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chalkletters's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
As far as I remember, I've only read Anne of Ingleside once before, so after the high point that was Anne's House of Dreams, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Would my enjoyment off the series start to abate coming down the other side of the peak?
There's no denying that Anne and Gilbert feature less prominently in Anne of Ingleside than they do in Anne's House of Dreams. Perhaps more disappointing still, Leslie doesn’t feature at all, except by implication. Anne's children run between Ingleside and the old House of Dreams, but Anne herself never visits, nor does Leslie pay any calls at Ingleside, which is made even more baffling by the fact that Cornelia visits twice! It feels reminiscent of Anne of Windy Willows, where Diana completely disappears.
The lack of Leslie is most noticeable in the Aunt Mary Maria storyline: another seemingly unpleasant person who Anne attempts to befriend. Unlike Leslie (and Katherine), Aunt Mary Maria isn't given the benefit of Lucy Maud Montgomery's character development; she leaves Ingleside just as unpleasant-seeming as she was when she arrived, which was disappointing, given Anne's track record.
That aside, Lucy Maud Montgomery handles her large cast fairly well. Like the Carrs in What Katy Did, the Blythes are a large family, but there's little confusion over which child is which, except perhaps for Shirley, who doesn't make much of an impression on the narrative. As well as getting distinct personalities, the Blythe children are also each given a story of their own. Most of these are timeless enough to remain charming (especially Rilla's), but a modern reader may pause over some of the more class-based troubles between children. Lucy Maud Montgomery's writing is just as beautiful as usual, and the fancies of Anne's dreamier children gives her a chance to really highlight that.
Even so, it's Anne and Gilbert's short storyline that feels the most compelling. It does come somewhat out of the blue, but despite that, it's fun to feel the need to keep reading in order to smooth over the trouble between this beloved couple. Their joy at the end makes a particularly high note to end the book on.
While Anne of Ingleside is (personally) a step down from Anne's House of Dreams, it was still an enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Child death, and Death
lunep's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Animal death, Grief, Animal cruelty, Toxic friendship, Death, and Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Alcoholism
vickyshawi's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Death
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