Customer Reviews

Return to Gone-Away

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Enright makes her first foray into juvenile mystery as an element of this story. The Blakes have purchased Mrs. Brace-Gideon's old mansion, the Villa Caprice, just back from Gone-Away Lake, to be their summer home. The focus of the book is in their efforts to restore it--and in the children's quest to discover the hidden safe which (so their "Aunt" Minnehaha tells them) exists somewhere in the house. I always find myself wishing I could get my hands on a house like this one! Another splendid Enright, gloriously returned to print.

This is the sequel to Gone Away Lake, and it pretty much picks up from where the first book left off. The Blakes were able to purchase the Villa Caprice that the kids discovered in the first book. The family is back for another summer and continues to clean and restore the house. In the beginning of the story, Aunt Minnehaha tells a story and informs the family that there used to be a hidden safe in the house, which Julian makes it his mission to find. This is not the main plot of the story, as with the first book, this has no main plot, but just follows the children throughout their summer. And just like the first book, this is a wonderful and charming story that adults and children will enjoy. It is just as good as the first book. I highly recommend it!!!

I was happy to see this book, a few years back, as a part of a classroom reading set. I use it in my fifth grade classroom. The myterious setting, plot and unique but real characters with the yarns of the past, are beloved by fifth graders. The book is so popular I am down to fifteen copies. Our poor school district finally passed a levy and then I find its out of print. I hope that it comes back into print so I don't have to end this anxiously awaited reading.

I bought this book and "Gone Away Lake" for my 10-year old son. He liked them a lot, and I loved them. If I had discovered these books as a child, they would have been some of my favorites. I highly recommend them both.

Elizabeth Enright is an extraordinary author. I've read three books by her (Gone Away Lake, Return To Gone Away, and The Four Story Mistake) and I wanted to know more about the families. I felt like I knew the characters. I appreciate what Miss Enright left for us.

I would have liked to have seen more "Gone Away" stories--more tales from Aunt Min and Uncle Pin's childhoods, more discoveries in the old houses, more adventures in the woods. But, I guess Portia and Julian were getting older, and would have turned into (uh!) teenagers before too long.

I wonder how far Villa Caprice/Ambersides was from the Four Story Mistake? Crossover fanfic, anyone?

This sequel isn't quite as good as the original, but I'd still give it an "A-". You can expect more interesting stories of Mr. Payton and Mrs. Cheever's childhood (and I am green with envy over Mrs. Brace-Gideon's house.) I can't believe this lovely book has been allowed to go out of print!

I have to say that this sequel and the first book are one of the best books I've ever read-as a child and as an adult. The poetic writing takes you to a different time and place effortlessly. I like to read it each summer because it feels like an actual vacation to a simpler and more peaceful time.
The two Gone-Away books are one of those reads that you wish would never end, really. It always makes me a bit sad to reach the end because each character is so likable, especially Aunt Minnehaha and Uncle Pin.
I would definitely recommend both books because they truly are little gems.

Thanks to our local library, my daughter and I have enjoyed several playaways which are basically all-in-one audiobooks. All one needs is a triple A battery and one is set to go. At our local library, patrons are expected to supply their own batteries and headphones (the latter because of hygiene concerns). They are really small and inconspicuous so that it makes it convenient to slip into a purse, bring it along to the gym or while exercising outdoors & indoors, and also on car trips. Although it is an all-in-one audiobook, the playaway can also be heard via a CD player with the use of an adapter.

The operation of the playaway is simple - one just plugs in earphones, speakers, or a car adapter into the provided jack; press the POWER button, press the play button, and listen! There is a keypad which allows the listener to do one of the following: equalizer, Power button, speed button (choice of 5 speeds), turning volume up, turning volume down, LCD screen which indicates the status and how much battery power is left, reverse button for chapters, play/pause button, and forward chapter button.

Return to Gone-Away is narrated by Colleen Delany, and runs for 6 hours. It is the unabridged version of Elizabeth Enright's novel. The story centers on Portia and her family who move into Villa Caprice, an old Victorian house that has seen better days. The house's location along Gone-Away Lake and the antique `treasures' hoarded within its walls provide Portia and Julian plenty of adventures. It is a fascinating listen for young children ages six and up.

The Gone Away Lake series were my very favorite books as a child. I read them over and over again, and then as an adult and I still love them! They are excellent literature for children. What more can I say? The highest recommendation!