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Betsy's Wedding , Vera Neville (Illustrator)

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Betsy's Wedding

Maud Hart Lovelace , Vera Neville (Illustrator)

Betsy's Wedding Maud Hart Lovelace , Vera Neville (Illustrator) Betsy returns from Europe to marry Joe Willard—and soon learns that beloved friend Tacy is expecting a baby! It's wartime in America, but Betsy, Joe, and their wonderful circle of friends brave their hardships together.

Betsy's Wedding Details

Date : Published March 31st 1996 by HarperTrophy (first published 1955) ISBN : 9780064405447 Author : Maud Hart Lovelace , Vera Neville (Illustrator) Format : Paperback 260 pages Genre : Classics, Young Adult, Fiction, Historical, Historical Fiction, Childrens

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From Reader Review Betsy's Wedding for online ebook

Heidi-Marie says

Yay!! finally marry and we get to see the first 3 years of their married life. I enjoyed every bit of it. A wonderful book to end a great series.

Favorite parts: Joe. :-) Betsy's experience of Aunt Ruth coming. Tacy being a mother! The "reunions" of The Crowd. Betsy learning to be a homemaker. Tib finding a husband. Hmm--I guess that makes it the whole book, huh?

2/17/16-2/20/16 Reread! What a perfect book to re-read, especially when no other books are tempting. I had read a bit about what was Maud's real life, so I enjoyed knowing that as I read through this time. So much love for these characters and their experiences. I enjoyed this even more after recently going through my Goddess weekend--this book fits that perfectly!

Kricket says in which betsy comes home from europe and marries jooooooooe!! and they buy a cute little house. and try to set up tib with a millionaire. and join a writing group and sell their stories to magazines. and aunt ruth moves in with them. (i love this part. i love how betsy didn't want it to happen but she knew that joe wouldn't be joe unless he took care of his aunt, and it all turned out ok!!) and america goes to war. it is so interesting to me how different the attitude was towards worlds wars I & II compared to wars our country fights today. i'm so sad that the series is done.

Jennifer Margulis says

Betsy is coming home from her visit around the Great World (her father sent her to Europe in the hopes it would help expand her horizons and train her as a writer). All she can think about is Joe. And there he is, cane in hand, hair so blonde it's almost silver, meeting her at the boat.

This Betsy-Tacy novel is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. In many ways Joe is the perfect husband. Adoring, ambitious, kind. But in other ways married life is not easy. Joe gets into dark moods. And when he is feeling blue he almost forgets that Betsy exists.

Betsy, as usual, has challenges of her own. She is so self-centered and self-absorbed that she forgets to open her heart to Joe's aunt when she needs her most. A visit to church sets her on the right path and Joe's aunt living with them while she is grieving the loss of her store ends up being one of the best thing that happens to the young couple.

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Tacy has a baby and an attentive husband. But Tib. Poor Tib. Diminutive, professional, impatient, gorgeous, Tib is tired of young men thinking she is dumb and easy because she is blonde and petite. She goes through a lot of trials in this book, as Betsy and Tacy hold their breath watching.

Highly recommended.

Sab says

Betsy comes home from Europe to a whirlwind marriage with her soulmate, Joe Willard, at long last. And they move into a cozy apartment, where Betsy Ray finally learns to cook, and they encourage one another with their writing, and send stories to magazines that sometimes even sell! Meanwhile Joe works at the newspaper, money's tight, Tacy's raising her son and Tib, as always, is flitting around to wherever the fun's at.

And in the end, Joe goes off to fight in World War I, promising that when he comes home they will continue to write together, and publish, and be the authors they always knew they would be.

(And since these stories are autobiographical, and since Maud and Delos Lovelace wrote many things together after the war, we can take comfort in knowing it's true.)

Jess says

BETSY AND JOE AND BETSY AND JOE AND YES. THIS WAS THE BOOK I WANTED.

Maybe I will come back here later and write actual words. Or not. Because that's a pretty accurate reaction, honestly.

Beth Bonini says

I cannot think of any other fictional series that carries the main characters from childhood (five years old) to marriage and settled adulthood. There is something immensely satisfying about this progression, although Betsy-Tacy love and devotion being what it is, I think that most of Lovelace's fans will agree with me: I wish there were at least one more novel! We have to look to Lovelace's own life to know what happens next.

One of the things that I truly appreciated about this novel was the focus on Tib - and her two unsuccessful romances before she meets the 'right' one. The love, mutual respect and devotion of the Betsy-Joe marriage is such a great example to all of us. Somehow this book - indeed, the entire series - manages to be both realistic about life's challenges and sorrows, and yet also so full of human nature at its very best. An example which comes to mind is Betsy's reaction to having Joe's Aunt Ruth come to live with them during their first year of marriage. Her initial resentment and inner resistance gradually gives way, and she has the reward of knowing that she has not only done the right thing - but she has gained from it in ways that she couldn't have imagined.

I had to have a good cry after finishing this beloved book. What an absolute delight to read the entire series again after so many years.

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Tacykelly says

Elizabeth, I agree with you that this a bittersweet book. My buddy Betsy was all grown up and married. It is a sweet story and I love the struggles they face. I also belong to Shelfari and some of us started talking about the B/T books and how we discovered them.

Shelley says

8/08: I love this book. It's the little details about the start of their marriage that just ring so true. I also love seeing Margaret all grown up - she became one of my favorite characters in this series. I would have loved to seen Betsy's Bettina written, though - I want more Betsy-Tacy!

The "where did they go?" section at the end was awesome and fascinating. Some of the changes Maud made were very interesting - like Bick didn't marry Charley until 1920, which was ten years after high school and three years *after* Maud and Delos and Midge and Charles. Marked contrast to the books, where Tacy got married a handful of years out of high school, several years before Betsy, who was married a few years before Tib. I really need to track down Companions to this series and read more of the real events!

Eliza says

One of my favorite books EVER. If you haven't read any Betsy-Tacy, I advise you to start now. If you're not up for the "kid lit" that is the first 5 or 6 books, start with and read on to the end. How I love Maud Hart Lovelace and would love to have been friends with her! Her semi-autobiographical character, Betsy, is one of the finest characters I have ever come across--a truly good person, loving, always wanting to be better and to be kind to others. Love Tacy too, of course, and Joe, and pretty much all the characters in all the books (except for Rocky and Phil Brandish of course).

Sarah TheAromaofBooks says

And here we have it–the long-awaited grand finale to the Betsy-Tacy books! Betsy’s Wedding fulfilled all of my desires for happy endings and brought everything together wonderfully.

This book would probably be more appropriately titled Betsy’s Marriage, as the wedding takes place within the first couple of chapters. The only slightly unbelievable part of the entire story is that Betsy and Joe have been estranged for three years, and yet decide to get married within two weeks of being reunited. But still, more power to them! They settle down in , near Betsy’s family, and begin their life together, and it’s adorable and sweet and profound, just like the rest of the books.

One that that has been incredibly annoying is that all the forewords of these beautiful new editions are invariably written by a rabid feminist who insists that Lovelace was a rabid feminist as well (apparently because she wrote about girls who were happy and not very good at cooking), so hopefully you will excuse me while I address a few of the issues raised on this topic.

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First off, the foreword of this book insists that Betsy is a wonderful example of a feminist because she always wanted to be a writer, not a housewife. And yet the entirety of Betsy’s Wedding is about Betsy being a housewife, and loving every moment of it. In fact, Betsy actually bemoans, on multiple occasions, the fact that she didn’t devote more time growing up to learning housewifely skills. At one point, Joe has been working for a lady named Mrs. Hawthorne, but has now been promoted to working for a major newspaper, owned by Mrs. Hawthorne’s husband.

After dinner, when Joe’s transfer to the Courier was being discussed, Mrs. Hawthorne turned to Betsy.

“It will be hard for me to fill Joe’s place,” she said. “Would you like to try? I know you write. You might enjoy working in a publicity office.”

Betsy was very pleased but her answer came promptly. “Oh, Mrs. Hawthorne, I know I’d love it! Joe has told me how delightful your office is. But, Mrs. Hawthorn, I already have a job.”

“You have?” She sounded surprised.

“Yes. And it’s important, and very hard. It’s learning how to keep house.”

Ah yes, she definitely sounds like a career woman, doesn’t she?

Later in the book, Betsy and Joe have their first real trouble when Joe’s aunt (who raised Joe) wants to come and live with them. Betsy is sad to see their happy honeymoon time broken up, and although she’s agreed, she knows that her heart is still in rebellion. And so, she goes to church to pray.

Betsy dug her head into her arms. “Help me, God! Please help me!” she prayed.

This was the first real problem of their marriage. Up to now, everything had been perfect. Her struggles with cooking, Joe’s low moods hadn’t mattered, really. This was different. This was a real disagreement.

Joe had decided it. “But I wanted him to. one person in a family has to have the final word. I want it to be Joe, always.”

Betsy’s prayers help her to realize that by asking Joe to tell his aunt no, she is actually asking Joe to be less than himself–to do something that his conscience tells him would be wrong. But the point is, Betsy makes an important decision at this moment. It’s more than agreeing that Joe’s aunt can come stay. It’s acknowledging that she wants Joe to be the leader in their home. Betsy will always tell her thoughts and opinions and share her insight, and Joe will always listen, but she has decided that when it comes down to it, she wants Joe to have the final say, because she knows that a harmonious home exists when each person fills the role they were meant to play.

All this to say–I think that Betsy is a beautiful example of true femininity. She is intelligent, she has dreams, she is true to herself, she is independent, but she also embraces her role as a housewife, prioritizes her husband and household’s needs above her own, and in general tries to mature into a true woman–changing

PDF File: Betsy's Wedding... 6 Read and Download Ebook Betsy's Wedding... and shaping her character because that’s what maturity does: it changes us from selfish, self-absorbed, self- adulating children, into outward-focused, selfless adults.

The feminist of the foreword (Anne Quindlen, if you’re interested) insists that Betsy (and, consequently, Lovelace) was a feminist because she had dreams and aspirations. But I believe that that simply makes her a person. It is Betsy’s goodness and yearning to do what’s right that helps her to grow into a woman. Betsy becomes content and happy with her life when she is filling the role of a help meet–for Joe, for her parents, for her friends–because Betsy has learned that dreams are good and beautiful, but that no shame is to be found in simple loving service.

Emily says

I didn't want it to end.

Melody says

9/2015 stet

9/2012 Such a perfectly crafted book to end the series! There's just enough hearkening back, just enough tidying up, just enough looking forward. And I don't care what the rest of you say, Sally Day is a perfectly lovely child. Perfectly lovely.

12/2009 I meant to luxuriate in this, the last book of the Betsy-Tacy series. But I was drawn in as deeply as ever. Joe topples mountains and swims seas for Betsy's love, and Betsy is still making lists and trying to be a better person. I hope it's not a spoiler to say that Betsy gets married in this book, titled as it is. Her struggles as a young wife are endearing, especially that poor meat pie she tries so hard to make. She's still a little diffident for my taste, too dependent on the men in her life, even given the times- compare and contrast the earlier Jo March- but she's who she is and I love her in spite of her girlishness. The crowd dances through this book, and the sentimental, happy ending strikes just the right tone for the end of the series.

Jill says

Oh Betsy. This charming turn of the 20th century Minnesotan girl satisfied all my comfort reading desires: old-fashioned and Midwestern families; a childhood sweetheart-cum-adult lover; gobs of buttery, meaty, potatoey food porn; silk dresses, hair ribbons, and fur muffs; and most importantly, girls with ambition, girls who aspire to be more than a wife.

It is that last point that ended up marring the series for me. Throughout the ten books, we watch Betsy grow from age 5 to age 25. The one constant is her love for writing. She may be distracted by various beaux, but she returns to her writing again and again, aspiring to make her living by selling stories to the magazines. But in Betsy’s Wedding she largely abandons that goal and turns to wifely pursuits: darning and mending clothes; matchmaking her single and independent friend Tib against her interests; and preparing the best pot roast in the world for dear Joe, whose income supports the family. There are superficial references to Betsy’s writing

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It’s an incredible disappointment. Somewhat unexpected too considering the level of biographic influence on these novels. Maud Hart Lovelace’s own life inspired the series (a favorite part of reading them was the back matter which detailed the fictional characters’ real life names). It’s then surprising that Betsy is so enfeebled at the story’s end considering Maud herself found remarkable career success with these books.

I had fun reading these books and witnessing Betsy’s various scrapes with Tacy and Tib (Tib! who will always be my favorite no-nonsense German waif!) but they will not supersede the Little House or Anne of Green Gables books as my favorite old-timey comfort reads. Oh Betsy, how I wish I could have loved you like Anne and Laura.

Anne says

So it wasn't as much like Anne's House of Dreams as I feared it would be. Really, Tacy is the one who gets the house of dreams, and the babies. Betsy and Joe are wonderful together, even though sometimes Betsy would say something about how she wanted Joe to have the final word in all things and I would be like, harumph. But then it would be all right, because until Joe felt that Betsy approved (like in the case of his Aunt Ruth coming to stay with them), everything was wrong between them. And they both continued to write, and make big plans, and Betsy learned how to cook (shades of Meg March!), though not how to sew. I was glad that Betsy was still Betsy, and that Tacy came into herself when she got married and had a home of her own, and Tib was still quirky and crazy. And I'm glad the book ended before Joe and all of the other men went off to the war, because frankly, I don't want to know what happens to them. I'm going to leave this series with Joe and Betsy dancing on the porch during Tib's wedding.

Lawrence says

This book is a triumphant finale to Miss Lovelace's series on Betsy (and Tacy and Tib). From the beginning when Betsy and Joe meet at the dock to the very end with its sweet valedictory to Hill Street, the book is a perfect whole. Betsy at last finds a reality that grounds her affectionate and enthusiastic nature. Miss Lovelace describes very well Betsy's observant intelligence as she both learns to cook, for example, and closely examines the "first apartment's" elm tree through the seasons. In this book, Betsy does not write; instead, she uses her time in simply living and, as I recollect, at least begins to turn to writing what she knows best --- her own life. I also appreciated the realistic portrayal of Betsy's reluctance to take in Aunt Ruth whom she at first regards as an intruder into the closed world of a new marriage. Betsy works this out well by self examination in the tradition of Carney on the hill at Vassar.

I feel that this book closes an entire volume on Betsy's life. Yet, I do not feel that I need to read another volume: The portrayal of Betsy is so strong in this last book that the reader can extrapolate her future with satisfaction on his/her own.

I do not have the feeling that the book closes a volume on Joe's life. Joe remains essentially the same achieving, productive, intelligent, determined, etc., person that he seems to have been throughout his life. Nonetheless, the book reveals previously undisclosed sides to his person. One is the certain humorous, teasing quality that Betsy evokes. Here, the freedom to tease reveals his complete confidence in his feelings for her and in her. Another is his affection and sense of loyalty and gratitude to his past which is revealed in just the few pages regarding Aunt Ruth's migration to Minneapolis. His desire to invite Aunt Ruth into his

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This book presents Miss Lovelace's writing at its best. She can depict adult love as grounded and growing. She is able to portray happiness without the baggage of melodrama. Sometimes, she can bring tears as in her many descriptions of Betsy and Joe's courteous tenderness. The environment --- apartment and house, for example --- are well described and become characters that motivate and complement action. This is a very fine book.

P.s. Ms. Lovelace also wrote adult fiction. Has anyone read any of it? For example, "The Black Angels" or "Early Candlelight" as referenced in the list in my copy of "Betsy's Wedding"?

Kellyn Roth says

I can never decide which of the Betsy-Tacy books are my favorite. I think that's because I love them all (especially the ones from her highschool years on) equally. They are all so sweet and perfect and I love them. But Betsy's Wedding has a special place in my heart.

Why? Well, y'know. Betsy and Joe are (big spoilers ...) married in this one. They are adorable. Like, they must be the cutest couple ever! They get along so well, and even when they disagree, they manage to get through it together. It's a hard time for a young couple to get started in the world (yet another spoiler: WW1), but they get through it together. I only wish Lovelace had written just one more book! At the end, (view spoiler) I mean, seriously?! Was there ever a worse cliffhanger in the history of books?!?!?! Yet another author I have to look up in Heaven (you know, assuming ... but I'm sure she's a Christian!) and yell at. And force to write a sequel. If one is allowed to write in Heaven ... but I'd assume you would be. :P

And we get to see the whole Crowd settled. Tacy (ohmygosh!!!), Cab (which was cute), Carney, Sam ... we even hear Tony mentioned, I think. And of course Tib. *giggles* That was possibly the cutest subplot ever. Oh, wow, am I glad (view spoiler) He was suuuuch a stinker! No way was he husband-worthy material for Tib! But (view spoiler)

Also, I was juuuust a wee bit disappointed that (view spoiler) So yeah. Yet another reason we need an 11th Betsy-Tacy book.

I wonder if Lovelace just thought ten was a nice even number or ...? WELL SO IS TWELVE!!! I wouldn't complain at all. *is so sad*

But yep, this is one of my favorite books of all time, and I just can't get enough of it! :)

Kellyn Roth, Reveries Reviews

Malinda says

A great end to a beloved series!

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Susann says

"Joe sat up in bed, and Betsy told herself that she must never allow him to wear any pajamas but blue ones." It's been less than a year since I last read this, but with Maud's writing that doesn't matter. This book only gets better and better for me and I continue to revel in the "rightness" of Betsy and Joe together.

3-3-09 review: "After a while he went back to the bacon." Chose to re-read this in honor of my sister's wedding. The older I get, the more I treasure it. It's inspiring and just plain fun to watch Betsy and Joe settle into married life. The other day someone was describing her ex- boyfriend and I almost shouted out, "You were dating a Rocky!"

Prior read: 2-20-06

Nell says

I read "Betsy-Tacy" and "Betsy-Tacy and Tib" when I was in grade school, and I liked them a lot. I felt like Tib really added something to the close friendship that Betsy and Tacy (there's a nickname for Anastasia that you don't hear anymore!) had formed. And I enjoyed living vicariously through Betsy's "Great World" adventures, even though I'd never read about her high school or college years.

Now she's back in town, newly engaged to Joe, and he wants to put a ring on it ASAP. And so he does, within hours of her arrival, and makes it an actual wedding band! Then he quits his job and vows to marry her as soon as possible. But, oops! Betsy's father wants his future son-in-law to be employed AND have his permission to marry her. In the shortest job hunt ever, Joe lands a new journalist gig, spends two hours talking to Mr. Ray, and the wedding's still on....in twenty-four hours!

Despite being a last-minute event, everything is perfect and beautiful and goes off without a hitch. Then they move into a new apartment and Mr. Ray sends them a truckload of groceries as a housewarming presents. Larks! Then Tacy dares to have a baby son, instead of the daughter she's been promising Betsy. And he's ugly! Woe! But then he gets prettier, and all is forgiven.

Then, of course, Betsy and Tacy get to be Smug Married Women together and decide to make still-not- married, independent Tib their new matchmaking project...all because they are OBSESSED with being bridesmaids at her wedding. Really, they talk about it like being a bride was just a second-best option, as was being EACH OTHER'S bridesmaids, and the true matrimonial privilege is being TIB MUELLER'S MOTHERF***ING BRIDESMAIDS. Nothing else will do!

So they set Tib up with an older millionaire. It doesn't work out.

Then a narcissistic newspaper man sweeps Tib off her feet. It doesn't work out.

When her friends finally despair of marrying her off, THEN she meets the perfect guy,dates him for three weeks, and gets engaged. Betsy and Tacy act like she just singlehandedly ended world hunger.

When America enters the First World War in 1917, Joe enlists in the Army. Betsy tries to hide how miserable this makes her, and gets a newspaper job to help with the war effort. Joe reassures her that he'll come back and they'll start a family. Tacy has another baby and Tib has a military-themed wedding. We never find out if Joe really does make it through the war, because the book ends at Tib's wedding reception.

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Carmen Maloy says

Lovelace ends the stories of Betsy's childhood with a warmly written story about the triumphs and misadventures of being a wife. The story continues to shows Betsy's faithfulness to her family, friends, and now her husband, while giving a glimpse of life in the World War I era. Betsy's Wedding is a young adult book with charm, period grace and accuracy (Betsy is very concerned about learning to cook for her wonderful groom Joe) but also prescient in its concerns for her budding career as a writer (a la Jo in "Little Women").

Betsy and Joe are not only great friends; they are also very much in love. Betsy supports her husband through his blue moods and silences, while Joe supports Betsy's writing at every opportunity. Most couples would do well to emulate their example of treating each other with kindness, consideration and respect.

One thing that always impressed me about this book is how Betsy manages to defer to Joe during times of crisis without losing her identity. In other words, she's more interested in making the relationship work than in getting her own way all the time. Joe also shows the same respect to Betsy when he knows something is important to her. Theirs is a truly beautiful relationship, one that mirrored Maud Hart Lovelace's marriage to her husband, Delos. She once wrote to a fan, "Delos and I found that marrying each other was the perfect solution to life." You can tell she meant it after reading this book.

The Betsy-Tacy books were highly autobiographical and Lovelace perfectly captures the innocence and magic of childhood. If you read this book and love it, please read the series. It will be books that you will never forget as long as you live. I also recommend the "Betsy-Tacy Companion" which is an amazing book that disects each book and compares it to it's real-life counterparts, including pictures of the "real" Betsy, Tacy, Tib and all the gang.

I had the pleasure of visiting "Deep Valley" (aka Mankato, Minnesota) for a Betsy-Tacy convention back in 1996. It was incredible to step back in time and enter Betsy's world. We toured the city and I was actually able to step foot in "Tacy's" bedroom and sit on the famous bench at the top of the big hill. It was truly a life- altering experience. I have to thank my sister, Julie for introducting these books to me and changing my life.

It's obvious how much these books mean to me. My first born child was named Tacy Kelly Maloy. Please read and enjoy. They are a treasure!

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