Books: Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace
Ok, one more batch before going to sleep tonight.
The "Betsy-Tacy" books are a series of books written by Maud Hart Lovelace about a girl (Betsy) in the early 1900s in Minnesota in a small town. Her friend Tacy is instrumental in the first few books, and is mentioned in all of the books. I read these first when I was in my teens, borrowed them from someone else, I believe. They have been reprinted (they were hard to get for about 20 years), although the 3 books in Deep Valley (fictional town that represents Mankato) that are not "Betsy" books are still hard to find.
Ok, we have 10 Betsy books, taking her from age 5 to the first year of her marriage when she turns 22, I believe, at the beginning of WWI. The first few books are written in a younger "style", which progresses as the girls get older. I'm not going to list all the books -- you can get that on any web site.
I like these books, I like the portrayal of Betsy and her friends. The girls do things wrong, get in trouble, but they are good at heart. The experiences are supposedly the real-life experiences of Maud Hart Lovelace when she was growing up -- her house and "Tacy's" house are museums or something now in Mankato. The books when Betsy is in High School have a good feel of what it was like, as a girl then, and just as a teen-age girl with those complications; also, as a girl who wanted to write stories as soon as she could write with a pencil.
The last two books, when Betsy is abroad after 3 years of college, and her married year, are not quite as good (I think). But they are definitely not bad, and worth reading. The three other books set in "Deep Valley" are about two of Betsy's friends, and another girl. Emily of Deep Valley reminds me of the books LM Montgomery wrote that were not about Anne (of green gable fame). It is a similar style, although when trying to point out specifics, I can't find any. It feels the same. Maybe it just feels like a typical story. It is nice for the familiar names, and the story is fine. Winona's Pony Cart is about one of Betsy's lesser friends, Winona, when they are in 3rd grade and Winona turns 8. It is written at that level, and is very focused on the birthday party. It does mention Betsy and her good friends, and I'm glad I found it, but I would only purchase it if I could find it inexpensively and had a daughter to hand the books down to. Carney's House Party is not available unless the Inter-Library Loan comes through.
All in all, if these were available at the bookstore (as opposed to for $20 each as used books), and I had a daughter, I would probably buy these for her. I don't think I will re-read them again, but I'm glad I found them, and I will continue to look for the last one. I may even attempt to locate Maud Hart Lovelace's adult novels.
The "Betsy-Tacy" books are a series of books written by Maud Hart Lovelace about a girl (Betsy) in the early 1900s in Minnesota in a small town. Her friend Tacy is instrumental in the first few books, and is mentioned in all of the books. I read these first when I was in my teens, borrowed them from someone else, I believe. They have been reprinted (they were hard to get for about 20 years), although the 3 books in Deep Valley (fictional town that represents Mankato) that are not "Betsy" books are still hard to find.
Ok, we have 10 Betsy books, taking her from age 5 to the first year of her marriage when she turns 22, I believe, at the beginning of WWI. The first few books are written in a younger "style", which progresses as the girls get older. I'm not going to list all the books -- you can get that on any web site.
I like these books, I like the portrayal of Betsy and her friends. The girls do things wrong, get in trouble, but they are good at heart. The experiences are supposedly the real-life experiences of Maud Hart Lovelace when she was growing up -- her house and "Tacy's" house are museums or something now in Mankato. The books when Betsy is in High School have a good feel of what it was like, as a girl then, and just as a teen-age girl with those complications; also, as a girl who wanted to write stories as soon as she could write with a pencil.
The last two books, when Betsy is abroad after 3 years of college, and her married year, are not quite as good (I think). But they are definitely not bad, and worth reading. The three other books set in "Deep Valley" are about two of Betsy's friends, and another girl. Emily of Deep Valley reminds me of the books LM Montgomery wrote that were not about Anne (of green gable fame). It is a similar style, although when trying to point out specifics, I can't find any. It feels the same. Maybe it just feels like a typical story. It is nice for the familiar names, and the story is fine. Winona's Pony Cart is about one of Betsy's lesser friends, Winona, when they are in 3rd grade and Winona turns 8. It is written at that level, and is very focused on the birthday party. It does mention Betsy and her good friends, and I'm glad I found it, but I would only purchase it if I could find it inexpensively and had a daughter to hand the books down to. Carney's House Party is not available unless the Inter-Library Loan comes through.
All in all, if these were available at the bookstore (as opposed to for $20 each as used books), and I had a daughter, I would probably buy these for her. I don't think I will re-read them again, but I'm glad I found them, and I will continue to look for the last one. I may even attempt to locate Maud Hart Lovelace's adult novels.