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Summary: Elsie Dinsmore was one of my favorite childhood books
Review: I found it very heart-warming to find that it is not only still possible to buy a copy of Elsie Dinsmore but also that there are others that have enjoyed the book. When I was a child, I never got tired of reading this book. I found it to be strangely compelling and unforgettable. My 12-year-old daughter recently read Elsie Dinsmore and she too loved it. As an adult I can appreciate the historic significance of this book. How interesting it is to get a glimpse of life from post-Civil War life in the South. How child-rearing practices have changed! I'm not a religious person, and I've always found the book to be a bit "preachy" for my tastes, but it never kept me from reading it over and over.
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Summary: What many people do not understand
Review: I hadn't thought of Elsie Dinsmore in several years. I just found out recently that this was an entire series--approximately 25 volumes I think. The way I became acquainted with the book at all was I was at my grandparents house one day, prowling around in the barn. There was a room on one side that had a roof over it instead of just rafters and I climbed up there and found all kinds of amazing things. My father and Uncle and Aunt had all left stuff behind when they grew up and it was stored here. There was a copy of Elsie Dinsmore up there. The front and back of the book were missing and it was written back before they used acid-free paper and the pages were brittle but I carried that book home with me and read it and thought it was one of the best books I'd ever read. I was probably about 8 years old at the time (actually I've forgotten), but at any rate I was thrilled to find out this book was part of an entire series. I just found out tonight that they are available at Amazon.com and that pleases me very much.I would like to point out that (I read several reviews) while some people refer to them as sappy and that Elsie was too sweet to be real, these books were written for children, young children and were written at a time in history when the idea was that the main character of a book (especially for kids) should be (Gasp! Shock!) -- likeable. And Elsie certainly was. These books are perfect for small children. They are books that can be read and/or shared by the entire family, especially if you read to your children before bedtime (which doesn't seem to happen too much these days) but rest assured you can tuck your child(ren) in and read aloud to them and not worry about profanity, sex or any of the other things that might be objectionable for young children. Also I'd like to mention, along these lines, there were other books written for kids that were also great. There was Trixie Belden the 13-year old detective -- about 25 volumes, Beverly Gray also 25 volumes (a newspaper reporter who had all kinds of adventures) but no sex, drugs or cursing and of course everyone knows about the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. And if you can find them, there were the Tom Swift books for boys -- about a teenage scientist who invented things like a rocket ship to fly to the moon, etc. I read some of these as a kid and loved them also.
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Summary: Elsie Dinsmore Surprise
Review: I hadn't thought of Elsie Dinsmore in several years. I just found out recently that this was an entire series--approximately 25 volumes I think. The way I became acquainted with the book at all was I was at my grandparents house one day, prowling around in the barn. There was a room on one side that had a roof over it instead of just rafters and I climbed up there and found all kinds of amazing things. My father and Uncle and Aunt had all left stuff behind when they grew up and it was stored here. There was a copy of Elsie Dinsmore up there. The front and back of the book were missing and it was written back before they used acid-free paper and the pages were brittle but I carried that book home with me and read it and thought it was one of the best books I'd ever read. I was probably about 8 years old at the time (actually I've forgotten), but at any rate I was thrilled to find out this book was part of an entire series. I just found out tonight that they are available at Amazon.com and that pleases me very much. I would like to point out that (I read several reviews) while some people refer to them as sappy and that Elsie was too sweet to be real, these books were written for children, young children and were written at a time in history when the idea was that the main character of a book (especially for kids) should be (Gasp! Shock!) -- likeable. And Elsie certainly was. These books are perfect for small children. They are books that can be read and/or shared by the entire family, especially if you read to your children before bedtime (which doesn't seem to happen too much these days) but rest assured you can tuck your child(ren) in and read aloud to them and not worry about profanity, sex or any of the other things that might be objectionable for young children. Also I'd like to mention, along these lines, there were other books written for kids that were also great. There was Trixie Belden the 13-year old detective -- about 25 volumes, Beverly Gray also 25 volumes (a newspaper reporter who had all kinds of adventures) but no sex, drugs or cursing and of course everyone knows about the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. And if you can find them, there were the Tom Swift books for boys -- about a teenage scientist who invented things like a rocket ship to fly to the moon, etc. I read some of these as a kid and loved them also.
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Summary: This book allows me to revisit my childhood of books.
Review: I have been looking for any Elsie books in old bookstores, antique shops, and even yard sales for years. I read many of the Elsie books when I was about 10 or 11 years of age. I remember I was home from school due to an illness and a neighbor came down with some of the Elsie books. I devoured them and read them over and over. I soon recovered from my illness and my neighbor let me borrow as many of the Elsie books as she had. I think she had about six of them and I have never forgetten Elsie Dinsmore. I am very happy to be receiving my own copy in the mail and I would love to be able to locate the entire series. This is a wonderful service and when I typed in the author, "Martha Finley", I couldn't believe that there they were! Many, many thanks for the chance for my to re-visit my childhood with these wonderful books.
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Summary: Elsie Dinsmore
Review: I have read and own the first 28 books. They originally belonged to my Grandmother and were given to her in 1926. This is the best set of books that I have ever read. And i disagree with the person who said that they thought that Elsie's father was a drunk. These books are set in the late 1800's, a large number of parents could be very harsh with children and thought that the should obey every command from a parent. Elsie's father blamed Elsie for the death of her mother. He also had not seen her since she was very young and had been lead to believe her a willful child. Does any one know how many books there are as the last one (number 28) ends with no real conclusion.
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Summary: I enjoyed it and cried and cried.
Review: I have read several of the Elsie series and have enjoyed the first three the best. It is definitely a story tied to the age in which it was written and I didn't read it until I was an adult. As a child I think I would have thought she was too good and perfect. As an adult I could appreciate the moral lessons being conveyed in a time after the Civil War.
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Summary: Incredible books!
Review: I love the entire series of these books because they pass down good morals and high standards. They are fascinating and incredible. I have never read anything like them. I highly recommend them to young girls.
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Summary: One of the best I ever read during childhood!
Review: I loved and read this book so much that it came apart. I've been looking for it for many years and finally found it again. Great story for any era.
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Summary: The Elsie Dinsmore books are wonderfully heart-warming.
Review: I read Elsie Dinsmore when I was a pre-teen. I had a difficult childhood and this book touched my heart and encouraged me. As I accepted Christ as my Saviour in the 7th grade, I saw how the encouragement Elsie had through her Saviour and the Bible definitely aided me in the same way. I now had Someone that I knew loved me at all times with an unconditional love. This book truly shows the grace and mercy of God and the opportunity for a young girl following her Lord in obedience was such a faithful witness to others, including her earthly father. Elsie's father was not an alcoholic father when he came home to her. In fact, he was quite cured of that vice. However, he learned a lot from his daughter who loved him at all costs and wanted his love in return. You weep through her trials but joy comes with her joy. What books!
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Summary: Great Book!
Review: I read Elsie when I was a young girl and I have never forgotten her. Unfortunately, I didn't know there were more Elsie books until I searched the internet to buy a copy of the first Elsie. I am now 50 years old and as I said I have never forgotten the story of Elsie. I would like very much to be put on Amazon's mailing list.
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