The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery

Okay---this book. SO WONDERFULLY GOOD!!! and it's rated G good, which my reptilian brain doesn't seem to assume that the use of "d----d' instead of Damned would = a corny book. But once again i am proved oh so lovingly wrong. I have had Anne of Green Gables on my TBR list for a while now thinking oh when i'm in the mood for something light and childlike I will pick it up but for some reason while looking at another book i finished and seeing that The Blue Castle was associated with it I picked that up. And sucked in to the world of Valancy Stirling. Oh Valancy, to be born into a clan of people who are so belittling and hilariously ridiculous in their predilections and assumptions of what people should be doing and when. Valancy is 29 and living with her widowed mother who keeps an eye on Valancy's every move and keeps her busy lest she get evil ideas like...umm.. i don't know, get a life? There are a whole host of characters in her family that make one dimensional appearances but they are delightful and we learn of valancy's ill view of the world (because if anyone lived in that dreary house with that dreary mother they'd be depressed too) and on top of that she thinks she has a heart problem and has to sneak to the doctor who informs her that she is really sick and will die, most likely within the year!! and thus, this is the catalyst that launches Valancy to make some changes and live her life the way her most favorite author, John Foster writes in the beloved nature books, which is to not be driven by fear. Valancy ignores her mother's usual demands and starts speaking for herself. She is a SPARKPLUG!!! i laughed out loud (literally) at her sarcastic and witty comebacks and had to check the copyright of the book a few times to make sure I was seriously dealing wtih a book published in 1926? So Valancy gets a job and acts on her feelings for a dude she knows that is whispered about in the neighborhood as a guy who has a criminal history and 19 ex wives and all sorts of mental issues. And the name of this romantic interest??? wait for it........ BARNEY SNAITH!!! what??? I know, the worst name ever!!! Who names the hero Snaith? sounds so nasty off the tongue but whatever. They have an uncommon relationship and without spoiling the end.... ummm then i can't really say much else about the book except it was so well written and snappy and was one of those books that reminds me why I am obsessed with reading and what it's all about. Now even though I have a few library books due soon I am reading my old booksale bought copy of anne of green gables and am definitely falling in love with miss Anne Shirley. so glad i wasn't a kid reader who would have already been there done that with these classics.