Betsy's Wedding, by Maud Hart Lovelace

Honestly, I had decided I wasn't going to review Betsy and the Great World  or Betsy's Wedding though I enjoyed both a great deal.  The big problem is that I finished them a few weeks ago...

(Please note that these are the final books in a lovely series that I highly recommend for young readers and adults who enjoy learning of another time period.)

 But I still wanted to document that I really enjoyed these books, so I will write some brief thoughts.

In Besty and the Great World, Betsy is 21 and her parents have decided to send her on a tour of Europe.  It seems that this adventure will be a great way to improve her writing and see the world-all the while trying to forget about her old sweetheart Joe.  The year was 1914, and it's obvious that Betsy is ignorant to the hostility in Europe and even the thought of war despite what her new European friends think- until the worst happens and war begins.  With the war's arrival, Betsy must seek her own departure to America.

Betsy's Wedding begins with Betsy's return to America...and Joe Willard.  Obviously, they marry.  It's really the only way this Betsy-Tacy series can end, you know!

I personally loved reading about Betsy trying to learn to cook and clean and be a wife.  Even when her friends would make fudge at her home, she never really helped...so she was truly starting from scratch!  Thankfully, her old friend Tib has some helpful hints for her.  My favorite was to have a "company dinner" meal that you can make for company.  I don't really do this...just kind of figure out what I want to serve based on the guests.  (I'm thinking that the Bacon Ranch Chicken might be it since it can be made in the crock pot...and no gravy needed!)

Despite how hard it was for Betsy, I loved her perseverance...even when offered a job writing.

"...You might enjoy working in a publicity office."
Betsy was very pleased by her answer came promptly.  "Oh, Mrs. Hawthorne, I know I'd love it!  Joe has told me how delightful your office is.  But Mrs. Hawethorne, I already have a job."
"You have?" She sounded surprised.
"Yes.  An it's important, and very hard.  It's learning how to keep house."
Mrs. Hawthorne swept her arms around Betsy with laughter.  "That's the girl!" she said.


She also had to learn to let Joe lead the way...this was not easy, especially when it came to a long-term visitor.  I loved reading how she changed her attitude from grudgingly agreeing because it is what she should do to accepting and loving the idea.

That's all for now...but keep in mind the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge over at Library Hospital!  It's worth checking out...and do check out Betsy-Tacy and all of MHL's books!

Betsy Was a Junior and Betsy and Joe

 I've written about Maud Hart Lovelace before, including the Betsy-Tacy series.  The series is based on MHL's life in Mankato, Minnesota and her growing up years.  Oh, I highly recommend it!  (If your library doesn't have the books, don't forget to request them; they are now re-released and quite affordable...two books/1 volume for about $10 on Amazon.)  This summer when our family went to camp, I took along the single book that includes the third and fourth books of lovable Betsy's high school years, Betsy Was a Junior and Betsy and Joe.  I couldn't put it down.  I just love reading about the town of Deep Valley along with Betsy and her friends in the early 1900's.  (Want to hear something really funny?  My friend who also attended camp brought along a MHL book, but she brought along Betsy's Wedding!  We had a bit of a laugh over this as we were relaxing and reading MHL outside our cabins at the same time.)

In Betsy Was a Junior, Betsy's sister goes away to college.  When she comes home, she tells of the sororities who are rushing her.  It's not long before Betsy gets the idea to begin a sorority of her friends.  She thinks that sisterhood can't have any downfalls.  As I was reading and loving the book, I was also very frustrated that Betsy didn't listen to her inner thoughts more.  (And I'm definitely not a sorority girl, which didn't help my opinion, though I could understand Betsy's reasons for appreciating the sisterhood.)  She really wanted to get to know a classmate better, but all of her time was spent with the sorority sisters.  In the end, Betsy and the girls learn their lesson, but not the easy way!

I had fully intended to put the book down when Betsy Was a Junior was completed, but these books are so refreshing and fun, I just had to continue the story.

Betsy and Joe surprised me.  As a MHL fan, I of course know (SPOILER if you don't know) that Betsy and Joe marry.  I was expecting Betsy's senior year of high school in Betsy and Joe to be filled with their romance.  Well, I was wrong!  Betsy "dates" both Tony and Joe.  I love that though Betsy was interested in boys, she was not interested in kissing.  Oh what lessons we can learn from Betsy!

"She thought it was silly to be letting first this boy and

 then that one kiss you, when it didn't mean a thing."

So though she spent a lot of time with Joe and Tony, it wasn't what many call dating today.  It was refreshing...even if it was with two fellows.  Seriously.  (Though her dating two guys was frustrating...) 

Oh, I would love to have The Betsy-Tacy Companion.  Even used (on Amazon) it is $45!  It would help me to know that really, "Betsy" didn't even meet "Joe" until well after high school in real life.  So all of my frustrations didn't have to be due to these books being based on real life.

Now if you have never read Maud Hart Lovelace before, please do!!  (As much as I enjoyed these, Emily of Deep Valley, linked to review, is still my favorite.)  These books are fabulous.  In a few days my daughter will turn 5 and she will get the very first book in the series, Betsy-Tacy.  I can't wait to share it with her!  And the books will grow up with her with more developed plot, character, and even language as the characters get older!

Now, I just need to figure out when my daughter will get to read the rest of the books...

I will be sharing these thoughts over at the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge at Library Hospital!!

Read more of my thoughts on Deep Valley , then go out and get yourself a copy!

Betsy-Tacy

Heaven to Betsy
Carney's House Party/Winona's Pony Cart 

 Emily of Deep Valley ~ My all time favorite!!

Deep Valley Books

You might remember my fondness of Maud Hart Lovelace.  It was just over a year ago that we were introduced.  Her writing tells the story of a simpler time-the early 1900's, and I just love it!

 The Betsy-Tacy series just wasn't enough for readers, and I am so excited to share about Betsy's friend Carney and a book of her own!  Carney's House Party is not part of the Betsy-Tacy books.  It is one of the Deep Valley books, taking place right in the same town as the Betsy-Tacy books and with many of the same characters, newly republished by Harper Collins Perennials.

Maud Hart Lovelace always wanted to be a writer, and after telling and retelling stories from her own childhood to her daughter Merian, she began writing the Betsy-Tacy books.  These books are fiction, though closely based on her own life in Minnesota.  Since Maud didn't go to college, she wasn't comfortable sending Betsy to college, so instead, she sent Carney!!

In the first book in this two-book volume, Carney's House Party, Caroline (or Carney) Sibley has just completed her sophomore year at Vassar College in 1911.  She returns to Deep Valley for the summer.  Carney hesitantly invites her roommate from back East, Isobel, who will stay with her for a month of summer.  Then her old friends, Bonnie and  Betsy, are able to come visit, too!  So Carney has a house party!

Their summer in Deep Valley is wonderful and filled with parties, fun, and fudge.  Carney's high school sweetheart returns for a visit after four long years apart.  Though they corresponded frequently, they need to see each other to see if marriage is in their future.  In the meantime, a rich, young man named Sam becomes part of the crowd and Betsy and Isobel become quite friendly with him, even though he reminds Carney of a baby hippo!

With Carney's House Party taking place over just a summer, as I read, I felt that the characters were well-developed.  The ending was not what I expected, but I was not disappointed either.  I was happily surprised.

Carney's House Party was enjoyable and gratifying to read.  Really, I didn't want to put it down!  I really enjoyed Carney, Betsy, and the crowd all grown up.  The Sibley family has its own unique values, traditions, and daily life.  They were still fun, and there was plenty of teasing; after all, most of the characters are familiar from the Betsy-Tacy books.  Carney's House Party is not from Betsy's point-of-view, so it is definitely different.

The girls attend college, and despite thoughts of engagements, intend to complete their schooling.   Isobel and Carney don't always understand one another's ways, but they remain friends and get along well enough.  (I never knew that breakfast, lunch, and dinner vs. breakfast, dinner, and supper were regional terms!  We happen to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner OR supper.  Except on Sundays.  On Sundays our noon meal is dinner.)  Carney is truly a sweet character, and I am thankful that Maud Hart Lovelace devoted an entire book to her.

Once again, there is a lot to learn about the early 1900's from reading Maud Hart Lovelace's work.  When I read Heaven to Betsy, I noticed how MHL was able to weave history (especially of the Mid-West...or the Middle West, as Carney prefers to call it) into the story in a fascinating, yet subtle way.  This time, there is a reference to women's suffrage, and even to the Mona Lisa's theft from the Louvre.  "She (Isobel) was too much like that smiling and inscrutable Mona Lisa who had been stolen last month from the Louvre Museum in Paris."  Throughout the book there were references to another book called The Little Colonel, which intrigued me, as well.  


The second Deep Valley book in this volume is Winona's Pony Cart.  Winona Root is a wealthy friend of Betsy and Tacy.  She is also a bit spoiled and about to have her eighth birthday.  She brags to her friends that she is going to get a pony for her birthday.  Winona is able to send out fifteen birthday invitations.  Without talking to her parents, she invites twice as many friends to the party!  When the time for the party arrives, Winona still hasn't told her parents that more kids will be coming.

Though Mr. Root has said no to giving his daughter a pony, he arranges for a pony to come to the party.  It proves to be quite entertaining for all the children.  Winona's Pony Cart gives a bit of a look into another child's life and of course, Betsy, Tacy, and Tib are still a three-some while being friends with Winona, too.

Though I didn't relate to Winona as much as Maud Hart Lovelace's other characters, this was still an enjoyable book.  Winona was a bit of a brat at times, but she did get over herself, too, even if she had her way in the end.


If you are a fan of Maud Hart Lovelace and have not yet explored the Deep Valley books, I definitely recommend them!  I will be reading Emily of Deep Valley very soon and can't wait to share it with you!

Big thanks to Harper Perennial for sending me this volume for review and for republishing them!!

Heaven to Betsy

This month I've been enjoying Maud Hart Lovelace.  She is the author of the delightful Betsy-Tacy series.  This series was written in the 1940 and 1950's but takes place at the turn of the century (1898-1917).  The first book Betsy-Tacy begins right before the main character, Betsy's fifth birthday.  The series is all about the adventures of Betsy and her best friend Tacy as they grow up.  Last year I wrote about Betsy-Tacy.

I am once again taking part in the Maud Hart Lovelace reading challenge hosted by Library Hospital.  Since I now own the volume Heaven to Betsy/Betsy in Spite of Herself (and the later volumes, too!), I was excited to dive in to the books!

Heaven to Betsy took me back to my high school days.  Betsy is really growing up and is no longer the little girl she once was.  Betsy and Tacy are now freshmen in high school.  Betsy becomes part of the Crowd-the popular kids at school who enjoy so much together.

Heaven to Betsy really gives you a great peek at Betsy's family-the Rays.  Mr. and Mrs. Ray have a loving and respectful marriage.  They love their children, but understand their need to be kids.  The children demonstrate love to each other and their parents.  Julia (Betsy's sister) and Betsy's friends are welcome into their home before and after school and for onion sandwiches on Sunday nights.  It makes me want to join in the fun, and by reading, I was kind of part of the parties!

Though I may not have been popular like Betsy, I still relate well to the friendships and even her interactions with all the boys.  I don't think Betsy is boy crazy, but she certainly cares about what they think of her.  Well, maybe she is slightly obsessed with one certain boy, but I didn't mind.   I think the boys and Betsy flirt, but some of it also seems like brotherly/sisterly teasing, too.

I just loved this book, but I thought I would throw a little FYI out there.  At some Christmas parties there is some use of a Ouija board.  It seems innocent, but still something that a parent may want to address.

These books were written based on Maud Hart Lovelace's diaries, and I am amazed at how much "daily" history is included.  One thing that truly surprised me is how often the teens of Deep Valley are using the telephone!  Some things never change!

I've been reading Betsy in Spite of Herself, too.  It's hard to believe, but I've been enjoying this even more than Heaven to Betsy with all the extra history lessons in the story!  Please know that these little history lessons are just part of the story.  I don't think they ever seem to be preachy or teach-y though.  Maud Hart Lovelace naturally brings some facts into the stories since she really lived through the story.  I'm not through with this book yet, but I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

I was recommending this series to my friend whose daughter is an avid reader.  (She had already read many.) Another friend who is in her sixties, excitedly asked if I was referring to Betsy-Tacy and Tib books!  She read them as a little girl!

I highly recommend these for anyone who likes to live in the past or who enjoy Anne of Green Gables!  They are just a joy to read.

Thank you to the Library Hospital for giving the challenge to read and to Reading to Know for the giveaway where I won this book!  (And HarperCollins Publishers for reprinting them and sending them to me!)

Betsy-Tacy

I have another series to read! Reading to Know introduced me to the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace, but I really found out lots of information that had me intrigued at Library Hospital. You can read a recent post here. I have to admit, I have only read the first book in the series, Betsy-Tacy, but I loved it. It is of a simpler time. It's a chapter book about two little girls with wonderful imaginations. Simple illustrations would encourage a young reader to read even more.

Most of the characters and events are based on Mrs. Lovelace's growing up years. One of the fabulous things about these books is that they grow with the reader. Each book's reading difficulty (and content) and vocabulary grow with the reader from what I understand. The series begins with five year olds Betsy and Tacy. It ends with the book Betsy's Wedding.

So now I have a problem. Do I put these books (ALL of them, and the companion too) on my wish list, or do I wait and hope that M might enjoy them and give her them one at a time beginning with her fifth birthday?

I borrowed Betsy-Tacy from the library as I do with almost all the books I read, but they only have the next book in the series. Hmm. I am not so sure I want to wait! If you enjoy the Little House or Anne of Green Gables books like I do, I highly recommend you consider reading this series too! (Honestly, I haven't read Little House series in 25ish years, but I do own it now! I have listened to as many of the Anne books on audio as I could find, but I haven't actually read each one.)

If you have a girl who can read in your life, you could also introduce her! Don't forget to check out the Library Hospital's Betsy-Tacy posts for more info! She has been a long time fan, unlike me who never heard of them until recently! Have you read it before? Do you plan to read them? Tell me your thoughts!