Sara Steger

Sara wrote: "Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, Terris. I imagined it was just me. It wasn't a bad book, just an ok book for me. I didn't mean to pan it, but it somehow didn't ring true. I think the auth..."

I agree with all you said, Sara! Thanks for listening. I just wanted to enjoy this book more, though I knew it was going to be sad. It somehow often just made me feel uncomfortable, and I think that is an author problem.

Thanks for your thoughts! Keep Reading! :)

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, Terris. I imagined it was just me. It wasn't a bad book, just an ok book for me. I didn't mean to pan it, but it somehow didn't ring true. I think the author might have wanted to make it dramatic (as if all that sadness weren't dramatic enough) and ascribed feelings to LMM that she couldn't possibly have known her to have. I don't generally do well with fictional accounts of real people--I am much better sticking to the real biographers.

I might try one of the biographies at some point, but I might just resign myself to knowing that LMM had a lot to deal with in the end and yet she managed to leave us one of the brightest, happiest, most inspiring young ladies in literature in Anne Shirley.

I love that you took the author into consideration when writing the review, Terris. I hope her next novel is a story all of her own making and that it makes a great success. It isn't easy to write about icons.

Sara, I saw your comment about my "liking" After Anne more than you did -- but I did not :/
I just felt like I wanted to write a nice review because it was the author's first novel. AND, I thought maybe I just didn't enjoy it because I didn't want to read about LM Montgomery having a sad life.
But I'm glad to see that you thought, probably, about the same as I did. It was kind of a confusing book. She went back and forth in time a lot, and I couldn't understand the short intervals about the fire in between chapters(??). I thought the author probably made Maud's living with her husband's illness not seem as bad as it really was. Also, none of the problems/lawsuits that Maud had with the publishing companies was mentioned. She added a lot of Maud's thoughts that I didn't think she could possibly have known because so many of the journals had been burned.
A lot of the time I felt kind of uncomfortable while reading, but I thought it was because I didn't like the sad story, however, now I think I just didn't like the way it was written!

I was going to send you a message about this because I knew you were thinking of reading this book, but I didn't know you already had. So I decided to wait until you commented, and I'm glad you did!
In the author's notes at the end she mentions the book: Lucy Maud Montgomery: The Gift of Wings by Mary Henley Rubio. I'm thinking that one, with a rating of 4.22 as compared to Steiner's 3.69, would probably be the one to read. OR just read Wikipedia! It has a pretty detailed description of Montgomery's life. I kept going back to it while I was reading the book to make sure the author was getting it right! haha!

Now do you see why I didn't put all this in my review?! It was just easier to give it a decent review (however, now I'm thinking of putting my rating down to 3*s!). I just didn't want my mood or unclear feelings to affect others not reading the book when it might have been my problem. But, with your short comment, you have made me feel justified in my own thoughts about it.

Too bad, but, like you said, we still love Anne!! ;)

Sara wrote: "Terris wrote: "Sara -- I don't want to bother you, but I'm coming to you for "talk therapy," and I know you'll understand! I just need to get this out!
As you know I finished [book:The Far Country|..."

Thanks, Sara, I feel better already :)
Especially since I just finished one of your favorite books "Dr. Thorne"! You were so right, this one is fabulous! It is really a feel good book. So glad I finally got to it :)
AND thanks for being there when I needed to rant and rave -- sometimes you just need someone that you know will understand, and this time it was you. You're a treasure :)

Terris wrote: "Sara -- I don't want to bother you, but I'm coming to you for "talk therapy," and I know you'll understand! I just need to get this out!
As you know I finished The Far Country and r..."

How frustrating! I did not see it, only your comment on the O&N. But I know how you are feeling because some of mine have disappeared along with the comments people made. I have had some reappear, but a few never came back. I started writing mine on Google Docs so I would have a copy. Too aggravating to have to write it twice.

GR can make you climb the wall now and then, but then you remember all the good things that happen--like knowing you!!! At that point, you feel it is best to just shrug it off.

Sara -- I don't want to bother you, but I'm coming to you for "talk therapy," and I know you'll understand! I just need to get this out!
As you know I finished The Far Country and really enjoyed it. I wrote a nice review of it and I'm (pretty) sure I saw it yesterday when I (think I) posted it -- today it is gone!!
I know I mentioned the book on my Old/New Challenge (Buffet thread) & you commented, but I did not re-post my review (darn it!). Did you, by chance, see my review anywhere? Or did you just see my O/N comment that I finished it? Has this ever happened to you?
I know I can re-write it, but I don't really want to :/
Oh well, I know this is not a big deal, but it is aggravating! And I knew you would commiserate with me ;)
Thank you for listening -- now I can go on "calmly" and figure this out -- OR just forget it! Haha!
Oh, the joys of reading! ;)

Terris,
How sweet you are to honor your friend in that way! I am so sorry for your loss.

I am very grateful for your wonderful words. You must know that I value your reviews in exactly the same way. I can always count on you to point me to a good read. I will love knowing what you think of The Greengage Summer. I immediately added Rumer Godden to my list of authors I hope to read all of. I have two of hers scheduled before the end of the year.

I have read the Wharton, and agree wholeheartedly with "her books have -- not drama -- but those subtle twists that really stir up a story!" Exactly what makes her so special. I still have a pretty long list of hers to get to--I'm trying to do at least two a year.

Just finished reading How Much Land Does a Man Need?, just as you instructed. lol. Oh my...we all need about the same amount, don't we?

Happy reading to you--and thank you again for this. It made my day!

Sara

Sara,
You know I love and trust your reviews so much! And I wanted you to know that recently when a member of our local book club passed away, and we wanted to donate a book to our public library in her memory, I used one of your reviews to choose the book :)

Norma loved history and historical novels, so when looking at some of the books she enjoyed reading I noticed that she had read several by Paulette Jiles. I saw that our public library did not own a copy of Enemy Women. And after looking at your five star review (and several other of our GR friends giving it high marks!), I recommended it to our book club as our "in memory" book for Norma. I was glad that one of the ladies in our group had also read the book and enjoyed and recommended it. AND I am listening to Enemy Women right now and am learning a lot from it! It is definitely a good one! Thanks for your wonderful reviews. Just wanted you to know that :)

And I also wanted to tell you that I am now reading The Greengage Summer which I know you liked. And, I don't know if you've read this one or not but I know you are a big Edith Wharton fan -- Old New York: Four Novellas. If you haven't read it -- You Must! I'm not finished with it yet, but I love her amazing writing and, as you know, her books have -- not drama -- but those subtle twists that really stir up a story!
I know you'd love it, so put it on The List!

Have a happy First Day of Summer and Happy Reading, my friend :)

😊

You are too sweet, Savita. I loved having your insights on The Far Pavilions. Looking forward to future reads together!

Thank you for the invite , Sara ! 😊
You're such a genuine reader , it’s really a great pleasure to read along with you . You read the story with so much interest and are so well informed , it's something to learn from you .

I'm delighted to be your friend, AiK. I love what you add to the group!

Thank you very much for your invitation for friendship, Sara. I like how you work in the Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) group. I mad many mistakes and you were very patient and kind. I appreciate very much your friendship. Have a wondeful weekend!

Thanks for accepting my invite, Sara.

Judi wrote: "It seems Sara that we share a similar taste in books. You appear to have less of a struggle to reach the peak of the summit and are a more dedicated climber. (So many books!) Look forward to your p..."

Since I retired I have been trying to catch up on all the books I wanted to read but never had time for. We do like the same kind of books and I already know that I appreciate your POV.

It seems Sara that we share a similar taste in books. You appear to have less of a struggle to reach the peak of the summit and are a more dedicated climber. (So many books!) Look forward to your perspective.

Book Wyrm wrote: "Thank you very much for accepting my friend request."

Delighted to be friends, Wyrm!

Hi Sara, thanks for accepting my friend request; look forward to discussing books.

You're welcome! Time has been crazy for me too lately. Nice talking to you. :)

Doing great, Marie, just strapped for time these days. Nice to see you, hope you will be around more. Appreciate the hello!

Hi Sara, I haven't been on goodreads much in a while, so I thought I would say hello and see how you were doing.

Hi Sara ... thanks for the invite ... very cool! I've read some of your reviews and updates ... I think you add a very unique voice to the conversation too!