Customer Reviews

A Brief History of Montmaray (The Montmaray Journals)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Because I have nine grandchildren, 5 of which fall into the category of teen or young adult, I read many teen and young adult books as a preface to providing them as gifts. A Brief History of Montmaray is at the top of my list for being entertaining, suspenseful, and well-written. The author paints such a vivid picture of this island and its inhabitants -- all through the eyes of a young teenage girl -- that it's hard to believe it's a fictitious place. I had to put a sweater on while reading because I could feel the chill in the dark and dank castle! What a talent Michelle Cooper has to be able to bring the characters so effectively to life just through a first person narrative! I'm not a teen or young adult, but I was totally captivated by the story, and I'm hoping for a sequel. Ms. Cooper didn't have to resort to vampires, werewolves, or the like to write a terrific book -- scary Nazis work just as well. I highly recommend it to teens, tweens, young adults, grandmothers -- anyone looking for a good read. The only problem was it was over too soon!

Sophia FitzOsborne lives with her cousin Veronica, and her younger sister and tomboy Henry on the small island of Montmaray, located in the Bay of Biscay. They, along with Sophia's older brother Toby, are the last descendants of the royal family of Montmaray, and despite their titles, live in near poverty in their crumbling castle. Sophia begins writing about her life and dreams in her journal as war brews in Europe and crises strike the small island. Then, when a small group of Nazis arrive at Montmaray, wanting to see the castle's library, everything changes irrevocably for the FitzOsbornes and their tiny country.

A Brief History of Montmaray is simply divine. It is the best imaginable combination of wit, hardship, love, adventure, and history. Sophia is such a genuine and truly likable character, and her clever descriptions of her home and the quirky and unique individuals that inhabit Montmaray are unforgettable. The wry and self-deprecating humor that comes with being poor is endearing, and as much as they struggle, the characters are dignified and strong and completely engrossing. Sophia is a dreamer, and while she loves her home and her family, she can't help but want to see London and experience the balls and parties and dinners her aunt frequently takes part in. She is torn between wanting to leave and loyalty to her home and Veronica, who refuses to abandon Montmaray. The life these orphans live and the history of their island is fascinating and impeccably detailed and researched, making it hard to believe that Montmaray and the FitzOsbornes don't actually exist. The action scenes towards the end are quite harrowing and filled with surprising revelations, making for a suspenseful conclusion. A Brief History of Montmaray is a lovely, unique, and entertaining book in the spirit of Daphne du Maurier, Eva Ibbotson, and Dodie Smith's I Capture the Castle, and one that will make the rest of the books in your reading pile seem lackluster and boring in comparison.

Even though I was certain Montmaray was not a real place, I continually second guessed myself throughout reading the text. Cooper does such a fantastic job of creating a believable history, topography, and culture for this imaginary island that it makes it difficult to believe it's not an actual place.

Also, typically I don't like the whimsical girl 1st person narrative, but I believe it worked for this story very well. However, there were sometimes where the journal concept Cooper uses to tell the story breaks down a bit. By that I mean specifically that the events and the way Sophie is relaying those events seem less like a girl writing in her journal and more like a standard 3rd person omniscient narrator.

The most accomplished element of the book is certainly the intertextual weaving of historical fiction with historical fact over the course of the history of Montmaray with the rest of Europe, as well as the discussions that arise between the characters about their roles in the world as European royalty given the tumultuous nature of Europe at the time. The war feels real told through the eyes of Sophie as does everything else about her little island kingdom. I recommend this novel to readers 13-17.

-Lindsey Miller, [...]

This book is Sophie's first person diary/journal account of the events and people of the island kingdom of Montmaray. Set in 1936 the world is gearing up for turmoil, and it soon becomes clear that Montmaray will not be immune.

As the residents of Montmaray continue to relocate, and as the king grows more and more senile, the duties and responsibilities fall to his children and his nieces and nephews - most under the age of twenty. So, when an offer comes from an aunt for Sophie and her cousin Veronica to come to England, Sophie is torn between her desire to see London and her loyalty to Montmaray.

I was instantly captivated by Cooper's style and I liked Sophie's voice and character. It felt honest and real and a good counterpart to all the other vivid characters of the story. The plot kept me guessing and I was surprised more than once.

Admittedly, this book is probably more 4 1/2 stars because a few sections did seem a tad slow. But, the ending was so much the opposite that I bumped it up a notch. That said, for me *personally* it was probably a four star enjoyment level as I was quite surprised (and made a tad queasy) by a few of the chapters/scenes. The book takes a rather dark and gruesome turn about half-way through (which thankfully doesn't last much more than two or three chapters), and while nothing was horribly detailed, the idea of night intruders and mutilation were enough to make me stop reading this book before bed - but not enough to make me stop reading it all together ;)

Not only am I curious to read the next installment - I've already ordered it :)

When Princess Sophia FitzOsborne receives a journal from her brother for her 16th birthday she isn't sure what to write. She considers herself the plain middle child in an eccentric family. At first Sophia writes about her dream of going to London and making her debut and charming everyone with her poise. She writes about her crush on the housekeeper's son Simon and about her frustrations being the middle child in an eccentric family. Simon arrives from London with news of the Spanish Civil War and bickers with Veronica over what role Montmaray should play in international affairs. It's confusing for Sophia who doesn't understand the difference between Communists, Facists and Socialists or why she should care what is happening outside of her country. Then her life changes forever when two strangers appear flying a flag with an inverted cross and searching for information. As the situation becomes more dangerous, Veronica's composure begins to crumble and Sophia must take the lead or their country and their lives will be in danger. This is a brilliant coming of age story set just before World War II in a fictional island nation off the coast of Spain. Sophia is a good narrator. She's quiet, caring and observant yet she doubts her own abilities until faced with a crisis. All of the characters truly come to life and become flesh and blood before the reader's eyes. The author does an amazing job sharing the history of Montmaray, complete with quirky ancestors. I loved the epic poem which Violet dismisses as nonsense but provides the comic relief in the story. I also loved the literary references from Jane Austen and the Brontes, to Shakespeare and Tennyson. The plot starts slow but halfway through it picks up and doesn't let go until the very end. My only real complaint is Sophia's moments of introspection and speculation on great issues which seem out of character for her and a bit forced.This story will make you laugh and it will break your heart and make you cry before it's over. I highly recommend this book for older teens and adults. If you are considering giving this book to a younger teen or child you should be aware that there are veiled references to sex "IT" and the crime for which Oscar Wilde was imprisoned.

I was completely captivated by "A Brief History of Montmaray" The plot builds with such subtle skill that I was absolutely sucked in to the breathtaking conclusion--even as I had kind of figured out most of the "revelations" along the way. What I love is that it goes from describing all the quirky, endearingly hum-drum aspects of everyday life (as "everyday" as it can be for the few remaining members of the royal family of Montmaray in their crumbling castle on an island two hundred miles from anywhere in Europe) to being this heart-pumping adventure of political intrigue and family tragedy and, ultimately, of hope. The characters are what really sold it for me, though. It's a cast of characters that, in less skilled authorial hands, could be laughable characatures but here it all seems absolutely plausible: the insane king; his stalwart, beautiful and bookish teenage daughter; the good-hearted, easygoing (too easygoing) nephew and reluctant heir to the throne (off to University in England); the niece on the cusp of adulthood (our narrator), who learns lessons about love and responsibility and heritage and progress; the other niece, Henrietta-who-prefers-to-be-called-Henry and wishes she was a boy (and acts like one); Simon, the son of the housekeeper who is so handsome and outgoing and with whom our narrator may possibly be in love--or, at least, deep infatuation. There are family secrets and Nazis and storms and peril. The distant allure of London and civilization beckon, yet crumbling Montmaray Castle holds fast to our narrator's heart. I've no doubt it will stay in mine, too.

This is classified as "historical fiction" and while the entire Montmaray family and "kingdom" is the fiction aspect, many key figures and events of WWII are woven into the story so skillfully and seamlessly. I think this is what all good historical fiction is about--giving you characters you really care about and enticing you to read THEIR story, while along the way you might actually learn something--or remember something that you forgot from much less interesting textbooks.

As for the inevitable comparisons to "I Capture the Castle"--I really don't think there are many besides that it's a coming-of-age story featuring a scribbling teenager living in a decrepit castle. And that both are quite good ;-)

Sophie lives on a remote island of Montmaray along with the other members of her royal family. She decides one day to start journaling about the events at Montmaray, everything from what the crazy King does to the intense island weather. Everything is pretty normal until 1936 when they find out that there's war on the mainland. It all seems very far off from Montmaray until two German officers end up on the island searching for artifacts. The war, then, becomes alarmingly real to Sophie and her family. Michelle Cooper's A Brief History of Montmaray is an interesting tale that fans of Dodie Smith's I Capture the Castle will enjoy.

As I was reading this book, I couldn't help but make connections to I Capture the Castle, which I read a few years ago and really enjoyed. Who doesn't love to read about a bookish heroine with crazy relatives in a collapsing castle? It's all very Gothic and romantic at times. Granted, A Brief History of Montmaray is not as good as I Capture the Castle, but if you enjoy a similar story, you will like Cooper's take on a royal family living on a remote island.

It is written in diary format, which was both good and bad. For the most part I enjoyed Sophie and her journal, but at times, it was a bit bland. My favorite part would have to be when the two German officers arrived. I was on the edge of my seat. I also couldn't believe the ending of this book and now that I know there is a sequel, The FitzOsbornes in Exile, I must get my hands on a copy. I think I may enjoy it even more since Sophie will be in London and hopefully attending balls.

All in all, fans of I Capture the Castle as well as historical fiction will enjoy A Brief History of Montmaray, but don't expect too much romance just yet. Let's hope there is more of that coming up for Sophie in the sequel.

A Brief History of Montmaray is a book that manages to be both simple and complex at the same time. It is the story of a girl living a mundane life in a poor, isolated island with her family and a few friends. But it is also a story filled with vibrant personalities, from Sophie's intellectual cousin Veronica to her tomboy little sister Henry. It is also the story of a pivotal time in history, at the eve of World War II where the Nazis are already starting to meet their mark.

Many people who review this book compare it to I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith. I hate to repeat a tired theme, but it really did remind me a lot of I Capture The Castle. The feel of the books is the same. Unfortunately, I liked I Capture the Castle, but did not love it. I feel very much the same about A Brief History of Montmaray.

Let's start with what I loved. The characters. Without a doubt. Michelle Cooper created a group of quirky, charismatic characters who make you laugh more often than not. Sophie is a nice, fairly plain girl who is surrounded by extreme personalities. Henry has to prove to everyone she is all boy. Veronica has to constantly be intellectual. Rebecca has to be constantly unpleasant and worship mad King John. The list goes on. While the characters are eccentric, they are also well developed. By the end of the book, they are more than their quirks.

I also loved the idea of the book. Montmaray is a fictional island off the coast of England that has its own monarchy (I didn't realize it was fictional at first and had to Wikipedia it to find out). Sophie is part of the royal family, but other than her bloodline, she is as poor as a churchmouse. The book is very atmospheric. You feel the cold gloom of Montmaray, but also the beauty of the small, closeknit island. You'll wish to see the FitzOsborne castle even if it is one storm away from crumbling to the ground.

Now onto what I didn't like. It was dull. The plot didn't really get going until two thirds through the book. Then it moved fairly quickly and definitely held my attention. But until that point not much happened. By itself, that isn't a bad thing. The book is more character driven than plot driven and I definitely had a good feel for the characters. But there's also a happy balance that one should reach between just following along with the character's relatively boring life and an actual plot. This missed that balance.

Overall, A Brief History of Montmaray is a beautiful book with characters you'll quickly love. It is frustratingly slow at times, but still worth reading.

Rating: 3 / 5

This book is a checklist of all the things that make a little romantic literary girl with intellectual pretensions sigh long into the night. Set in 1936 on the fictional island of Montmaray (halfway between England and France), both the stakes and the political intrigue are high. The plot is seasoned with orphaned royals and a mad king for a nice Dickensian-Shakespearian-Bronte mashup, making this tiny island a microcosm of the microcosmic moors. Unlike much literature for this age group, Cooper respects the reader's intelligence all the way, and manages to subtly educate the reader through the protagonist's discoveries rather than through lecturing. It turns into a real page turner at the end, and I can't wait to read the next book. I highly recommend this for all literary-minded teens who stroll past their moonlit windows longing for the greater world, as well as for adults who've been out there and are now strangely nostalgic for their days of entrapment, when the life they live now was so much more intriguing.

Sophie FitzOsboune lives on Montmaray in a castle--well not technically a castle--along with her younger sister Henry and her cousin Veronica. They also live with Veronica's father, the king of Montmaray, but he has sort of been mad for a while. Sophie's brother send her a journal for her sixteenth birthday, which is where our story begins. Sheltered and living on the island, Sophie has only her journal as a close confidant. She writes about day-to-day life as well as her crush on their housekeeper's son. When the war starts growing on the mainlands though, eventually news of it reaches their seclude island. When Germans dock on Montmaray, things take a turn for the worse. As miscommunication and her uncles insanity escalates matters out of control, Sophie gets a first hand look at what the politics of war mean.

This story was very fascinating. It takes place in 1936, a few years after World War I, just at the beginning of the second World War. Montmaray though in the bay of Bascay, is quite sheltered and remote from all the news and hub-bub of the mainlands. They get their news from mailed over papers and the letters from Sophie's brother, Toby. I really appreciated the journal format. It allowed us to watch Sophie grow as things happened. At first her entries were of trivial matters, but as time wears on, with the war, she takes moments to reexamine what she originally though to be her truths. Sophie was a very endearing narrator and I loved her accounts of life on Montmaray. At times the story seemed to lag, I think this was due in part to them living in seclusion, and not too much happening when you can't leave an island with the population of less than a dozen people. If you are one who really enjoys historical fiction, I would definitely pick this one up. It was humorous at times, and horrifying at others. It had moments where your heart was in your throat and you had no idea what might happen next. I really think the fact that it was written as a journal added so much to this story. Things have already happened and are being recounted, but then there is more that happens afterwards that then needs to be told. It was part reflection, part in the moment, which made this story feel very real. I am very much looking forward to picking up the next story, FitzOsbornes in Exile in April. This story wrapped up nicely, but I would love to know what happens next.

First Line:
"Dear Sophie,
Happy Birthday to my favorite little sister!"

Favorite Line:
"Today has been something out of a Brontė novel-strangers having staggered across the hostile moors to collapse upon our doorstep, begging for shelter, and they're not truly strangers."