I’m writing a review about these three books together as they all cover a certain segment in the life of Anne Shirley, irrepressible redheaded heroine written about by L.M. Montgomery.
In “Anne of Avonlea,” Anne has grown out of most of her awkwardness but still makes shocking mistakes from time to time, causing Marilla to sprout even more gray hair. The book is full of sweet and funny moments from Anne’s days teaching school and her interactions with the children. Anne also experiences what it’s like to finally belong to a large family, as Marilla adopts orphans Davy and Dora, who quickly win a place in Anne’s heart. We meet the eccentric Miss Lavender, who is waiting for a long lost boyfriend to come back for her, and encounter a mysterious neighbor with a parrot. A gentle story and great addition to the Anne lineup.
“Anne of the Island” is the most romantic book in the first half of the Anne series. She is now in her early twenties and is attending Redmond College, living in a sweet little house called “Patty’s Place.” She meets and falls in love with a young man by the name of Royal Gardiner, a charming fellow who seems to be everything she wants. Gilbert Blythe is very much in the picture still and wants her to marry him, but she just doesn’t love him in the way she thinks she ought to. He’s not “dreamy” enough for her. She’s looking for someone who could have walked out of a page of poetry, not someone she’s known for years and is as familiar to her as anyone. But with her decision to marry Royal, she finds herself discontent and wondering why life isn’t turning out the way she’d always hoped it would.
In “Anne of Windy Poplars,” we find Anne, newly engaged to Gilbert Blythe (at last!) heading off to teach at a high school. She’s not expecting to make enemies, but she does, in the form of the Pringle family, the oldest and most established family in the area. It would seem that a relative of theirs applied for her job and wasn’t qualified, so the Pringles are out to show that Anne is not qualified either, and they make her life miserable. Gilbert is in medical school at the same time, and the two correspond through letters, sharing experiences with each other during this time they must be apart. Anne makes friends with sweet little Elizabeth Grayson, and finds a friend in Aunt Chatty.
Even though Anne is growing up and is heading into her adult years, the wonderful thing is that she’s still Anne. Her imagination is still fertile, her flights of fancy just as wild, and all the things that make her, her, are still present. Be sure not to miss these three volumes in the Anne of Green Gables series.
Related Blogs:
Anne of Green Gables: An Introduction
Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel