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Carr Family #3
What Katy Did Next
Katy Carr can hardly believe it when she is invited to spend a whole year in Europe with Mrs Ashe and Amy. Although a year seems like a long time away from her beloved family, living in the small American town of Burnet, Katy embarks enthusiastically on her greatest adventure. This charming story, first published in 1886, is the third of Susan Coolidge's three hugely popular Katy books.
156 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1886
About the author
Susan Coolidge
358 books167 followersSarah Chauncey Woolsey was an American children's author who wrote under the pen name Susan Coolidge.
Woolsey was born January 29, 1835, into the wealthy, influential New England Dwight family in Cleveland, Ohio. Her father was John Mumford Woolsey (1796–1870) and mother was Jane Andrews. She spent much of her childhood in New Haven Connecticut after her family moved there in 1852.
Woolsey worked as a nurse during the American Civil War (1861–1865), after which she started to write. The niece of the author and poet Gamel Woolsey, she never married, and resided at her family home in Newport, Rhode Island, until her death.
She edited The Autobiography and Correspondence of Mrs. Delaney (1879) and The Diary and Letters of Frances Burney (1880). She is best known, however, for her classic children's novel, What Katy Did (1872). The fictional Carr family was modeled after the author's own, with Katy Carr inspired by Susan (Sarah) herself, and the brothers and sisters modeled on Coolidge's four younger Woolsey siblings.
Woolsey was born January 29, 1835, into the wealthy, influential New England Dwight family in Cleveland, Ohio. Her father was John Mumford Woolsey (1796–1870) and mother was Jane Andrews. She spent much of her childhood in New Haven Connecticut after her family moved there in 1852.
Woolsey worked as a nurse during the American Civil War (1861–1865), after which she started to write. The niece of the author and poet Gamel Woolsey, she never married, and resided at her family home in Newport, Rhode Island, until her death.
She edited The Autobiography and Correspondence of Mrs. Delaney (1879) and The Diary and Letters of Frances Burney (1880). She is best known, however, for her classic children's novel, What Katy Did (1872). The fictional Carr family was modeled after the author's own, with Katy Carr inspired by Susan (Sarah) herself, and the brothers and sisters modeled on Coolidge's four younger Woolsey siblings.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
May 21, 2023
5+ stars (8/10 hearts). Such a beautiful story! This is definitely my favourite Katy Did book. I’ve always had a thing for going-abroad/traveling-Europe books and this book totally satisfied me.
Set in America, England, France, and Italy during the 1870s, this story is a lovely mix of adventure & slice-of-life. The writing style is just gorgeous, as always with Susan Coolidge. The descriptions of Europe were so well done that I felt as if I was traveling along with Katy. I was delighted with the bookish perspective, especially in England! There are beautiful descriptions of nature & people & places and such excellent humour…
And the characters! Katy is even sweeter and lovelier than ever, and just becomes more and more of an inspiration. Amy is so sweet and funny, and Mrs. Ashe is a darling. As for Lieutenant Worthington, he is just absolutely wonderful. <3 Rose Red was funnier than ever, and Lily + Mrs. Page more a warning than ever. The boat captain was so sweet, and there were a host of other minor (some very minor) characters who were all quite vibrant and alive.
The plot was lovely, with an unusual climax but quite a fascinating one. I admire how Coolidge kept this book so quiet and slow-paced—it was a very relaxing read. The romance is one of the sweetest ever, and I absolutely love it. There were no overt themes or messages, but I found a host of good reminders on being a polite, kind, and active person… and the hints on romance were so good.
Overall, this is a sweet, beautiful, funny, relaxing read and I highly, highly recommend it.
Content: a couple mentions of wine; a mention of fairies.
A Favourite Quote: And because it may be, and often is, happy tidings that come, and joyful things which happen, each fresh day as it dawns upon us is like an unread story, full of possible interest and adventure, to be made ours as soon as we have cut the pages and begun to read.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: ‘And the snow, ugh! And the wind, ugh! And burglars! Every night of our lives they come,—or I think they come,—and I lie awake and hear them sharpening their tools and forcing the locks and murdering the cook and kidnapping Baby, till I long to die, and have done with them forever! Oh, Nature is the most unpleasant thing!’
‘Burglars are not Nature,’ objected Katy.
‘What are they, then? Art? High Art? Well, whatever they are, I do not like them.’”
Set in America, England, France, and Italy during the 1870s, this story is a lovely mix of adventure & slice-of-life. The writing style is just gorgeous, as always with Susan Coolidge. The descriptions of Europe were so well done that I felt as if I was traveling along with Katy. I was delighted with the bookish perspective, especially in England! There are beautiful descriptions of nature & people & places and such excellent humour…
And the characters! Katy is even sweeter and lovelier than ever, and just becomes more and more of an inspiration. Amy is so sweet and funny, and Mrs. Ashe is a darling. As for Lieutenant Worthington, he is just absolutely wonderful. <3 Rose Red was funnier than ever, and Lily + Mrs. Page more a warning than ever. The boat captain was so sweet, and there were a host of other minor (some very minor) characters who were all quite vibrant and alive.
The plot was lovely, with an unusual climax but quite a fascinating one. I admire how Coolidge kept this book so quiet and slow-paced—it was a very relaxing read. The romance is one of the sweetest ever, and I absolutely love it. There were no overt themes or messages, but I found a host of good reminders on being a polite, kind, and active person… and the hints on romance were so good.
Overall, this is a sweet, beautiful, funny, relaxing read and I highly, highly recommend it.
Content: a couple mentions of wine; a mention of fairies.
A Favourite Quote: And because it may be, and often is, happy tidings that come, and joyful things which happen, each fresh day as it dawns upon us is like an unread story, full of possible interest and adventure, to be made ours as soon as we have cut the pages and begun to read.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: ‘And the snow, ugh! And the wind, ugh! And burglars! Every night of our lives they come,—or I think they come,—and I lie awake and hear them sharpening their tools and forcing the locks and murdering the cook and kidnapping Baby, till I long to die, and have done with them forever! Oh, Nature is the most unpleasant thing!’
‘Burglars are not Nature,’ objected Katy.
‘What are they, then? Art? High Art? Well, whatever they are, I do not like them.’”
June 8, 2023
Wonderful! And two of the best last sentences ever!
I really enjoy the Katy books and so appreciate the subtle ways they speak truth. Make sure this series is on your reading list!
Cleanliness: Mentions girls going to some little dances. There is a spoiled girl in the story that acts awfully - she is painted in a proper light, you know she's not acting correctly. Mentions lingerie (just the old term for undergarments). A man offers his arm to a girl and they take a walk, a man kisses a girl's hand, a man has his arm around a girl. Mentions wine. Good gracious and thank heaven are said.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
I really enjoy the Katy books and so appreciate the subtle ways they speak truth. Make sure this series is on your reading list!
Cleanliness: Mentions girls going to some little dances. There is a spoiled girl in the story that acts awfully - she is painted in a proper light, you know she's not acting correctly. Mentions lingerie (just the old term for undergarments). A man offers his arm to a girl and they take a walk, a man kisses a girl's hand, a man has his arm around a girl. Mentions wine. Good gracious and thank heaven are said.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
February 28, 2023
—3 stars—
When books persist through the years to become classics, they tend to have something in them that connects to readers across the years.
Like Katy, I would drop everything to go to Venice 🤩 it’s literally my favourite city
Anyway, I like Katy much more in this book, she’s got such a caring and motherly nature (which I do not relate to at all😆) but she’s not too preachy, which has happed before
Thanks for reading!❤️
When books persist through the years to become classics, they tend to have something in them that connects to readers across the years.
Like Katy, I would drop everything to go to Venice 🤩 it’s literally my favourite city
Anyway, I like Katy much more in this book, she’s got such a caring and motherly nature (which I do not relate to at all😆) but she’s not too preachy, which has happed before
Thanks for reading!❤️
November 16, 2018
This is the third in the series of books about the Carr family which began with “What Katy Did”. I felt that What Katy Did Next, was the weakest of the three, perhaps because it introduced concerns about which I was not interested, namely exclusively female chitchat, and a predictable romantic element. It was written in 1886, thirteen years after the second one, and intended for a more mature audience.
The book introduces a new character, a widow called Mrs. Ashe. Her nephew, Walter, has come to visit, but then he is discovered that to have scarlet fever. Mrs. Ashe does not want her only daughter Amy to get the disease, so she is sent to live with the Carrs. (What a considerate mother!) She and Katy, the eldest daughter, become good friends.
When Walter has recovered, Mrs. Ashe decides to invite Katy to be her travel companion on a vacation to Europe.
“It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen. We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark. Nothing whispers of either the joy or the grief. No instinct bids us to delay or to hasten the opening of the letter or telegram, or the lifting of the latch of the door at which stands the messenger of good or ill.”
Mr. Carr persuades Katy that this is a good idea, and gives her some money for the trip. Before she goes, however, Katy goes to Boston to visit her old friend Rose Red Browne from Hillsover. Rose is now married, to someone called Deniston, and they have a child. Katy is delighted to hear the news and see the baby, but Rose is boastful about being a “Bostonian”. The two old friends argue about the merits of the natural world, which Katy loves.
They organise a reunion of all their school friends from Hillsover, to take place in Rose’s house. Mary Silver, Esther Dearbon, Ellen Gray, and Alice Gibbons meet up once more and reminisce about old times. It is revealed that Miss Jane is still teaching, Lilly Page is now in Europe, and Bella is teaching out on the prairies.
This is the only other book I read in the series. It seems very run of the mill, with newly narrow concerns and gossipy females; quite a disappointment for who had been rooting for the formerly spirited heroine, Katy Carr. This is a nascent romantic novel, for young girls who would be immersed in such books to the exclusion of all others, later. This was never to be my choice of reading material, but as such it functions reasonably well, so I rate it at two stars.
The book introduces a new character, a widow called Mrs. Ashe. Her nephew, Walter, has come to visit, but then he is discovered that to have scarlet fever. Mrs. Ashe does not want her only daughter Amy to get the disease, so she is sent to live with the Carrs. (What a considerate mother!) She and Katy, the eldest daughter, become good friends.
When Walter has recovered, Mrs. Ashe decides to invite Katy to be her travel companion on a vacation to Europe.
“It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen. We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark. Nothing whispers of either the joy or the grief. No instinct bids us to delay or to hasten the opening of the letter or telegram, or the lifting of the latch of the door at which stands the messenger of good or ill.”
Mr. Carr persuades Katy that this is a good idea, and gives her some money for the trip. Before she goes, however, Katy goes to Boston to visit her old friend Rose Red Browne from Hillsover. Rose is now married, to someone called Deniston, and they have a child. Katy is delighted to hear the news and see the baby, but Rose is boastful about being a “Bostonian”. The two old friends argue about the merits of the natural world, which Katy loves.
They organise a reunion of all their school friends from Hillsover, to take place in Rose’s house. Mary Silver, Esther Dearbon, Ellen Gray, and Alice Gibbons meet up once more and reminisce about old times. It is revealed that Miss Jane is still teaching, Lilly Page is now in Europe, and Bella is teaching out on the prairies.
This is the only other book I read in the series. It seems very run of the mill, with newly narrow concerns and gossipy females; quite a disappointment for who had been rooting for the formerly spirited heroine, Katy Carr. This is a nascent romantic novel, for young girls who would be immersed in such books to the exclusion of all others, later. This was never to be my choice of reading material, but as such it functions reasonably well, so I rate it at two stars.
October 23, 2021
This book is about Katy whose mother fall ill with pandemic fever and she had to be with Mrs Ashe and Amy and they maintain a great relationship during the time and Katy house financial condition is not so good when Mrs. Ashe offer to take Katy for a Europe trip for a year, her mother got ready as that will help them to sustain they went to trip via Cruise and the journey had adventure as sea sickness hurt the most but things get better when they reach England and life is going great then are having good time and enjoying the moment when small moment happens and Soon things got escalate as they were tripping then met Katy cousins who don't want her near them but jealous of her chance to be on trip with someone they backbite behind back and she doesn't care and then they were having there time as reference from novels and quisine , language kept them busy and life has been different until Katy met Mrs.Ashe brother and things would fall in place as they might have a chance to be together as author indicate that there might be relationship here and that's the innocent of childhood love , people try to make her angry that trip got abandoned in mid way and they were not able to roam while Katy thought she can't go alone to Germany and other countries so she came back to New york with Amy and Mrs.Ashe and the moment of love is still pending.
January 3, 2009
Yet another in the Katy books! What Katy did next was go to Europe on a trip w/a neighbor and her little daughter, in a travelogue written by someone who apparently hated traveling, which made this kind of hilarious. England is too rainy, I don't remember the problem w/Paris but it was horrible, Italy is full of fever, and they come home early. Of course, what Katy also does next is fall in love, although it's in an odd slightly second-thought way that I also found kind of funny. And, of course, we don't actually get to see any romance or hear any romantic talk from the lovers, because the author wishes to protect our innocent young minds from the subject. If you can't tell from this, I enjoyed it!
February 25, 2021
What Katy Did Next by Susan Coolidge is the third book in the Carr Family series which has been enchanting.
In this book we see Katy as she undertakes a European tour with her friend and her friend’s young daughter. It was very fashionable to travel abroad for the well to do. It was quite an undertaking in the late nineteenth century.
The reader journeys across the sea and is treated to time spent in England, France and Italy. There are wonderful descriptions enabling the reader to experience the beauty and delight, along with Katy.
Once more, Katy’s love for life and kind heart are infectious, making this series of three books a pure delight.
In this book we see Katy as she undertakes a European tour with her friend and her friend’s young daughter. It was very fashionable to travel abroad for the well to do. It was quite an undertaking in the late nineteenth century.
The reader journeys across the sea and is treated to time spent in England, France and Italy. There are wonderful descriptions enabling the reader to experience the beauty and delight, along with Katy.
Once more, Katy’s love for life and kind heart are infectious, making this series of three books a pure delight.
January 21, 2020
Siapa yang bakal nolak jalan-jalan gratis keliling Eropa? Tentunya bukan Katy Carr!
Di buku ketiga dalam seri What Katy Did ini, Katy diajak menemani Mrs Ashe dan gadis kecilnya Amy untuk jalan-jalan ke Eropa: Inggris, Prancis, Italia ... Banyak deskripsi tempat dan orang-orang yang menarik. Lumayan bikin pengen ikut jalan-jalan ke sana ... hahaha.
Perjalanan mereka tidak melulu senang-senang, ada periode kelamnya juga. Ada orang-orang menyebalkan yang mereka temui, ada hal-hal yang terjadi di luar perkiraan. Tapi semuanya berakhir dengan cukup baik.
Di buku ketiga dalam seri What Katy Did ini, Katy diajak menemani Mrs Ashe dan gadis kecilnya Amy untuk jalan-jalan ke Eropa: Inggris, Prancis, Italia ... Banyak deskripsi tempat dan orang-orang yang menarik. Lumayan bikin pengen ikut jalan-jalan ke sana ... hahaha.
Perjalanan mereka tidak melulu senang-senang, ada periode kelamnya juga. Ada orang-orang menyebalkan yang mereka temui, ada hal-hal yang terjadi di luar perkiraan. Tapi semuanya berakhir dengan cukup baik.
March 13, 2018
Dalam #whatkatydidnext Katy Carr berpelesir ke Eropa.
Keluarga Carr merawat si kecil Amy sementara ibunya, Mrs Ashe merawat ponakan kecilnya yg sakit. Setelah sang ponakan pergi, Mrs Ashe merasa ingin ganti suasana. Dia mengajak Katy yg sudah berusia 21 thn ikut jalan-jalan bersamanya dan Amy ke Eropa selama setahun! Dr Carr setuju setelah melalui banyak pertimbangan.
.
.
Dalam perjalanannya, mereka bertiga bertemu bbrp orang menarik; sepupu Katy, Lily Page yg cantik tp angkuh, ibunya Lily Mrs Page, kapten kapal yg baik hati, perawat yg tangguh dan maid yg ingin jd penyanyi opera tp tdk bisa karena badannya sangat tinggi dan besar.
.
.
Kekecewaan Katy ketika sampai di Inggris bikin nyengir. Dia sudah penasaran dgn rumah yg muncul di Mansfield Park tp kecewa krn ternyata daerahnya tidak seindah dlm buku. Yah maklum, Jane Austen mengarang ceritanya kan sudah nyaris seratus tahun yg lalu, jelas daerahnya sudah banyak berubah.
.
.
Banyak sastrawan dan orang terkenal disebut dlm buku ini; Dickens, George Eliot, Austen, Henry VII, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth.
.
.
Dan...last but not least, karakter spesial yaitu adik Mrs Ashe yg lebih muda 7 tahun dari Mrs Ashe, Ned Worthington. Spesial karena.... Baca sendiri ya hehe.
.
.
Yang jelas saya tidak puas dgn endingnya. Abrupt. Mendadak. Lho bagaimana kelanjutan Katy dgn si itu? Ini bersambung nggak sih? Apa buku saya yg halamannya terputus?
Love love this book 💝💝
Keluarga Carr merawat si kecil Amy sementara ibunya, Mrs Ashe merawat ponakan kecilnya yg sakit. Setelah sang ponakan pergi, Mrs Ashe merasa ingin ganti suasana. Dia mengajak Katy yg sudah berusia 21 thn ikut jalan-jalan bersamanya dan Amy ke Eropa selama setahun! Dr Carr setuju setelah melalui banyak pertimbangan.
.
.
Dalam perjalanannya, mereka bertiga bertemu bbrp orang menarik; sepupu Katy, Lily Page yg cantik tp angkuh, ibunya Lily Mrs Page, kapten kapal yg baik hati, perawat yg tangguh dan maid yg ingin jd penyanyi opera tp tdk bisa karena badannya sangat tinggi dan besar.
.
.
Kekecewaan Katy ketika sampai di Inggris bikin nyengir. Dia sudah penasaran dgn rumah yg muncul di Mansfield Park tp kecewa krn ternyata daerahnya tidak seindah dlm buku. Yah maklum, Jane Austen mengarang ceritanya kan sudah nyaris seratus tahun yg lalu, jelas daerahnya sudah banyak berubah.
.
.
Banyak sastrawan dan orang terkenal disebut dlm buku ini; Dickens, George Eliot, Austen, Henry VII, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth.
.
.
Dan...last but not least, karakter spesial yaitu adik Mrs Ashe yg lebih muda 7 tahun dari Mrs Ashe, Ned Worthington. Spesial karena.... Baca sendiri ya hehe.
.
.
Yang jelas saya tidak puas dgn endingnya. Abrupt. Mendadak. Lho bagaimana kelanjutan Katy dgn si itu? Ini bersambung nggak sih? Apa buku saya yg halamannya terputus?
Love love this book 💝💝
August 13, 2020
I was really disappointed with this one. I felt Katy and her travelling companions came across quite arrogant and there was definitely quite a superior air throughout which really grated by the end. The weakest of the trilogy
November 23, 2020
Katy + Ned = Perfection ♡
November 22, 2022
This is the third book in the What Katy Did trilogy (though apparently not the last book about Katy and her family) and surprisingly, it was the one that I enjoyed the most! What Katy Did Next takes place a few years after What Katy Did at School and has Katy travelling to London, France (including Nice!), and Italy after receiving a once-in-a-lifetime offer to tour Europe.
What Katy Did Next starts with a good deed – Katy notices that little Amy cannot go home because her cousin is down with scarlet fever. Of course, she and the rest of the family take the little girl in and by the end of the stay, Amy is so fond of Katy that it inspires her mother, Mrs Ashe, to invite Katy to travel with them to Europe.
I have to admit, Amy is not the cutest character to follow. Sure, she looks cute, but she tends to dislike a lot of things and assumes that things are just better at home; I completely understood Katy’s frustration when she decided to kill off two characters in order to stop a story that long ran its course just because Amy was enamoured with it. Thankfully, Katy is a lot more open and excited to be travelling, and it was fun to see her reactions to everything. I was also tickled to see that they spent a lot of time in Nice; to think, if I read this book before I left last year, that part wouldn’t have made an impression on me!
Although this is a travelog, I liked it more than the other books because there’s a bit more conflict. I mentioned before that I would like to see more of Lily, Katy’s cousin. Well, she makes another appearance here and she’s showing her true colours in this book. Lily just happens to be stepping out with Ned, Mrs Ashe’s brother and Katy’s arrival throws things off course for Lily. Katy is too nice to pick a fight, but I thought Lily added a bit of “bite” to the book by seeing Katy as a rival when she isn’t one, and made it a bit more fun.
There is, predictably, someone falling sick in this book. However, I felt like the stakes were higher here and it was less of a moralising lesson or an opportunity to do good and more of an obstacle to overcome. It worked with the story and the ending made sense because of it.
Overall, this was a pleasant read. I was initially a bit ambivalent about this series because the first book really swung from a domestic adventure to Pollyanna-ish, but having followed Katy through a few years, it’s safe to say that she’s a lovely character and one that I would like to be friends with. That said, I still wonder who would read this – the first book is for children and this is for older readers, but it’s so unlike today’s YA that I’m struggling to think of who else would like it!
This review was first posted at Eustea Reads
What Katy Did Next starts with a good deed – Katy notices that little Amy cannot go home because her cousin is down with scarlet fever. Of course, she and the rest of the family take the little girl in and by the end of the stay, Amy is so fond of Katy that it inspires her mother, Mrs Ashe, to invite Katy to travel with them to Europe.
I have to admit, Amy is not the cutest character to follow. Sure, she looks cute, but she tends to dislike a lot of things and assumes that things are just better at home; I completely understood Katy’s frustration when she decided to kill off two characters in order to stop a story that long ran its course just because Amy was enamoured with it. Thankfully, Katy is a lot more open and excited to be travelling, and it was fun to see her reactions to everything. I was also tickled to see that they spent a lot of time in Nice; to think, if I read this book before I left last year, that part wouldn’t have made an impression on me!
Although this is a travelog, I liked it more than the other books because there’s a bit more conflict. I mentioned before that I would like to see more of Lily, Katy’s cousin. Well, she makes another appearance here and she’s showing her true colours in this book. Lily just happens to be stepping out with Ned, Mrs Ashe’s brother and Katy’s arrival throws things off course for Lily. Katy is too nice to pick a fight, but I thought Lily added a bit of “bite” to the book by seeing Katy as a rival when she isn’t one, and made it a bit more fun.
There is, predictably, someone falling sick in this book. However, I felt like the stakes were higher here and it was less of a moralising lesson or an opportunity to do good and more of an obstacle to overcome. It worked with the story and the ending made sense because of it.
Overall, this was a pleasant read. I was initially a bit ambivalent about this series because the first book really swung from a domestic adventure to Pollyanna-ish, but having followed Katy through a few years, it’s safe to say that she’s a lovely character and one that I would like to be friends with. That said, I still wonder who would read this – the first book is for children and this is for older readers, but it’s so unlike today’s YA that I’m struggling to think of who else would like it!
This review was first posted at Eustea Reads
July 11, 2020
vanaaegne (esmilmunud 1886) ameerika tüdrukuteraamat, mis väärib lugemist juba spst, et on ameerika oma ja seega teistsugune kui näiteks inglise omad. neid on tegelikult terve sari - esimeses ("What Katy Did") on Katy 12-aastane ja läbib hoogsalt kogu isikliku arengu, mis tal meile pakkuda on; teine, "What Katy Did At School" on meeleolukas internaatkooliraamat a la "Pikkjalg-isa", kus Katy on 16 ja kus minu mäletamist mööda eriti midagi ei juhtunud; ja kolmas on siis "What Katy Did Next," mis on sarnane "Väikeste naiste" selle osaga, kus Amy Euroopas rändab, aga Katyga (kes on nüüd juba 21) ei juhtu jälle justkui midagi.
siiski, raamatute kohta, kus midagi ei juhtu (kordan ma end?), olid need minu mäletamist mööda täitsa mõnus lugemine, nii et haarasin selle heal paksul paberil kõvakaanelise 1970. aasta väljaande heategevuspoest kaasa ja ei kahetse.
ühesõnaga, nagu juhtub ainult 19. sajandi lasteraamatutes, on paljulapselisest emata perest pärit Katy kooli lõpetamisest saadik kolm aastat eimidagi teinud ja teeks seda ilmselt ka edasi, kui helde naabrinaine ei kutsuks teda enda ja oma tütrega kaasa aastasele reisile Euroopasse, kõik kulud loomulikult kaetud. miks - no talle lihtsalt meeldib Katy (Katy meeldib kõigile, temast sai kohe esimeses raamatus paar peatüki jooksul tõeline ingel!) ja daam ju ei reisi Euroopas ilma kaaslaseta. seega asutakse teele; käiakse läbi Londoni vaatamisväärsused oktoobrivihmas, jäetakse ilma tõttu vahele Šotimaa, Pariisis sajab ikka veel vihma, Nice'is vihmasadu lakkab ja veedetakse imeline kuu või paar; siis tuleb edasi Itaalia, mis on ka imeline... ja siis minnakse koju tagasi. lõpp. midagi. ei. juhtu. (no kerge vihje algavale armuloole, mille detailide ligi meid ei lubata, ja väike draama kaasavõetud lapse haigusega, aga ei midagi võrreldavat "Väikestes naistes" kodus sureva Bethiga, eksole).
mul on tunne, et selle raamatu autor lihtsalt sattus Euroopasse ja tahtis reisikirja kirjutada, aga lugejad nuiasid talt uut Katy-raamatut. aga no loeme siis selle kohta, kuidas ameerika daamid 19. sajandil Euroopas reisisid, seegi ju hariv?
siiski, raamatute kohta, kus midagi ei juhtu (kordan ma end?), olid need minu mäletamist mööda täitsa mõnus lugemine, nii et haarasin selle heal paksul paberil kõvakaanelise 1970. aasta väljaande heategevuspoest kaasa ja ei kahetse.
ühesõnaga, nagu juhtub ainult 19. sajandi lasteraamatutes, on paljulapselisest emata perest pärit Katy kooli lõpetamisest saadik kolm aastat eimidagi teinud ja teeks seda ilmselt ka edasi, kui helde naabrinaine ei kutsuks teda enda ja oma tütrega kaasa aastasele reisile Euroopasse, kõik kulud loomulikult kaetud. miks - no talle lihtsalt meeldib Katy (Katy meeldib kõigile, temast sai kohe esimeses raamatus paar peatüki jooksul tõeline ingel!) ja daam ju ei reisi Euroopas ilma kaaslaseta. seega asutakse teele; käiakse läbi Londoni vaatamisväärsused oktoobrivihmas, jäetakse ilma tõttu vahele Šotimaa, Pariisis sajab ikka veel vihma, Nice'is vihmasadu lakkab ja veedetakse imeline kuu või paar; siis tuleb edasi Itaalia, mis on ka imeline... ja siis minnakse koju tagasi. lõpp. midagi. ei. juhtu. (no kerge vihje algavale armuloole, mille detailide ligi meid ei lubata, ja väike draama kaasavõetud lapse haigusega, aga ei midagi võrreldavat "Väikestes naistes" kodus sureva Bethiga, eksole).
mul on tunne, et selle raamatu autor lihtsalt sattus Euroopasse ja tahtis reisikirja kirjutada, aga lugejad nuiasid talt uut Katy-raamatut. aga no loeme siis selle kohta, kuidas ameerika daamid 19. sajandil Euroopas reisisid, seegi ju hariv?
June 19, 2018
Hm..I really like Katy, but this book seemed more about Europe than Katy and her family...the romance also seemed a bit weird. I almost skipped some pages, they were a bit tiresome and not important for the story...But it was an appropriate finish of the story, in just the right time. I would like to have read a continuation of the series about other children from the family, especially Clover...
December 3, 2013
What Katy Did Next takes us back to the adventures of the high-spirited Katy Carr. I don't remember much from the previous books, so I don't know if Katy is the oldest daughter, or if there is someone older. In this book Katy is twenty one years old, which I found surprising because I was expecting her to be younger. But anyway, in this book Katy is invited by her neighbour Polly Ashe to go on a trip to Europe, after Katy has taken Mrs Ashe's little daughter, Amy, in while Mrs Ashe tends to her sick nephew. With Katy and Mrs Ashe is little Amy, and the book is really about their trip. Which ends up not being as pleasant as they expected: every country they visit has its own horrible things (and everything is so different from dear America), either it is the weather, either it is some disease. In fact, in this the book was most annoying. These people decide to travel, to visit another continent, but keep complaining because things are different from what they are used to. I kept wondering why they went in first place. And why they thought that taking eight-year-old Amy (I think that's her age) would be a good idea. Amy is rather spoiled and whines about everything all the time. Katy seems to enjoy the sight-seeings and it is her who solves everything, when no one else seems to know what to do. Katy's positiveness and proactivity could be a little irritating at times. But everything ends obviously well, even if it was rather abrupt.
All in all, I think this book achieved its purpose: it was a pretty decent little read that helped wash away the unpleasant impression left by that Jonas Jonasson book.
All in all, I think this book achieved its purpose: it was a pretty decent little read that helped wash away the unpleasant impression left by that Jonas Jonasson book.
December 26, 2013
This always has and I think always will be my least favourite in this series. Part of the reason for this is because the end of What Katy Did at School is so final it seems strange to rejoin her three years later, the rest is because this book is more mature, it doesn't have the fun and frivolity of the previous book.
I did enjoy this a lot more this time, I think it helps that I have now been to many of the same places that Katy visits - also I now want to visit places to experience the history (as Katy does) rather than to get things (like her cousin).
Seeing Katy grow up over these books reminds me of just how much I have grown up myself, I still think that the pleasures of these books will be lost on todays youth but I also think there will be the rare few that can enjoy them as they are meant to be and take to heart the lessons shown within them.
I did enjoy this a lot more this time, I think it helps that I have now been to many of the same places that Katy visits - also I now want to visit places to experience the history (as Katy does) rather than to get things (like her cousin).
Seeing Katy grow up over these books reminds me of just how much I have grown up myself, I still think that the pleasures of these books will be lost on todays youth but I also think there will be the rare few that can enjoy them as they are meant to be and take to heart the lessons shown within them.
July 17, 2022
I thoroughly enjoy this book, I like the other two of the Katy series that I have read, but this one, the third, where you get to the the Europe of years gone by through the eyes of a young naïve American woman charmed me for the first and it still does.
2022 Just re-read it for the nth time, the travel described is what keeps me coming back to this book. The Nice, Rome and Genoa the American habit of spending a year in Europe as a kind of 'finish' for young women, it is all so charmingly old fashioned. Combined with the fresh character of Katy Carr it is a lovely little story.
2022 Just re-read it for the nth time, the travel described is what keeps me coming back to this book. The Nice, Rome and Genoa the American habit of spending a year in Europe as a kind of 'finish' for young women, it is all so charmingly old fashioned. Combined with the fresh character of Katy Carr it is a lovely little story.
October 28, 2020
Katy is too good, i dont like perfect characters, I find them boring.
May 23, 2021
Having read the first in the series, and somehow missing the second, I found the Katy of this book even more disappointing than the one at the end of the first. She had started off full of fire and personality, although a lot of this was lost through the first in the series. I had hoped that she would've gotten at least some of this back but sadly this isn't the case as she travels to Europe with the Ashes (so far so good) but as she visits friends before she goes and during much of the vacation itself, she falls solidly into the usual 'female' chitchat and gossip. And of course there is the predictable and somewhat disappointing love story woven through, because what woman travels to and around Europe without this. All in all this was a bit disappointing, even in light of its original publication date.
July 13, 2023
3.5
Read for WEA course ‘the invention of the American girl’. Mainly about Katy’s travels in Europe with some sadness but a happy predictable ending. It was interesting to read about the experience of travel in those days and viewing the U.K. and parts of Europe through American eyes - not always complimentary.
For the course we discussed how important the cultural capital of travel was for the middle and upper classes plus the concept of storybook England and the author’s realistic view of historical places. As with all the books there is some auto fiction. We agreed that Lily was an unattractive character and we’re disappointed in RR being tamed by marriage. Once again illness and food are themes and we agreed that the ending for Katy was disappointing, when everything she has gone through only serves to make her the ideal American wife.
Read for WEA course ‘the invention of the American girl’. Mainly about Katy’s travels in Europe with some sadness but a happy predictable ending. It was interesting to read about the experience of travel in those days and viewing the U.K. and parts of Europe through American eyes - not always complimentary.
For the course we discussed how important the cultural capital of travel was for the middle and upper classes plus the concept of storybook England and the author’s realistic view of historical places. As with all the books there is some auto fiction. We agreed that Lily was an unattractive character and we’re disappointed in RR being tamed by marriage. Once again illness and food are themes and we agreed that the ending for Katy was disappointing, when everything she has gone through only serves to make her the ideal American wife.
August 11, 2023
I did enjoy this but not as much as the second book in the Katy series, What Katy Did at School. However, I will continue on with the Carr family series, the next two books focusing on Katy's sister Clover.
July 18, 2013
Jae Winter's review characterizes What Katy Did Next as "a travelogue written by someone who apparently hated traveling [...] England is too rainy, I don't remember the problem w/Paris but it was horrible, Italy is full of fever, and they come home early."
Quite an accurate summary! I think Susan Coolidge did like traveling, though -- I read all the miseries in this book as partly realism, partly warning her (wealthy young American) readers not to expect their own European tours to be completely comfortable. But she liked traveling for the same reasons Katy does -- seeing picturesque new sights, meeting places previously known from books, and perhaps a bit of shopping (presents for friends of course!).
Katy is traveling as a companion to friend Mrs. Ashe and her eight-year-old daughter Amy. One of her main occupations is telling Amy stories, and from this we get some humor that's slightly meaner than usual for Coolidge -- sick of telling stories about two little girls "nothing in particular happened [...] during the whole course of their long-drawn-out history," Katy finally kills them off. Amy cries inconsolably.
I am quite quite certain this is the verso of What Katy Did Next's dedication: "To the many little girls (some of them grown to be great girls now), who, during the last twelve years, have begged that something more might be told them about KATY CARR, and what she did after leaving school."
See, says Coolidge, I was pretty sick of Katy, and I might have killed her off just like that, and wouldn't you have cried! But I didn't -- I sent her to Europe instead. You should be grateful.
Of course what Katy does at the end of the book is nearly as final as being killed off --
Quite an accurate summary! I think Susan Coolidge did like traveling, though -- I read all the miseries in this book as partly realism, partly warning her (wealthy young American) readers not to expect their own European tours to be completely comfortable. But she liked traveling for the same reasons Katy does -- seeing picturesque new sights, meeting places previously known from books, and perhaps a bit of shopping (presents for friends of course!).
Katy is traveling as a companion to friend Mrs. Ashe and her eight-year-old daughter Amy. One of her main occupations is telling Amy stories, and from this we get some humor that's slightly meaner than usual for Coolidge -- sick of telling stories about two little girls "nothing in particular happened [...] during the whole course of their long-drawn-out history," Katy finally kills them off. Amy cries inconsolably.
I am quite quite certain this is the verso of What Katy Did Next's dedication: "To the many little girls (some of them grown to be great girls now), who, during the last twelve years, have begged that something more might be told them about KATY CARR, and what she did after leaving school."
See, says Coolidge, I was pretty sick of Katy, and I might have killed her off just like that, and wouldn't you have cried! But I didn't -- I sent her to Europe instead. You should be grateful.
Of course what Katy does at the end of the book is nearly as final as being killed off --
June 22, 2009
This is another one of my mother's books that I also loved as a child. I can't locate book 2, What Katy Did At School so I've gone straight to book 3 which takes place 3 years after Katy Carr leaves Hillsover boarding school and returns home to Burnet.
Katy cares for a neighbour's daughter, Amy Ashe, while Mrs Ashe cares for her nephew who is stricken with Scarlet Fever. After many months, a grateful Mrs Ashe asks Katy to accompany her and Amy on an extended holiday to Europe. What follows is a travelogue through England, France and Italy and the reader is given glimpses of the growing love between Katy and naval lieutenant Ned Worthington, Mrs Ashes's younger brother. The glimpses mind you, are little more than fleeting mentions, we are talking 1880's children's story (wouldn't want to sully a young girl's mind lol)
I particularly loved Katy's journey through story-book England. Katy had a penchant for visiting places she had read about in novels, one such being 'Wimpole Street'.
"That is the name of the street where Maria Crawford in Mansfield Park, you know, 'opened one of the best houses' after she married Mr Rushworth. Think of seeing Wimpole Street! What fun!"
Another nostalgic read; adorable, outdated and slightly 'kitschy' story but nonetheless thoroughly enjoyable
Katy cares for a neighbour's daughter, Amy Ashe, while Mrs Ashe cares for her nephew who is stricken with Scarlet Fever. After many months, a grateful Mrs Ashe asks Katy to accompany her and Amy on an extended holiday to Europe. What follows is a travelogue through England, France and Italy and the reader is given glimpses of the growing love between Katy and naval lieutenant Ned Worthington, Mrs Ashes's younger brother. The glimpses mind you, are little more than fleeting mentions, we are talking 1880's children's story (wouldn't want to sully a young girl's mind lol)
I particularly loved Katy's journey through story-book England. Katy had a penchant for visiting places she had read about in novels, one such being 'Wimpole Street'.
"That is the name of the street where Maria Crawford in Mansfield Park, you know, 'opened one of the best houses' after she married Mr Rushworth. Think of seeing Wimpole Street! What fun!"
Another nostalgic read; adorable, outdated and slightly 'kitschy' story but nonetheless thoroughly enjoyable
June 15, 2020
This book is just as good the fourth time around. It's just so meaningless in a fun way.
October 22, 2021
Even some people who aren't really familiar with this one recognise it as the one where she gets a marriage proposal on a gondola in Venice. And cover designers understandably make the most of that.
Katy Carr is now 21 years old, and gets a chance to visit Europe. Mrs Ashe is a slightly older widow friend with a little girl named Amy, and she asks Katy to be their travel companion. Of course Katy jumps at the opportunity. Mrs Ashe has a younger brother named Ned Worthington; a dishy naval lieutenant she hopes to touch base with over there. (Are your romance antennae twitching?)
At first I took no great shine to Mrs Ashe. She struck me as a fairly bland character, and a bit of a wilting daisy, who tells Dr Carr at the outset, 'If you can't spare Katy to come with me, I just won't go.' That was intended to come across as the generous gesture of a timid personality, but also carries emotional manipulation. I guess she grew on me as the story progressed, especially by the time she becomes, 'Dear Polly.'
A personal digression here. I went on two English/European holidays with my parents when I was slightly younger than Katy, and it was almost exactly a century after she went, so reading Katy's impressions of the landmarks and sights brought back great memories.
I had a similar approach to sightseeing as hers. Katy drew from her rich background of reading to help form their itinerary. We're told her memory was 'stuffed with all manner of little scraps of information and literary illusions, which now came into use.' That's identical to the way I went about with my parents, who took on the role of Mrs Ashe, and were impressed with all the details about stories and authors I was able to tell them.
A highlight for both Katy and me were our encounters with George Eliot. Hers was an accidental glimpse of the great author paying a taxi driver. Katy made the most of her fleeting gaze at the 'unbeautiful, interesting, remarkable face.' For me, George Eliot's was among the graves I sought at the famous Highgate cemetery. We paid a visit especially to track it down. Time keeps ticking away.
Anyway, back on track. I hoped the story wasn't going to digress into a mere travelogue, but it is saved by the arrival of Cousin Olivia and Lilly Page, who happen to be staying at the same place in Nice. These two selfish, snobby, social-climbing shopoholics have their eye on Ned Worthington for Lilly, and they're determined their hick relative isn't going to cramp their style. How can Cousin Philip Carr even afford to send one of his daughters to Europe? What a waste! The fact that Ned is Polly Ashe's brother helps it dawn on the mother/daughter duo that perhaps they shouldn't shun Katy's company altogether.
A famous romantic trope unashamedly comes into play. Shallow, pretty girl versus generous plain cousin. I wonder if you can predict what will happen. Seriously though, Lilly lives to gain attention and Katy lives to give hers to others. Susan Coolidge has a fresh and endearing way of playing the pair of them off against each other.
The behaviour of young Amy Ashe shows why European holiday treats are sometimes thrown away on small kids. She grumbles her way through the story with a, 'That don't impress me much,' attitude. Amy is a girl of quick and dismissive summaries. 'Nope, I hated that place. It was raining too much... This street had some scary men, so I never want to go back there again... Yeah, we had a good dinner in a restaurant there, so that place is okay.' She's judgmental and condescending toward those she doesn't understand. Even the narrator explains that Amy grew bored with, 'scenery she had no association with and grown-up raptures she did not comprehend.' Perhaps nobody is quite as big a racial snob as a person under the age of ten who's homesick.
If I just picked up this book first, without the background of the first two in the series, I'm sure I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much as I did. But we who start from the beginning have the benefit of knowing Katy. Mrs Ashe says, 'She's nice all through. So true and sweet and satisfactory.' And since we agree with her, it's a good addition to the series.
Katy Carr is now 21 years old, and gets a chance to visit Europe. Mrs Ashe is a slightly older widow friend with a little girl named Amy, and she asks Katy to be their travel companion. Of course Katy jumps at the opportunity. Mrs Ashe has a younger brother named Ned Worthington; a dishy naval lieutenant she hopes to touch base with over there. (Are your romance antennae twitching?)
At first I took no great shine to Mrs Ashe. She struck me as a fairly bland character, and a bit of a wilting daisy, who tells Dr Carr at the outset, 'If you can't spare Katy to come with me, I just won't go.' That was intended to come across as the generous gesture of a timid personality, but also carries emotional manipulation. I guess she grew on me as the story progressed, especially by the time she becomes, 'Dear Polly.'
A personal digression here. I went on two English/European holidays with my parents when I was slightly younger than Katy, and it was almost exactly a century after she went, so reading Katy's impressions of the landmarks and sights brought back great memories.
I had a similar approach to sightseeing as hers. Katy drew from her rich background of reading to help form their itinerary. We're told her memory was 'stuffed with all manner of little scraps of information and literary illusions, which now came into use.' That's identical to the way I went about with my parents, who took on the role of Mrs Ashe, and were impressed with all the details about stories and authors I was able to tell them.
A highlight for both Katy and me were our encounters with George Eliot. Hers was an accidental glimpse of the great author paying a taxi driver. Katy made the most of her fleeting gaze at the 'unbeautiful, interesting, remarkable face.' For me, George Eliot's was among the graves I sought at the famous Highgate cemetery. We paid a visit especially to track it down. Time keeps ticking away.
Anyway, back on track. I hoped the story wasn't going to digress into a mere travelogue, but it is saved by the arrival of Cousin Olivia and Lilly Page, who happen to be staying at the same place in Nice. These two selfish, snobby, social-climbing shopoholics have their eye on Ned Worthington for Lilly, and they're determined their hick relative isn't going to cramp their style. How can Cousin Philip Carr even afford to send one of his daughters to Europe? What a waste! The fact that Ned is Polly Ashe's brother helps it dawn on the mother/daughter duo that perhaps they shouldn't shun Katy's company altogether.
A famous romantic trope unashamedly comes into play. Shallow, pretty girl versus generous plain cousin. I wonder if you can predict what will happen. Seriously though, Lilly lives to gain attention and Katy lives to give hers to others. Susan Coolidge has a fresh and endearing way of playing the pair of them off against each other.
The behaviour of young Amy Ashe shows why European holiday treats are sometimes thrown away on small kids. She grumbles her way through the story with a, 'That don't impress me much,' attitude. Amy is a girl of quick and dismissive summaries. 'Nope, I hated that place. It was raining too much... This street had some scary men, so I never want to go back there again... Yeah, we had a good dinner in a restaurant there, so that place is okay.' She's judgmental and condescending toward those she doesn't understand. Even the narrator explains that Amy grew bored with, 'scenery she had no association with and grown-up raptures she did not comprehend.' Perhaps nobody is quite as big a racial snob as a person under the age of ten who's homesick.
If I just picked up this book first, without the background of the first two in the series, I'm sure I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much as I did. But we who start from the beginning have the benefit of knowing Katy. Mrs Ashe says, 'She's nice all through. So true and sweet and satisfactory.' And since we agree with her, it's a good addition to the series.
July 29, 2022
So, now I've read the full series of Katy books. 1) What Katy Did 2) What Katy Did at School and now, finally 3) What Katy Did Next.
In this book Katy Carr's neighbour Mrs Ashe has her nephew over who develops scarlet fever, which the Carr Family helps the unfortunate lady fight through. Amy, Mrs Ashe's daughter, is sent to stay with the Carr Family so as to avoid getting scarlet fever. Amy takes to Katy very kindly. Later Mrs Ashe (who later Katy starts to affectionately call "Polly Dear") decides to go on a tour of Europe and requests that Dr Carr allow Katy to accompany Mrs Ashe and Amy on the trip. Katy is initially reluctant (family obligations) but soon gets into the spirit of things. Before starting the tour, Katy goes to meet her friend Rose Red in Boston who is now married with a young daughter. She also meets Rose Red's mother and grandmother. The grandmother takes to Katy and later when Katy is buying gifts when she is on tour she remembers to buy something for the grandmother. Some girls of the Hillsover school (ref: What Katy Did At School) meet up again who were in the Secret Society they had which Katy was President of and they reminisce and joke. Lily, Katy's cousin, is in Europe already. The initial part of the boat trip in which Mrs Ashe, Amy and Katy travel in is difficult as they become ill but they all soon get in stride.
This book is harder to read and understand than the previous two. This is mainly because of the descriptions of the places and the names of the unknown places in Europe. I always find highly descriptive books difficult because I read only in the evening so I mostly tend to forget what I noted and have to go back to it. Anyways, it's really descriptive.
While on their travels in Europe Katy meets Lily, her cousin, and Lily's mother (much to their displeasure!) and Mrs Ashe and Amy, as they had hoped, meet up with Ned Worthington who is in the Navy and seems quite smitten with Lily who is making a play for him. Ned Worthington is Mrs Ashe's brother and Amy's uncle. Later, when there is a party and Lily plays hard to get in order to become the centre of attention of all the military guys, Ned becomes upset with Lily and starts to notice Katy's charms. In Rome Amy falls ill of "Roman Fever" and Katy looks after her and Mrs Ashe ("Polly Dear") really well and Ned finally realises that he is in love with Katy when he sees her fighting for Amy and Polly Dear with the proprietor of the hotel where they are staying who wants to turn them (especially sick Amy) out. Ned confesses his interest in Katy to Mrs Ashe and she is elated but tells him to play it slow as Katy must not think he is forever after a new girl as she knew of his interest in her cousin, Lily. However, Mrs Ashe, soon after Amy recovers cuts short the tour by six months, proclaiming she would like a gentleman's help to handle her as it has become too much to bear, especially after her brother Ned has to go back to his Navy ship. Ned and Katy start writing love letters after Katy goes back home, with Katy explaining everything to Dr Carr. The story ends with Clover exclaiming "in sudden comical dismay: "What does it mean? Oh, dear me! Is that what Katy is going to do next?" and thus hinting that in the future Katy and Ned may get married!
Cool book! I liked it, harder to read than the previous two in the series though. I think I've read these books before but now I remember the stories.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars
In this book Katy Carr's neighbour Mrs Ashe has her nephew over who develops scarlet fever, which the Carr Family helps the unfortunate lady fight through. Amy, Mrs Ashe's daughter, is sent to stay with the Carr Family so as to avoid getting scarlet fever. Amy takes to Katy very kindly. Later Mrs Ashe (who later Katy starts to affectionately call "Polly Dear") decides to go on a tour of Europe and requests that Dr Carr allow Katy to accompany Mrs Ashe and Amy on the trip. Katy is initially reluctant (family obligations) but soon gets into the spirit of things. Before starting the tour, Katy goes to meet her friend Rose Red in Boston who is now married with a young daughter. She also meets Rose Red's mother and grandmother. The grandmother takes to Katy and later when Katy is buying gifts when she is on tour she remembers to buy something for the grandmother. Some girls of the Hillsover school (ref: What Katy Did At School) meet up again who were in the Secret Society they had which Katy was President of and they reminisce and joke. Lily, Katy's cousin, is in Europe already. The initial part of the boat trip in which Mrs Ashe, Amy and Katy travel in is difficult as they become ill but they all soon get in stride.
This book is harder to read and understand than the previous two. This is mainly because of the descriptions of the places and the names of the unknown places in Europe. I always find highly descriptive books difficult because I read only in the evening so I mostly tend to forget what I noted and have to go back to it. Anyways, it's really descriptive.
While on their travels in Europe Katy meets Lily, her cousin, and Lily's mother (much to their displeasure!) and Mrs Ashe and Amy, as they had hoped, meet up with Ned Worthington who is in the Navy and seems quite smitten with Lily who is making a play for him. Ned Worthington is Mrs Ashe's brother and Amy's uncle. Later, when there is a party and Lily plays hard to get in order to become the centre of attention of all the military guys, Ned becomes upset with Lily and starts to notice Katy's charms. In Rome Amy falls ill of "Roman Fever" and Katy looks after her and Mrs Ashe ("Polly Dear") really well and Ned finally realises that he is in love with Katy when he sees her fighting for Amy and Polly Dear with the proprietor of the hotel where they are staying who wants to turn them (especially sick Amy) out. Ned confesses his interest in Katy to Mrs Ashe and she is elated but tells him to play it slow as Katy must not think he is forever after a new girl as she knew of his interest in her cousin, Lily. However, Mrs Ashe, soon after Amy recovers cuts short the tour by six months, proclaiming she would like a gentleman's help to handle her as it has become too much to bear, especially after her brother Ned has to go back to his Navy ship. Ned and Katy start writing love letters after Katy goes back home, with Katy explaining everything to Dr Carr. The story ends with Clover exclaiming "in sudden comical dismay: "What does it mean? Oh, dear me! Is that what Katy is going to do next?" and thus hinting that in the future Katy and Ned may get married!
Cool book! I liked it, harder to read than the previous two in the series though. I think I've read these books before but now I remember the stories.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars
October 30, 2019
In this book, Katy and Clover are at home. The family become close to Mrs Ash and her daughter, Amy, after Amy has to come stay with them. A nephew was visiting and took ill with suspected Scarlet Fever. Amy had been away for a couple days, so when she returns, she is busked out into the garden on her own...her mother determined that Amy should not catch the fever.
Katy walks by and sees the forlorn girl. When she learns of the situation, she offers to have the girl stay with her family.
A great deal of time later, when things are back to normal, Mrs Ash approaches Dr. Carr, Katy’s father. Her idea is to get a bit of rest (being weary from nursing her nephew and being separated from her daughter for so long) by going to Europe. She has seen how much Amy has come to love Katy, so Mrs. Ash wants Katy to come with them as travelling companion -even assuring that she will pay for Katy’s part. Soon this is arranged and although Katy has many doubts, due to the length of time she will be away from her family, they are soon off on their travels.
They make their way to Boston, where they will catch the steamer to England. They have a few days in Boston, so Katy has a delightful time staying with Rose from her school days, who is now married and has a baby.
Eventually they head to England. The passage is a difficult one, very, very rough. They wonder if they have done the right thing. Katy really becomes the one for both mother and daughter to depend on.
But eventually they get there. From this point, the author seems to give Katy a different character in that she doesn’t try to adjust, but for the most part moans about the customs and weather in England and in northern France. Quite the American abroad attitude. Never mind they have arrived in those climes when Autumn has well and truly come, they expect pleasant weather. The child becomes a bit difficult, but Katy’s stories help to keep the peace somewhat.
Eventually they get to the south of France and like it much better so stay some time. Again, Katy is the one who makes the way smooth. Still, they have more troubles ahead, and quite a bit of Katy’s practical support is needed to cope with the situations they face in strange countries with strange languages and customs.
It was good reading for the most part.
Katy walks by and sees the forlorn girl. When she learns of the situation, she offers to have the girl stay with her family.
A great deal of time later, when things are back to normal, Mrs Ash approaches Dr. Carr, Katy’s father. Her idea is to get a bit of rest (being weary from nursing her nephew and being separated from her daughter for so long) by going to Europe. She has seen how much Amy has come to love Katy, so Mrs. Ash wants Katy to come with them as travelling companion -even assuring that she will pay for Katy’s part. Soon this is arranged and although Katy has many doubts, due to the length of time she will be away from her family, they are soon off on their travels.
They make their way to Boston, where they will catch the steamer to England. They have a few days in Boston, so Katy has a delightful time staying with Rose from her school days, who is now married and has a baby.
Eventually they head to England. The passage is a difficult one, very, very rough. They wonder if they have done the right thing. Katy really becomes the one for both mother and daughter to depend on.
But eventually they get there. From this point, the author seems to give Katy a different character in that she doesn’t try to adjust, but for the most part moans about the customs and weather in England and in northern France. Quite the American abroad attitude. Never mind they have arrived in those climes when Autumn has well and truly come, they expect pleasant weather. The child becomes a bit difficult, but Katy’s stories help to keep the peace somewhat.
Eventually they get to the south of France and like it much better so stay some time. Again, Katy is the one who makes the way smooth. Still, they have more troubles ahead, and quite a bit of Katy’s practical support is needed to cope with the situations they face in strange countries with strange languages and customs.
It was good reading for the most part.
August 16, 2021
These stories have such a special place in my heart and it is such a joy to reread them. I have been in a terrible book slump for the past couple of of days and I couldn't pay attention to any of the books I had chosen to read so in desperation I brought the reading of What Katy Did Next forward.
It is my least favourite instalment in the series and this is I believe, partly due to the absence of the Carr Family. In this book Katy is offered a trip to Europe with her friend Mrs Ashe and her daughter Amy. This read very much reminded me of Amy's trip to Europe in Little Women.
At the beginning we have the traditional flurry of presents from the Carr family as holiday gifts and even a visit to Rose Red in Boston who now has a husband and her own little Rose Bud! This was very much in keeping with the tone and feeling of the last two books.
But the reading of the trip to Europe itself was tedious, once we began in England it was a reeling off of famous sites and much of the book was like that. The writing was absolutely exquisite though.
'Almond boughs extended their dazzling shapes across the blue sky. Arums and acanthus and ivy filled every hollow, roses nodded from every gate.'
We did revisit an old theme when Mrs Ashe's little girl falls ill and this seemed the main excitement of the book to be honest. There is a very slight romance for Katy as well.
Overall it was so unlike the previous two books that I felt it didn't quite fit into the series. Though it was descriptive and literarily brilliant I did find it boring on occasion. it was almost as if the author was trying to cram as many tourist attractions into the book as humanely possible, which was a shame.
This cover however is the prettiest of all three books and I can't stop admiring it.
It is my least favourite instalment in the series and this is I believe, partly due to the absence of the Carr Family. In this book Katy is offered a trip to Europe with her friend Mrs Ashe and her daughter Amy. This read very much reminded me of Amy's trip to Europe in Little Women.
At the beginning we have the traditional flurry of presents from the Carr family as holiday gifts and even a visit to Rose Red in Boston who now has a husband and her own little Rose Bud! This was very much in keeping with the tone and feeling of the last two books.
But the reading of the trip to Europe itself was tedious, once we began in England it was a reeling off of famous sites and much of the book was like that. The writing was absolutely exquisite though.
'Almond boughs extended their dazzling shapes across the blue sky. Arums and acanthus and ivy filled every hollow, roses nodded from every gate.'
We did revisit an old theme when Mrs Ashe's little girl falls ill and this seemed the main excitement of the book to be honest. There is a very slight romance for Katy as well.
Overall it was so unlike the previous two books that I felt it didn't quite fit into the series. Though it was descriptive and literarily brilliant I did find it boring on occasion. it was almost as if the author was trying to cram as many tourist attractions into the book as humanely possible, which was a shame.
This cover however is the prettiest of all three books and I can't stop admiring it.
April 12, 2020
Another dip into the world of Katy, who gets an unexpected opportunity to travel to Europe with her friend and child. Nothing to pay (Dr. Carr could not have afforded this), and the opportunity of a lifetime to see some of the sights (her friend doesn't seem all that interested in most of it!) The journey begins with a couple of days staying with Rose Red, Kathy's school friend, now the mother of a little girl. The next part is described in detail - the Atlantic crossing, eventual arrival in Liverpool, the journey to London and various outings, and then France (Rouen mainly), journey to the south, new sights, a reunion with the unattractive and socially aspiring distant cousin from school and an all-important encounter with her friend's brother. This achieved, everything comes to what feels like an abrupt end with the serious illness of Amy and the decision to cut short the trip to Europe and rush home. The balance of the story is out of kilter, as there is a lot of detail at the beginning and practically none at the end, as if the author had just decided to cut her losses and extract herself from it. However, it is clear enough that what Katy will do next has been decided!
March 18, 2019
What Katy Did Next follows Katy Carr on the trip of a life time. Her friend, a widow by the name of Mrs Ashe, wants to take her daughter to Europe but doesn't want to go alone. Impressed by Katy's mature behaviour and kind ways, during a difficult time for her, she decides to ask Katy, and how could anyone say no to that? But this is no rosy-tinted travel journey. Europe isn't perfect and the trip doesn't go off without a hitch. Katy has to face disappointed expectations and the reality that some of her romatised ideals are not to be realised. But there are also great joys as some things prove better than expected. Plus there is Mrs Ashe's handsome brother, who unfortunately, seems very taken with Katy's cousin Lilly who is also on a trip about the continent. But when Mrs Ashe's daughter becomes gravely ill, everything changes.
I love the Katy books. And I love Katy Carr. The story are sweet, real and simple. They are just pleasant to read.
I love the Katy books. And I love Katy Carr. The story are sweet, real and simple. They are just pleasant to read.
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