The last story is very un-P.C.

Thoroughly enjoyed these well-written short stories by Lucy Maud.

This collection of stories is somewhat uneven. My favorites are the witty like "Fair exchange" and the pleasant like "Unhappiness of Miss Farquar" while I dislike the unhappy and depressing like "The Awakening of Helen". This collection also has a lot of stories that made it into Montgomery's novels so if like me you have read all the novels several times those will seem a bit repetitious, although it is interesting to see the changes made when they became part of the various larger works.

I love short stories and these are some of the best.

I'm always a fan of L.M. Montgomery, but this collection was a disappointment. It contained a few "recycled" stories that had plots reused in other works ("The Life-book of Uncle Jesse" have a familiar ring? A boy named Paul with his rock people also made an appearance...) The thing is, I decided on this book because out of the short story collections of L.M. Montgomery that I haven't read, this one had the highest Amazon rating. huh. Most of the stories were forgettable and some downright depressing- and "A House Divided" was not nearly as innocent and wholesome as what I've come to expect from the author (what with its bits of language and a nasty term of racism right at the end.) I also downright disliked "A Strayed Allegiance" and "The Waking of Helen" wasn't too great, either.

However, I'm not giving this one star because there were two stories I can honestly say I full-heartedly enjoyed- "A Sandshore Wooing" (In which a couple use sign language to communicate under the eye of the girl's man-hating aunt) and "The Unhappiness of Miss Farquhar" (Where a jilted young woman overcomes her embarrassment and broken heart by helping others)

However, for a better look at Montgomery's short story telling skills, I recommend both Chronicles of Avonlea books. There are a dud or two in those as well, but the good tales far surpass the others in both content and number.

(also, I feel the need to rant somewhere that the copy I bought used off Amazon didn't have the same cover as the one pictured. Darn. So now it doesn't even match all of my other Montgomery books. :P)

Loved it, so cute

Warm and inviting stories of romance by the sea. Although I did read one with a very tragic ending it was beautifully tragic. Isn't that something Anne Shirley would have said? Another pleaser for the fans of L.M. Montgomery.

3.5 ⭐️

Though some of these stories I had already read in her novels, there were new ones that really showcase Montgomrey's descriptive prowess and strong characters. Truly enjoyable!

One of my favorite collections of Montgomery's short stories. The woman loved the sea, and it sparks up the short stories, most of which were written for cash from magazines and tailored to specific audiences. The shore lifestyles appeal to me more than the farmland stories, so I prefer these stories to many of her others.

A Wonderful Summer Read!!!!

Two of the chapters contain stories that appear (almost word for word) in her other books.