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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
New title: Anne of Bachelor Turn-downs or maybe Anne of Obvious Endings.
I enjoyed the first two Anne of books a decent amount. The first was best and the second just a bit less enjoyable. Montgomery loses me in this one.
First, Anne is always more interesting in Avonlea. That is where all of the most lovable and interesting characters reside. This novel needs more Marilla, Mrs. Rachel, and especially Diana, who marries some lame farmer and disappears from the narrative. Instead, Anne is off at Redmond College, earning her BA, which we are told is a big deal but never really hear much about.
Second, the characters at Redmond (Gilbert aside) are tedious. The author tries to make me care about Phil (who's a girl), but she's too snotty and annoying in the first half to make me like her when she changes (a bit) in the second. The other girls have token roles in the drama--they exist to fill the house, it seems. Most have no personality, and I can't remember any of their names.
Third, the entire book is one long effort at tarrying until Anne and Gilbert get engaged. Everyone knows they'll get engaged. All of the times Anne turns her suitors down in this book (at least 5 times, for Pete's sake!) make the overt gesture at what is sure to happen at the end--and does. Even Anne's random jaunts to help characters who don't matter are symbolic of Anne and Gilbert getting engaged. It's as if Montgomery wanted to write a book about Anne and Gilbert getting engaged but couldn't think of anything to put in it.
Now that I've trashed the book, let me admit that there are some entertaining bits in it. It's not an awful book. This is decent YA lit, but it is too contrived and belabored. I'm hesitant to read on in the series because I doubt Montgomery can't make me care about new characters, and new characters must be the future of the series.
One final note: why does Dora exist in these books? Davy is an interesting enough chap, but Dora is so boring and pointless that excising her from the books would alter nothing significant whatsoever. Montgomery even has her characters talk about how they love Davy and Dora, but don't know why they love the latter. I frequently forgot that she lives in the same house as Davy and Marilla. Get her outta there.
I enjoyed the first two Anne of books a decent amount. The first was best and the second just a bit less enjoyable. Montgomery loses me in this one.
First, Anne is always more interesting in Avonlea. That is where all of the most lovable and interesting characters reside. This novel needs more Marilla, Mrs. Rachel, and especially Diana, who marries some lame farmer and disappears from the narrative. Instead, Anne is off at Redmond College, earning her BA, which we are told is a big deal but never really hear much about.
Second, the characters at Redmond (Gilbert aside) are tedious. The author tries to make me care about Phil (who's a girl), but she's too snotty and annoying in the first half to make me like her when she changes (a bit) in the second. The other girls have token roles in the drama--they exist to fill the house, it seems. Most have no personality, and I can't remember any of their names.
Third, the entire book is one long effort at tarrying until Anne and Gilbert get engaged. Everyone knows they'll get engaged. All of the times Anne turns her suitors down in this book (at least 5 times, for Pete's sake!) make the overt gesture at what is sure to happen at the end--and does. Even Anne's random jaunts to help characters who don't matter are symbolic of Anne and Gilbert getting engaged. It's as if Montgomery wanted to write a book about Anne and Gilbert getting engaged but couldn't think of anything to put in it.
Now that I've trashed the book, let me admit that there are some entertaining bits in it. It's not an awful book. This is decent YA lit, but it is too contrived and belabored. I'm hesitant to read on in the series because I doubt Montgomery can't make me care about new characters, and new characters must be the future of the series.
One final note: why does Dora exist in these books? Davy is an interesting enough chap, but Dora is so boring and pointless that excising her from the books would alter nothing significant whatsoever. Montgomery even has her characters talk about how they love Davy and Dora, but don't know why they love the latter. I frequently forgot that she lives in the same house as Davy and Marilla. Get her outta there.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4.5 stars. I love Anne's Redmond stories, especially with loveable Phil(ippa). The only parts I don't like about this book are the side stories that detract from Anne, such as with the Mr. Douglas storyline. Remove those, and this would be one of my favourites!
Update Oct 2022: Still agree with all of the above! It’s a 5 star book until the plot screeches to a halt for five inexplicable chapters - the Mr. Douglas storyline. What the heck? Then it picks right back up where it left off, and we get our happy ending!
Update Oct 2022: Still agree with all of the above! It’s a 5 star book until the plot screeches to a halt for five inexplicable chapters - the Mr. Douglas storyline. What the heck? Then it picks right back up where it left off, and we get our happy ending!
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This gets a higher rating because of what FINALLY happens at the end. Plus it's a lovely read.
Another good installment for the Anne of Green Gables series, although for me none of them can match up to the first book. Anne is finally grown up, and we see her going to Redmond College and making new friends, as she is so good at doing. And what a wonderful ending!
I reread Anne of Green Gables recently, and then read Anne of Avonlea, and very much enjoyed both of these very much. I had not read any of the other titles in the series, so I set off to do just that. Well, I'm not going to make it I think. I read about 2/3 of Anne of the Island, and gave up. I just don't like it as well as the first two. If you ask me why, I don't know that I can truly put my finger on it, but the first two were engaging; this one just seems to ramble on with little to no oomph. Maybe I'll try again some day, but for now I've taken the rest of Anne's stories off my "to read" list I think.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
By far my favorite in the series - this book is all about Anne's four years away at Redmond college where she makes new friends and has several encounters with romance.
Chapter XIV almost brought me to tears!
My favorite quote:
"She wondered if old dreams could haunt rooms - if, when one left forever the room where she had joyed and suffered and laughed and wept, something of her, intangible and invisible, yet nonetheless real, did not remain behind like a voiceful memory." (222)
Chapter XIV almost brought me to tears!
My favorite quote:
"She wondered if old dreams could haunt rooms - if, when one left forever the room where she had joyed and suffered and laughed and wept, something of her, intangible and invisible, yet nonetheless real, did not remain behind like a voiceful memory." (222)