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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked this much more than I expected to! I wasn't absolutely convinced by every aspect of the plot, but it felt emotionally true to the characters.
Thoughts: I feel very lucky to have this book to add to my collection. After falling in love with the Anne with an E series on Netflix and then of course wanting to add it to my personal library, I was super excited when I came across this spin-off novel about the life of Marilla Cuthbert. And even more thankful to my Mum who didn't have an easy time sourcing this.
Firstly, I LOVED being back at Green Gables and McCoy did a good job at keeping it the warm, safe and cosy place we all know it to be. It was so fun to be back in the world with Marilla and Matthew, Rachel and John, and it was nice to imagine Marilla's life with her parents and friends growing up, her feelings towards John and more of Matthew's life and personality too.
The thing that didn't sit quite right with me, is that I felt like Marilla came across a lot like Anne. The mannerisms, her reactions to situations and thoughts, which of course she isn't like Anne in the slightest. I don't know whether I just had Anne in my mind and so was imagining Marilla as Anne, or if she was actually written very similar. After reading a handful of reviews, people described it that McCoy's Marilla was not the same Marilla written by Montgomery or portrayed in the TV series (my opinion being based off the Anne with an E series) and still I can't imagine these two women being the same person.
Despite this, it was a cosy read and I was glad to be visiting Green Gables again.
Firstly, I LOVED being back at Green Gables and McCoy did a good job at keeping it the warm, safe and cosy place we all know it to be. It was so fun to be back in the world with Marilla and Matthew, Rachel and John, and it was nice to imagine Marilla's life with her parents and friends growing up, her feelings towards John and more of Matthew's life and personality too.
The thing that didn't sit quite right with me, is that I felt like Marilla came across a lot like Anne. The mannerisms, her reactions to situations and thoughts, which of course she isn't like Anne in the slightest. I don't know whether I just had Anne in my mind and so was imagining Marilla as Anne, or if she was actually written very similar. After reading a handful of reviews, people described it that McCoy's Marilla was not the same Marilla written by Montgomery or portrayed in the TV series (my opinion being based off the Anne with an E series) and still I can't imagine these two women being the same person.
Despite this, it was a cosy read and I was glad to be visiting Green Gables again.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This felt like Anne of Green Gables fanfiction, in a well-meaning way. McCoy expands on Marilla’s backstory, weaving in elements like the Underground Railroad and diving into the hinted-at romance between Marilla and John Blythe, Gilbert’s father. She also explores Marilla’s lifelong friendship with Rachel Lynde.
It is a heartfelt tribute and somewhat satisfying backstory, but it doesn’t come close to the charm or depth of the original books. Worth a read for devoted fans, but it’s definitely not a substitute for Montgomery’s work.
It is a heartfelt tribute and somewhat satisfying backstory, but it doesn’t come close to the charm or depth of the original books. Worth a read for devoted fans, but it’s definitely not a substitute for Montgomery’s work.
If you love Anne of Green Gables, this book is essential reading. Even knowing how it would end, the bittersweet moments still broke my heart. I am quite like Marilla, but I know I would not be strong enough to act the way she does at many parts of the book. She is so strong and I admire her so much.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Love the Marilla origin story.