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sky_friend14's review against another edition
4.0
4/5
It took me awhile to finish this book, but not because it was bad. Actually i didnt expect to like it as much as i did :).
It took me awhile to finish this book, but not because it was bad. Actually i didnt expect to like it as much as i did :).
icanpirouette's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
pekoegal's review against another edition
4.0
This book was so sad a lot of the time! I mean, I know Anne's life before Green Gables was no picnic, but holy cow this author didn't pull any punches on the tragedy.
sarahanne8382's review against another edition
4.0
One of the flurry of L. M. Montgomery related books that came out last year for the 100th anniversary of the publication of Anne of Green Gables, Wilson's story attempts to fill in the details of Anne Shirley's life before Matthew Cuthbert picked her up from the Bright River train station.
Obviously, this was not the prequel but Montgomery would have written, but this isn't the same world as Montgomery's and Wilson does a great job of telling Anne's early story for today's audience. She doesn't go out of her way to sugarcoat Anne's early years of servitude, first with the poor and frustrated Thomas family, and then with the exhausted, but ever-fertile Hammonds, and yet her voice isn't completely out of line with Montgomery's.
Sometimes I get disinterested with the Anne books because Anne can seem just a little too perfect and her world a little too orderly, but Wilson adds just enough harsh realism to keep things from getting too saccharine, while still fitting Anne's sweet and wholesome image.Despite her hardships Anne is able to hold out hope and dream of better days in her future.
Any Anne fan (& I know there are a few following this) owes it to herself to check out this wonderful addition to the life story of Anne Shirley.
Obviously, this was not the prequel but Montgomery would have written, but this isn't the same world as Montgomery's and Wilson does a great job of telling Anne's early story for today's audience. She doesn't go out of her way to sugarcoat Anne's early years of servitude, first with the poor and frustrated Thomas family, and then with the exhausted, but ever-fertile Hammonds, and yet her voice isn't completely out of line with Montgomery's.
Sometimes I get disinterested with the Anne books because Anne can seem just a little too perfect and her world a little too orderly, but Wilson adds just enough harsh realism to keep things from getting too saccharine, while still fitting Anne's sweet and wholesome image.Despite her hardships Anne is able to hold out hope and dream of better days in her future.
Any Anne fan (& I know there are a few following this) owes it to herself to check out this wonderful addition to the life story of Anne Shirley.
the_story_girl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I was surprised to learn of this prequel, I wouldn’t have known it existed if not for Goodreads. It’s described as heartwarming, and while there are certainly some sweet moments, they are few and far between. I knew before reading that Anne’s early life wasn’t easy, but I wasn’t truly prepared to read about how much hardship she went through.
It’s amazing how positive and cheerful she could be even after all that.
It’s amazing how positive and cheerful she could be even after all that.
“Sometimes I hope I get a chance to be young before I get too old to enjoy it.”
~Anne Shirley
3.5 stars✨
Book 5/54
~The Story Girl
bookpup's review against another edition
4.0
The book had a very light tone to it despite the not so light events happening throughout the book.
What is the use of a relationship of it's not like Walter and Bertha's???
I still love Anne. She's headstrong and stubborn and so nice.
What is the use of a relationship of it's not like Walter and Bertha's???
I still love Anne. She's headstrong and stubborn and so nice.
stephdrautio's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I’ve read Al of the Anne of Green Gables books in this series multiple times. It was nice to find a story with what happened Before Green Gables that fit with what the Author of the series wrote. There were some hard moments but was expecting them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Bullying, and Child death
Moderate: Emotional abuse
courtney7897's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
coinchantal's review against another edition
4.0
Lovely story of how the life of Anne Shirley started. Right from the beginning I was drawn into the story. It is an easy read, but also good reading for grownups. I loved how she was portrayed, but the book could have been shorter and still great. Sometimes the story was really sad because of the child slavery. Great beginning of a new reading year!
