Customer Reviews

Emily Climbs

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Emily Climbs was the first of the Emily books that I read, and it's the best. Testament to that is the fact that my own copy is falling apart :). Emily Climbs is an achingly beautiful, realistic, and poetical work, that improves upon re-reading. It holds the middle ground between the innocence of Emily Of New Moon, and the darkness of Emily's Quest.

Do not expect this book to be another Anne of Green Gables! The Anne books are for children, the Emily books are not. There is much more to this book than anyone would expect -- wonderful, complex characters, and very subtle, sly underlying themes. This book is a slamming indictment of small-minded Victorian society. Emily herself is no pure, innocent character (read the chapter about the Old John House). She has a dark side that makes her fascinating. Anne was sweet, but Emily is bittersweet. People who are already familiar with L.M.Montgomery's unique humour will know what to expect, but to those who have not read her books before, trust me, there are passages that WILL make you laugh out loud. Basically what I'm trying to say is -- if your idea of literature is the Sweet Valley High books, then you won't enjoy this book. For those who will enjoy it...well, you know who you are :).

The second book of the Emily of New Moon trilogy, Emily Climbs continues the story of Emily Byrd Starr. All of L.M. Montgomery's books contain beautiful imagery, whimsical characters, and lovely subplots that bring hints of romance into an otherwise frank story free of modern sex and gore. In contrast to the Anne series, Emily of New Moon is more realistic and a touch darker, viewing the hardships of life in a much more straightforward manner. Emily is just as imaginative and earnest as Anne, but she has a deeper yearning for the chance to write, and seems to suffer much more than Anne ever did. This tale of childhood and womanhood is characterized by Montgomery's flowery writing and brilliant backdrops, but heightened by the sadness and cutting hypocrisy that is finally allowed to shine through, making the Emily series all the more beautiful during the almost painfully happy moments.

What? How can you say there's no action. Sure, there's not sword fighting or high speed chases...but who can help but feel the suspense when that little boy was lost or when Emily is the gossip of the town over her stay in the old John House? I try to read a chapter of one of my books each night...and if there is one instance where I can't stop at the end of a chapter and go to bed, it's a good book to me! So far, while reading this book, it's happened three times!

Maybe there's no action in the broader sense of the term...but I think this book is exciting!

"Emily Climbs" is the middle volume of the Emily trilogy written by Lucy Maud Montgomery, which tells the story of the orphaned Emily Byrd Starr, a character much closer in temperament and vocation to the author than that of Anne Shirley. After all, Emily is an aspiring writer and learning her craft is a key thread in these stories. Written in 1925, "Emily Climbs" is set at the turn of the century in "the olden years before the world turned upside down" (to wit, the First World War). In her room in the old New Moon farmhouse at Blair Water, Emily is content to write in the books given her by Cousin Jimmy. These Jimmy-books have become her diary and have replaced the letters she had written in her childhood to her dead father. Excerpts from the diary are used to link together the various events in the book.

The problem is not only that Emily is trying to develop her writing talent on her won, but that as far as her guardian Aunt Elizabeth Murray is concerned, writing is beneath a member of the Murray clan, even if Emily's last name is Starr. So when Emily, who is becoming a young woman, wants to go to the high school in Shrewsbury with the rest of her friends, Aunt Elizabeth will give permission only if Emily stops writing fiction for three years. Although Emily needs to write the way most people need to breath, she agrees and takes another step in her climb to adulthood. To add insult to injury, Emily has to stay with her Aunt Ruth while going to school, in a room that she thinks will never be anything like a home for her. Obviously this is a recurring element in Montgomery's books, where the young female protagonist has to win over the sour older person, so we know that Aunt Ruth is going to thaw sooner or later and that Emily will turn the unfriendly room into a place where she can be happy.

Much of "Emily Climbs" is devoted to what happens while Emily is away at Shrewsbury, where she has to do both with the prospects of romance and an opportunity to limb even higher on the path to her dream of being a writer. Montgomery uses Emily journal entries, which are clearly non-fiction despite their often narrative nature, to great advantage to get into Emily's psyche and her growth during these three years away at school (although I would have liked to have actually read Emily's class prophecies). The supernatural element of Emily's second sight, which had a significant impact in the first novel, "Emily of New Moon," shows up a couple of times in this novel to help save a missing child and Emily herself. Consequently, this middle volume is more of a character study and a series of life lessons for Emily than anything else, setting up the final volume where she tries to publish her first novel and to figure out her love life as well.

I'm 13, and this is one of my favourite books. Contrary to what others may see between innocent lines, it has no inappropriate content. The set of characters in this book is amazing--lively and interesting, and the situations Emily's caught in are so realistic. You'll find yourself re-reading this book over and over in one afternoon. I find it has tons of adventure and comedy, and moves /very/ fast...too fast. This is Emily's personality at its best. If you want a spunky, mysterious, and lightly romantic read, I wouldn't hesitate to reccomend this to anyone over the age of 11.

I read these books when I was about eleven and I liked them so I decided to read them again at fourteen I had no recollection of these books being so wonderful! To me as an aspiring writer, they were very inspirational. The language that Miss Montgomery uses is so beautiful that I often got lost in the words of the book, drowned in a sea of beatiful phrases and thoughts. Through all three books you journey with Emily on her quest for happiness, love, and the ability to write and get published. They are at times dark, sentimental, and above all else lovely. I cannot recommend this book enough. I cried at the end of Emily's Quest (the third book) the only books that have made me cry are Little Women, Gone With the Wind, and A Walk to Remember (yes it is a book as well as a movie) Finishing the series was kind of like losing a friend, but it is comforting to know that I can look in on dreamy Emily, bouyant Perry, wild Ilse, and enigmatic Teddy whenever I feel the need. These books add a savour to life, you notice things you've never noticed before. I found myself enjoying nature and all the wonderful things it brings after I finished this book. I started comparing the wind to a woman after I read the books, have you ever noticed that the wind caresses your cheek when it whispers by, just like a woman. She can be gentle and calm and at the same time vicious. After you read this story you will notice simple things like that, life will have a new savour. I love this series. Anyone who reads these will enter the realm of Emily. You will laugh with her, cry with her, anguish over her losses, and above all else, rejoice over her victories.

This is the best book in the Emily series. Most definately, it is full of action and excitement. We watch Emily grow into a mature young woman as she realizes what her dreams are. This book, in my opinion, is the best of the Emily books because Emily grows so much and becomes such a great person. I am 13 and can relate so well to Emily. To anyone who wants a good book or needs some INSIPIRATION, read this book!

I began reading LM Montgomery at age 10, with Anne of Green Gables, as most girls do. But when I moved on to Emily, I truly fell in love. In fact, I spent my entire 10 year old savings on LM Montgomery books after reading Emily of New Moon.

Emily's school years are a difficult time, just as they are for any teenager. She has to constantly choose whether to be herself, or be who her family wants her to be. Even though the struggles may be different than those of modern girls, the theme is the same.

It breaks my heart that LM Montgomery books periodically go out of print. I encourage anyone who wants to own her books to get them when they see them, or they may have to wait a long time for them to come back into print.

These books, the Emily Books (Emily of New Moon, Emily Climbs and Emily's Quest) are some of the most wonderful, joyful creations I have ever read. I am connected to Emily, both as a young girl, aspiring writer, and soulful person, and the stories of her life have captured and entranced me to an extent unimagineable. I read these books hungrily, sometimes ten chapters a night, and rarely was I dissapointed; only then because I felt that I would have done something different. But then, I am not Emily, nor am I the author--when it comes right down to it, Emily IS Maud, and vise versa, because all characters are truly a facet of the author's mind and personality. Like a sapphire in brilliant moonlight. Another thing: these books are life. They are realistic, captivating and they explore the life and heart of an INNOCENT young girl, without extreme vulgarities or trash; if you are looking for sex scenes, try Cathy Cash Spellman and Danielle Steele. Do not attempt, please, to call these books BORING and DULL. Why are they so, I ask? Why and how can a person find them so? I'd like to know, really I would, and mayhap it will enlighten me. Or you. In these fairy-spun tomes, Miss Montgomery has captured the flavor of a real, human girl, as unlike Anne Shirley as I can imagine; surely there are SOME similarities. But, then, would Anne ever think about Gilbert Blythe in her journal as Emily thought of the charming artistic Teddy Kent?--"Yet she was admitting to herself with a secret candour that would have horrified Aunt Elizabeth that she wanted torun her fingers through his sleek black hair--feel his arms about her--press her face against his dark tender one--feel his lips on her lips--" Obviously, Emily is more human and passionate and soulful than ever Anne Shirley was--although I do love the Green Gables series, and admire it greatly for it's wholesome content and humerous anecdotes. Miss Montgomery was wonderful, and the greatest gift imagineable for me would be--some day--to have one of my works compared to hers. Or put in the same category.

I absolutely love the books in the Emily series, and though I love all of them, EMily Clmibs is my favorite!! I think it the funniest, with Emily having to go and live with Aunt Ruth, and put up with snobby classmates, and rumors about her and her friends. I like the touch of romance in it, with Teddy saving her from Mad Mr. Harrison. The ending leaves the reader wondering what Teddy's feelings are for EMily, and it makes one want to read the next book. I only wish LMM wrote more Emily books! And why doesn't someone make an EMily movie?? I would love to be her....