Synopsis: Sometimes fairy tales can come true-even for plain, shy
spinsters like Missy Wright. Neither as pretty as cousin Alicia nor as
domineering as mother Drusilla, she seems doomed to a quiet life of near
poverty at Missalonghi, her family's pitifully small homestead in Australia's
Blue Mountains. But It's a brand-new century-the twentieth-a time for new thoughts
and bold new actions. And Missy Wright is about to set every self-righteous
tongue in the town of Byron wagging. Because she has just set her sights on a
mysterious, mistrusted and unsuspecting stranger ... who just might be
Prince-Charming in disguise. (from the online description)Review: It is impossible to read this book without comparing it to The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery. Indeed, McCullough has to answer charges of plagiarism when this was published.
The back-bone of the stories are the same: a spinster, poor
among wealthy relatives, who finds out she is dying and decides to take charge
of her life. From there, the details are different. McCullough version has a
bit more drama, a few more villains, and several direct references to sex.
It makes sense, given that this book was published in 1987
and The Blue Castle was published 1926, when references to sex would have been
taboo in proper books. McCullough’s work would not have been constrained by
such laws or social rules.
That being said, I liked most of the details of McCullough’s
work. Except the sex. It seemed crass, too crass for the story. It ruined the
Hero for me.
It’s a sweet fun story and worth reading, preferably on a
beach or by a pool.
Bookmarks: 3.5 of 5
Awards: None
ISBN: 0-380-70458-7
Year Published: 1987
Date Finished: 4-29-2018
Pages: 189
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