I'd never heard of Emilie Loring until I stumbled on someone's collection at the thrift store. For so cheap, I thought that even if they weren't worth reading, I could enjoy the soft colors of the covers for a season before passing them on.
Now, having read four, I'm glad I found her. Not for her plots, but because she gives fantastic descriptions of her heroines' outfits on all occasions. Cotton gardening dresses, velvet housecoats, sports ensembles, formals, street clothes--if a spirited but wholesome young lady wore it, Emilie Loring described it.
I loooove her books. I have all of Grace Livingston Hill and now have all of Emilie Loring's books as well. Those are what my mom first let me read as "appropriate" for a young tween, back in the early 80's. I end up emailing Loring blurbs to my friends - she was great at evoking a mood with dress descriptions or evening drives.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you like her too.
-Connie
I was gifted a large collection of old books when I was a young girl. It was a treasure, because it contained so many volumes of Grace Livingston Hill. I remember there were a few Emilie Loring also. For the life of me, I cannot remember a single Emilie Loring plot. Whereas every single GLH book has been etched in my consciousness for over 30 years. I think I'd enjoy those clothing descriptions however. Feel free to share a few with us sometime!
ReplyDeleteYears ago, it seemed that I would always find Emilie Loring books mixed in with the Grace Livingston Hill books at the thrift store. Like you, I read a few and didn't care much for the plot. But now you've intrigued me; I'm going to need to read one just for description of the clothes! :-)
ReplyDeletePrice these things on amazon.com! I think you've struck oil!
ReplyDeleteSounds neat! I'm wanting to read Mrs. Miniver again and the Larkrise to Candleford book...a trilogy maybe? I watched some of the BBC series but am super interested in the book. :)
ReplyDeleteLove her books and the sweet innocence of them and the Grace Livingston Hill books. Wonderful. If you ever run onto a Lucy Walker book you would love those too. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed Loring books since high school. So glad you found them. You're right about her detailed descriptions of clothes, places and events. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteMelinda
I haven't thought of her books in years but I read them along with GLH when I was in my late teens-early twenties. Loved her books, they were available in paperback at that time.
ReplyDeleteI thought of you when going through my bookshelf lately and finding a copy of Grace Livingston Hill's biography by Jean Karr I'd bought years ago at a library sale.
I'm going to have to look that author up. Her books sound delightful.:)
ReplyDeleteand her descriptions of the food!! my sister made a very fancy meal following some of Loring's dishes and served them to us one evening - we all had to "dress" for dinner! it was so lovely! i'm glad you found her!
ReplyDeleteYes!! I really enjoy her books-the clothes descriptions are delicious. One of my favorites is of a dress of sheer layers of nasturtium-oh my!! I have more GLH than Emilie Lorings and hope to add a few more to my collection.
ReplyDelete~Rhonda
I should cull my Emilie Loring collection and send you some of them. I must confess that very few of her books have stood up to rereading in my opinion. "A Key to Many Doors" is my perennial favorite. I actually have an extra copy of that one if you'd like to have it.
ReplyDeleteWhen a teen, I read lots of Emilie Loring's books, as did my mother. I haven't thought of her books for years.
ReplyDeleteSounds fun.
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog the other day, and love it! I too, love old books and have quite an extensive libary. I have never read Emilie Loring, but now I am on the lookout for them. My daughter and I are reading Lark Rise to Candleford, and it is a wonderful history, but for those who think it is exactly like the BBC show, it isn't, but BBC does capture the essence of the books. You have a wondrrful blog.
ReplyDeleteYou got me turned on to Emilie Loring. Just listed a book of hers in my etsy shop!
ReplyDeleteI remember her descriptions of colors - describing clothes or skies or changing seasonal flowers in gardens... But I agree; I always loved the idea of the lovely clothes...
ReplyDeleteI found an Emilie Loring book in a desk in study hall when I was in the 8th or 9th grade. I loved it and purchased them in paperback. I am now 55 years old and still love her books. I have collected 10 of them in hardback and am treating myself at Christmas to as many of them as I can find in hardback. There were 50 released altogether. Her descriptive powers were amazing; but I enjoyed her description of nature and the homes especially! Her books are wonderful - romance, sometimes with a little suspense. Nice to read a romance novel where you aren't peeking into someone's bedrom.
ReplyDeleteLynda (also a Christian)
I've read almost all of them. her brother was a stage writer I think, and all that staged direction is the detail in her books. I think the mannered snobbery is just about a science in these books, and also any depiction of someone not WASP or caucasian comedic or steretypical and sinister.'
ReplyDeleteas to the clothing, my favorite has t be the one centered in hawaii, where the heroine wears 2 pairs of driving gloves while dressing up in the slinky evening gown at night to catch her man. That is some two faced character driven motives.The creepiest one is where the camp in Alaska is, where the girl actually has amnesia and the guy lurking in the background is actually her husband. creeepy.
I have a collection of Emilie Loring books that I would love to find a home for. My mother-in-law was an avid fan, but she entered into Glory 11 years ago. It's great to hear that Loring's novels are still being read.
ReplyDeleteGrace Livingston Hill is another collection my mother-in-law had and I would like to find a good home for that collection, too.
ReplyDeleteMr. K, send me an email at pleasantviewschoolhouse (at) gmail.com!
ReplyDeleteI just came across this blog after searching hugh and low for Emilie Loring books ehich I read in the 1960s when I was in high school. Her books were the stuff of Christmas presents I used to ask from relatives and friends. How can I get them? I just read Trail of Conflict on Scribd -- it is the only one on-line. Please help me get my hands on any or some or all of her books. Thanks.
ReplyDelete