User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
Thank you to Walker Books Australia for sending me a copy of this book!
I am seriously shook over this biography. There are so many things about Maud that I had no idea about and this makes me want to read her Anne series all over again and then read everything else by her. Despite her tragic life and her chronic and manic depression, she achieved so much and managed to bring light to millions around the world and I admire her so much. Wow. Read this book.
Rating: really liked it
Now with Liz Rosenberg's
House of Dreams: The Life of L.M. Montgomery, I have had to keep firmly in mind that her biography is in fact and certainly geared towards young adult readers (and in my opinion especially towards teenaged girls from the age of twelve or so onwards). And therefore, while in my favourite (and most definitely for adult readers) L.M. Montgomery biography, while in Mary Henley Rubio's brilliant
Lucy Maud Montgomery: The Gift of Wings, Rubio often emphasises L.M. Montgomery's literary output and that she was and continues to be a constant source of inspiration to especially reading women and girls even when she was being either ignored or sadly criticised, at times even vehemently condemned by the Canadian (generally male) literary establishment (and that indeed Montgomery's reading popularity has also never ceased), Liz Rosenberg centres her
House of Dreams: The Life of L.M. Montgomery considerably more heavily on Maud's romantic involvements, her disappointing marriage and her struggles with depression (how the death of her mother, how her father's abandonment and her generally loveless and spiritually stifling upbringing by her maternal grandparents all majorly contributed to L.M. Montgomery's unhappiness, and actually seemingly festered inside of her very soul throughout her life, both shaping and also of course very much saddening it), all very important and essential points of departure and interest to be sure, although I for one have certainly somewhat missed the more scholarly and literary bent of Mary Henley Rubio's biography (which in fact does seem to be able to balance both L.M. Montgomery's life details with her writing, with her oeuvre and how it has become a beacon of ingenuity and literary achievement, although I do well recognise that for the intended audience, that for teenaged readers, how Liz Rosenberg has presented
House of Dreams: The Life of L.M. Montgomery is more than likely spot on, is relatable, approachable and readable, and as such much more so than a more heavily literary biography of Lucy Maud Montgomery would be, even if I as an older and critical adult reader might well desire just a wee bit more on that level).
I furthermore do applaud and actively cheer that Liz Rosenberg has been brave enough to intensely and with considerable detail (and in a biography geared towards a younger, a teenaged audience) tackle and present L.M. Montgomery's lifelong struggle with major depression and that her death in 1942 might actually have been a case of suicide (for although the author's opinion seems to more suggest that L.M. Montgomery died of an accidental overdose, Liz Rosenberg still does mention the possibility of suicide and that many family members did and do in fact believe that Maud deliberately took that fatal overdose). And while in
House of Dreams: The Life of L.M. Montgomery, Maud's happy times and joys are of course and naturally, thankfully also presented, Liz Rosenberg (and most appreciatively) never does lose sight of how unhappy and how emotionally fragile L.M. Montgomery often was (which to and for me is very much a positive and appreciated, as the vast majority of geared towards children biographies of the latter I have read to date, generally either ignore L.M. Montgomery's lifelong mental health and depression challenges or simply elide over them by claiming that Maud had occasional issues with moodswings and the like). A solid three stars for
House of Dreams: The Life of L.M. Montgomery (and indeed, not quite as yet four stars, as while I have definitely found this junior biography readable, for me as an older and often critical and intellectually inclined adult, there is just not enough literary and academic meat into which I can sink my teeth, and also, I do consider especially the general flow of Liz Rosenberg's narrative a bit halting and unsure, a bit choppy and uneven at times, with especially the beginning of
House of Dreams: The Life of L.M. Montgomery kind of feeling as though it could do with some streamlining and editing).
Rating: really liked it
I stayed up late last night finishing this sweet biography of Maud because I wanted to turn the last page before the new year begins. And friends. I have FEELINGS. So many FEELINGS!
I say this is a sweet biography, and it is. But it's also tragic and heartbreaking, and I cried after I turned the last page. And I forced my husband to stay awake until 1:30AM so that I could process all of my feelings. My feelings about how much I love L M Montgomery. How grateful I am that she wrote probably my favorite book of all time (Anne, of course). How that favorite book has shaped and molded me. How that story is filled to the brim with cheerful optimism and hope and light and the sweetness and beauty of life, even in the midst of its painful hardships. And how the life of the woman who created it reflected that book, but in a broken, tarnished mirror.
In Anne it's as if we get a vision of what Maud dreamed her life (particularly her childhood) might have been, but never was. Maud was incredibly gifted, and incredibly troubled. She loved people and places deeply and passionately, just like Anne. She was vivacious and lively and imaginative and intelligent and followed her lofty dreams with fiery zest. But unlike Anne, she struggled to find happiness and mental illness haunted her. She found herself in midlife married to a man she didn't love whose mental health was perhaps even more fragile than her own. Her writing was a success, but she was often trapped by the expectations and contractual obligations forced on her by her publisher.
There were moments reading about her life when I'd stop and wonder at some of the decisions she made and how things may have turned out differently for her. Happiness at times seemed just within reach, but she was never quite able to grasp it. Maud herself would think about those "what ifs." Unhelpful for her, certainly, but hindsight is 20/20 and when you look at how unbearable things became towards the end, it's easy to understand why she would reflect on the crossroads in her life and ponder the different paths it may have taken.
Liz Rosenberg writes with tenderness, affection, and empathy about Maud. I think all of us who have been deeply influenced by one of Maud's books feel a little protective over her; or at least I do. Her books mean so much to me, and so *she* means so much to me. House of Dreams was deft and affecting, informative and still beautifully written. I felt like I was being told the story of Maud's life, not just the facts. And while it made me so sad (I'm crying just thinking about it now), and Maud's life was filled with so much sorrow and disappointment and mental pain, she herself made the world a much more beautiful place. I think, having met her a little more fully in House of Dreams, I love her books even more now. If that's possible. I highly, highly recommend for EVERYONE, not just middle grade or YA readers.
Rating: really liked it
Liz Rosenberg has done an exceptional job of collecting personal details of the life of beloved author L.M. Montgomery, bringing to light her life long struggles with anxiety and depression. A prolific writer, Montgomery's determination led her to overcome financial difficulties and obtain additional education uncommon for young women at the time.
I enjoyed learning about Montgomery's childhood and how she managed to turn portions of her sad childhood into a hopeful and positive story that still resonates with millions of readers today. Her adult life was plagued with unhappiness and long bouts of manic depression, worsened by her husband's mental illness as well.
House of Dreams: The Life of L.M. Montgomery is a wonderful biography covering the important details of a brilliant writer's life. The book unfolds at a nice pace and gives a complete story rather than focusing on particulars or getting lost in insignificant details.
Thanks to Candlewick Press and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: really liked it
7 hours:50 minutes
Once upon a time, there was a girl named Maud who adored stories. When she was fourteen years old, Maud wrote in her journal, "I love books. I hope when I grow up to be able to have lots of them." Not only did Maud grow up to own lots of books, she wrote twenty-four of them herself as L. M. Montgomery, the world-renowned author of Anne of Green Gables.
For many years, little was known about Maud's personal life. Her childhood was spent with strict, unaffectionate grandparents, and her reflections on writing, her lifelong struggles with anxiety and depression, her "year of mad passion", and her troubled married life remained locked away, buried deep within her unpublished journals.
HOUSE OF DREAMS is the first biography of L. M. Montgomery for young readers to include the recent revelations about the author's last days and to encompass the complexity of a brilliant and checkered life. Like kindred spirits of all ages who, like Maud, never give up "the substance of things hoped for", I was captivated by the life story of this remarkable woman written by Liz Rosenberg and read by Susan Hanfield.
I enjoyed Susan Hanfield's performance of this audiobook. She is from Vancouver, Canada and is a three-time Audie Award Finalist and Voice Arts Awards Nominee. Susan comes from a strong classical theatre background having trained in both Vancouver & Los Angeles and brings deep characterizations to all of her work. Her audiobook titles span many genres, including Young Adult, Non Fiction, Historical Fiction and Classical Literature.
Liz Rosenberg, the author of House of Dreams, is a poet, best-selling novelist, professor, and writer of books for children. She lives in Binghamton, New York, with her daughter, Lily, and their dog, Sophie.
Rating: really liked it
*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Instead of consuming this book, I feel like this book consumed me. I fell into it and was wholeheartedly immersed in L. M. Montgomery’s life. Even while not reading it, I still felt as though my heart and mind were with L. M. Montgomery. Certainly, I couldn’t stop talking about it, as my husband could attest. It’s been quite a while since I’ve been completely absorbed in a book, and reading this was such a wonderful experience.
L. M. Montgomery, or “Maud,” as she was called, is absolutely one of my favorite authors ever. I’ve read a good chunk of her works (and she was a prolific writer!), so to learn more about her experiences and what inspired her stories–especially those of Anne Shirley and Emily–was a lovely experience to begin with. It’s clear to see that Rosenberg loves Montgomery and her stories as well, because reading this as almost as close as reading a memoir, it was so filled with empathy and emotion. I felt like I was in a conversation with a friend, talking about another friend. It was a sort of: “Did you hear about Maud? She published a book!” kind of thing. I was joyous over Maud’s triumphs and saddened over how much loss and sadness she had within her life, but it’s a comfort to know that for all her struggles, she loved her writing, and those stories live on for us today thanks to her.
Rosenberg gives a comprehensive overview of Maud’s life, from early childhood to late adulthood. I love that she was able to include direct quotes from the personal journal of L. M. Montgomery, which added a great touch of personality and authenticity to situation. It’s nicely paced–I never felt as though too much or too little time was spent on one thing. I LOVED some of the humorous anecdotes told. L. M. Montgomery could be one funny lady.
What I most appreciated, however, was the frank discussion of mental illness. Both Montgomery and her husband seem to have had some forms of depression and anxiety, and I am so grateful to Rosenberg for tackling that head-on. The more we talk about these things, the more we share both the struggles and successes of people who live with this diseases, the more we normalize them and are able to seek help in managing them. It’s especially important for young people who might not know how to deal with what they’re feeling and what they may be experiencing to know that even those we look up to struggle with the same thing. I’m so glad this was included.
This biography is magical, truly. I felt completely transported reading it and it’s been one of my absolutely favorite reads this year. Every Montgomery fan will find something to love about it, and I’m so glad I was able to learn more about L. M. Montgomery’s life and experiences. Thank you so much to Liz Rosenberg for writing this and Candlewick Press for publishing this. It’s extraordinary.
Also posted on Purple People Readers.
Rating: really liked it
I snagged an ARC of this at a local library and was very excited, but unfortunately I didn't enjoy it.
L.M. Montgomery's life was not pleasant nor something I think many children should read about, but I don't believe that any true story about her could leave out the sheer wonder and magic of her imagination. She's the woman who gave me Anne, Emily, Valancy, and Pat - some of my very best bookish friends. The girl depicted in this book is not the kind of person who dreamed and wondered like her characters.
But the cover is gorgeous! Perhaps if I tried this again I would like it more. The other reviews seem to be mostly positive. I'm giving it a tentative 3 stars.
*I do not know much about LMM's actual life, and I haven't read this book for years. Just a few thoughts from what I remember.
Rating: really liked it
"Thank God I can keep the shadows of my life out of my work,she wrote,I would not wish to darken any other life-I want instead to be a messenger of optimism and sunshine" I want to begin by saying I absolutely love Lucy Maud Montgomery books . They are my little happy place,and Anne Shirley it's my absolute favorite heroine of all times. So it goes without saying that I love Maud herself,and very much so .
I have this strong-although possibly wrong belief-that amazing books with amazing characters HAVE to be written by amazing authors. Special and magical ones. So after I read some of her work , I desperately searched her wikipedia page to go in depths of Maud's life. Unfortunately,her wiki page turned out to be sad,dull and quite boring. Nothing special to leave a mark on me.
But when I found out about this book,I knew I HAD to read it. And I am proud to say,me and my old unreliable friend wikipedia have been quite wrong. Maud really was an amazing person,and it goes without saying now how she managed to create a world so many people fell and continue to fall in love with .
This book is written as a young adult novel,breaking the cold scientific aspect I face each time I try to read a biography. The prose was cozy,warm and flowing. I am just super impressed by this author writing style.The illustration did justice to the story and I found them absolutely delightful. Combined with authentic quotes from Maud's diary,it was just heart warming and whimsical . While a biography,it did read like a fairytale at times, a book from a land of everlasting dreams. Here are some excerpts from it:
"Both loved beauty to a degree that was considered almost madness"" Maud had always find determination to be happy , even as a child who had tasted tragedy young " "Poor room! I dreamed many a bright dream there""She delighted in summer rain pouring in green torrents over hills and fields . In fall she watched the flame of sunset , or the rising of a moon over the tip of a larch tree "
I was glad to find the inspiration behind some aspects that I grew to love from her most iconic works , and see how some aspects of her life actually transcended into her work. I love Marilla more than ever now, knowing she was inspired by Maud's own grandmother.
This book made me exuberantly happy ,especially in the beginning,while reaching the ending,my heart felt heavy. I feel deeply for Maud myself and I am just so very sorry her life wasn't beautiful or fairytalish like she would have deserved. But the way I see it, Maud found her own happiness through her heroines, as they lived happily where she couldn't,laughed when she cried and smiled when she failed. I think the world of happiness she created is her true legacy,a world she had always hoped she would live in , but sadly, didn't succeed to. I am in no position to make any statement about her life, or her death, but the theory of her killing herself is one I disagree with strongly,maybe for self preservation . I would find it way too hard to believe that one who created an universe of joy and merriness , ended her life in a oasis of melancholy,dying of sadness. My heart couldn't possibly take it, as, I have said before, I truly love Maud herself,apart from her works.I think me and her would have been kindred spirits,have we lived at the same time.
"She transformed her own history of abandonment into a story of rescue. ""Fiction is the art of transformation. For many writers, including L. M . Montgomery , it allows for a happy reconciliations they cannot achieve in real life "I recommend this book to any fans of her work,and to anyone altogether,although it is my firm belief that non-fans may not enjoy it as much as fans do , considering it gets kind of darker by its end.
Rating: really liked it
My love for L. M. Montgomery is perhaps eternal. Growing up, her Emily series were my favourite books and Emily herself was my idol.
Lately I've fallen back in love with her books and her world – so beautifully crafted and written in such heartfelt words. Montgomery certainly had an eye for beauty, turning even the most mundane moments into things of wonder. Her many heroines are widely different, but what they all have in common is the ability to appreciate and admire the world around them.
As Montgomery famously wrote in
Emily's Quest: "Remember--pine woods are just as real as--pigsties--and a darn sight pleasanter to be in."
It seems cruel that Montgomery was critised for this world view by her contemporaries. Her novels were deemed too old-fashioned and too nostalgic – the very thing that she is now admired for.
In general, Montgomery's life was full of disappointment – and it is heavily chronicled in her journals that she wrote throughout her entire adult life. Therefore she seems like the dream subject for any biographer – Liz Rosenberg included.
And Rosenberg does an admirable job of writing a light-weight biography. While nowhere as heavily researched or thorough as Mary Henley Rubio's
The Gift of Wings, Rosenberg's biography does serve as a beautiful introduction to Montgomery's life.
Rosenberg writes her book almost like a story and spins the tale of Montgomery's life in a simple and engaging writing style. Combined with beautiful illustrations, this book is a treasure to hold. Its only downfall is perhaps that it tries too much to combine Montgomery's life with that of Anne Shirley's – failing to connect the dots between the Emily books and Montgomery's own life (when so many of the things that happen to Emily was in fact stolen from Montgomery's life).
But I might just be saying that because I'm a fierce Emily-believer. Who knows? In any case, this book is lovely. A beautiful addition to any bookshelf and a wonderful introduction to the tragic and ever-creative inner life of L. M. Montgomery.
Rating: really liked it
We’ve all heard of Anne of Green Gables and other novels by famed author L. M. Montgomery. I remember watching the series with Megan Follows and loving it, my initial impression was that the author shared the same personality traits as Anne did.
Right from the beginning I was captivated with the story of Montgomery's life and going in with no inclinations of what to expect I was blown away with her story. From her childhood right to her final years Liz Rosenberg used personal journals to write this book. This is non-fiction for young adults and was illustrated very nicely.
It was her adult years that really stood out for me and you could say I was saddened with all she went through, it wasn't a time when women could be independent but Montgomery endured so much to follow her dreams. The author wrote an in-depth story of what life was like in the late 1800's early 1900's until Montgomery’s end in 1942. There were a few times I got confused with the back-and-forth of time and sometimes I wondered if the frank talk about depression and it’s behavior (suffered by both wife and husband) might be too much for a younger reader.
I would have loved to see photos but given this was an advanced ebook they might appear in the print version.
I feel with all Montgomery went through and getting to know her better my desire to read more of her books has definitely peeked. Especially knowing her frame of mind while writing them.
My sincere thanks to the publisher (via Netgalley) for an advanced copy in exchange for honest review.
Rating: really liked it
First sentence: On a late June afternoon in 1905, Maud Montgomery sat in her grandmother's kitchen, writing. She sat not at the kitchen table, but perched on top of it, her feet set neatly on a nearby sofa, her notebook propped against her knees. From here she could jump down if someone stopped by for their mail, as was likely to happen--for the kitchen doubled as the post office of Cavendish, a tiny seaside village on Prince Edward Island.
Premise/plot: House of Dreams: The Life of L.M. Montgomery is a new biography of Canadian author, Lucy Maud Montgomery. Montgomery is best known for the Anne series though she was also a poet and writer of short stories.
My thoughts: L.M. Montgomery is one of my favorite authors. Around the age of eleven (or so) I discovered the Anne and Emily books. It was LOVE. I reread these books often. (And I do mean often.) At some point I began reading her other books as well--Tangled Web, Blue Castle, various short story collections. I entertained the fantastical notion that if I had a real, live Anne Shirley in my life, my life would be so much better. Not only did I see Anne as a kindred spirit--but I imagined L.M. Montgomery to be one as well.
I would not allow my eleven year old self to read this book. I wouldn't. There's a time and place perhaps for illusions to be shaken perhaps. I am not saying I regret reading the book as an adult.
L.M. Montgomery had mental health issues. She struggled throughout most—if not all of her life—with mental health. She was married to a minister who had severe mental health issues himself. He had several complete nervous breakdowns. Unfortunately, both Montgomery and her husband lived at a time when there was not much—if any—help for mental health disorders. They lived at a time where mental health issues brought SHAME and SCANDAL to a family. For a minister and his wife it would have been an impossible situation.
But even if she had come forward and sought help and sought help for her husband, would the medical community have been of any real good? I’m not convinced. What prescriptions Montgomery and her husband were taking—for various things—were (way) more harmful than helpful. Though they perhaps didn’t ever realize it.
We like to think that we know all there is to know--that medical science has made great advancements. That a doctor's advice is always good advice. That prescription pills are safe. That when a doctor prescribes something it will make us better--not worse. Only time will tell. It will always only be time that tells.
Still even if we don't know everything there is to know about every mental health disorder today--we know so much more than a hundred years ago. It can be outrageous to stop and think about what "treatments" were recommended for the mentally ill--even sixty or seventy years ago.
I do think it is important to talk about mental health. To be compassionate and empathetic--not only to those suffering directly from mental health disorders but also towards the caretakers--the friends and family of those impacted. It is nothing to be ashamed about. It shouldn't be something to hide, a burden one bears alone.
Did Montgomery commit suicide? Yes. No. Maybe. She was certainly VERY unhappy and life was a burden to her. She was worried and anxious about her oldest son. She was miserable with her husband. Recent injuries made it difficult for her to write by hand. She'd endured many losses in life. But did she overdose by pills intentionally or unintentionally? It could have been an accident. (She was taking SO many different prescriptions, and the combination would today be considered dangerous. Even if she was following doctor's directions precisely.) It could have been suicide.
It wasn't Montgomery's mental health problems that troubled me so much as it was the breaking of the illusion that Montgomery was a [Christian] woman of faith. She may have grown up at a time and in a place where church attendance was a given for respectable families. Perhaps she even confessed/professed faith as child or teen. But by the time she was an adult, by the time she was a minister's wife, she had lost her belief in God. Or at least her belief in the God of the Bible. She denied there was a heaven or hell, a day of judgment. She believed instead in reincarnation. She maintained an appearance of orthodoxy--as did her husband--for appearances' sake. After all, would he be kept on as minister if he openly rejected God from the pulpit? But she held unorthodox views privately. Some of this creeps in subtly in her works.
Rating: really liked it
I am obsessed with Anne of Green Gables and all of L.M. Montgomery's novels. She is what drew me into reading, and whenever I need a "comfort read" I pull out one of her books. To me, there is nothing better than reading about Anne and Gilbert.
That said. I'm torn about this book.
I requested an advanced copy from Netgalley and Candlewick Press because although I have read most of L.M. Montgomery's books, I haven't read about her own life, and I was interested in learning about her.
The beginning was rough - it felt like Liz Rosenberg kept starting a paragraph with a thought and then the next paragraph would be the same idea, only written slightly differently. The writing also felt a little juvenile. I reminded myself that this was a "young adult" read - but it felt even younger than that.
It felt that way until midway through.
Then it became more than just a young adult read. It became more intense, certainly because Maud's life became more complicated, she faced demons and was no longer the young author who had created Anne Shirley. So it makes sense the book became darker and more complex, but it felt so at odds with the writing style at the beginning of the book. I can only liken the beginning to feeling like this was an essay and the author had kept in all her research and forgot to trim the fat before submitting it to her professor.
That said - this is a super well researched book - you can tell that Liz Rosenberg has a love and appreciation for not only the books written by Maud Montgomery, but also for the person. She treated her subject with the utmost respect.
If this had been edited a little stronger I believe I would have given this a 4 star rating. Thank you for the advanced read in return for an honest review.
Rating: really liked it
I’m currently working my way through the complete works of L.M. Montgomery, so naturally I developed a growing curiosity for the woman behind Anne Shirley, and all her other delightful characters. I have always loved her stories, but one thing I began to criticize were their light-hearted natures and convenient happy endings. They all felt like sunshine and roses all the way through, even in the midst of tragedy. And I was feeling, they are just too happy to be realistic. However, after reading about her life, I now understand why they are this way, and I’m also a little ashamed I ever criticized them even a little.
I read this book in a day; it was deeply absorbing. This lady went through hell, and through everything, managed to remain positive and optimistic on the outside for a long time. She poured these feelings into her writing. It was her only coping mechanism in a world that didn’t yet understand mental illness. She struggled with severe depression for the majority of her life, and I truly believe her writing and her stories were the only medicine that actually sustained her and kept her sane for as long as she lived. She probably would have left this world earlier if not for her writing.
In a woman’s literature class in university, I remember writing a paper on creatively oppressed women in the 20th century. Essentially, the result of suppressing a creative mind is madness. Luckily, L.M. Montgomery fought and rose above oppression and other obstacles for the majority of her life to succeed in having a solid career. The result of which has lived on through the ages for us all to love and enjoy. I learned a lot from this book and I heartily recommend it for anyone interested in her stories, her life, or the career of a woman author in a time where that was almost unheard of. She is truly a Canadian gem.
Rating: really liked it
Despite having read quite a number of Montgomery's books, I was really clueless about some of the problems she had to endure in her real life. I love the fact that this 'simple' (written for the Young Adult audience) biography had discussed about her lifelong struggles with anxiety and depression. Also, how her health got even worse as a result of her husband's mental illness.
An amazing quality Montgomery had possessed was her ability to turn her sad and difficult childhood into many hopeful and positive stories that resonates with millions of young girls even to this day.
Rating: really liked it
This book gave me all of the feelings!
Before picking up this book, I did not realize to what extent her life was hard. She had one bad hand handed to her after another. Her life was one of profound loss and sorrow. How anyone could triumph over their troubles like she did while still managing to write and produce a prodigious amount of work that she did in her lifetime, while not being crushed under the weight of her worries was beyond me.
Nor did I know that Maud pulled events directly from her life into her work, like she did with Emily of New Moon. Or that she pulled incidents or relationships from her life but changed them to give readers (and maybe herself) the outcome that she'd wished she'd had like she did in Anne of Green Gables.
Maud's uncanny ability to get into the mind of a child and describe their thoughts and feelings so exactly may have been one of the reasons she was catapulted to fame so quickly after the production of her first book.
This book explained why her outlook when writing and producing books diverged, depending on what period of her life she was writing. Even if she had known of her alleged mental illness, I'm not sure whether or not that would have helped her, considering all of the burdens she was bearing, mostly on her own. I can't help feeling very very sad for Maud, who was able to find the bright side of things, for the most part. But contentment wasn't quite the same as happiness.
