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93 of 93 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Glorious, February 17, 2000
Shelve Titanic. Read this book instead. I normally avoid romances, but this is the most amazing book I have ever read. On a desert island, I would choose this book. Elnora Comstock is a poor, emotionally-neglected girl whose mother despises her, and is pitied by her classmates at a local college. Elnora's sole friends are the nearby farmers, and the Bird Woman, collector of moths. Since Elnora lives within range of the huge, dangerous swamp "Limberlost", she often goes into it to collect moths. Soon, she discovers that she can pay her way through school with them. Along the way, she befriends and homeless children, and recovers her father's old violin. When her mother discovers a devastating secret about her husband, she seeks to make things right between her and Elnora. The second half of the book involves Elnora's nature-bound friendship with a rich young man, Philip Ammon. Ammon and Elnora slowly begin to fall in love... but he is already engaged to a jealous and egotistical young woman in Chicago. Keep in mind that at the time, an engagement was virtually the same thing as a marriage... Elnora and Ammon's love is pure and lovely, completely devoid of physical attraction, and their romance is the best one in books. The characters are phenomenal, including Mrs. Comstock and Ammon's fiancee, neither of whom become cookie-cutter persecuters. The only flat character is the Bird Woman, but she is rarely there. The dialogue is good enough to be in a modern novel, and girls can sympathize with Elnora's embarrassment. Elnora Comstock herself is one of the best literary heroines I've ever seen. She is independent and intelligent, concerned with physical appearance and yet aware that it's what's inside that counts, strong and feminine. She is the best example ever that a woman can be fill traditional roles without being repressed or oppressed. This book is amazing. If you haven't read it already, you should! :):):)
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by Gene Stratton-Porter
by Gene Stratton-Porter
by Gene Stratton-Porter
by Gene S. Porter
by Gene Stratton Porter
