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michireading's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
user613's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
This novel is a classic for a reason.
It's a heartwarming, fun, innocent book, full of good lessons, well-intending characters, and loving relationships.
The innocence, too, was refreshing. Where else could you find friendships with seven male cousins, a loving, sweet, close relationship with an uncle, (I think everyone needs an Uncle Alec!) and so many sweet loving relationships, without even a hint of romance in any of them?
As a child, this was one of the only classics I read from start to finish, and actually enjoyed. (Most classics gave up on halfway through, or read out of a sense of duty, not understanding a word).
When I reread this book as an adult, it was just as sweet as I remembered. As a bonus, the story had a lot more to it than I remembered! I suddenly realized how many sentences, phrasings and conversations I had failed to properly understand in my childhood and early teens (though, I had enjoyed reading it nonetheless).
This is the sort of book that can be read at many different ages, and at each age you'll notice more of the story's depth.
This is a book that I think everyone should read at least once in their lifetime.
"Uncle, when you add up your expenses do you ever find you have got more money than you had in the beginning?"
”The writers of these popular stories intend to do good, I have no doubt, but it seems to me they fail because their motto is, ‘Be smart, and you will be rich,” instead of ‘Be honest, and you will be happy.’”
Similar:
[bc:A Little Princess|3008|A Little Princess|Frances Hodgson Burnett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327868556l/3008._SY75_.jpg|1313599][bc:Five Little Peppers and How They Grew|7911|Five Little Peppers and How They Grew (Five Little Peppers, #1)|Margaret Sidney|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386924472l/7911._SX50_.jpg|1167387][bc:Princess Academy|85990|Princess Academy (Princess Academy, #1)|Shannon Hale|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1349410861l/85990._SY75_.jpg|3299770]
Content Warning
Romance: very clean
There’s a mistletoe hung up at Xmas, and innocent jokes about kisses (all on the cheek).
Religion: some Christianity
The main characters are Christian. I don’t think I noticed this fact as a child. Rereading it now, however, I noticed it was all over the book. There were a few mentions of going to church, reading the Testament, praying, angels, and God. The mark of Cain and Balaam and the ass are mentioned.
God noticing everything people do is discussed once.
A scene from the immortal story of “Babes in the Wood” is acted out. And, one of the scenes of the book is of xmas day complete with stockings, a mistletoe and family celebrations.
There were also a few mentions of temples and gods in passing.
Other:
Uncle Alec teaches Rose about the body, with the help of a skeleton.
This novel is a classic for a reason.
It's a heartwarming, fun, innocent book, full of good lessons, well-intending characters, and loving relationships.
The innocence, too, was refreshing. Where else could you find friendships with seven male cousins, a loving, sweet, close relationship with an uncle, (I think everyone needs an Uncle Alec!) and so many sweet loving relationships, without even a hint of romance in any of them?
As a child, this was one of the only classics I read from start to finish, and actually enjoyed. (Most classics gave up on halfway through, or read out of a sense of duty, not understanding a word).
When I reread this book as an adult, it was just as sweet as I remembered. As a bonus, the story had a lot more to it than I remembered! I suddenly realized how many sentences, phrasings and conversations I had failed to properly understand in my childhood and early teens (though, I had enjoyed reading it nonetheless).
This is the sort of book that can be read at many different ages, and at each age you'll notice more of the story's depth.
This is a book that I think everyone should read at least once in their lifetime.
"Uncle, when you add up your expenses do you ever find you have got more money than you had in the beginning?"
”The writers of these popular stories intend to do good, I have no doubt, but it seems to me they fail because their motto is, ‘Be smart, and you will be rich,” instead of ‘Be honest, and you will be happy.’”
Similar:
[bc:A Little Princess|3008|A Little Princess|Frances Hodgson Burnett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327868556l/3008._SY75_.jpg|1313599][bc:Five Little Peppers and How They Grew|7911|Five Little Peppers and How They Grew (Five Little Peppers, #1)|Margaret Sidney|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386924472l/7911._SX50_.jpg|1167387][bc:Princess Academy|85990|Princess Academy (Princess Academy, #1)|Shannon Hale|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1349410861l/85990._SY75_.jpg|3299770]
Content Warning
Romance: very clean
There’s a mistletoe hung up at Xmas, and innocent jokes about kisses (all on the cheek).
Religion: some Christianity
The main characters are Christian. I don’t think I noticed this fact as a child. Rereading it now, however, I noticed it was all over the book. There were a few mentions of going to church, reading the Testament, praying, angels, and God. The mark of Cain and Balaam and the ass are mentioned.
God noticing everything people do is discussed once.
A scene from the immortal story of “Babes in the Wood” is acted out. And, one of the scenes of the book is of xmas day complete with stockings, a mistletoe and family celebrations.
There were also a few mentions of temples and gods in passing.
Other:
Uncle Alec teaches Rose about the body, with the help of a skeleton.
Spoiler
He tells the story of how he got the skeleton. He cared for a poor, sick man, who left his body to Uncle Alec out of gratitude.noelles's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
magda_the_reader's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
thenovelbook's review against another edition
4.0
When I was in my early teens, there was a trifecta of authors that I devoured: Jane Austen, L.M. Montgomery, and Louisa May Alcott. I even made an informational web page about them on Angelfire... those were the days...
Anyway, revisiting a book like Eight Cousins reminds me exactly how I was influenced by these characters. A lot of my world view was shaped by this innocent wholesomeness, exemplified by Rose, the main character. Her ladylike presence automatically inspired people around her (namely, men) to be their best selves! So much gentility and respect! This impressed me mightily! I subconsciously stored this fascinating social education away, only to find that's not quite how it goes...
But while it's a bit out of place in the modern age, and occasionally some would say naive, I'm glad it was part of my youth and wouldn't trade it for anything!
In this book, orphaned Rose comes to live with her guardian uncle, and her neighbors are 7 boy cousins and a bunch of other corresponding aunts and uncles!
She arrives a tired, droopy little thing who survives on strong coffee, is proud of her tightly cinched little waist, and is about as uneducated as most girls of her class... but Uncle Alec changes all that. By the end of the book she's well on her way to being a truly healthy young girl with high spirits and noble ambitions, who can also make her 7 cousins toe the line.
There are some delightful episodes, such as the "freedom suit" her uncle orders for her (the opposite of a corset). And, pay particular attention to the development of Mac, her bookworm cousin... because there's more to come in the next book!!
Anyway, revisiting a book like Eight Cousins reminds me exactly how I was influenced by these characters. A lot of my world view was shaped by this innocent wholesomeness, exemplified by Rose, the main character. Her ladylike presence automatically inspired people around her (namely, men) to be their best selves! So much gentility and respect! This impressed me mightily! I subconsciously stored this fascinating social education away, only to find that's not quite how it goes...
But while it's a bit out of place in the modern age, and occasionally some would say naive, I'm glad it was part of my youth and wouldn't trade it for anything!
In this book, orphaned Rose comes to live with her guardian uncle, and her neighbors are 7 boy cousins and a bunch of other corresponding aunts and uncles!
She arrives a tired, droopy little thing who survives on strong coffee, is proud of her tightly cinched little waist, and is about as uneducated as most girls of her class... but Uncle Alec changes all that. By the end of the book she's well on her way to being a truly healthy young girl with high spirits and noble ambitions, who can also make her 7 cousins toe the line.
There are some delightful episodes, such as the "freedom suit" her uncle orders for her (the opposite of a corset). And, pay particular attention to the development of Mac, her bookworm cousin... because there's more to come in the next book!!
wolfsonarchitect's review against another edition
The story was too childish for me.
terrym10's review against another edition
5.0
This is such a charming story! I wish I had grown up with lots of family as Rose did. I loved everything about this book. Her Uncle is so sensible about health and physical activity, especially since this was written over 100 years ago. I loved what he thought about education as well, that the basics must be in firm place before adding in the “frivolous” stuff. I’ve read Little Women & Little Men, now I can’t wait to read everything else she’s written. And I’m sure I’ll be reading this one again in the future, it’s that uplifting