The Golden Road by L.M. Montgomery

The Golden Road by L.M. Montgomery is the second book about the King family. Once again Montgomery's words placed a spell over me.

The book continues where the other leaves off--a new season has begun and the cousins go through winter adventures on P.E. Island. There are still stories that are woven throughout the book and everyone that was in the first book has found their place in this second volume.

However, unlike the first book, this one has a tone of melancholy in it. The narrator of the story seems to realize how wonderful his life was back then and wishes himself back to that point in time. There seems to be a theme of childhood's end that pervades the entire book that young readers may miss, but an adult reader would clearly pick up on. The moral of the story seems to be that childhood comes to an end, and life will never be the same, so enjoy the world of childhood as long as you can.

As an adult, I could really understand what L.M. Montgomery was trying to impart to her readers. You do not realize how wonderful and magical childhood is until it is over. There is a certain threshold that everyone crosses at some point and you just look back and say, "wasn't it wonderful when..."

As before, I would recommend this book to any reader. If you allow it to, it can touch and fill up your soul. For me, it was like snuggling under a blanket on a cold winter night. Simply put, there is just a warmth you can receive when reading this book.

Next Time

So here is a hint for the next book I am going to be writing about (and am currently reading). This book is particularly wordy. It makes sense however because when his work was originally published in the newspaper he was getting paid by the word. So the more he wrote the more he was paid.

Now you may not be able to guess the exact book (since the author wrote so many), but can you guess who the novelist is?

Till next time,
R.F.F. 

The Story Girl by L.M. Montgomery

I have been a fan of L.M. Montgomery for years, starting with her books on the that famous red head Anne of Green Gables. I have also read her Emily series and a few others. So when I was in a used bookstore a few months ago and saw her books on the King family, I decided to buy them.

While these books were written for children, any adult can gain something from them (any of her novels really) as they are written with such a sweet simplicity and the nostalgia of youth. 

The Story Girl is the first of two books that center around the King family. Two brothers are sent to live with their aunt, uncle and cousins on their father's ancestral home on beautiful Prince Edward Island (which is where the author herself lived). The story takes the reader through the adventures of the boys and their cousins, as told through the memories of the older brother, all grown up. Throughout the book are woven stories from Sara Stanley, also known as the Story Girl. 

L.M. Montgomery once again stole my heart with her writing. While the story line may seem simple, it is that simplicity that makes it special. Her writing harkens back to a time when everyone had a family history and took pride in that history (no special programs to learn about their ancestors for the King family). It speaks to country life and how neighbors where there to help one another. It also has the strong theme of how important childhood is to the development of a person and how adults truly affect a child's growth. 

Of course reading this in 2016, there is one thing that stands out, and those are the characters that are labeled as "awkward" or "eccentric". From my modern perspective, these people might be diagnosed with bi-polar disorder or asperger syndrome. As those are not diagnoses that would be made in the early 1900's when this book was written. But that is the only downside, which can easily be passed over for its many attributes. 

This is a great book to read when you need a moment to silence all the technology around you. If you are look for a story that brings peace and tranquility, this book would be it. 

Till next time,

R.F.F.