this book a 4/5 simply because it was good fun and made me laugh. The writing was very wink-wink, tongue-in-cheek, and the characterizations were excellent. It piled a lot on at the end, however, and the railroad scene was almost like a Dudley-Do-right/Nell situation--kind of cartoonish. (Did you know that Dudley Do-Right was based upon a silent film hero O'Malley of the Mounties?)
ReplyDeleteIf moving book club to another time helps you, then do it!
It's difficult to imagine a musical being made of this book. Then again, I'm not a fan of musicals in general, unless you count the 1964 kid's special "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" made in stop motion animation. That one is a classic and I can't believe how awful all the adults are in it.
I don't know who Dudley Do-Right or O'Malley of the Mounties is, Nance. I felt like I was some sort of pop culture idiot reading that first paragraph. I thought the railroad scene was so funny and I don't think I was supposed to. Is that the slapstick/silent movie sort of vibe, maybe?
DeleteI think musicals are funny, but I don't watch a lot of them. I just am amazed at how talented people are that they can sing AND dance at the same time. I can't do either!
I gave the book 5 stars. I totally see your critiques of the book, though. But I love seeing Valancy put her judgy family in it's place. And I was envious of that period of time when she gave 0 f's and said exactly what she thought without fear of the consequences. I guess it's kind of how my grandma was as she got older and older... In her final email to me before she passed away, she said I seemed quite busy between being a wife, a mother, and having a career and that perhaps it was time to let go of one of those 3 things? Phil and I got a good laugh about that and were like - 'so the boys are going to my parents I guess?' JUST KIDDING OF COURSE!!
ReplyDeleteMy Blue Castle has historically been my parents lake home. It's very peaceful there and I feel very taken care of since my mom makes all the meals and such. Another Blue Castle for me is the city of Paris. I would love to live there for 6 months some day.
I really do not want to have dinner w/ any of Valancy's family members. And I'm terrible at casting books but I have a younger Sam Elliott in my mind for Barney for some reason.
I think the Sept time frame sounds great. Since you do so much work for the book club, you should be the person to select the time that works best!
Ha! I think your grandma probably meant either the husband or the career has to go! LOL. That's how my grandma was, anyway. After my grandfather died, she had NO USE FOR MEN. It was pretty funny stuff.
DeleteOh, a place on a lake sounds divine right now. Can you even imagine a time when we can go swimming?
I gave the book at 4/5. It made me laugh. It was fast paced. This was the first time I managed to shuffle my other book club books around a CBBC and I'm so glad I did. (I still haven't read a Tree Grows in Brooklyn, but I hope to this summer). I hope to join the next one whenever you schedule it. I think this was the first book of Montgomery's that I read. Maybe I read Anne of Green Gables? But I know I saw the miniseries. I found my older girls' copy of the Anne of Green Gables book, and I hope to read it to Kay before bed in the coming weeks. I read the first book in the Series of Unfortunate Events, and why do I end up picking books about orphans to read to her? Hmm.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a Blue Castle of my own, but when I was growing up - I 'escaped' stuff at home by going to babysit. I babysat a LOT. (my childhood was fine, but I was sort of glossed over and my babysitting families were over the moon with me and I felt so appreciated/seen there, if that makes sense).
I can't remember all of the family members' names, but I'd have dinner with the terrible uncle and the mom and the one cousin that was good to her. Maybe I'd manage to sneak a laxative into the mom and the uncle's food. ;)
I would have the same people to dinner, Ernie. Uncle Benjamin, Mrs. Frederick, and Cousin Georgiana are exactly who I would want. Maybe Cousin Olive? Egads. So many good choices. It would be so much fun. Imagine what you could say to Mrs. Frederick about parenting!
DeleteI loved this book so much! It was the right book at the right time, and I gave it 5 stars. Also, the audiobook narrator was great. I'd love to see it made into a movie - a Canadian production with all Canadian actors. I think Mike Myers would be fun as the uncle!
ReplyDeleteI will definitely watch the Megan Fellows show!
I'm on-board with whatever time is best for you to host a CBBC.
It looked like there were two or three versions of the audiobook when I looked - which narrator did you listen to?
Delete1) I was so torn on a rating. I wavered between 3.75 and 4 but ended up w/4/5. For how much I enjoyed reading this and going on the journey with Valancy, I was driven a little crazy by the lack of character depth (especially her family) and how superficial so much of it was. For a book titled after a complex inner spot that kept someone going for so long, so much of the plot was whims and noses and impulse.
ReplyDelete2) I think I struggle with this because of the aphantasia, but I do tend to have plotlines I escape to (what if I were in a procedural drama? Haha) or create plots to playlists like day-dreamy musicals.
3) Film adaptation…. Hmm…. I feel like this is akin to a 90s/2000s teen romantic quality (She’s All That! Can’t Hardly Wait!) but about a late bloomer… Zendaya as Valancy. Andrew Garfield as Barney. Amanda Seyfried as Cissy. Alex Kington as Valancy’s mom. David Tennant as Roaring Abel.
4) For the most part, I really loved reading the dissonance of Valancy’s thoughts vs. what she said in the early chapters and how descriptive the latter half of the book was once she began living. I do wish there had been more of a pattern or balance to chapters from other characters’ POV (that Olive moment at the end)….
5) I would skip dinner with Valancy’s family HAHA! Not worth it.
CBBC: I love the idea of later in September – that would be so much more accessible for me from a timing perspective.
I would never skip dinner with Valancy's family and I can't believe how many of you are saying you would!! Shocking!
DeleteI think I'd rate it a 3.5. Although, I've never rated a book before, so take from that what you will.
ReplyDeleteYou should host the book club when YOU have time; we'll all adapt.
I don't have a Blue Castle, per se, but I do wish for days that were less busy, where I could relax and let my mind wander more.
This book wasn't my favorite; I didn't love the writing style, but there were several LOL moments and those are always fun.
Lauging at Ernie's laxative comment! Genius.
I thought the railroad scene was so funny. I know I'm probably supposed to take home a lot more from this book, but I think that's possibly the only thing I'm going to remember from it.
DeleteThanks for hosting again. I rated the book 4/5. I'm happy with whatever schedule you decide. Iy needs to work for you.
ReplyDeleteEveryone is so accommodating about the schedule change. I think I will move it back in September.
DeleteI loved this book, 4.5/5. I think the end was a bit too far, and I spent time being mad at whatshisname, but overall I just loved it and am really glad that it won.
ReplyDeleteI have two Blue Castles. One is snorkeling in Hawaii, and swimming along with turtles. The gentle warm ocean is so different than the California ocean, and the turtles are perfection. The other is Paris, or sometimes the South of France. I like to go there sometimes when I'm stressed, and just imagine walking down the cobbled streets smelling bread and looking forward to my next whatever (museum/meal/cathedral/glass of wine).
You and Lisa have the same Paris Blue Castle! That's so much fun!
DeleteYou're making snorkeling sound so lovely. I admit I've never snorkeled at a particularly pleasant beach - I definitely need to do that someday.
I have started listening to the podcast Story Girl. I am not through yet but will finish that. I was not familiar with LM Montgomery so that was nice to get some behind the scenes info.
ReplyDelete1) I think I am somewhere around 3.5/3.75 stars. I enjoyed reading it and more so reading it with everyone. I think reading it alone I might have rated it a bit lower. I am struggling with rating classics. I can see why they are important and even scandalous at the time they were written but from today’s standards and my reading habit it will never really be a higher ranking in the 4 or 5 stars. I am very particular in my rating though and rarely give 5 stars. I was annoyed with the female male interactions in this book. And as said it’s due to the time it was written. I am just not feeling this right now.
2) Oh what a good question. I am not sure. Oh yes I do. A place I have only once been. Not sure I could ever find it again. Somewhere in the hills of Idaho overlooking a valley. When I need to calm down I put myself in this place. As for a more accessible place I think it is my parents country home when I am being there on my own. I love wandering through the garden and doing my thing.
3) I want Kate Winslet to play Valency. And maybe Hellen Mirren the mother? As for Barney… mhm maybe Gorge Clooney. I am obviously not knowing any names of the younger generation.
4) I can not answer this. I am really incapable of analyzing this. I can only say I didn’t like or a feel a style but here I was all fine. It was normal to me.
5)Please don’t let me have dinner with Valencys family. I can’t even remember the names…
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CBBC Questions to Ponder:
1) I am fine with whatever time slot you are doing the next CBBC. I think you should go with what works for you since hosting it. There is so much time you invest in doing it. Thank you so much for doing this for us. I really appreciate it.
2) I currently can’t think of a book I would like to read together. I mean my vote was for Rebecca and that would be a wonderful fit for Sep/Oct. I wold enjoy reading some darker books in fall but I am up for whatever you pick – unless it is Ferrante. I will never read her. HA.
It is hard to read classics if you've been reading more contemporary books a lot. Sometimes I just want to tell the women to figure it out, but then I realize that their options were so limited that there's nothing more they could have done.
DeleteFerrante is a GENIUS!! Don't disparage her on my blog!! :)
Thank you for hosting, Engie!! (I'm allergic to words like "cool" and "club," but still had fun! :) )
ReplyDeleteBut it is a really cool book club!!
DeleteI'm really fascinated by the scandal that came up when Colleen McCullough subconsciously plagiarized the Blue Castle when writing her book The Ladies of Missalonghi. I almost want to read McCullough's book to see what the fuss is all about.
ReplyDeleteI don't usually rate books, but I think this book was a lot of fun, except for the end, where I wanted Valancy to just grow a backbone and leave EVERYONE. I will say it was a nice change for me to read something with a less contemporary feel to it - I loved how L.M. Montgomery described things - nature, clothes, people, facial hair.
I don't know that I have a Blue Castle, but I do turn to books, particularly romance novels, when the world is too too much.
Thank you for hosting CBBC, Engie! I'm always excited when you have one, no matter when it happens.
I have only read The Thorn Birds by McCullough and it's super long, so I thought that perhaps The Ladies of Missalonghi would be a Big Book I could read. It's less than 200 pages, though! I could whip that out in a couple of days.
DeleteYES!! Maybe my own Blue Castle is just books, especially the books I read over and over again.
Thanks for hosting this, it is always fun to read along and see everyone's responses. I missed last week, but here is my answer to this week's questions: 1) For me this book was a 3/5. I enjoyed parts of it very much but others not so. 2) Good Question! I do have a blue castle, it is simply a home that I own - I've been renting in Europe for almost 20 years in different cities, and now I just want a home of my own in a place I feel comfortable (however small). 3) My dream cast would be to see the locations described in the book - they sound beautiful. 4) Loved the descriptions of the island and the seasons, I felt the book was a bit too plot driven - I wonder if this book was Montgomery's Blue Castle? 5) None of them!
ReplyDeleteHome ownership has its own pitfalls, friend. I hope you do get what you want someday for your home, though.
DeleteI really enjoyed this book, and it might have a lot to do with this club and just needing a good, sweet read in the middle of everything going on in the world. I loved the ending and the way Barney professed his love to Valancy. I didn't see Valancy being a doormat myself, as she really took agency over her own life. Sure, she went back to her family but it's hard in those days. What were her options? I'm glad we have more now (famous last words, ugh).
ReplyDeleteYou run the CBBC when YOU want to! We will be along for the ride whenever you have the time and space. <3
I know that she didn't have a lot of options and I get that. I just wish...I wish that she did have more options. Alas, that wasn't meant to be.
DeleteThis was a reread for me, as I read all of the Anne-adjacent books I could get my hands on. I also loved it but was also annoyed by Valancy's limited choices. Dinner with her family? Swap Cousin Georgiana for Cousin Olive OR her fiance and I'm there. The opportunity for passive-aggressive jabs is just too good to pass up. :)
ReplyDeleteI went down an eBay rabbit hole and ordered the Anne-adjacent books that I somehow got rid of over the years (WHY?). They are coming from Canada, land of All Things Good, and are taking forEVER but should be here this week. I hope! Can't wait for some more bedtime rereads...
Oh and your changed timing for the next CBBC is, as you probably know, also good for me. If we could avoid the start of contract that would be very nice. :)
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