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A review by cpcabaniss
Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery
5.0
Reread August/September 2020
I had to keep this quote at the top of my review because it's so lovely. L M Montgomery's writing is gorgeous and I fall more in love with it each time I read one of her books.
Rilla of Ingleside has become one of my favorite novels. Part coming of age, part romance, part war story, it really has everything. And it's all presented so well. This is the kind of romance novel I can connect with, as it's not always on the page and in your face. So much of what happens between the characters is off the page, but you can feel it in what's on the page.
I'm not sure that makes any sense, but this is a wonderful book and could be read as a standalone if you don't want to finish the entire Anne series (though I definitely think you're missing out if you don't).
August/September 2019
I read this novel for the first time in July and it demanded a reread almost immediately. It was just that good.
The characters are fantastic in this series, but here is where things really shine for me. Rilla is an excellent protagonist because you can see her grow through the years the novel progresses. She also has some wonderful relationships with her family, particularly Walter, who is another favorite of mine.
There are also some really sweet moments between Anne and Gilbert. It really is beautiful to follow characters for so long and see them grow and have their own children. They don't feel like characters anymore, they feel like friends.
Historical fiction is one of my favorite things to read and this novel is right there with the best of them. It spans the entirety of World War One and was released in 1921, so it seems likely that Montgomery was writing it during the war, putting herself and those around her in the characters and circumstances. It's powerful without that consideration, but that gives it an extra spark of power.
This is a novel I am sure to revisit again and again.
Original Review
I absolutely adored this novel. Although I have enjoyed all of the Anne books, this might possibly be my favorite of them. It's at least a tie with the original Anne of Green Gables. It's simply brilliant.
The characters are excellent. We get to see some more of Anne and Gilbert in the middle years of their life. They have a few sweet moments together and it's nice to picture their lives together for all this time. The main focus of this story is their youngest daughter, Rilla. In the beginning she is an irritating, immature fifteen-year-old girl. Her development throughout the story is well done and very real.
I haven't read very many novels set during World War One, but I would be interested in trying some if they are even half as good as this one. I liked that the focus was on the women and men at home and not out in the fighting. It gave a different perspective than I've seen before in a war novel.
There were so many beautiful moments in this. Walter's story. Dog Monday's vigil by the train. Rilla and Ken's blossoming relationship. Rilla's care and devotion to Jims. The beautiful family dynamic between all of the Blythes. This novel makes me insanely happy. It's one I will likely read over again and again.
I loved seeing Anne's later life, even through her children. It was beautiful to see that the little orphan that Marilla and Matthew accidentally received blossomed into a beautiful woman who gained an education, married the man of her dreams, and passed on her imagination and zest for life to the children she had. It was all brilliantly presented.
There was only one thing that bothered me. I won't go into detail to avoid spoilers, but there was a scene involving a small child and the concept of sacrifice that did not sit well with me. That was the only real issue I had with the entire story.
Emily Durante's narration was quite good. I enjoyed listening to her performance.
"Rilla's heart skipped a beat--or, if that be a physiological impossibility, she thought it did."
I had to keep this quote at the top of my review because it's so lovely. L M Montgomery's writing is gorgeous and I fall more in love with it each time I read one of her books.
Rilla of Ingleside has become one of my favorite novels. Part coming of age, part romance, part war story, it really has everything. And it's all presented so well. This is the kind of romance novel I can connect with, as it's not always on the page and in your face. So much of what happens between the characters is off the page, but you can feel it in what's on the page.
I'm not sure that makes any sense, but this is a wonderful book and could be read as a standalone if you don't want to finish the entire Anne series (though I definitely think you're missing out if you don't).
August/September 2019
"Rilla's heart skipped a beat--or, if that be a physiological impossibility, she thought it did."
I read this novel for the first time in July and it demanded a reread almost immediately. It was just that good.
The characters are fantastic in this series, but here is where things really shine for me. Rilla is an excellent protagonist because you can see her grow through the years the novel progresses. She also has some wonderful relationships with her family, particularly Walter, who is another favorite of mine.
There are also some really sweet moments between Anne and Gilbert. It really is beautiful to follow characters for so long and see them grow and have their own children. They don't feel like characters anymore, they feel like friends.
"The fierce flame of agony had burned itself out and the gray dust of its ashes was over all the world."
Historical fiction is one of my favorite things to read and this novel is right there with the best of them. It spans the entirety of World War One and was released in 1921, so it seems likely that Montgomery was writing it during the war, putting herself and those around her in the characters and circumstances. It's powerful without that consideration, but that gives it an extra spark of power.
This is a novel I am sure to revisit again and again.
"It's the fate of mankind. That is what we're fighting for. And we shall win--never for a moment doubt that, Rilla. For it isn't only the living who are fighting--the dead are fighting too. Such an army cannot be defeated."
Original Review
I absolutely adored this novel. Although I have enjoyed all of the Anne books, this might possibly be my favorite of them. It's at least a tie with the original Anne of Green Gables. It's simply brilliant.
The characters are excellent. We get to see some more of Anne and Gilbert in the middle years of their life. They have a few sweet moments together and it's nice to picture their lives together for all this time. The main focus of this story is their youngest daughter, Rilla. In the beginning she is an irritating, immature fifteen-year-old girl. Her development throughout the story is well done and very real.
I haven't read very many novels set during World War One, but I would be interested in trying some if they are even half as good as this one. I liked that the focus was on the women and men at home and not out in the fighting. It gave a different perspective than I've seen before in a war novel.
There were so many beautiful moments in this. Walter's story. Dog Monday's vigil by the train. Rilla and Ken's blossoming relationship. Rilla's care and devotion to Jims. The beautiful family dynamic between all of the Blythes. This novel makes me insanely happy. It's one I will likely read over again and again.
I loved seeing Anne's later life, even through her children. It was beautiful to see that the little orphan that Marilla and Matthew accidentally received blossomed into a beautiful woman who gained an education, married the man of her dreams, and passed on her imagination and zest for life to the children she had. It was all brilliantly presented.
There was only one thing that bothered me. I won't go into detail to avoid spoilers, but there was a scene involving a small child and the concept of sacrifice that did not sit well with me. That was the only real issue I had with the entire story.
Emily Durante's narration was quite good. I enjoyed listening to her performance.