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A Spinner In The Sun
Book by Reed, Myrtle
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1906
10 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Myrtle Reed
94 books32 followersMyrtle Reed/Mrs McCullough (1874-1911) was an American author, the daughter of Elizabeth Armstrong Reed and the preacher Hiram von Reed. She sometimes wrote under the pseudonym of Olive Green. She was born in Chicago, where she graduated from the West Division High School. In 1906 she was married to James Sydney McCullough.
She wrote under her own name, but also published a series of cook books under the pseudonym of Olive Green, including What to Have for Breakfast (1905), One Thousand Simple Soups (1907) and How to Cook Fish (1908).
Myrtle was a diagnosed insomniac with prescribed sleeping drafts. She died August 17, 1911 of an overdose of sleeping powder taken with suicidal intent in her flat, called "Paradise Flat" at 5120 Kenmore Ave., Chicago, Illinois. The following day, her suicide letter, written to her maid, Annie Larsen, was published.
She wrote under her own name, but also published a series of cook books under the pseudonym of Olive Green, including What to Have for Breakfast (1905), One Thousand Simple Soups (1907) and How to Cook Fish (1908).
Myrtle was a diagnosed insomniac with prescribed sleeping drafts. She died August 17, 1911 of an overdose of sleeping powder taken with suicidal intent in her flat, called "Paradise Flat" at 5120 Kenmore Ave., Chicago, Illinois. The following day, her suicide letter, written to her maid, Annie Larsen, was published.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 3, 2011
The copywrite date of this book was 1906 and there was a handwritten inscription on the flyleaf: "To Elin from Olive, Xmas 1911." Wow, this book is a hundred years old. I loved the page layout and the deckle-edged pages. The running heads were printed in red ink and the text covered only about half of the page, outlined in a black box. The content is just as old-fashioned and fussy. Women are either on a pedestal or victims; life is melodramatic and sentimental; man is noble or depraved. Take for instance this quote (that I like but it is bit mawkish. There is some truth there) spoken by the "noble" preacher: "I often think that in Heaven we may have a chance to pay our debt to woman. Through woman's agony we come into the world, by woman's care we are nourished, by woman's wisdom we are taught, by woman's love we are sheltered, and, at the last, it is a woman who closes our eyes. At every crisis of a man's life, a woman is always waiting, to help him if she may, and I have seen that at any crisis in a woman's life, we are apt to draw back and shirk. She helps us bear our difficulties; she faces hers alone." Sounds like a Mother's Day talk.
The plot was actually pretty good--the novel starts with a mystery approached from the viewpoint of a little cottage that has been sadly abandoned for 25 years, gathering dust and falling apart. Then a veiled woman returns who is clutching a vial of laudanum, contemplating suicide. Why? And what happened that she constantly wears a veil? Who hurt her heart so badly that for 25 years she has been in stasis almost as completely as the home? The underlying theme of the story emerges as the need for forgiveness and moving on.
There are some fun characters like the cold, brilliant doctor who carries out medical research using the stray cats and dogs in the neighborhood. The kindly preacher who has garnered the ire of the self-righteous women in his congregation because he won't give hell-and-damnation sermons. And short, bustling Miss Mehitable who knows all the gossip in town, thinks marriage is evil and has taught her sweet granddaughter the same, is a hard worker with high standards and is critical of anyone who doesn't match up, and does her Christian duty helping others. She made me giggle when she said: "Most of the work in the world is slid onto women, and then, as if that was n't enough, they 're given skirts to hold up, too. Seems to me that if the Almighty had meant for women to be carrying skirts all their lives, He 'd have give us another hand and elbow in our backs, like a jinted stove-pipe,for the purpose."
I suspect that this novel was considered controversial and very romantic in its time. Seems quite tame now and unrealistic. It was still fun to read and I enjoyed the homiilies sprinkled throughout the book:
--"One step at a time--one step at a time. That 's all we have to take, fortunately. When we can't see ahead, it 's because we can't look around a corner."
--"It is a way of life, and one of its inmost compensations--this finding of a reality so much easier than our fears."
--"Whatever is past is over, and I 'm thinking you have no more to do with it than a butterfly has with the empty chrysalis from which he came. The law of life is growth, and we cannot linger--we must always be going on."
The plot was actually pretty good--the novel starts with a mystery approached from the viewpoint of a little cottage that has been sadly abandoned for 25 years, gathering dust and falling apart. Then a veiled woman returns who is clutching a vial of laudanum, contemplating suicide. Why? And what happened that she constantly wears a veil? Who hurt her heart so badly that for 25 years she has been in stasis almost as completely as the home? The underlying theme of the story emerges as the need for forgiveness and moving on.
There are some fun characters like the cold, brilliant doctor who carries out medical research using the stray cats and dogs in the neighborhood. The kindly preacher who has garnered the ire of the self-righteous women in his congregation because he won't give hell-and-damnation sermons. And short, bustling Miss Mehitable who knows all the gossip in town, thinks marriage is evil and has taught her sweet granddaughter the same, is a hard worker with high standards and is critical of anyone who doesn't match up, and does her Christian duty helping others. She made me giggle when she said: "Most of the work in the world is slid onto women, and then, as if that was n't enough, they 're given skirts to hold up, too. Seems to me that if the Almighty had meant for women to be carrying skirts all their lives, He 'd have give us another hand and elbow in our backs, like a jinted stove-pipe,for the purpose."
I suspect that this novel was considered controversial and very romantic in its time. Seems quite tame now and unrealistic. It was still fun to read and I enjoyed the homiilies sprinkled throughout the book:
--"One step at a time--one step at a time. That 's all we have to take, fortunately. When we can't see ahead, it 's because we can't look around a corner."
--"It is a way of life, and one of its inmost compensations--this finding of a reality so much easier than our fears."
--"Whatever is past is over, and I 'm thinking you have no more to do with it than a butterfly has with the empty chrysalis from which he came. The law of life is growth, and we cannot linger--we must always be going on."
April 5, 2024
simply loved it… the Pipers wisdom was deep and so inspiring to me.
September 21, 2013
Read again now. I'm surprised at all I forgot about the book. A number of passages in it I wish I could remember so I could pull them up at opportune times. :) Too bad so many years were spent in the Shadows for Evelina. She should've met the Piper years ago. Mehitable is priceless. Just a true bitter old maid. I found her amusing. Also too bad the Dr. had to kill himself, but I guess he had nothing to live for anymore. Do I sound cruel? It's only fiction, so I can cast such judgement.
April 18, 2023
The dramatic reading is half the goodness of this. Perhaps more. I did howl with laughter over some parts. Other parts are sad. A couple chapters disjointed or a hindrance to unity. I'll definitely recommend this book to others.
July 24, 2025
I found this book at a thrift store, and was drawn to the beautiful cover. It was a quick read. I felt like the spiritual compass was forever spinning throughout the books. Talk of God and the Bible, then the Pipes of Pan! It felt a bit too extreme in so many directions. That Evelina could just do nothing but nurse her self pity for 25 years, or that the brilliant well respected doctor also tortured animals for his experiments. That Ralph fell in love and married the first sweet girls to cross his path, or that the Piper just decided to take Evelina on as a project without knowing anything about her. It was interesting, and I think I could have enjoyed it overall until the part where the man’s dog get’s experimented on. That was just too much for me, and I felt like it didn’t belong in this genre. This novel reminded me a lot of “The Harvester” by Gene Stratton Porter (1911). But that one was beautiful, so enjoyable. Go read that one instead!
November 25, 2024
🖍️ Lovely story with just as charming writing and believable plot. I enjoyed this.
📕Published in 1906.
જ⁀🟢The e-book version can be found on the Project Gutenberg website.
🟣 Kindle.
✴︎⋆✴︎⋆✴︎⋆✴︎
🖋️ About Myrtle Reed: Born in Norwood Park, Illinois September 27, 1874. She passed away at her apartment 5120 N. Kenmore, Chicago (suicide) August 17, 1911 and was buried at Graceland Cemetery. 🪦Some more information about Myrtle Reed can be found on this link at Find a Grave.
📕Published in 1906.
જ⁀🟢The e-book version can be found on the Project Gutenberg website.
🟣 Kindle.
✴︎⋆✴︎⋆✴︎⋆✴︎
🖋️ About Myrtle Reed: Born in Norwood Park, Illinois September 27, 1874. She passed away at her apartment 5120 N. Kenmore, Chicago (suicide) August 17, 1911 and was buried at Graceland Cemetery. 🪦Some more information about Myrtle Reed can be found on this link at Find a Grave.
April 4, 2024
A very lovely book about grief, forgiveness and love.
I have mixed feelings on this book. I found a lot of the characters were over the top in their beliefs and actions, but it was balanced with some really lovely and well thought out points. Though, to quote another reviewer "the theology is mixed and incorrect".
I really loved the description given of gossip, Telling things about folks that they wouldn't tell themselves.
I also found the descriptions of what marriage should be quite beautiful.
I have mixed feelings on this book. I found a lot of the characters were over the top in their beliefs and actions, but it was balanced with some really lovely and well thought out points. Though, to quote another reviewer "the theology is mixed and incorrect".
I really loved the description given of gossip, Telling things about folks that they wouldn't tell themselves.
I also found the descriptions of what marriage should be quite beautiful.
April 6, 2025
This book was a metaphor itself,the writing compelling and the characters charming and realistic. I liked it as it was engrossing and deep but I didn’t loved it because of the darkness of it .It was also a reflection of the author believes and thoughts and for me this didn’t had a happy ending.
But overall it was definitely worth reading.
But overall it was definitely worth reading.
August 4, 2021
For a book written in 1906, I am surprisingly entertained.
December 16, 2024
Souped up Victorian melodrama on steroids with a jaw dropping plot twist? How can I not give this 5 stars? All my morals have been thoroughly scrubbed and I am content.
August 12, 2025
This is such a wonderful book. I actually used a passage from it in me wedding vows.
March 22, 2023
“Beauty? You do not understand. I was burned—“
“Yes,” said the Piper, softly, “and what of that? Beauty is of the soul.”
“There is day. I’ve come to lead you to it. We’ll find the light together…”
I adore. I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for these old stories. I never tire of them. And I do love this one immensely.
“Yes,” said the Piper, softly, “and what of that? Beauty is of the soul.”
“There is day. I’ve come to lead you to it. We’ll find the light together…”
I adore. I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for these old stories. I never tire of them. And I do love this one immensely.
September 10, 2011
Miss Evelina Gray, a lady in her forties, seems to have nothing left to live for. Her mother has died and she has no money left, so she moves back to her old home, which is a run-down, dirty place now. Wanting death, yet not taking it upon herself, Evelina recalls with pity her past . . . yet much of it remains a mystery to us.
The busybody neighbor, Miss Mehitable Smith, goes over to the house the next day, bent upon being friendly—and learning who’s come to live in the old house. Veiled as Evelina is, Mehitable can’t tell who she is, until Evelina introduces herself. Miss Mehitable chatters on, saying that she has kept her niece, Araminta, away from men and boys. Except for the minister, for “ministers don’t count.” Evelina hears Mehitable mention Dr. Dexter’s name, the name of the man she had fled twenty-five years earlier. After leaving, Miss Mehitable remembers that Evelina was burnt, and that’s why she wears the veil.
Later, Evelina finds the pearls that were given to her by Dr. Anthony Dexter long ago. After she sees Dr. Dexter driving by, she decides to take her revenge on him by making him remember with the pearls.
When Dr. Dexter finds the pearls at his door the next morning, he finds himself remembering the past that he had before been able to keep out of his mind. The figure of Evelina haunts him ever since.
Evelina, one day while walking, hears music played on a flute. She calls them “pipes o’ Pan” and goes through the woods trying to find them. She thinks death is calling her. When she finds the man who is playing the flute, she is disappointed. She had wanted to die. The Piper and his yellow dog follow the lady as she leaves. The Piper sees it is his duty to help the forlorn, veiled lady.
Meanwhile, Dr. Dexter tells the minister of his past sins, wording it in a way so that the minister does not know of whom he speaks. The minister tells the doctor that this man, who had left the woman he had meant to marry, was worse than a cur, and that the man should be held to his word, and not run like a coward. The conversation keeps playing itself through the doctor’s mind, and he is troubled.
At Evelina’s house, Miss Mehitable and her neice, Araminta, have come to clean house. In an accident, Araminta hurts her ankle. Mehitable runs for the doctor, even while knowing she could not bring Anthony Dexter to Evelina’s house, for she knows the story of the two former lovers. She meets Anthony Dexter’s son, Ralph, at the door. Ralph is also a doctor, though Mehitable calls him a “play doctor.” Ralph goes to help Araminta.
Ralph is intrigued by the beautiful but naive Araminta, and Araminta likes Ralph’s easygoing, cordial personality.
With engaging, humorous, and mysterious characters, this book is not dull. However, the theology is mixed and incorrect. Read with this caution, and enjoy the interesting story for what it’s worth.
The busybody neighbor, Miss Mehitable Smith, goes over to the house the next day, bent upon being friendly—and learning who’s come to live in the old house. Veiled as Evelina is, Mehitable can’t tell who she is, until Evelina introduces herself. Miss Mehitable chatters on, saying that she has kept her niece, Araminta, away from men and boys. Except for the minister, for “ministers don’t count.” Evelina hears Mehitable mention Dr. Dexter’s name, the name of the man she had fled twenty-five years earlier. After leaving, Miss Mehitable remembers that Evelina was burnt, and that’s why she wears the veil.
Later, Evelina finds the pearls that were given to her by Dr. Anthony Dexter long ago. After she sees Dr. Dexter driving by, she decides to take her revenge on him by making him remember with the pearls.
When Dr. Dexter finds the pearls at his door the next morning, he finds himself remembering the past that he had before been able to keep out of his mind. The figure of Evelina haunts him ever since.
Evelina, one day while walking, hears music played on a flute. She calls them “pipes o’ Pan” and goes through the woods trying to find them. She thinks death is calling her. When she finds the man who is playing the flute, she is disappointed. She had wanted to die. The Piper and his yellow dog follow the lady as she leaves. The Piper sees it is his duty to help the forlorn, veiled lady.
Meanwhile, Dr. Dexter tells the minister of his past sins, wording it in a way so that the minister does not know of whom he speaks. The minister tells the doctor that this man, who had left the woman he had meant to marry, was worse than a cur, and that the man should be held to his word, and not run like a coward. The conversation keeps playing itself through the doctor’s mind, and he is troubled.
At Evelina’s house, Miss Mehitable and her neice, Araminta, have come to clean house. In an accident, Araminta hurts her ankle. Mehitable runs for the doctor, even while knowing she could not bring Anthony Dexter to Evelina’s house, for she knows the story of the two former lovers. She meets Anthony Dexter’s son, Ralph, at the door. Ralph is also a doctor, though Mehitable calls him a “play doctor.” Ralph goes to help Araminta.
Ralph is intrigued by the beautiful but naive Araminta, and Araminta likes Ralph’s easygoing, cordial personality.
With engaging, humorous, and mysterious characters, this book is not dull. However, the theology is mixed and incorrect. Read with this caution, and enjoy the interesting story for what it’s worth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2014
Twenty-five years ago Miss Evalina suffered a great hurt to both body and heart, and she never recovered. Now she's come back, mysteriously veiled and silent. Miss Mehitable, the maidenly spinster, can't quite remember the long-ago story, but Dr. Anthony Dexter remembers all too well.
Along comes the Piper, to lure the sad woman from her sadness. And here's Dr. Dexter's son, who thinks his father "always does the square thing." The lives of these, and other characters tangle in the quiet village, and every one of their lives will change forever.
This was a dearly beloved book of the fifteen-year-old me, and I knew whole sections by heart. My best friend and I quoted Myrtle Reed to each other, and our favorite part was the chapter called "The March of Days."
On this reread, I still liked that part best. Miss Evalina, the main character, made me impatient this time around. I'm all for wallowing romantically in grief, but twenty-five years of veiled sorrow is a bit much, even for melancholic me. Some of the saccharine-sweet descriptions, especially of female characters, gave me an urge to do something unladylike, like spit sunflower seeds.
The secondary characters are first-rate (as Ralph would say.) Miss Mehitable, the stereotypical spinster, is most interesting and most maddening. Araminta is so sheltered (by the aforementioned Miss Mehitable) and silly that you don't believe for a second she's real, but she's fun to read about. Ralph is my favorite, along with the little yellow dog (wipes a tear.)
Ultimately, this story is about forgiveness. I don't agree with everything in it, but I agree strongly with enough of it to recommend it. Just have your sunflower seeds at the ready.
Along comes the Piper, to lure the sad woman from her sadness. And here's Dr. Dexter's son, who thinks his father "always does the square thing." The lives of these, and other characters tangle in the quiet village, and every one of their lives will change forever.
This was a dearly beloved book of the fifteen-year-old me, and I knew whole sections by heart. My best friend and I quoted Myrtle Reed to each other, and our favorite part was the chapter called "The March of Days."
On this reread, I still liked that part best. Miss Evalina, the main character, made me impatient this time around. I'm all for wallowing romantically in grief, but twenty-five years of veiled sorrow is a bit much, even for melancholic me. Some of the saccharine-sweet descriptions, especially of female characters, gave me an urge to do something unladylike, like spit sunflower seeds.
The secondary characters are first-rate (as Ralph would say.) Miss Mehitable, the stereotypical spinster, is most interesting and most maddening. Araminta is so sheltered (by the aforementioned Miss Mehitable) and silly that you don't believe for a second she's real, but she's fun to read about. Ralph is my favorite, along with the little yellow dog (wipes a tear.)
Ultimately, this story is about forgiveness. I don't agree with everything in it, but I agree strongly with enough of it to recommend it. Just have your sunflower seeds at the ready.
July 7, 2013
Just found this story online of which I thoroughly enjoyed reading in one day. It certainly was a very old fashioned tale of broken hearts, dreams and misery. But also of coming to life, blooming and forgiveness. So many elements woven into this story aside from being that of romance - that of cruelty, depression, ignorance, cowardliness and misguided responsibility but also of kindness, innocence, understanding, hope and growth as well as finding one's voice. Refreshing to read with the way modern writers are confusing lust for romance and not really dealing with the emotional aspect of truly falling in love in mind, heart and soul. A beautiful classic must read.
My favorite was the interaction between the young doctor and his young patient, and how both protagonists find themselves. Laddie's scene did break my heart. I would have loved to have read the kind Reverend's sermon on hell, and Miss Hitty seeing Evelina's face with all the gossip she has spread.
My favorite was the interaction between the young doctor and his young patient, and how both protagonists find themselves. Laddie's scene did break my heart. I would have loved to have read the kind Reverend's sermon on hell, and Miss Hitty seeing Evelina's face with all the gossip she has spread.
December 5, 2010
This book was not entirely what I was expecting it to be. There is both happiness and unhappiness in it, but it is probably the sorrow that leaves the biggest impression, even though everything ends being basically okay. There is one unforgettable and cruelly horrific scene that I could not make myself read in depth--animal lovers would do well to watch out. The best part of the book is young Dr. Ralph and Araminta. Dr. Anthony Dexter is utterly cold and incomprehensible, and I didn't care to read so much about him. Those parts of the book were really hard. It makes me wonder whether I would really want to read other things by this author. It was just a book that left me feeling more sad than happy.
July 21, 2008
The scene with Laddie and the doctor (and of course Piper) breaks my heart. I cry every time i try to read it aloud - and i try to do that pretty often because i want to share it with everyone. i love the line about (paraphrasing) "i thought that if i was worthy of a dog's love I might someday be worthy of a woman's" - it is beautiful.
January 6, 2010
This book is the classic romance from the late 1800s/early 1900s. Myrtle Reed (whose writing I first was introduced to when my grandmother gave me a first edition Weaver of Dreams) was a popular author at the turn of the 20th century. Full of thwarted love, humorously drawn characters and love's perfect fulfillment at the end, her books are a good easy read.
February 7, 2010
My most favorite of books. All about betrayal...pain and then forgiveness.
February 28, 2012
This book managed to make me sick to my stomache...
August 16, 2014
Review is available on Audible
January 28, 2016
4* A good wholesome book, if a little slow on action. But that's how the good old books are - more wisdom, less action.
April 11, 2016
This was both obnoxious and hilarious. It's not a page-turner, but there is much quiet humor and I'd still like to finish it, but it was on an mp3 player I don't have anymore.
November 7, 2015
I was very drawn in by this book and it is interesting. I wasn't fully satisfied with it as a whole. Definitely some interesting characters, good and bad.
February 5, 2017
I love these old fashioned books with their expectations and values. Not as life was then but rather as people wished life would be as the worm turned and the bad were punished. Humor and pathos.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews