The Blue Castle

This is a book that I wouldn't normally pick up to read but I am glad I did. The author L.M. Montgomery wrote the Anne of Green Gables series and I remember being a fan of those books as a girl. FYI: This book is geared definitely to an adult audience. No giving it to your nine-year-old.

This is a story about a 29-year-old woman named Valancy. She is not the classic heroine of a novel. Valancy is not liked by her family, she talks very little and is considered plain (and told so to her face). Because reality is so painful and unhappy for Valancy, she creates an imaginary world for herself which she calls The Blue Castle. When she is told that she is dying, she decides to live in a way that would make her happy without reference to her disapproving family.

I thought it was an excellent story. There are some wonderful moments in this book as Valancy tries to create a happy life for herself in her last year of life. It is also a quick read at 218 pages!