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298th out of 856 books
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1,222 voters
The Selected Journals of L.M. Montgomery, Vol. 1: 1889-1910
A bestseller in Canada, this book will fascinate the legions of devoted readers of Anne of Green Gables and Montgomery's other Anne books.
Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942) kept extensive journals for most of her life, beginning them in 1889 when she was fourteen and continuing them until shortly before her death. Spontaneous and frank, they are unusual for their narrative...more
Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942) kept extensive journals for most of her life, beginning them in 1889 when she was fourteen and continuing them until shortly before her death. Spontaneous and frank, they are unusual for their narrative...more
Paperback, 424 pages
Published
2000
by Oxford University Press
(first published 1986)
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I'm happy to have read it - and happy that I stuck with it after the first few boring pages. I'm not sure if I really liked it. I wanted more about writing, and she does talk about working and stories being accepted, but never in detail. The first we hear of Anne is two years after she started writing it! I think it will probably get better in the next volume, though, since she's going to publish novels more regularly. I'm still unsure if I'll pick the next books up, though. Poor Maud Montgomery...more
Note - I wrote this in 2006 - before I (and the world) learned that Maud had committed suicide. How sad - and yet, not surprising, based on my experience reading her journal.
These are, as the title indicates, the first printed and edited volume of L.M. Montgomery's journals. I had wanted to read them for sometime, but the book is out of print, not available at my local library, and even hard to find used on-line. Found it, finally, at Powell's (where else?). It was a hard read, at times, but a s...more
These are, as the title indicates, the first printed and edited volume of L.M. Montgomery's journals. I had wanted to read them for sometime, but the book is out of print, not available at my local library, and even hard to find used on-line. Found it, finally, at Powell's (where else?). It was a hard read, at times, but a s...more
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It's going to be hard for me to be calm and collected enough to write a dispassionate review of this one. I am so an L. M. Montgomery fangirl.
I think the thing I liked most was to discover that Montgomery really was like the characters in her books. I knew that several of the situations in her books were taken from her real life, but I had no idea how many and to what extent they were taken from her life. No wonder Anne & Emily both receive so much grief from the locals when they find themse...more
I think the thing I liked most was to discover that Montgomery really was like the characters in her books. I knew that several of the situations in her books were taken from her real life, but I had no idea how many and to what extent they were taken from her life. No wonder Anne & Emily both receive so much grief from the locals when they find themse...more
Nice to read this right between Canada's Independence Day and the USA's! My mom, who grew up in Montreal, introduced me to LM MOntgomery's fiction when I was very young. She had loved them as a girl. For years and years, new (to me, at least) LMM books were sent to me for Christmases and birthdays by my Canadian grandparents and great-aunts. I read them into pieces, as my daughter who inherited the much-loved copies can attest.
In some ways, Maud's journals from ages 14 to 33 remind me of her fi...more
In some ways, Maud's journals from ages 14 to 33 remind me of her fi...more
I found this fascinating but quite... upsetting. I felt SO sorry for poor Maud. She was so exuberant and lively and passionate as a teenager and a young woman but it all just seemed to fall in a hole for her after the whole Ed Simpson/Herman Leard incident. I think she could've led such a happy and fulfilling life if she hadn't been raised in such a stiff, restrictive society. But then if that was the case, maybe she wouldn't have turned to her writing as an escape so much, and produced so many...more
Ohhhhhh this was SO FREAKING GOOD!!!!
L M Montgomery is just plain old awesome. I particularly LOVED the section on teaching, when she teaches in 3 different schools in 3 years. Two she is ok with, one she absolutely hates. Teaching hasn't changed all that much it seems. Some of her quotes are so priceless.
"I had never imagined such a set of stupids" she says of her Fourth form. She rants about the ignorance of the second community making her students dimwitted dull and entirely unworthy of her t...more
L M Montgomery is just plain old awesome. I particularly LOVED the section on teaching, when she teaches in 3 different schools in 3 years. Two she is ok with, one she absolutely hates. Teaching hasn't changed all that much it seems. Some of her quotes are so priceless.
"I had never imagined such a set of stupids" she says of her Fourth form. She rants about the ignorance of the second community making her students dimwitted dull and entirely unworthy of her t...more
Interesting book of her early journals which one of her sons helped the editors to compile. She kept a journal most of her entire life but at some point burned the early ones which she found to be "juvenile". She regretted doing this later in life. The early years I found somewhat tiresome, but her later years of journal entries are a fascinating glimpse into the social life of rural PEI and into the heart and soul of this strong independent woman. She had a difficult early life and was troubled...more
I wasn't sure what to expect when I read these famed journals...but one thing is certain. LM Montgomery was one of the most intelligent children to ever walk the earth, and one of the most gifted writers at such a precious, vulnerable age. It broke my heart, reading of the trials and tribulations she went through, even as such a young girl. I can't even begin to imagine the sheer force of will required to not only survive, but succeed and prosper in an age when women were not encourage to have s...more
I've read all the Anne books and some of Montgomery's other novels and heard that these journals add another level to understand the author and reveal her to be more than a writer of children's books. That turned out to be true. In the first part of her life, Montgomery WAS Anne. She writes in such a lively, engaging style and the journal is full of events that kept me turning the pages. She had a LOT of guys wanting to marry her, too. She also suffered from depression and anxiety in her late tw...more
I had to read this book just a few entries at a time or else I think I would have been bawling my eyes. Having known that Lucy Maud Montgomery committed suicide it felt like I could really see her spiralling into a depression after broken hearts, broken engagements and broken friendships. So many people she loved died; I can't believe how tough it must have been.
Her writing style in her novels is really reflected in her journals, and although there are often huge gaps, spanning months between en...more
Her writing style in her novels is really reflected in her journals, and although there are often huge gaps, spanning months between en...more
I was enthusiastic about reading this, the first volume of Montgomery's journals. I like reading artists' and writers' journals/memoirs/biographies just in general, but having read most of Montgomery's fiction, I was curious to see "behind the scenes" in her writing process and in particular, how her self-representation matched her fictional representation, particularly in the Emily books. I guess I went into this expecting a real-life version of Emily's journal (not the same events/people, obvi...more
These journals, written by LM Montgomery between the ages of 14 and 34, are a wonderful insight into the life of the author. Passionate, intelligent and vulnerable, LM Montgomery was the prototype for Anne of Green Gables - a real life Anne for whom there is not necessarily a happy ending. Many of her entries could come straight from the pages of her novels (including beautiful, exuberant descriptions of the nature she so loved); in other cases, it's easy to see where she has transmuted personal...more
I am thankful to the editors Mary Rubio and Elizabeth Waterston for publishing LMM's journals. My comments as to their editing are for another time. I felt honoured to gain a window seat to Maud's life and discover the challenges, struggles, joys, and fun that lead to the woman who wrote about Anne-girl. I enjoyed reading of how she grew as a writer.
Perhaps most importantly this past week, I found many of her words a comfort as they are words I've often thought but not known how to express as el...more
Perhaps most importantly this past week, I found many of her words a comfort as they are words I've often thought but not known how to express as el...more
Sep 01, 2007
Mari
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
readers who have loved Anne of Green Gables or enjoy biography
Shelves:
own
I found this book in a sale; I had seen the one and the same copy in the earlier sales but at last I decided to tempt my luck no longer. As a girl, I adored L.M. Montgomery's Anne books - except that I adored the books that describe Anne's life before her marriage much more! I wanted to be Anne, I wanted to be in Avonlea (even though it doesn't exist - or because?).
I find Montgomery's journals fascinating reads (and the photos in the journals are also fascinating) - not only as background readin...more
I find Montgomery's journals fascinating reads (and the photos in the journals are also fascinating) - not only as background readin...more
This book disturbed me. Not for the reasons you might think, though. Maud's life ended horribly. It was disturbing because it was, in many ways, like reliving so much of my own life. Not that our lives are always identical - Maud had the kind of family drama that I'll never have, thank goodness. But the way that she wrote and felt about things was a bit eerily similar to my own life. This is one of those books that helped me learn about myself - it was just strange because instead of being ficti...more
I absolutely love diaries and journals. I couldn't pass up reading these.
It is so wonderful to read what someone else thought about something at the time, even though it is written through their tilt of things. It was interesting to see how Maud's world looked to her and how life was at her time.
I read all these at the times they were originally published, so there was a time gap in between reading them. I have read them over again and still enjoy them very much.
This volume is the most light-h...more
It is so wonderful to read what someone else thought about something at the time, even though it is written through their tilt of things. It was interesting to see how Maud's world looked to her and how life was at her time.
I read all these at the times they were originally published, so there was a time gap in between reading them. I have read them over again and still enjoy them very much.
This volume is the most light-h...more
Now-the five stars is not because this book was so enjoyable I get a thrill every time I see it or think of it. My anticipation was that it would be 'a source of hope and inspiration.'
Not quite. Since LMM's books are so light-filled I assumed that she lived her own life the way her heroines did, feeling loved and fulfilled.
The five stars are for the glimpse the journal gave me into Maud's life, which was really quite dark. No wonder her books and stories are so radiant. She must have found refu...more
Not quite. Since LMM's books are so light-filled I assumed that she lived her own life the way her heroines did, feeling loved and fulfilled.
The five stars are for the glimpse the journal gave me into Maud's life, which was really quite dark. No wonder her books and stories are so radiant. She must have found refu...more
Since ANNE OF GREEN GABLES is my favorite book ever, I was very interested in reading these journals. There is much of Anne in Maud (or Maud in Anne?). But Maud did not have a very happy life (at least in this first journal). She was depressed a lot, I think, but since she was trapped living with her cranky grandma for years, this is understandable. I will read the rest of the journals and hope her later life was happier.
I can't get enough of L.M. Montgomery. Can you imagine how delighted I was to find a book of her journals? It's so interesting to read an author's thoughts straight from her own pen, and if the next volumes are as enjoyable as the first one, I'm so gonna get them. Although, I heard the last volume is depressing.
As engaging as her novels and stories (partly because she recorded in her journals many of the anecdotes that would appear in her fiction). Montgomery is one of those figures I love more as I learn more about even the most unflattering, unpleasant aspects of her character.
I began reading my copy of this while on Prince Edward Island staying a few miles down the street from one of her old homes. It was great.
I was surprised to find that she and I had so much in common in our personalities and ideas. It was very interesting.
I was surprised to find that she and I had so much in common in our personalities and ideas. It was very interesting.
Absolutely fascinating reading, whether or not you're a fan of Montgomery and/or Anne, and I recommend it. Read the full review.
I love her journals - I purchased the 2 volumes back in the early 90s from a Canadian company specializing in Anne merchandise. I treasure these journals as some of my favorite books.
I love reading biographies, but this was my first journal read. It was really interesting getting into the author's head. So many of LM's experiences ended up in her numerous books. I was continuously finding items that reminded me of one of her stories. It was especially interesting to read about how she blocked out and prepared the writing of her books. During the time she wrote this diary, she wrote and published Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea and also Kilmeny of the Orchard. She was a...more
I learned a lot about the background story to Anne of Green Gables, it took a bit of the romance out of it but added a whole new level of reality to the age and history.
I've read all five journal volumes several times but this one remains my favourite. One could get a good impression of what LMM was like, just from reading this one.
LMM is one of my favourite authors, and I find it fascinating to read her journal and see what she was actually like in real life. Unfortunately she had a very hard and depressing life - not at all like the happy characters you meet in her books.
Despite her hardships, LMM had a very interesting life, and apart from letting me get to...more
LMM is one of my favourite authors, and I find it fascinating to read her journal and see what she was actually like in real life. Unfortunately she had a very hard and depressing life - not at all like the happy characters you meet in her books.
Despite her hardships, LMM had a very interesting life, and apart from letting me get to...more
Having always been a fan of L.M. Montgomery's work, this was a must read. And it did not disappoint.
Really enjoyed this book! thank you Adela for recommending it! Yes, I'm ready for volume 2
This book is fantastic. It shows the actual Maud and I really enjoyed it. My one complaint is the layout. It is a wonderful book that I really liked reading but the font is small and the layout terrible so it was difficult to read.
So illuminating for Montgomery fans.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kindred Spirits: The Selected Journals, Vol. 1 - February / March 2010 | 58 | 92 | Mar 26, 2010 11:20am |
Lucy Maud Montgomery was a Canadian author, best known for a series of novels beginning with Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908.
The author of the famous Canadian novel Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Maud Montgomery, was born at Clifton, Prince Edward Island, Nov. 30, 1874. She came to live at Leaskdale, north of Uxbridge Ontario, in 1911 after her wedding with Rev. Ewen Macdonald on July 11, 1911...more
More about L.M. Montgomery...
The author of the famous Canadian novel Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Maud Montgomery, was born at Clifton, Prince Edward Island, Nov. 30, 1874. She came to live at Leaskdale, north of Uxbridge Ontario, in 1911 after her wedding with Rev. Ewen Macdonald on July 11, 1911...more
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“What care I if it be "wild and improbable" and "lacking in literary art"? I refuse to be any longer hampered by such canons of criticism. The one essential thing I demand of a book is that it should interest me. If it does, I forgive it every other fault.”
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29 people liked it
“If any person wants to see clearly just how much she has changed - whether for better or worse - let her revisit after some lapse of time any place where she has ones lived. She will meet her former self at every turn, with every familiar face, in every old recollection ... She will see how much she has gained in some respects, how much she has lost - irretrievably lost - in others.”
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