Elsie Dinsmore (Popular Culture in America)

Rating:
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.

Rating:
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.

Rating:
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.

Rating:
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.

Rating:
Summary: Clarification...
Review: I've read a few disturbing reviews here and I would like to clarify a couple of things... not once in this book does it state that Elsie's father is a drunk. It was written in the day when parents believed in sheltering and disiplining their children (not a bad thing, consider the children of today!). He does go quite a bit overboard, but that is the what gives the story it's plot! In the second book, when Elsie's father begins his relationship with Christ, things change drastically, yes he is still firm... may I suggest looking at the children of today again?

.... She loves her Daddy, and loves to obey him, when do you see that anymore? What is wrong with a doting father caressing and kissing his daughter???? Whew, what kind of sick society do we have when a father cannot express his love to his child!

Yes, the books are anti-Catholic, but Catholicism is anti-Christian (said by an ex-Catholic).

This is a book about a young girl in love with Jesus Christ our Savior, she is not a goody-two-shoes, but an excellent example to our young ladies of today! She struggles, as I do, as all Christians living in the world do, in obedience... heart and soul, mind and body to the LORD.

These are delightful books, deserving to be read and re-read. May you be blessed and drawn closer to our Father as you read Elsie's story!

Rating:
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.

Rating:
Summary: You can't put these books down!
Review: When I was 10 years old, my family received a large box in the mail containing books that my mom had ordered. In it was the first book of the Elsie Dinsmore collection. My mom handed the book to me and said, "Here, this is for you." I thanked her, curled up on our recliner, and started reading. I soon fell in love the book. It was so exciting, so wonderfully written, and I felt so much like I had jumped right into the book. I found book one not very interesting because of how cruel Elsie's father was to her. A friend of mine told me how excellent the next books were, and so I kept on reading. I am now thirteen years old, and the Elsie Dinsmore books are my favorite books I have ever read. Every once in a while I get a couple of books, and I now have 12 hard back books that I love so much. I am planning on saving them so that my children and then their children can enjoy a heartwarming, clean book. For those of you out there (I'd recommend kids ten years old and up) who are searching for a great book, I recommend this one above all others.