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Rating: 
Summary: Good look at Christian thinking in the 1800's
Review: Elsie Dinsmore, which I have read many times, and own the entire series, is a good book for anyone who is interested in the thinking of male and female roles during the 1800's. While Elsie is almost too perfect for anyone to relate to, she is not a "flat" character. Especially in the later books, Elsie handles her own affairs, consulting with the men in the house, but it is made clear that she manages her wealth by herself which is differernt from many female characters of the time period whose fortune is managed by only the men in the books. This book could be given to any child without worry that there is inappropriate subject matter, and could be a start to discussing how gender roles have changed over the years.
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Summary: almost named my daughter Elsie!
Review: I am a mom of 2 young preschoolers. I own the entire series of 28, but I haven't finished reading all the books yet. I had heard of Elsie Dinsmore before reading it, as it has been referenced even in Anne of Green Gables. I love historical novels.Elsie is an 8 yrs old motherless rich girl who tries really hard to please God & her family. She is a love-starved girl who tries her best to obey & her family in order to win the affection of the Dinsmores - her grandfather, his wife, aunts & uncles (all children as well) and most of all her father. I agree with other reviews that at times Elsie was "too much sweetness", but I think that was done for emphasis on her contrast to the rest of the Dinsmore clan. She was not like the other younger Dinsmores, being sweet only to gain favor. Mr. Dinsmore (her father) is a good man, though in this book he treats her very unfairly, and he reflects how people are quick to judge others and accept other people's prejudices. At times the reading does get a little sappy (the end), but I like sappy. The racial issues are dated - as it was written in the late 1800's, and the reader sees it(slavery) in the viewpoint of a young rich girl in slavery south...which is who Elsie is. Having bits of reality added to the overall effect of the book. At one point, she tries to save a wrongly accused slave boy. It would be nicer if she was some champion for slaves, but as a female & a child, she had no place in society to do that sort of thing. It was sweet to see how she clung onto her nanny's love. I would strongly recommend reading book 1, as it shows Elsie's stong Christian convictions. She stood firm, despite parental & emotional turmoil. She may be very conservative, but being conservative is better than being wrong with God. She was not just a "Sunday" Christian, she was an every minute Christian, and she did it with quiet strength and gentleness.
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Summary: An absolute GEM!!
Review: I didn't realize just how precious this book was when I bought it. Telling the children, we'd just read the first one to try it out, I have decided to get every one I can possibly get my hands on. They are the most beautiful books I have ever read. I certainly don't think they are over the top. On the contrary. I believe the author's intention was to provide an excellent role model, but more importantly, to lead children to Jesus in EVERY situation. This she has done perfectly. Elsie is an adorable character, it is set in beautiful surroundings and provides us with a look into 18th century living. My children of varing ages(and I!!) just can't get enough. I thoroughly recommend this book to every person of every age.
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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.
Rating: 
Summary: Elsie Dimwit
Review: I read the first several books in this series when I was a child in the 1950s. They belonged to my grandmother, who, with her sisters, had wept over them. I kept from her the fact that I found the series, and in particular Elsie herself, to be sickeningly sweet and at the same time hysterically funny because it was so overwrought. I thought of Elsie Dinsmore as "Elsie Dimwit," and I can't believe anyone would give these books five stars. Gag me with a spoon.
This series, because it is so extremely racist and sexist and full of religious prejudice (virulently anti-Catholic and apparently ignorant of any other faith), shouldn't be inflicted on impressionable 21st Century children who must learn to live peacefully in a multicultural, multiracial, and multi-religious society.
Perhaps the books should be reserved for adult students of 19th Century America, as they reveal much about idealized attitudes and customs of Protestant, northern America at the time. Thank goodness we have outgrown those times, even though we have much farther to go.
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Summary: This book is marvelous!
Review: I read this book when I was about 8 or 9, and I loved it. This book is interesting, but I think the new Elsie books are better. They make Elise seem a little bit more human! I noticed that some of the reviews said that Elsie was too soft, well, that is partially true. She could of had a little bit more backbone, but the reason why she didn't tattle on people is because she considered it wrong, and she hated to get people in trouble. No wonder she was so good! Without having a lick of work to do, she had plenty of time to devote to self-improvement. And in some of the later books when she lived with her father, she had to but say, "I am a little tired," and instantly she would be reclining on a couch. But overall it is a very good book and I liked it very much.
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Summary: Interesting...
Review: I was first introduced to "Elsie Dinsmore" in October 1999 when one of my grandmothers gave me a different copy of this book for a birthday present. I've reread it a couple times, enjoying and understanding it more and more. There are other books in a series all about this person...and some of these books are very strange.
This first book, though, is well done. Elsie cries WAY too much, but it is slightly understandable because her mother died and her father's been in Europe. She lives with her grandfather who has remarried and has other children besides Elsie's father. The trouble really begins when Elsie's father-Mr. Horace Dinsmore-comes home and abuses his child emotionally through strict rules that made very little sense, with a few exceptions.
I am a Christian and some of what Elsie believes are not among my beliefs. For example, I stay at home and do all sorts of things after church on Sundays, but all Elsie does is read the Bible. One time, her father told her to play the piano on a Sunday and she ended up falling off the bench.
If this were made into a movie, I think I'd cry as much as Elsie does. I've seen the example of what the movie business can do with "girl" stories and movies. For example, "What A Girl Wants" is funny and a little charming, but at the same time it has the common ailment of what I can "worship of the protagonist." Not only that, but there are too many "villians."
Before I rant and rave, I must admit this was written in the same period that the stories took place. The writing style is interesting-it is obvious that Martha Finley felt that all girls should look up to Elsie and try to be like her. However, she writes like J.K. Rowling in the 1800s with Christian books and obvious morals.
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Summary: The Two Elsies by a ten year old
Review: This book is sooooooo awesome. I love it! I think every girl should read it.
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