Hello and My First Book Review

Hello Blogging World!  I'm excited to be here blogging about one of my favorite topics: books.
I have loved reading since I was little and I could spend hours snuggled up under an old quilt with a good novel.  So, I decided to start a blog, mainly for myself, so I could have a way to document everything that I read and what I think of it.

I thought I would start with a book that is new to me and that I really enjoyed.  It's called The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery.  I love L.M. Montgomery, particularly for her classic Anne of Green Gables series.

This edition is much prettier than my 90s paperback version

                                     

The Blue Castle is the story of an "old maid" named Valancy.  She lives with her manipulative mother and domineering aunt and has been ruled her whole dreary life by her close knit and unkind family.   He only consolations are nature books written by a mysterious John Foster and her imaginary "blue castle" where everything she wants comes true.  But, on her 29th birthday, all of this changes.  Valancy suffers from a heart condition and is told by her doctor that she will not live longer than one year.

Another pretty edition.  This one is a modern copy.

                                          

After a night of thinking back over her life, she realizes that she has never done what she actually wants to do.  She determines to live the rest of her life truly enjoying herself.  She proceeds to horrify her family by saying exactly what she thinks about everything, going to work for a dying woman who has a scandalous background, and doing whatever she feels like.  Eventually, Valancy finds her own Blue Castle.  

This book is so charming and I love the setting of the beautiful Canadian country.  The story is well-crafted and I was drawn in at once by Montgomery's wonderful writing.  I actually stayed up until 11:30 one night reading because it was so engrossing.  The book is a quick read (my copy is only 200 pages).   This would be a perfect weekend book.  

Reading this book has inspired me to read some of L.M. Montgomery's less well-known writings.  I look forward to writing more about my reading adventures!