A Tangled Web
A Tangled Web book cover

A Tangled Web

Mass Market Paperback – International Edition, August 1, 1989

Price
$12.99
Publisher
Seal Books
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0770422455
Dimensions
4.2 x 0.75 x 6.85 inches
Weight
6.4 ounces

Description

From the Publisher Two family clans, the Darks and the Penhallows, fight for possession of a big, brown jug--a family heirloom. The book spans a year in the life of various family members. From the Inside Flap Over the years sixty members of the Dark family and sixty Penhallows have married one another--but not without their share of fighting and feuding. Now Aunt Becky, the eccentric old matriarch of the clan, has bequeathed her prized possession: a legendary heirloom jug. But the name of the jug's new owner will not be revealed for one year. In the next twelve months beautiful Gay Penhallow's handsome fiance Noel Gibson leaves her for sly and seductive Nan Penhallow; reckless Peter Penhallow and lovely Donna Dark, who have hated each other since childhood, are inexplicably brought together by the jug; Hugh and Joscelyn Dark, separated on their wedding night ten years ago for reasons never revealed, find a second chance--all watched over by the mysterious Moon Man, who has the gift of second sight. Then comes the night when Aunt Becky's wishes will be revealed...and the family is in for the biggest surprise of all. Lucy Maud Montgomery was born in Clifton, Prince Edward Island, in 1874. Educated at Prince Edward College, Charlottetown, and Dalhousie University, she embarked on a career in teaching. From 1898 until 1911 she took care of her maternal grandmother in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, and during this time wrote many poems and stories for Canadian and American magazines.Montgomery’s first novel, Anne of Green Gables , met with immediate critical and popular acclaim, and its success, both national and international, led to seven sequels. More autobiographical than the books about Anne is the trilogy of novels about another Island orphan, Emily Starr.In 1911 Montgomery married the Rev. Ewan Macdonald, a Presbyterian clergyman, and they lived in Ontario, where he was the pastor of parishes in Leaskdale and, later, in Norval. They retired to Toronto in 1936.Lucy Maud Montgomery died in Toronto in 1942. Read more

Features & Highlights

  • Over the years sixty members of the Dark family and sixty Penhallows have married one another--but not without their share of fighting and feuding. Now Aunt Becky, the eccentric old matriarch of the clan, has bequeathed her prized possession: a legendary heirloom jug. But the name of the jug's new owner will not be revealed for one year. In the next twelve months beautiful Gay Penhallow's handsome fiance Noel Gibson leaves her for sly and seductive Nan Penhallow; reckless Peter Penhallow and lovely Donna Dark, who have hated each other since childhood, are inexplicably brought together by the jug; Hugh and Joscelyn Dark, separated on their wedding night ten years ago for reasons never revealed, find a second chance--all watched over by the mysterious Moon Man, who has the gift of second sight. Then comes the night when Aunt Becky's wishes will be revealed...and the family is in for the biggest surprise of all.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(117)
★★★★
25%
(98)
★★★
15%
(59)
★★
7%
(27)
23%
(89)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Intricate, Detailed, and Satisfying

LMM's gift for portraying people's hopes and dreams and shortcomings in a sympathetic fashion shines in this novel. Among her most unique stories in format, it chooses to follow the fates of an entire clan for a year, alternately "peeping in" on the thoughts of first one person and then another. In most of her novels we see everyone through the lens of the main character: here we see each of them as they see themselves.
The characters' actions and decisions are shadowed by either their own, or their loved ones' desire to win possession of a coveted family jug. And although there is only one jug, the impetus to change and improve their lives results in nearly everyone being happy at the end of the story. LMM is as usual able to evoke both the comical and the noble side of her characters, all the while telling a good story.
In feel and in setting this novel is very typical of LMM's work; the delightful characters and small-town politics will be familiar to anybody who loves her writing. It stands out from her other works because of the multiplicity of characters and storylines.
Over the years this has become one of my favourite LMM novels. I would especially recommend it to any adults reading her books for the first time.
37 people found this helpful
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Funny premise, some annoying characters

A Tangled Web was an amusing story with some funny and touching sub-plots. I give the book a less than perfect rating because of the overemphasis on outward appearance, because I greatly disliked one of the main characters Gay, and because the book ended with a racial slur.

There was a lot of romance, love and infatuation throughout, and almost all of it was based on looks. Even the characters who were supposed to be admirable fell in love almost completely because they found another character beautiful or handsome. Often they would fall out of love because they realized that someone they had a long time infatuation with was no longer physically attractive.

One of the characters that we were supposed to find endearing was a girl named Gay. Honestly I found her selfish rival Nan to be a hundred times more alive and interesting. Gay spends the entire story swooning about a boy who isn't worth her time and then suddenly falls in love with the right man. What I wonder is why "the right man" ever fell in love with such an immature and overdramatic child in the first place, except that she was beautiful.

My last complaint was with the last paragraph of the story. It uses a very offensive racial slur (which was no where else used in the book), and while I understand that was the way that people of that place and time spoke, it left a bad taste in my mouth.
19 people found this helpful
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Montgomery's Funniest

This book along with Blue Castle is tied for my favorite L.M. Montgomery book. The old aunt is hilarious. Other characters are original and generally sympathetic. Everyone will be able to say "I have a relative just like that". Overall, a sweet, romantic, humorous book with a happy ending.
12 people found this helpful
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Charming and Sweet

An old jug left in secret legacy by a mischievous and temperamental old aunt: who knew that the inheritance of such a trivial (and undeniably ugly) object could lead to such drastic repercussions! Shattered friendships, broken hearts, rekindled romance...the Dark and Penhallow families experience them all and more when the clan matriarch, Aunt Becky, dies after her final "levee" during which she blistered each and every one of them with her tongue and started the kettle of emotions boiling with her unusual will and bequests.

Following the funeral, Big Sam and Little Sam, friends for ages, suddenly find that they cannot stand each other's company...but can they learn to live apart? Beautiful Gay Penhallow, whose young heart is in raptures over her recent engagement, learns the painful lesson of the meaning of true love, as does Joscelyn Dark, who has spurned her husband for ten long years in order to remain true to her heart's desire. Brian Dark and Margaret Penhallow, each longing desperately for love and home, finally find solace for their aching hearts just as do Peter Penhallow and Donna Dark, longtime enemies who suddenly find in each other the lover they've been unconsciously searching for. In the year that follows Aunt Becky's death, until the day her secret is finally revealed, these and many other lives will be drastically changed. Just how much damage will the old jug do to this family and will its members survive the change?

This is a charming book set in Lucy Maud Montgomery's beloved Prince Edward Island. Its colorful characters, descriptive scenery and interesting plot that employs a mixture of humor, pathos and sweet sentiment make for a comfortable read that leaves behind a pleasant sense of satisfaction at its close. Though I would certainly recommend that readers new to L.M. Montgomery's books read her more popular Avonlea books first, this was an enjoyable book and well worth the time spent.
10 people found this helpful
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Very enjoyable, tangled tale

A Tangled Web is the perfect title for this story, which criss-crosses through the lives of several main characters. It can be a little hard to get your bearings through the opening chapters, which introduce many characters, but it's a very enjoyable story once you're into it, and one I've personally read several times.

The main thread of the story is that Aunt Becky died, leaving a highly-prized family heirloom to... who? She leaves her will with a trusted member of her clan but refuses to say what criteria will be used to choose who will inherit it. As a result, many members of her clan change things about their lives they knew she wouldn't like, and many interesting events take place as a result.

There are love stories a-plenty, of course

Those familiar with L. M. Montgomery's style, characters and plot devices will recognise many of them in this story - lovers splitting up over a trifle, bitter grudges held for years, clan loyalties and rivalries. There's a lot of her characteristic humour and charm.
4 people found this helpful
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I never tire of L.M. Montgomery!

She has a way with words! Not only are you captivated with the scenes within your mind, you are entertained by the stories. It is almost as if these people come to life for you! L.M. Montgomery is a true artist with writing!!
4 people found this helpful
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Wonderful....

As all LMM's books, this one holds the same spell and magic of words. Not only this, but it is soo funny! You will catch yourself laughing out loud in serval places. Also you will start to wonder who in this big family will get the jug.........
4 people found this helpful
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really tangled

this book is very different from her other works but, of course there are the same principles in it. it actually consists of a lot of stories that are woven together by the fact that almost everyone belongs to the same family. the sories are very interesting and quite suspenful, as they only resolve towards the end of the book. and there is a secret throughout the whole story that i found myself bursting with curiosity to learn. in fact, there are a lot of secrets in this book. and of course, as it always happens with Montgomery's books, finally love and justice and goodness shine through every trouble the characters may have had to face.
2 people found this helpful
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Another Winner by Lucy Maud Montgomery!

Chock full of interesting characters, this book will grip you from the beginning - how I wish there were more books by this wonderful author! I have every single book by LMM both paperback and Kindle versions!
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L.M. Montgomery is a weaver of wonderful webs!

It was a wonderful, fun, interesting read. The only thing is that Dr. Roger's last name changes from Penhallow to Dark later in the book.

Enjoy!