Daddy-Long-Legs

by Jean Webster
Daddy-Long-Legs cover
Good Books rating 4.25
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Paperback • £6.99
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  • ID: 1663
  • Added: 2025-10-08
  • Updated: 2025-10-08
  • Formats: 2
  • Reviews: 4
Reviews
osprey-archer.livejournal.com · Unknown · 2025-10-21
wonderful 4.50

Mrs. Caliban is a peculiar and wonderful novella by Rachel Ingalls, reissued with praise from notable authors. It tells the story of a suburban housewife whose life is transformed by a charming frog-like creature named Larry, offering her a respite from her mundane existence and a thrilling love affair.

Mrs. Caliban, originally published in 1983 and recently reissued, is a peculiar and wonderful novella by Rachel Ingalls. The story revolves around Dorothy Caliban, a suburban housewife stuck in a bad marriage, whose life takes an unexpected turn when a six-foot-seven-inch frog-like creature named Larry enters her home. Larry's unexpected charm and sex appeal provide Dorothy with a thrilling respite from her mundane chores and unfaithful husband. Their love affair, filled with nighttime escapades and driving lessons, is both humorous and tender. However, the discovery that Larry is wanted for murder adds a layer of complexity to their relationship, making Mrs. Caliban a deftly light and humorous tale with a fundamental conundrum at its core.

Quick quotes

    This season's secret weapon in literary cocktail banter will be Mrs. Caliban, a peculiar but wonderful and long-overlooked novella by Rachel Ingalls.

    Ingalls gives us an odd parable of a story, totally fantastic but relayed in a matter-of-fact manner, 'drolly casual,' as John Updike described it.

    Love affairs with creatures from black lagoons might be having a moment; Guillermo del Toro's film The Shape of Water features a very Larry-like green-scaled research subject paired with a mute lab worker.

goodreads.com · Unknown · 2025-10-21
brilliant 4.50

The review discusses the revival of Rachel Ingalls' novella 'Mrs. Caliban,' a cult favorite among famous authors, which was reissued by New Directions. The book, praised for its ethereal writing and contemporary themes, is seen as a complex and entertaining exploration of power, gender, and sexuality, making it a timely addition to the literary canon.

The literary community has been celebrating the reissue of 'Mrs. Caliban,' a novella by Rachel Ingalls, which has gained a cult following among notable authors. The book, originally published in 1982, was reissued by New Directions in 2017, thanks to the efforts of Rivka Galchen, who discovered and praised the work. 'Mrs. Caliban' tells the story of a lonely woman's romance with an amphibious creature, blending the macabre and the poignant to explore themes of power, gender, and sexuality. The novella's contemporary relevance and its ability to entertain while delving into deep issues have made it a standout work. Its reissue is part of a broader effort to highlight underrated works by women authors, challenging the traditional literary canon.

Quick quotes

    The slim, ethereal, masterfully written book would seem like an odd fit for a reprint, given its relative obscurity, were it not a cult favorite among so many famous authors.

    The romantic fable, which blends the macabre and the poignant, deftly poses the kind of questions about power, gender, and sexuality that are dominating the present cultural conversation.

    It makes you wonder what was going on when 'Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland' came out. Were they in the middle of a war, maybe? Because it seems like solace.

smartbitchestrashybooks.com · Unknown · 2025-10-21
intriguing 3.50

The book is a witty and engaging exploration of gender roles and female agency, with a surreal and compelling narrative. The ending is thought-provoking and leaves a lasting impression, making it a relevant and impressive read.

The book starts off with a humorous and insightful look at gender roles and female sexual freedom. The protagonist's relationship with the frog-man, Larry, is both surreal and compelling, delving into themes of mental health and what it means to be human. The ending is particularly striking, prompting readers to reexamine the entire story and question the relationship between reality and imagination. The book's relevance and depth make it a standout read, one that will be thought about long after finishing it.

Quick quotes

    this is a book about a woman falling in love with a frog man, and somehow that was not the most silly and unrealistic part.

    Oh, wow. This is not your average human/monster romance. I totally understand why this landed on the BBMC’s “top 20 American novels of the post-World War II period.

    It’s one of the best tongue-in-cheek social satires that I’ve ever read. It delves into gender politics. It takes a long, hard look at mental health. It addresses female sexual freedom and agency. It asks the reader to examine what it means to be human.

owlmemories.wordpress.com · Unknown · 2015-03-16
brilliant 4.50

The review highlights 'Mrs. Caliban' as a surrealist masterpiece with a unique publication history. It tells the story of a lonely housewife's romance with an amphibious humanoid named Larry, exploring themes of trauma and healing. The book is praised for its originality and profound strangeness, drawing comparisons to various cultural touchstones but remaining unparalleled.

The review discusses 'Mrs. Caliban' by Rachel Ingalls, a slim surrealist novel first published in 1982. The story revolves around Dorothy, a lonely housewife in a bad marriage, who forms a romantic relationship with Larry, an amphibious humanoid. The book explores themes of trauma and healing as both characters, having suffered greatly, find solace in each other. The novel's unique blend of suburban malaise, romance tropes, and B-grade monster movies makes it a standout work. Despite its initial obscurity, 'Mrs. Caliban' gained recognition and was reissued, praised by notable authors and critics. The review emphasizes the book's originality and the rare experience it offers, comparing it to cultural touchstones like David Lynch's work and 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial', but noting that nothing quite matches its strangeness and depth.

Quick quotes

    The slim surrealist masterpiece is the story of a romance between a lonely housewife and (stick with me here) an amphibious humanoid named Larry.

    Dorothy has heard on the radio that Larry is dangerous, but he tells her that this is all wrong.

    And so it is with 'Mrs. Caliban', which, as Galchen and other have noted, is 'a perfect novel'.

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