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A review by iseefeelings
House of Dreams: The Life of L. M. Montgomery by Liz Rosenberg
5.0
*"Thank God, I can keep the shadows of my life out of my work. I would not wish to darken any other life - I want instead to be a messenger of optimism and sunshine."
*"Perfect happiness I have never had - never will have. Yet there have been, after all, many wonderful and exquisite hours in my life."
__
After stumbling upon the journals of Virginia Woolf two years ago, I once again found another book that left me emotionally overwhelmed.
One moment I was drowning in her sorrow and the next, I couldn't stop agonising over the fact that her long life of giving and loving ended in heartbreaks and hopelessness.
Even though I related to her ideas of both life and work and felt the weight of family issues with her deeply, I would never think of myself having that much courage, loyalty and sacrifice as Maud did. The disastrous report of the world-renowned author's addiction (and that of her husband) to prescription drugs also struck me hard.
In House of Dreams: The Life of L.M. Montgomery, Liz Rosenberg tackles the struggles of L.M.Montgomery as well as different discussions surrounding her death adeptly. Besides the thorough research (cited in Source Notes and Bibliography) and a brief timeline of Maud's life, the vivid narrative reflects Rosenberg's dedication to this book. She composed each chapter with a chronological flow, using fine prose to filling the blanks of some details that we will never know of Maud. At the same time, Rosenberg briefly stated different theories of Maud's death proposed by academics and readers throughout the early years. It is interesting to note that this is a chapter book for age 10 to 14 but it does not shy away from the possibility of suicide and the uncomfortable circumstances in her romance life.
Instead of having photographs to accompany the book like a standard biography, House of Dreams includes the neat black and white illustrations by Julie Morstad. The art of Morstad intertwines with the storytelling of Rosenberg to give a balance between facts and fantasies in the life of the beloved author of Anne of Green Gables.
My heart sank for days even after finishing this book. It took me down a marvellous journey in the past with L.M.Montgomery. Along with this book, I would definitely go on reading her letters and journals in the near future.
*"Perfect happiness I have never had - never will have. Yet there have been, after all, many wonderful and exquisite hours in my life."
__
After stumbling upon the journals of Virginia Woolf two years ago, I once again found another book that left me emotionally overwhelmed.
One moment I was drowning in her sorrow and the next, I couldn't stop agonising over the fact that her long life of giving and loving ended in heartbreaks and hopelessness.
Even though I related to her ideas of both life and work and felt the weight of family issues with her deeply, I would never think of myself having that much courage, loyalty and sacrifice as Maud did. The disastrous report of the world-renowned author's addiction (and that of her husband) to prescription drugs also struck me hard.
In House of Dreams: The Life of L.M. Montgomery, Liz Rosenberg tackles the struggles of L.M.Montgomery as well as different discussions surrounding her death adeptly. Besides the thorough research (cited in Source Notes and Bibliography) and a brief timeline of Maud's life, the vivid narrative reflects Rosenberg's dedication to this book. She composed each chapter with a chronological flow, using fine prose to filling the blanks of some details that we will never know of Maud. At the same time, Rosenberg briefly stated different theories of Maud's death proposed by academics and readers throughout the early years. It is interesting to note that this is a chapter book for age 10 to 14 but it does not shy away from the possibility of suicide and the uncomfortable circumstances in her romance life.
Instead of having photographs to accompany the book like a standard biography, House of Dreams includes the neat black and white illustrations by Julie Morstad. The art of Morstad intertwines with the storytelling of Rosenberg to give a balance between facts and fantasies in the life of the beloved author of Anne of Green Gables.
My heart sank for days even after finishing this book. It took me down a marvellous journey in the past with L.M.Montgomery. Along with this book, I would definitely go on reading her letters and journals in the near future.