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rachelalittle 's review for:
Anne's House of Dreams
by L.M. Montgomery
This book was going really well for me until the characters' true feelings on Dick Moore were revealed. Dick Moore is a grown man who suffered an accident (before the story line) and is left mentally handicapped. I despised reading about the characters' true feelings on him - that he was a burden and a waste of time. There's a bit more context to it than that put simply, but the sentiment is true. Perhaps I could see this book as higher rated if they had not repeated their feelings so much, but by the end it just felt dirty how often they made clear their disdain for having to care for him.
Aside from that, if you want to separate the two, I did quite enjoy the book! I see some reviewers were left very disappointed because Anne seems to have abandoned all the dreams she had growing up. I really don't see this as a bad thing, as people's dreams do change. I believe true feminism is accepting that women can do whatever they're called to do, not just whatever is least stereotypically feminine - whether that be making a home or being a journalist. While it would have been nice for Anne to continue to be that strong character, I don't think it's right to disrespect her wishes to marry and live a quieter life. Besides, her living that quiet life is what led her to her new friends in Four Winds. Anne loving those people changed their lives, so where's the harm in that? But that is coming from someone who believes the point in life is to love God and love others (not that we saw Anne and her friends loving God and respecting all his creations in this story...see: first paragraph of this review.)
Two of my favorite quotes from the novel:
"Talking it all out seems to have done away with it, somehow. It's very strange - and I thought it so real and bitter. It's like opening the door of a dark room to show some hideous creature you've believed to be there - and when the light streams in your monster turns out to have been just a shadow, vanishing when the light comes" - I loved this section of two women reconciling. The quote here reminds me of Ephesians 5:13.
"I know how you feel about it...but it ain't our feelings we have to steer by through life - no, no we'd make shipwreck mighty often if we did that. There's only the one safe compass and we've got to set out course by that - what it's right to do." Really beautiful and could parallel many verses, I'm sure.
Would I read again? Probably. Would I recommend? Yes. BUT. They're not totally loving and I dislike that, but there are some redeeming qualities.
Aside from that, if you want to separate the two, I did quite enjoy the book! I see some reviewers were left very disappointed because Anne seems to have abandoned all the dreams she had growing up. I really don't see this as a bad thing, as people's dreams do change. I believe true feminism is accepting that women can do whatever they're called to do, not just whatever is least stereotypically feminine - whether that be making a home or being a journalist. While it would have been nice for Anne to continue to be that strong character, I don't think it's right to disrespect her wishes to marry and live a quieter life. Besides, her living that quiet life is what led her to her new friends in Four Winds. Anne loving those people changed their lives, so where's the harm in that? But that is coming from someone who believes the point in life is to love God and love others (not that we saw Anne and her friends loving God and respecting all his creations in this story...see: first paragraph of this review.)
Two of my favorite quotes from the novel:
"Talking it all out seems to have done away with it, somehow. It's very strange - and I thought it so real and bitter. It's like opening the door of a dark room to show some hideous creature you've believed to be there - and when the light streams in your monster turns out to have been just a shadow, vanishing when the light comes" - I loved this section of two women reconciling. The quote here reminds me of Ephesians 5:13.
"I know how you feel about it...but it ain't our feelings we have to steer by through life - no, no we'd make shipwreck mighty often if we did that. There's only the one safe compass and we've got to set out course by that - what it's right to do." Really beautiful and could parallel many verses, I'm sure.
Would I read again? Probably. Would I recommend? Yes. BUT. They're not totally loving and I dislike that, but there are some redeeming qualities.