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The Tale Of Applebeck Orchard (2009)

by Susan Wittig Albert(Favorite Author)

3.97 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0425229777 (ISBN13: 9780425229774)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Berkley Hardcover

series

The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter

review 1: When Miss Potter arrives in Sawrey in the late summer of 1910 she is surprised to hear the village has been shocked with the news that Mr. Harmsworth, a local farmer, has blocked the footpath that runs through his property. He claims it is in retaliation for someone burning his haystack. He's convinced it was The Ramblers and determined to punish them by blocking access to the path. The villagers, human and animal alike are stunned and determined that the path shall reopen. Captain Woodcock and Constable Braithwaite try their best but they're missing a few key witnesses who would tell them they saw a ghost just before the haystack burned. Caroline Langford, now 16, dreams of becoming a famous composer but as usual her grandmother has difficulty with the idea of letting go.... more Can Miss Potter help? Mr. Harmsworth's niece Gilly, an unpaid servant in his dairy, is searching for a better life. When Miss Potter hears about Gilly she is of course determined to help the sad girl. Romance is also in the air for the Big Folk. Poor Beatrix must do something about Mr. Heelis and his feelings for her. Bosworth Badger has a dilemma of a different kind. He's growing older and more forgetful. He needs an heir to inherit the Badger Badge of Honor but his top choice, Thorn, has gone roaming and hasn't been heard from since. He'd like to wait for Thorn but there's a possibility the boy will never return. Who else can he choose? The answer seems obvious to you and me but the book deals with issues about gender roles at the time and the capabilities of women. I found this book rather boring. I figured out who the arsonist was right away and didn't care any more after that. I also realized the solution to Bosworth's problem. That plot ended neatly and exactly how I thought it would. I was mostly interested to find out what had happened to Thorn. I also did not enjoy the author's inserted comments about what happens to Beatrix Potter and recapping of past events. She could have included a forward and afterward for that purpose. The narrator's addressing of the audience also bothered me a lot. I've read many Victorian novels and I don't like the style. I did enjoy the sweet romances in this book and I felt sorry for Beatrix being torn in three different directions. I hope (I know) she will find her happiness in a future book. Overall though, this book is the slowest and weakest of the series.
review 2: Sixth in the series of the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter, this book begins with the alarm of the villagers of Far and near Sawry caused by the closing of the footpath in Applebeck Orchard. While the human inhabitants are trying to rectify this problem, the animal inhabitants have their own concerns. Bosworth Badger is making a decision as to pass on the responsibility of the management of the Badger sett and keeper of the badger genealogy and history. Back among the human inhabitants, love seems to be blooming with several engagements both public and secret. A lovely story set in the Lake District of England in the year 1910. Beatrix Potter is a main character and these tales are loosely based on her life in the Lake District. Charming character both human and animal abound. Especially entertaining is the interaction of the animals with their own as well as the humans. A little unnerving that the animals seem to display the better grasp of all the situations that arise. I have enjoyed all six books to this point and am saddened that there are only two left. less

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