Banjo - the striped, snoring, "big, enchanting, grey devil-cat" owned by Barney Snaith (Chapter 26; 131). The metaphor of the blue castle spoke to me. We all need a blue castle in our lives, a place where we can go to feel true happiness, a retreat away from the disappointments and expectations of the world, and others' judgments and requirements for us. As I read this book, I wondered where my blue castle was. I got the answer to that question, and it made me smile.

The heroine, Valancy Stirling (my stars, what a name), is unmarried and twenty-something at a time when being unmarried twenty-something means your life is a total waste. Her family are repressive and awful beyond belief. Then she receives the news that she has a fatal heart condition and will die within a year.The Blue Castle is a 1926 novel by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery, best known for her novel Anne of Green Gables (1908). Walker. Though Valancy crimped her hair and pinched her cheeks to redden them, her efforts only resulted in stories that, "Valancy Stirling was rouged conducting chemical experiments—or counterfeiting money." She had no desire to see the inside (Chapter 29; 152-153). Late in the novel, Valancy

The character building was impressive. Montgomery managed to get the grating relatives just right, and I knew this because as I was reading their sections, I felt quite irritated! I also thought that Barney was portrayed well. He was a decent person, not some guy who waltzed in thinking he was some irresistible casanova. It was refreshing. Benjamin says, "He talked all his life exactly as Valancy did today...And he believed he was his own great-grandfather born again. I heard him say it. Don't tell me that a man who believes a thing like that was ever in his right senses" (Chapter 11; 68). When Uncle Benjamin says that Valancy is acting like her Grandfather, she takes it as a compliment because, "He was one of the few human beings I have known—almost the only one" (Chapter 13; 72). Barney and Valancy live in near solitude in their simple home with occasional forays into town either by boat, by car, on foot or - in the winter, they can skate across the lake. They truly love the companionship and no stifling demands are made upon one another. For Valancy's part, she's happier than she's ever been in her life, even though it's obvious from the outset Barney has some secrets he is unwilling to share. Barney never confesses love for Valancy, but does show a tremendous amount of affection. Months go by and then a couple of happenings contribute to unexpected stress in their lives. The only thing she really enjoyed was a funeral. You knew where you were with a corpse. Nothing more could happen to it. But while there was life there was fear.” From there, life changed for Valancy in the strangest ways; I loved the reins that she took over her own life. The impetus for that change was a little cruel but the result was such a freeing read. I relished Valancy finding her voice, her snark and her don’t-care attitude. She was a kind and generous soul; it was also rather revealing seeing someone in this era with such low self esteem, maybe this isn’t such a contemporary problem, more one across the decades.

Assessment Results Blue Castle

Not lovelier. But a different kind of loveliness. There are so many kinds of loveliness. Valancy, before this year you've spent all your life in ugliness. You know nothing of the beauty of the world. We'll climb mountains--hunt for 192 treasures in the bazaars of Samarcand--search out the magic of east and west--run hand in hand to the rim of the world. I want to show you it all--see it again through your eyes. Girl, there are a million things I want to show you--do with you--say to you. It will take a lifetime. And we must see about that picture by Tierney, after all." Omgomgomgomg when I found out that Barney was not only a millionaire's son, BUT ALSO JOHN FOSTER!!!!!! AAAHHHHH!!! I think that was the best part of the book!! That and his love declaration, of course. Dear me. but Cissy refused, knowing that he no longer loved her. A few nights after telling her story to Valancy, Cissy dies (Chapter 22). Cissy