The Classics Club: A Girl of the Limberlost

 

Author: Gene Stratton-Porter

Originally Published: 1909

Format Used: Audiobook, 11h 4min, 1999

About the Author:

Gene Stratton-Porter (1863-1924) was a prolific novelist, naturalist, nature photographer, and film  producer. Her love of nature permeated through her novels as well as her political involvement: she used her popular position  to persuade legislature to protect the Limberlost Swamp and other Indiana wetlands from the heavy logging, oil extraction, and drainage for agriculture that was occurring at the time. She lived in Indiana from infancy until 1919, five years before her death, when she moved to California. She wrote twenty-six books (twelve novels, eight nature studies, and four collections of stories). Though she preferred her naturewriting, the romantic novels (of which she always found a way to include nature) were the books that paid the bills and made her famous. She was extremely wealthy and respected for her time, with an estimated readership of fifty million in the 1910s. Her most well known novels are Freckles, A Girl of the Limberlost, and Laddie (1). 

(source)

Plot

Elnora Comstock is a poor teen living on the edge of the Limberlost Swamp with her mother, who is often critical and cold towards her. She excitedly heads to school in a nearby town, walking miles to get there, only to be ridiculed for her country girl clothing. With the help of her neighbors and a new job collecting moths and butterflies from the Limberlost to pay for her school fees and books, she fulfills her dreams of attending high school and also discovers a love for the violin. Dark, painful secrets concerning her father's death and her mother's cantankerous attitude loom over her budding joy, yet she overcomes many obstacles to be successful in school and even in her relationship with her mother. As she enters early adulthood, there is even a possible romance, but complications and drama threaten that sweet experience  as well. It seems Elnora can’t catch a break throughout the novel, yet she perseveres with resilience and character. 

This is listed as a sequel to Freckles, though I believe it can be read as a stand-alone, even though  there is some mention of Freckles and Angel (the two leading characters) in this novel. 

My Thoughts

This is a coming-of-age story akin to Anne of Green Gables, with a likable young lady you can root for. She is kind, respectful, diligent, resourceful, hard-working, intellectual, and can stand up for herself. She is a strong female character while also vulnerable because of a deep desire to be loved by her mom. She’s not perfect; her flaws help make her more relatable and believable. For instance, she seems to show stubborn pride when offered financial assistance by her well-meaning neighbors, to the point where it seemed disrespectful since they sincerely wanted to help her and she wanted to pay for her school fees on her own. This is likely due to her being raised by a mom who is haunted by the death of her husband and not-so-subtly resents Elnora. I loved her neighbors, Wesley and Margaret, who are childless and love Elnora as if she was their own, often defending and standing up for her against Elnora's mom. I also liked that there was an aspect of redemption for several characters. Her mom goes through a transformation that seemed a bit far-fetched, but was still endearing since I wanted Elnora to finally feel wanted and loved as a daughter . There is also a redemptive side-plot with a spoiled socialite named Edith, who I wanted to slap a few times because of how ridiculous and mean she was. Lastly, the weaving of nature into the story, with the vivid descriptions of the Limberlost Swamp and its importance to Elnora, was atmospheric and skillfully written. It reminded me of the nature writing in the brilliant novel Where Crawdads Sing, also written by a nature writer, Delia Owens. Elnora and Kaya are similar in their deep appreciation for the swamps they live beside as well as their tough skin and ability to take care of themselves.

I really enjoyed the love story in this novel. It wasn’t a love-at-first-sight  plot and Elnora showed incredible self-control and wisdom when she felt like she might be a young man’s rebound, which she was not willing to be. It was a messy romance since he was engaged when they met and she refused to accept any proposal from him until she was absolutely certain of her own feelings and the sincerity of his own. I felt like that was very mature and commendable,  rather than rushing into a romance and getting entangled in a love triangle. 

I first heard of this story when I watched a 1990 movie adaptation a tween. I watched it only once, yet  I often thought of it in the decades that followed. When a friend mentioned Gene Stratton-Porter as an author she thought I would enjoy, I found this title and knew I would need to read it one day. Finally, thanks to The Classics Club, I decided to read it this month. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys Anne of Green Gables.

(Illustration from first edition of "A Girl of the Limberlost")

My Rating

★★★★☆

Content Rating 

G (no language, sexual content, or gruesome violence)

Classics Club Stats
This is #5 of 75 books in The Classics Club challenge. See my book list HERE