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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
adventurous
What a sweet little book. There is something about reading L. M. Montgomery that makes me feel like I can wrapped in a warm hug. Her books transport me to Prince Edward Island, and I’ve never even been!
I really liked Emily. She reminds me of Anne but is a fully fleshed out character in her own right. A lot of the characters do seem to echo characters in the Anne series, but there is definitely some interesting variation.
Overall, this read was sweet and delightful, but there is one big BUT, and that BUT is reserved for Dean “Jarback” Priest.
(Minor spoiler ahead)
He is a 36-year-old man. Who went to school with Emily’s father. And after saving her life. He decides he wants to MARRY her!! (When she “comes of age” of course) But that doesn’t stop him from striking up a close, intimate (largely unchaperoned) friendship with a TWELVE YEAR OLD. I have a premonition that he’s only going to get worse. Major ick. I really don’t know if I can justify this by reasoning that it was more common to have larger age gaps 100 years ago.
Because 1) 20+ years is SIGNIFICANT and 2) This man is essentially grooming Emily.
That big awful thing aside, I loved the book and will be continuing the series.
I really liked Emily. She reminds me of Anne but is a fully fleshed out character in her own right. A lot of the characters do seem to echo characters in the Anne series, but there is definitely some interesting variation.
Overall, this read was sweet and delightful, but there is one big BUT, and that BUT is reserved for Dean “Jarback” Priest.
(Minor spoiler ahead)
He is a 36-year-old man. Who went to school with Emily’s father. And after saving her life. He decides he wants to MARRY her!! (When she “comes of age” of course) But that doesn’t stop him from striking up a close, intimate (largely unchaperoned) friendship with a TWELVE YEAR OLD. I have a premonition that he’s only going to get worse. Major ick. I really don’t know if I can justify this by reasoning that it was more common to have larger age gaps 100 years ago.
Because 1) 20+ years is SIGNIFICANT and 2) This man is essentially grooming Emily.
That big awful thing aside, I loved the book and will be continuing the series.
I really enjoy Montgomery's style of writing; the nature of imagery, what life was like back then, the quaintness of everything. I love the Anne Shirley b0oks, but I'm not going to compare Emily with Anne because I don't think that's fair. However, if I'd read this book first, I'd have given Anne Shirley a miss. The writing is as lovely as ever, but Emily herself is an awful character. She is spoilt and haughty and we are somehow expected to like her because she has guts. But her immaturity and arrogance make it hard to like her. That said, since this is a book series I could have forgiven that and stuck with the books, but Dean Priest was the real turn off. A 36 year old man who clearly lusts after a 12 year old girl, which is described in detail and as if it is something to get excited about... It's just disgusting. It also doesn't fit with Emily's character, who is so bright in apparently every other way, and so capable, but apparently completely clueless when it comes to men. It's one thing to describe a 12 year old as having 'come-hither' eyes - that I could overlook - but Dean's hankering over her is just too much. He went to school with her father and he basically intends to groom her until she is old enough to marry him 'you'll see Emily'... Disgusting. Had it happened sooner in the book I'd have not finished it. The creepy p*dophilic storyline put me off immensely. I shudder to think that kids read this book!
The first time I read this was when I was probably thirteen. I had finished the Anne series (for the first time ever) and couldn’t get enough L.M. Montgomery. So, 24 years later, here are my thoughts.
Plot
Emily of New Moon is about an 11-year-old girl who loses her father and becomes an orphan that is taken in by family that she’s never met.
From the beginning, I felt for Emily who does her best to make the best of each circumstance that is thrown her way.
The story takes place in the very early 20-century when children were still preferred to be seen and not heard. And Emily was raised by a father who was a little more liberal in his parenting so it’s even more of a shock for poor Emily who was adopted by a set of aunts–one who is very strict and rigid in her ideology.
Emily goes through many trials and tribulations as she gets used to life on New Moon farm.
She’s got a few friends and some enemies that color the story and Emily’s journey.
Characters
L.M. Montgomery writes incredible character-based stories.
Emily is such a delightful little girl with a vivid imagination. The New Moon crowd; Aunt Elizabeth, Aunt Laura, and Cousin Jimmy each bring their own loveliness to the story. Even Aunt Elizabeth who is more than a little rough around the edges.
Ilse, Teddy, and Perry–Emily’s dear friends–are all special in their own way and add to Emily’s life in ways that change her for the best.
Writing
L.M. Montgomery is a near-perfect author. I say “near” because, even for me, she can be a little too poetic and descriptive at times.
Pacing
The pacing is spot-on. There are no boring lapses in the story and I flew through this book even though it’s a many-times reread for me.
Cover
In the age of artsy book covers, I realize this one is a little dated. But, I love it for the fact that it’s a wonderful portrayal of the feel of the story and… It evokes memories of my childhood.
Flame Rating
Zero flames due to it being a children’s book.
Plot
Emily of New Moon is about an 11-year-old girl who loses her father and becomes an orphan that is taken in by family that she’s never met.
From the beginning, I felt for Emily who does her best to make the best of each circumstance that is thrown her way.
The story takes place in the very early 20-century when children were still preferred to be seen and not heard. And Emily was raised by a father who was a little more liberal in his parenting so it’s even more of a shock for poor Emily who was adopted by a set of aunts–one who is very strict and rigid in her ideology.
Emily goes through many trials and tribulations as she gets used to life on New Moon farm.
She’s got a few friends and some enemies that color the story and Emily’s journey.
Characters
L.M. Montgomery writes incredible character-based stories.
Emily is such a delightful little girl with a vivid imagination. The New Moon crowd; Aunt Elizabeth, Aunt Laura, and Cousin Jimmy each bring their own loveliness to the story. Even Aunt Elizabeth who is more than a little rough around the edges.
Ilse, Teddy, and Perry–Emily’s dear friends–are all special in their own way and add to Emily’s life in ways that change her for the best.
Writing
L.M. Montgomery is a near-perfect author. I say “near” because, even for me, she can be a little too poetic and descriptive at times.
Pacing
The pacing is spot-on. There are no boring lapses in the story and I flew through this book even though it’s a many-times reread for me.
Cover
In the age of artsy book covers, I realize this one is a little dated. But, I love it for the fact that it’s a wonderful portrayal of the feel of the story and… It evokes memories of my childhood.
Flame Rating
Zero flames due to it being a children’s book.
Everyone knows about Anne of Green Gables. The Emily books are LM Montgomery's other series. They are a little darker and older than the Anne books and I like them even more.
For those who loved L.M. Montgomery's classic series, Anne of Green Gables, this will provide a great follow-up read. Though not quite as good as the Green Gables series, this is still a very engaging and entertaining series that will delight young readers.
Although it started out feeling very similar to Anne of Green Gables, Emily was different enough to make it enjoyable.
I do love this book. It's as good as Anne in my opinion, although they are quite different people and different stories. That said, Emily is the kind of INFJ/INFP whom, if I knew her in real life, I would be constantly side-eyeing. I would unfollow her Instagram account after two days maximum.
"Oh, I smell spring!" she cried as she danced alone the brook path.
Then she began to compose a poem on it. Everybody who has ever lived in the world and could string two rhymes together has written a poem on spring. It is the most-rhymed subject in the world -- and always will be, because it is poetry incarnate itself. You can never be a real poet if you haven't made at least one poem about spring. 227
Then she began to compose a poem on it. Everybody who has ever lived in the world and could string two rhymes together has written a poem on spring. It is the most-rhymed subject in the world -- and always will be, because it is poetry incarnate itself. You can never be a real poet if you haven't made at least one poem about spring. 227
Oh how I wish this was written in our time because this would be so, so gay. Emily and Ilse belong together and we all know Nancy and Caroline are a thing. What a heckin shame.
Also, CATS.
That's it. That's the review.
Also, CATS.
That's it. That's the review.