Not that anyone is reading.... Girls and Boys Series of the 19th and 20th century
I totally don't expect anyone to respond to these entries. Actually, I have never looked to see if someone did, if so I'm sorry that I didn't respond
( Read more... )
The author (Maud Hart-Lovelace) was herself from Mankato and her biography makes clear that the stories were directly from her own youth and friends. Mankato is called Deep Valley, and she (Maud) is Betsy.
Tacy moves across the street from Betsy when they're both 5 (in 1905, I think) and they become best and lifelong friends). Tacy, btw, stands for Anastacia, and she is patterned after Maud's best friend, Constance (Connie) Kenney. Much of the series is actually about the three close friends; Betsy, Tacy and Tib (Themla), though it's frequently referred to as simply the Betsy-Tacy series.
The kids are usually about two years older in each book (book 1 they're 5, book 2 they're 7, etc.), and actually goes all the way up to Betsey going to College, Betsy going abroad to Europe just as WWI is heating up (Betsy and the Great World) and Betsy getting married (which is preceeded by Tacy's marriage and followed by Tibs).
In addition to this core group of three friends, there is a large and lively crowd that Betsy runs with throughout childhood straight to high school and beyond. These were real people, who themselves became huge fans of her series. Dedicated fans grew up with Betsy, Tacy and Tib, growing older with them as they read the books, and the stories themselves become more sophisticated as the characters age. A huge part of the fun is viewing that era (early 1900's) through the eyes of a person who lived them. Hay rides and bobsleds, skating on the lake with a fire nearby and a pot of hot chocolate over it, singing around the piano while fudge cools on the porch. This was a simpler time, but it's amazingly fun to read about it.
I never get tired of rereading this series, and did so again just a few months back.
There is one thing of interest here. Almost every person and event in her books is based on her real life, with simple name changes (she kept a journal/diary her whole life and the stories are directly from those and her memories). There is one exception to this, and that is the inclusion of her husband Joe as a childhood acquaintance, friend and then love interest as she grows up. She met Joe in her early 20's, and he was not from Minnesota. She so wanted him to be a part of her youth in these stories, though, so she inserted him. He does indeed feel somewhat at odds with some of the others through parts of the series, and that is why in part, but she does a good job of setting up his background in such a way that also goes a long way in explaining that peculiarity.
I should add that I'm from Minnesota (the Twin Cities) and that much of my mothers family comes from the farm area of southern Minnesota in and about Mankato, so that may account for some of my interest, but BTW, this is also the favorite childrens series of Bette Midler, who grew up in Hawaii, so I tend to think it spans all regions and backgrounds. Anyway, they're *great* books and I hope you get a chance to read them.
Of course there's also Laura Ingram Wilder's 'Little House on the Prairie' series (didn't notice if you had that listed or not) which is set on the prairies of Wisconsin and Minnesota in the latter 19th century.
Reply
Great to hear from some people who remember these old series--either from their childhood and/or still reading/collecting them. It's a connection between some members of my family that I wouldn't necessarily connect with as much. We share books and have something to talk about which reinforces a kin link that may fade to nothing if you don't purposesly try to contact them (which can be difficult both emotionally and time wise).
Did you ever read the Honey Bunch series? It has a number of books in the series but tends more towards the first or second book age group of the Betsy-Tacy books that doesn't have Tibbs in it yet. What about the Six Little Bunkers?
Reply
Reply
Great to hear from some people who remember these old series--either from their childhood and/or still reading/collecting them. It's a connection between some members of my family that I wouldn't necessarily connect with as much. We share books and have something to talk about which reinforces a kin link that may fade to nothing if you don't purposesly try to contact them (which can be difficult both emotionally and time wise).
Did you ever read the Honey Bunch series? It has a number of books in the series but tends more towards the first or second book age group of the Betsy-Tacy books that doesn't have Tibbs in it yet. What about the Six Little Bunkers?
P.S. I hope that you are getting this on your "e-mail" vs. a journal or board, because I so rarely do it.
Reply
I get replies to my posts in my email, with links directly back to the thread, so that works well.
BTW, I am writing a childrens (juvenile) series right now. I'm actually on the 6th draft of book 1 (it's a 4-book series ala Harry Potter). I have 18 query letters to agents out, and so far 4 of them want to see all or part of the manuscript - yea!
Reply
I read a lot of the Nancy Drew but never liked them as much as some of the other series. She seemed almost too perfect. She rarely, if ever, got into trouble for breaking and entering (unless caught by the criminals); the police usually believed her; she always had enough money to go and do almost anything she wanted.
Trixie was a little more believable. Her family, at least, didn't have all the money and she had to work for an allowance, etc. She had a bad temper and got in trouble with both the police and her own family. Her friendships weren't always perfect. Of course, it was convenient that most of her friends were millionaires and when necessary would normally pay for their trips. Also, not so normal for kids of different ages like this and different genders hanging out together and usually getting along but...
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment