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thereza's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favourite childhood stories & i enjoyed rereading it so much!
polyhy_14's review against another edition
3.0
This book preceded L M Montgomery's Anne books and while it's not quite up to the same standard, it still has a lot of charm and elegance of writing. The main disappointment for me was the abruptness of the ending, but overall that didn't spoil a pleasant reading experience.
shoelessmama's review against another edition
3.0
I grew up watching Shirley Temple in "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm". Predictably for movies of that era, the movie had little in common with the book aside from a few character names. I was surprised to find how similar this was to Anne Of Green Gables. This book came first and I can't help imagining L.M. reading this and thinking, "I could do better", and then doing so.
hooksforeverything's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
metaphorosis's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars, Metaphorosis Reviews
Summary
Rebecca, the daughter of a large, poor family, is clever but willful. When her better-off aunts offer to raise and educate her older sister, they get Rebecca instead, who introduces a little unexpected tumult into their lives.
Review
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm is one of those books that I always knew was around, growing up, but later couldn’t recall whether I’d read. As I got older, I tended to confuse it with Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, which also wasn’t sure whether I’d read. I suppose that if I had read them, the distinction might have been clearer. In any case, the book didn’t ring any bells on this reading.
I’m sorry I didn’t (probably) read it when I was younger, since some of the prose is delightfully funny. There’s nothing greatly surprising about the plot – clever, wayward girl grows up smart and sweet – but the language itself was unexpected. It reminded me, in some ways, of Jane Austen’s wry, sly humor, though it also has similarities to Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer, and that’s more the general territory of the book.
One reason I’d have preferred to read it young is that some of the elements haven’t worn as well as you might hope. While the book thankfully never spells it out, in its latter half it seems indubitably destined toward a resolution that was common and perhaps even sensible in its day, but looks awfully uncomfortable now. Still, it isn’t spelled out, so we’re free to imagine a more modern outlook if we like (and I did). Wiggin did apparently write a sequel of sorts (New Chronicles of Rebecca), that appears to fill in gaps in and around this book’s storyline, and happily doesn’t address the issue of my concern.
In short, somewhat dated, but a fun book for children, with a protagonist who’s lauded much more for cleverness than looks.
Summary
Rebecca, the daughter of a large, poor family, is clever but willful. When her better-off aunts offer to raise and educate her older sister, they get Rebecca instead, who introduces a little unexpected tumult into their lives.
Review
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm is one of those books that I always knew was around, growing up, but later couldn’t recall whether I’d read. As I got older, I tended to confuse it with Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, which also wasn’t sure whether I’d read. I suppose that if I had read them, the distinction might have been clearer. In any case, the book didn’t ring any bells on this reading.
I’m sorry I didn’t (probably) read it when I was younger, since some of the prose is delightfully funny. There’s nothing greatly surprising about the plot – clever, wayward girl grows up smart and sweet – but the language itself was unexpected. It reminded me, in some ways, of Jane Austen’s wry, sly humor, though it also has similarities to Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer, and that’s more the general territory of the book.
One reason I’d have preferred to read it young is that some of the elements haven’t worn as well as you might hope. While the book thankfully never spells it out, in its latter half it seems indubitably destined toward a resolution that was common and perhaps even sensible in its day, but looks awfully uncomfortable now. Still, it isn’t spelled out, so we’re free to imagine a more modern outlook if we like (and I did). Wiggin did apparently write a sequel of sorts (New Chronicles of Rebecca), that appears to fill in gaps in and around this book’s storyline, and happily doesn’t address the issue of my concern.
In short, somewhat dated, but a fun book for children, with a protagonist who’s lauded much more for cleverness than looks.
readerturnedwriter's review against another edition
5.0
I wasn't sure I would like this book at first (I didn't like that she was sent away from her family until I understood the motives better and I hated the way Rebecca was treated, I don't like the old fashioned strictness, it bothers me), but by the end, I'd fallen in love. Like Rebecca, I was able to forgive the aunt. I loved the relationships and the character of Rebecca. I especially loved how much she loved to read and how that was a strong part of her character. I also loved the service, selfless giving, and sacrifice that was shown by many characters throughout the entire book. It reminded me of Anne of Green Gables but for a younger audience (a very good thing in my opinion).
rebecita's review against another edition
Catching up on my dailylit reading. This book is delightful, as is Rebecca, and if I'd read it as a child I probably wouldn't have minded the constant comparisons. And super bonus points for the fact that R is an alto whose father (a Mr. Lorenzo de Medici Randall) taught singing schools.
My favorite part so far:
"It WAS TRAVELING, mother," said the child eagerly and willfully. "It was leaving the farm, and putting up lunch in a basket, and a little riding and a little steam cars, and we carried our nightgowns."
"Don't tell the whole village about it, if we did," said the mother, interrupting the reminiscences of this experienced voyager. "Haven't I told you before," she whispered, in a last attempt at discipline, "that you shouldn't talk about night gowns and stockings and--things like that, in a loud tone of voice, and especially when there's men folks round?"
"I know, mother, I know, and I won't. All I want to say is"--here Mr. Cobb gave a cluck, slapped the reins, and the horses started sedately on their daily task--"all I want to say is that it is a journey when"--the stage was really under way now and Rebecca had to put her head out of the window over the door in order to finish her sentence--"it IS a journey when you carry a nightgown!"
My favorite part so far:
"It WAS TRAVELING, mother," said the child eagerly and willfully. "It was leaving the farm, and putting up lunch in a basket, and a little riding and a little steam cars, and we carried our nightgowns."
"Don't tell the whole village about it, if we did," said the mother, interrupting the reminiscences of this experienced voyager. "Haven't I told you before," she whispered, in a last attempt at discipline, "that you shouldn't talk about night gowns and stockings and--things like that, in a loud tone of voice, and especially when there's men folks round?"
"I know, mother, I know, and I won't. All I want to say is"--here Mr. Cobb gave a cluck, slapped the reins, and the horses started sedately on their daily task--"all I want to say is that it is a journey when"--the stage was really under way now and Rebecca had to put her head out of the window over the door in order to finish her sentence--"it IS a journey when you carry a nightgown!"