Retro Friday - The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery - Review and Book Giveaway

Synopsis:  At twenty-nine Valancy had never been in love, and it seemed romance had passed her by. Living with her overbearing mother and meddlesome cousin, she found her only consolations in the "forbidden" books of John Foster and her daydreams of the Blue Castle. Then a letter arrived from Dr. Trent -- and Valancy decided to throw caution to the winds. For the first time in her life Valancy did and said exactly what she wanted. Soon she discovered a surprising new world, full of love and adventures far beyond her most secret dreams. - Goodreads

The story takes place in the early 1920s in the fictional town of Deerwood, located in the Muskoka region of Ontario, Canada. Deerwood is based on Bala, Ontario, which Montgomery visited in 1922. Maps of the two towns show similarities.
This novel is considered one of L.M. Montgomery's few adult works of fiction, along with A Tangled Web, and is the only book she wrote that is entirely set outside of Prince Edward Island. It has grown in popularity since being republished in 1990. - Wikipedia

Fun Quote:  They got into the canoe and paddled out to it. They left behind the realm of everyday and things known and landed on a realm of mystery and enchantment where anything might happen - anything might be true.

My Thoughts:  I have read every book that L.M. Montgomery published including her short stories that have been compiled into theme novels.  Out of all of Montgomery's  stand-alone novels, The Blue Castle is my favorite.  It's so romantic.  Montgomery has this incredible ability to make everything feel as if it is alive.  Juju from Tales of Whimsy posed a question on her blog recently - "If you could step into a book and visit any fictional town, city, home or location - which would it be?"  The Blue Castle is where I would like to go.  I want to live there with someone who adores me.  

Give Away: I love this book so much I want to share it with you. I know it's not the latest hottest thing, but it's a free book and I promise it's worth trying for. If you would like to have my gently used copy of The Blue Castle leave a comment with your e-mail address.  
Followers of course get two extra points.  If you become a follower you can earn an extra point.  Promote this  on your blog and earn another point.  Contest is only open to those in U.S. and Canada.  Ends Oct. 30th.

Did I mention how much I love L.M. Montgomery? For all things Montgomery go here.





Wikipedia's list of Montgomery's Novels and Short stories (I've read all of them):

Novels

• Anne of Green Gables (1908)
• Anne of Avonlea (1909) (sequel to Anne of Green Gables)
• Kilmeny of the Orchard (1910)
• The Story Girl (1911)
• The Golden Road (1913) (sequel to The Story Girl)
• Anne of the Island (1915) (sequel to Anne of Avonlea)
• Anne's House of Dreams (1917) (sequel to Anne of the Island)
• Rainbow Valley (1919) (sequel to Anne of Ingleside)
• Rilla of Ingleside (1921) (sequel to Rainbow Valley)
• Emily of New Moon (1923)
• Emily Climbs (1925) (sequel to Emily of New Moon)
• The Blue Castle (1926)
• Emily's Quest (1927) (sequel to Emily Climbs)
• Magic for Marigold (1929)
• A Tangled Web (1931)
• Pat of Silver Bush (1933)
• Mistress Pat (1935) (sequel to Pat of Silver Bush)
• Anne of Windy Poplars (1936) (sequel to Anne of the Island)
• Jane of Lantern Hill (1937)
• Anne of Ingleside (1939) (sequel to Anne's House of Dreams)
• The Blythes Are Quoted, edited by Benjamin Lefebvre (2009) (sequel to Rilla of Ingleside)

Short story collections

• Chronicles of Avonlea (1912)
• Further Chronicles of Avonlea (1920)
• The Road to Yesterday (1974)
• The Doctor's Sweetheart, selected by Catherine McLay (1979)
• Akin to Anne: Tales of Other Orphans, edited by Rea Wilmshurst (1988)
• Along the Shore: Tales by the Sea, edited by Rea Wilmshurst (1989)
• Among the Shadows: Tales from the Darker Side, edited by Rea Wilmshurst (1990)
• After Many Days: Tales of Time Passed, edited by Rea Wilmshurst (1991)
• Against the Odds: Tales of Achievement, edited by Rea Wilmshurst (1993)
• At the Altar: Matrimonial Tales, edited by Rea Wilmshurst (1994)
• Across the Miles: Tales of Correspondence, edited by Rea Wilmshurst (1995)
• Christmas with Anne and Other Holiday Stories, edited by Rea Wilmshurst (1995)
  

Montgomery also kept diary's which have been compiled into The Selected Journals of L.M. Montgomery (5 vols.), edited by Mary Rubio and Elizabeth Waterston (1985-2004).
I've read two of them.  Very interesting and read just like her novels.