Tracey’s Comments (group member since Dec 08, 2021)

Tracey’s comments from the Reading Through The Year With L. M. Montgomery (2022-23) group.

Please post comments below.

Anne of Windy Poplars is an epistolary novel first published in 1936. It details Anne Shirley's experiences while serving as principal of a high school in Summerside, Prince Edward Island over three years. A large portion of the novel is presented through letters Anne writes to her fiancé, Gilbert Blythe. Chronologically, the book is fourth in the series, but it was the seventh book written. Anne is 22-25 in the book.

This is a perfect book to read for romance week. Anne finally comes to understand her own heart and realizes that love is not what she imagined but is found when grounded in friendship.
I didn't like the character of Phil and found her sudden transformation from a flirty silly woman to a more solemn woman choosing a minister for a husband a bit unbelievable.

It's romance week and what a better book than Anneof the Island I can't imagine. The first half of the book has an ending that is sad, with Anne rejecting Gilbert. Now I am going to be eagerly reading the second half to see how this resolves.

I did not like one thing in the story and that was the treatment of animals. Chloroforming cats was sad but at least fairly painless, but the hanging of the old dog Mr. Harrison no longer wanted, and to have to do it twice, filled me with horror and grief. I hate animal cruelty
I am not sure why Maud included this in the story.
What did you like or dislike about the first half of the story?

Please post below.

Anne of the Island is the third book in the Anne of Green Gables series, written by Lucy Maud Montgomery about Anne Shirley.

Anne of the Island was published in 1915, seven years after the bestselling Anne of Green Gables. In the continuing story of Anne Shirley, Anne attends Redmond College in Kingsport, where she is studying for her BA.

The title of the book reflects the development of Anne. While studying away from Prince Edward Island and in particular when visiting the place of her birth, she finds herself identifying the Island as her true home. Several times, she denies being a "Bluenose", as those born in Nova Scotia were nicknamed, and considers herself an Islander to the core.

The book covers Anne's years 18-22

There is so much about this book to love. We see the continuation of Anne and her adventures in the next 2 years of her life since the end of Green Gables. Still, there are mistakes made by Anne but we see her grow into womanhood and leave her childhood behind. The book is full of light and is a joy to read.

I have just finished the book and loved it. It is full of light and beauty. There are so many great thoughts in it.

"After all," Anne had said to Marilla once, "I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.”

“That is one good thing about this world...there are always sure to be more springs.”

“…I think,' concluded Anne, hitting on a very vital truth, 'that we always love best the people who need us.”


“Everything that's worth having is some trouble…”

'Living so that you beautify your name, even if it wasn't beautiful to begin with…making it stand in people's thoughts for something so lovely and pleasant that they never think of it by itself.”


Do you have a favorite quote from the book?

Hi Peggy. Have you read the Anne books? If there is enough interest in other books I could set up a buddy read thread

Hope wrote: "I am really enjoying the short stories. They feel like they were written to the requirements of women's magazines. I particularly liked one called "The Trespass" and another "Winning Helen". Moral ..."

I haven't read many of her short stories but hope to this year. I will look out for the ones you mention.

Lesle wrote: "I have watched several versions of Anne of Green Gables which I have enjoyed each in their own way.

The only one I own is a duo book of Anne of the Island and Anne's House of Dreams...."

I have read Blue Castle before and enjoyed it. I hope you do too.

Inez wrote: "So excited to join this group! I love Anne and have read all the books, but am committing to read them again. I can’t wait to discuss with you all!"

Hi Inez. Welcome to the group and I look forward to your comments. Thanks for joining in with us.

I loved the beautiful descriptive introduction to Avonlea that we are presented with right at the beginning of the book. The scenery is a character in itself which we see change throughout the book. Maud obviously loved PEI and Anne's delight in it becomes our delight creating a desire to visit the place. What resonated with me especially was the Avenue as it reminded me of a place on the campus of the university I attended which had a similar avenue but of cherry trees. Walking through it was very much a spiritual experince.

I fell in love with Matthew also from the start. His immediate attachment to Anne and how she affected him is a central theme.

A new year is ahead of us and like Anne, I hope we will face it with faith and hope.

“I don’t know what lies around the bend, but I’m going to believe that the best does.” — L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Below also is a lovely site that I wanted to share, but be careful because you can get lost in the joy of it and forget time. Although I think a small amount of that may be a good thing. I am sure Anne would agree. What do you think?

https://www.anneofgreengables.com/blog

They are on my radar even though I have read them. I would like to reread them but I think that will have to be on my 2023 schedule.

Hi Jillian, thanks for your comment. I didn’t know that about the book and that is interesting. we will be reading the book as part of the schedule and I hope we can discuss more about it then. Are there any books you haven’t read that you would like to read or others you can recommend?

Hi Hope I didn’t know about that book but as I decided to start this group because I discovered that Maud had written many books that I hadn’t read. I look forward to your thoughts on the book.

Welcome Caroline. I found my library had the non fiction books as ebooks also but if you want you can substitute another book that you can find. That would be interesting. The group is for kindred spirits to have enjoyment and to fill our lives with pleasant thoughts.

They are enjoyable and there are many good audiobooks.

Kathy wrote: "I'm like you Tracey, I've read the first 4 Anne books. I'll be joining in reading Anne's House of Dreams. The Landscapes of Anne of Green Gables looks good too. Thanks ..."

Great. I look forward to it.