Jane of Lantern Hill

4 stars, more if you really like old-fashioned novels. This is a charming, vintage tale by L.M. Montgomery, the author of <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/8127.Anne_of_Green_Gables__Anne_of_Green_Gables___1_" title="Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1) by L.M. Montgomery" rel="noopener">Anne of Green Gables</a>, and is very much in the same vein. <i>Jane of Lantern Hill</i> is obscure enough that I'd never even heard if it before a GR friend alerted me to it, even though I've read all of the Anne books and even the Emily of New Moon ones.<br /><br />The main character in this 1937 novel is Jane Victoria Stuart, who ages from 11-13 over the course of the novel. Jane lives with her mother, aunt and grandmother in Toronto. They're a wealthy upper crust family, and Grandmother is a piece of work; you'll hate her before you're more than a few pages into the book. Jane's mother is a lovely socialite with a sweet disposition and no backbone whatsoever, especially when facing off against Grandmother's ire and iron will. Jane regularly gets criticized and browbeaten by Grandmother and sundry other relatives; it's not a very happy life for her, except that she adores her beautiful, weak-willed mother. <br /><br />Jane has always believed that her mother is a widow, but one year, surprise! A letter from her father arrives, insisting that Jane visit him for the summer so they can get to know each other. Turns out that her parents have been separated since she was about a year old, but never divorced (there's a fair amount of discussion here about how it was next to impossible to get a divorce in Canada at this time; often people who wanted a divorce would go live in the U.S. for long enough that they'd qualify to get divorced under U.S. laws). <br /><br />Jane is appalled at the idea of spending an entire summer with this unfamiliar father who is so hated by her grandmother and has made her mother so sad, but she has no choice. So an unhappy Jane is reluctantly shipped off to Prince Edward Island ... and if you know anything about P.E.I. in <i>Anne of Green Gables</i>, you know that Jane has a marvelous experience awaiting her. <br /><br />It's not quite up to the level of the first few Green Gables books, but it was still a very heartwarming read. L.M. Montgomery can't be matched for loving, detailed descriptions of life on P.E.I. in bygone days. It's a little far-fetched at times, wish-fulfillment reading really, but the delightful moments will stick with me.<br /><br />I found this novel free online <a href="http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks02/0200881h.html" rel="nofollow noopener">here at Gutenberg Australia</a>. G'day, mate! ETA: It's also in the public domain in Canada, and <a href="http://fadedpage.com/showbook.php?pid=20160907" rel="nofollow noopener">Faded Page</a> has more easily downloadable copies.

Jana to najspokojniejsza bohaterka Montgomery (poza przeźroczystą Kilmeną) i to dzięki niej dostałam bardzo przyjemną i lekką powieść o nietuzinkowej rodzinie. <br />Jedna z moich ulubionych książek Maud!

2021 reread:<br />I wasn't as satisfied this time around. I think the abrupt ending bothered me, and I wanted more, such as showing Robin finally standing up to Grandmother (unless Robin just left and never talked to her), Dad, Robin, and Jane happy together, etc. I get so caught up with Jane and her story that I want a longer ending.<br />I despise Aunt Irene even more this time, if that's possible. I could easily be annoyed with Robin for being a pushover, but I'm that way as well, so I sympathize with her.<br />Dad's speeches are my favorite parts. He is so humorous and imaginative.<br /><br />****<br />I find Jane of Lantern Hill to be a little underrated. Most reviews I've read about it have said that Jane isn't very inspiring, especially compared with the famous Anne. Sure, Jane isn't as inspiring as Anne, but I think she's inspiring too, just in a different, less dramatic way.<br /><br />Jane reminds me of the joys of the 'little things' in life-living in a house one loves, cooking, feeling useful and needed, enjoying the domestic tasks and scenes, finding something in nearly everyone to like etc (okay, maybe those are 'big' things...)<br />All of LMM's books do that for me, actually, but this one does it in a more practical, material way, if that makes sense. The Anne and Emily books make me see the magic and romance in everyday life, while Jane helps me celebrate everyday things themselves, including all the various little tasks I do. It leaves me feeling a quiet joy in everything I might ordinarily take for granted.<br /><br />In addition, Jane finds out not to accept lies and malice; she learns to reach for a rich, beautiful life that no one can take away from her.<br /><br />All in all, I'd call it a pretty inspiring book. It doesn't quite give me the soaring feeling that the Anne, Pat, and Emily books do; it makes me feel more 'down to earth' and practical in a poetical way- if that makes sense!

SO delightful. Can I just drop everything and live on PEI now, please? I mean, I'll take my family. And as long as I'm making outrageous requests of the universe, I'm going to throw in a little time travel as well - PEI about a century ago. Thanks.

Indeed I have always had a very large and emotional soft spot for L.M. Montgomery's 1937 <u>Jane of Lantern Hill</u> (a stand-alone novel and actually one of the last books the author published). And while I know and even accept that for some readers, Jane's story does not seem to mesh all that well, that they find especially the grandmother too much of a stereotypical caricature of evil and abusive jealousy, and Jane's mother also penned as being much too meek and mild (too much of an annoying pushover), it is precisely Jane's own and personal triumph over her yes in all ways evil grandmother that speaks and has always loudly and triumphantly spoken to me. And actually, I for one do NOT even consider Janes's grandmother as all that totally unrealistic, having met and dealt with individuals who were (who are) that psychologically and emotionally abusive and neglectful, having met individuals who continuously were striving to train children for their "own good" but were basically and for all intents and purposes killing these children's spirits with sarcasm, destroying their self esteem and sense of being with constant criticism and believing that condemnation is supposedly oh so much more important and essentially necessary than any kind of praise. <br /><br />So is L.M Montgomery’s depiction of Jane’s maternal grandmother and her general presentation in <u>Jane of Lantern Hill</u> a bit overly exaggerated? Probably and likely even definitely (even though much of her manipulativeness is not or at least does not feel to me to be all that fantastical), but I actually do also wonder a bit if L.M. Montgomery might have based Jane’s Grandmother Kennedy at least somewhat on her own "nearest and dearest" (for I know, or rather, I have read, that the maternal grandparents who raised Montgomery were undemonstrative and strict, and like Jane's maternal grandmother, willing and able provide basic food and shelter, but no soul nourishment, no love and acceptance). And no, I am also in NO way claiming that Jane's grandmother is supposed to be a portrait of reality, but simply that perhaps snippets and strands of L. M. Montgomery's own remembrances of her rather emotionally starved childhood and upbringing might have made their way into <u>Jane of Lantern Hill</u>, into the grandmother's character (not only physical, but also and perhaps even more importantly, her mannerisms, actions and reactions, although if one does want to be completely realistic, L. M. Montgomery's grandfather was actually much more of an unloving tyrant than her grandmother, but both indeed and seemingly in no way were able to even remotely give to Maud, to grant to the granddaughter they were raising the love, attention and support desired and needed).<br /><br />Now I do love how L.M. Montgomery with <u>Jane of Lantern Hill</u> describes the dichotomy of stagnant and shabbily genteel downtown Toronto (and Gay Street especially) versus rural and much more lively and laid back Prince Edward Island. However, that is not to say that Toronto in its entirety is seen by Montgomery as altogether negative, as the new subdivision near the ravine (where Janes's mother visits a friend and Jane discovers her "special" house) is portrayed both lovingly and glowingly. And after Jane manages to reunite the family, the Stuarts will actually be living in Toronto during the winter (while the father works as chief editor for a newspaper) and then spend the summers (the glorious summers) back home in Prince Edward Island. But indeed and personally, the ending of <u>Jane of Lantern Hill</u>, although it definitely does tie up the plot lines sufficiently and tidily, has always also left me with a bit of a queer sense of personal dread for the Stuarts' future happiness. Yes, I know that Jane's parents (that Robin and Andrew) are now back together, and that they (and Jane) will not be living anywhere near Gay Street and Robin's mother. However, considering how manipulative and conniving the grandmother has always been, and how easily Robin has (in the past) been able to be influenced by her harridan of a mother, I do wonder if the reach, no actually, more like if the grasping kraken like tentacles of the grandmother could reach even into the new domicile of the Stuarts and ensnare Jane and her parents once more, for while the house near the ravine (which is still for sale and where the Stuarts would likely be living) is not all that physically close to Gay Street, it is still located in the Toronto area and thus in the same city (but that is of course just some idle speculation on my part, but in my opinion I believe still worthy of consideration, as I do think that there is even with the positive ending of <u>Jane of Lantern Hill</u> a bit of fear for and of the future lurking between and below the lines). <br /><br />Well and finally, I must say that with my latest rereading of <u>Jane of Lantern Hill</u>, while I have of course and naturally once again enjoyed my time spent with Jane Stuart as much as always (and find L.M. Montgomery’s text both totally magical and warming for my innermost being), I do have one particular and niggling issue with one small part of Montgomery’s storyline. For yes, when Jane returns from her first summer with her father to Toronto and to her horrid grandmother’s domicile at 60 Gay and she is not allowed to receive letters from her father and to write to him, considering that Jane is actually still secretly writing to Andrew Stuart but just not sending these letters to him (as she will be giving him his letters next summer when Jane means to return to PEI) I for one do think that Jane should have simply mailed her letters to PEI on the sly and with that to also actively rebel against her grandmother (and yes also I guess against her mother).

This book is such a comfort read for me. I love Jane because she breaks away from the typical L.M. Montgomery mould of being the sensitive, dreamy, romantic type with a wonderful imagination. Instead she is sensible and capable, down-to-earth and a very good cook. She's great! <br />One of the things I like best about L.M. Montgomery, I've decided on re-reading this for the millionth time, is the awesome houses she gives her characters. They have such fun decorating them, putting up curtains and cool wallpaper and filling the cupboards with heirloom china and apostle spoons. There's the Disappointed house in the Emily series, Valancy's Blue Castle, Whispering Winds in A Tangled Web and Anne's House of Dreams. This one has TWO - Lantern Hill and also the house in Toronto which Jane discovers when her mother is visiting someone, which they decide in the end will be their winter home. I especially liked the description of its "dining room with a door that opened into a sun-room and the most delightful breakfast nook in pale yellow, with built-in china closets." <br />Actually I noticed quite a few similarities this time between this one and 'The Blue Castle' - the transformation both Jane and Valancy experienced after leaving the poisonous and loveless environments at home and going somewhere where they could be themselves. <br />Oh, and the descriptions of Jane's mother's outfits are great also! I can't imagine what they would look like in real life, but something about the way L.M. describes them makes them sound so fabulous. "A lovely crimson velvet wrap with a white fur collar", "a dress of pale yellow taffeta, with a great rose of deeper yellow velvet at one of her shoulders", "blue fox furs, with a little wine hat tilted on one side of her head", "the daintiest breakfast jacket of tea-rose crepe de chine edged with cobwebby beige lace".<br />But yeah. All in all, a great read. One of my favourite books of all time. <br />Also, I'm a tiny bit in love with Jane's Dad.

یک کلاسیک ساده، جذاب و خواندنی!<br />یک داستانِ قشنگ و نسبتا آرامِ بدون هیجان!<br />یک دخترِ کله‌شق و حاضر جواب و مهربان!<br />یک خانه و مادربزرگِ عصبی و دیکتاتور!<br />یک خانواده‌ی عجیب و جذاب!<br />و<br />یک داستانِ بی‌آلایش و راحت با چالش‌های قشنگ در جزیره پرنس ادوارد و شارلوت‌تاون?❤

This has been a lovely little story. I am sure I would have given it 5 stars, had I had the chance to read it as a child. <br /><br />As an adult, I had on bone to pick with it, which cost it -1 star, but still loved it overall. <br /><br />Great characterisation &amp; lovely scenery.<br /><br />Hope I'll have the time to write a proper review later.

I finished this book yesterday, Nov. 30, appropriate because it was the birthday of it's author, Lucy Maud Montgomery, born on that day 141 years ago. I have read most of her novels and a good many of her short stories, and what stands out to me was the consistent high quality of her writing, her stories and her characters. There is a similarity in all of them, a pattern, but she knew what she was doing and it worked to perfection. Her library of writing, her legacy, is still being enjoyed by readers today, and I dare say 500 years from now people will still be reading about Anne Shirley of Prince Edward Island, Canada. <br /><br />But tthis book is about another character, Jane Victoria Stuart, and her comfortable but unhappy life in Toronto, living with her mother and her domineering grandmother. Jane doesn't know her father exists, but when he suddenly writes and insists that Jane be sent to spend the summer with him in Prince Edward Island, her life changes dramatically, and the stage is set for the magical story of Jane of Lantern Hill.

5+ stars &amp; 9/10 hearts. Oh, my heart. I had forgotten how much I loved this book. I read it as a tween and I loved it, but I didn’t appreciate it as much as I do now, as an adult. I love this book so incredibly much. I love Jane. And Mummy is just so sweet and pathetic! And dad. Oh, I LOVE dad!! He is just simply amazing and I love him! I loved Lantern Hill so much, and there was just soooo much beauty in this book! I loved all the humour and all the vivid characters. I loved the message. I read this book when I was having a really hectic life, and it was so helpful to me to hear that message—that there is always beauty. Always good things coming around the bend. Always hope. Always wonder. Always joy and love. And the ending. Oh, how I love that ending! It is just simply perfect. &lt;33 <br /><br />A Favourite Quote: <i>“‘Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’ The most terrible and tremendous saying in the world, Jane…. Because we are all afraid of truth and afraid of freedom… that’s why we murdered Jesus.”</i><br />A Favourite Beautiful Quote: <i>“The road was full of lovely surprises… a glimpse of far-off hills that seemed made of opal dust… a whiff of wind that had been blowing over a clover field… brooks that appeared from nowhere and ran off into green shadowy woods where long branches of spicy fir hung over the laced water…”</i><br />A Favourite Humorous Quote: <i>“‘You don’t know… I hope you never will know… what it is like to look casually out of a kitchen window, where you are discussing the shamefully low price of eggs with Mrs. Davy Gardiner, and see you daughter… your only daughter… stepping high, wide, and handsome through the landscape with a lion….’<br />“’He was only a tame old lion,’ said Jane impatiently….<br />“’Jane, my adored Jane, for the sake of your poor father’s nerves, don’t go leading any more lions about the country, tame or otherwise.’<br />“’But it’s not a thing that’s likely to happen again, dad,’ said Jane reasonably.<br />“’No, that is so,’ said dad…. ‘I perceive that it is not likely to become a habit. Only, Janelet, if you some day take a notion to acquire an ichthyosaurs for a family pet, give me a little warning, Jane. I’m not as young as I used to be.’”</i>