Customer Reviews

Jane of Lantern Hill

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When I first read this book, I had in fact never even heard of it before. On completing it I was surprised at this. Jane is probably one of Montgomery's most rounded characters, actually expressing the anguish that was only hinted at in other characters in other books.The tragedy of the lonely child trapped with her weak, unhappy mother and her bitter, dictatorial grandmother deals skilfully with the theme of divorce and seperation, and was probably considered revolutionary in its day.Jane's pain is very real as are the numerous lovable characters that populate this book.It might be considered dated and old fashioned today but a truly insightful and sensitive reader will sympathize with Jane and rejoice at her happiness.A beautiful and poignant book, that would set many readers thinking.

I read this in my early teens, after I had read most of the LMM books (the Anne series, the Emily series, etc.) I loved them all, especially the Emily series, but Jane of Lantern Hill is my favorite of them all. Jane Stuart is not, as many of LMM's other heroines are, obsessed with the idea of being a writer, storyteller, etc. There is no potential boyfriend/husband lurking in the story either. This book is more about the how understanding and love can transform an introverted, unhappy child into a confident, intelligent girl (the story ends when Jane is about age 14.) In that sense she's really one of the most understandable and likeable of LMM's heroines. She is also very modern. You can easily imagine her growing up to become a successful career woman, something you can't really say for many of LMM's other heroines, other than the at-home and time-flexible occupation of writing. If I had an early-teen daughter I would buy this book for her, especially if she has any self-confidence issues.

This is also one of the few books that deals with the subject of divorce or the separation of parents from the perspective of the child in an intelligent way. Given the time that it was written, divorce was a horrible taboo, and the resolution of the story is a bit unrealistic perhaps. That's the only quibble I have with the book.

Incidentally there was a television movie based on this book, by the same people who did the excellent Anne of Green Gables series (at least, the first two parts of that series were excellent). Don't bother with the Jane movie if you love the book..it only vaguely resembles it.

As someone who spent many hours alone as a child, I found I could really relate to this book. I first discovered it when I was eleven or twelve. I loved reading about how Jane'e grandmother dominated her and made her feel out of place and about how people at school regarded Jane, because I was treated in the same way. If you've ever been pushed around as a child, or as an adult, read this book. I'm 21 and have been forced to grow up rather quickly in my life, still I enjoy this wonderful novel. I thought the character of the mother could have been more developed, otherwise it was absolutely a stunning work of art. Go SUPERIOR JANE! I can also relate to the way Montgomery portrays Jane's dad, and Jane's relationship with her dad. It's interesting how when Jane sees her father's picture in a magazine, even though she does not know it is him she cuts it out and keeps it, and it is heart-breaking how her grandmother takes it away from her. It is touching how Jane helps her poor orphaned friend and neighbor, and her grandmother's disdain for this makes one exceedingly angry. I also thought Jane's mother did not defend her daughter enough. Montgomery's own father made himself scarce to her when she was young, moving out West and remarrying. Montgomery seems to have never gotten over this, so when she describes characters like Emily's father, and Jane's father, she does a wonderful job of speaking of how intimate they are with their daughters. As a child of divorce I loved reading of how Jane played a role in getting her parents back together. .......

It does not do any justice to this book to say something like "If you liked Anne Of Green Gables, you'll like this", as I have heard so many reviewers do. This book is thousands of more times insightful and poetic then any of the Anne books. I had read some of Anne, and thought to my self "there's got to be something better than this." Thankfully I discovered the Emily series, and was in total awe of her books. Then a friend mentioned the books (Well actually she said it was the best book ever, but it was something to that effect:) A couple months later I was at the library and I saw _Jane of Lantern Hill_ poking out of the shelf. I thought what the hell, I'll give it a try. So I picked it up and turned to the first page....and WOW! The poor librarian had quite a time getting it from me to check it out. I am now going to invest in the hardcover for myself,which I rarely do once I've read it, but this book is worth it. Practicly every line in this book is poetry, yet it never gets tedious. It strikes me as tragic that Maud wrote about a thousan Anne books, Three Emily books, and not even a sequal to this stunning piece of literature. Pure art. Superior Jane! harhar. Well, I'm still getting over there being no sequals, *sniff*. I was dreadin the end of this book the first time I read it (two reads ago) and It's still hard... Ah well, Think about it. This is one of the books that stands out most to me. Ok, maybe don't read it. I feel as though it's "my" book... You know? Oh well. Enjoy! ~Rosa

I have to say, I'm 25 years old and I still want to *be* Jane.

I've read this book countless times and as with all of Ms. Montgomery's work it grows with you. Far ahead of its contemporary novels in female characterization, Jane with her "can-do" attitude is a great role model for the girls of today. Not to mention the usual careful attention to detail this author is known for which makes her books enjoyable for all ages. As mysteries unfold and lives change you find yourself more and more ensconced in Jane's world. Jane is a very real character with her at times very adult and utterly disarming perceptions of her world and its inhabitants. Watch as a sullen, moody girl living under her grandmother's thumb becomes a bright and capable young woman fully realizing her potential due to new and unexpected influences in her life. Each step of Jane's personal transformation is fascinating and inspiring.

I do believe this was the final novel L. M. Montgomery wrote and the amazing talent inherent in all of her books combines with a lifetime of experience to make this an utterly enthralling read.

The only way I can convey how spellbinding this novel is to say: I don't recommend picking it up unless you have the time to read the entire book.

I first read Jane of Lantern Hill as an adult and loved it. I found that even as an adult I identified with Jane and her struggles to really belong somewhere. As I read the author's descriptions of Prince Edward Island through Jane's eyes and the depth of her response to it, tears spilled over, for Lucy wasn't writing about Jane: she was writing about me as a former Californian, and now resident in Ireland by choice. Lucy M. Montgomery must have experienced that same sense of place; she knew Prince Edward Island as her "spirit's home." Kathleen Norris has written of this concept in her non-fiction book, Dakota: A Spiritual Geography. As entertaining as Lucy's story is, as Jane copes with her domineering grandmother, her intimidated mother, and a father she never knew, I think Jane's discovery of who she was and the role that "place" played in her own emotional development has far more impact on the reader than the engaging story of Jane's family. I filled pages in my journal with quotations from this book. This book could be a catalyst in helping readers discover who they really are and where they are most at home.

This rating is for the Amereon Hardcover Edition of 'Jane of Lantern Hill' with the $27.95 list price. The actual story is, of course, worthy of five stars. But this hardcover edition, the only one I could find in print, is HORRIBLE.

It says it's published on acid-free paper in a limited edition of 80 copies. This may be true, but what use is it when the book is unreadable? First off the text looks like it was badly photocopied from an old paperback copy, with lots of black smudges all over the pages and the text very blurry. Secondly, many of the pages have printing errors where the text is smashed together (i.e. several lines are all printed in the same space). This occurs on pages 13, 24-25, 29, 141, 163, 195, and 215. If you don't have another copy of 'Jane of Lantern Hill' to refer to, it would make for a very frustrating reading experience.

I have a long-beloved and cherished copy of 'Jane of Lantern Hill' (a book I've loved as much as 'Anne of Green Gables' and the 'Emily' series) and I was thrilled to think I'd found a hardcover copy of the book. Alas, this senseless killing of trees is getting shipped back for a refund. I'd recommend ordering a used paperback copy over this version any day; at least you could read the paperback!

This was L.M. Montgomery's very last book that she's ever written during her lifetime. I own all of Montgomery's books, and after reading them over and over again, I have to say that this book is the best of her writings (right after the Anne of Green Gables series, of course...). I highly recommend this book, and encourage you to read it, for it shows what kind of inner strength and courage one can possess. Additionally, I recommend all of Montgomery's books to read, for being an avid fan, her books can teach us many lessons that we ourselves can apply during our lifetime.

When I first read this book I just loved it, and since then I have read it hundreds of times. It's a book full of fun (but also sad parts for a change). If you liked the Anne of Green Gables novels including Anne, I'm sure you'll like this one that featurs on Jane Stuart.

I picked up this book because I had seen bits and pieces of the movie. I don't remember much about the movie anymore, but the book is great! Jane is one of the rare, thoroughly likable characters out there. The thousands of minute details are what make this book. You can read it many times over and the quirks of the Island people make it story come to life. The action is idealized, with a kind of back-in-the-good-ole-days feel, but everyone needs a little of that once in a while. I would like to live in Jane's world. Reading this book is like treating yourself to something wholesome but delicious. The parent-child relationship achieves a sense of real love as few books do. This book lets you grow up with Jane, and it is triumphant and laced with genuine life-lessons. Her despair and pain are real and touching without being over-dramatic. I can't help wondering if this was one of the first children's books written about divorce. Young people will like this book, and it won't do adults any harm, either.