Anneofgreengables

Anne of the Island | Lucy Maud Montgomery

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A reread of a favourite from the Anne series. This one is an excellent coming-of-age novel, with Anne going to college and living on her own. There are both hilarious episodes and very moving moments.

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread @BarbaraJean
#SeriesLove2025 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView

Andrew65 Excellent 🎉🎉🎉 7d

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BarbaraJean

Anne of the Island | Lucy Maud Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread - Anne of the Island discussion - 4/4

📚Is there anything else you‘d like to discuss about Anne of the Island?

📚Favorite sections or quotes, least favorite parts of the book, relatable moments, funniest scenes?

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, CogsOfEncouragement, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair

lauraisntwilder I know LMM didn't particularly want Anne to end up married, but I simply can't imagine Anne not ending up with Gilbert. He's not like Professor Bhaer in Little Women who seems to only exist so Jo can get married. Gilbert is there almost from the beginning. 1w

CogsOfEncouragement “Humor is the spiciest condiment in the feast of existence. Laugh at your mistakes but learn from them, joke over your troubles but gather strength from them, make a jest of your difficulties but overcome them.“ 1w

kwmg40 I loved the part where Diana sends Anne's story to the baking powder contest, as well as the contrast between Gilbert's and Anne's reactions to her winning the prize. 1w

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder YES! Gilbert is woven into Anne's life so naturally and the reader understands why they are such a good fit almost from the beginning. His apology for the “carrots“ episode is 💯 and to me at least, from that point on, it's clear how well he cares for and knows who Anne truly is (better than she knows herself, honestly). 2d

BarbaraJean @CogsOfEncouragement I loved that part, where they are all telling Aunt Jimsie what they learned from college! @kwmg40 I felt like Gilbert's practical reaction to the baking powder prize was exactly the perspective Anne needed (but she wasn't able to let go of her ideals... which is what trips her up so much!!) 2d

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BarbaraJean

Anne of the Island | Lucy Maud Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread - Anne of the Island discussion - 3/4

📚Last week, we talked a bit about Anne‘s growth and change in this book. What changes and growth took place for other familiar characters: Marilla, Mrs. Lynde, Dianna, Jane Andrews, Ruby Gillis, etc.?

📚What do you think of Roy Gardner and Gilbert Blythe—not just as love interests for Anne, but as characters?

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, CogsOfEncouragement, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair

lauraisntwilder The part with Ruby Gillis was so hard to read this time. My sister has metastatic breast cancer and took a bad turn in December (she seems to be doing a little better at the moment) and it reminded us all of the reality of her disease. She's not as young as Ruby, but Ruby's line, "I've fought so hard to live -- and it isn't any use -- I have to die" tore me apart. 1w

CogsOfEncouragement Marilla showing a bit more emotion was nice, and we can count on Mrs. Lynde to be the same til the end of time lol.

I felt bad for Gilbert. I cannot understand/relate to Anne's denial/misunderstanding of her own feelings. In the end, Gilbert played it smart and trusted Anne to realize the truth on her own. Will we hear about the necklace being repaired???? Such a sweet gesture from Gilbert. 1w

kwmg40 @lauraisntwilder I'm sorry to hear about your sister's illness. I too found Anne's interactions with Ruby very sad and moving. 1w

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TheAromaofBooks @CogsOfEncouragement - I think Anne had completely convinced herself about how being in love would “look“ - she'd always dreamed of being swept off her feet by someone tall, dark, and handsome, who would write her poetry and make grand gestures. So she completely overlooks the person whose sense of humor, attention to what actually makes Anne Anne, and overall companionship made him such a good match. I love the way LMM gives us hints of this ⬇ 5d

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) comparing how the two men choose which flowers to send her, what jewelry to gift her, how they respond to a joke, etc. And how in every situation, Gilbert shows that he knows and loves the true Anne. 5d

TheAromaofBooks I think a huge part of what we see in this book is Anne beginning to understand what adulthood looks like. A lot of it is spending time in your own house, doing chores and relaxing, and part of what she sees between Roy and Gilbert is that Gilbert matches how she wants her future to look - warm, homey, companionable, happy. 5d

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder I'm so sorry to hear about your sister's illness. So hard to be walking through that. That section with Ruby is wrenching to read, and I can imagine how much more so in those circumstances. 💔 💜 2d

BarbaraJean @CogsOfEncouragement I feel like both Marilla and Mrs. Lynde have softened once we get to this book! Or maybe I just understand Mrs. Lynde better at this point, and can see the goodheartedness behind her, well--Mrs. Lynde-ness 😂 2d

BarbaraJean @CogsOfEncouragement @TheAromaofBooks I COMPLETELY related to Anne not knowing her true feelings about Gilbert, but also felt so bad for Gilbert. When he says there were times he thought she cared for him, I thought, “ME TOO, Gilbert.“ The signs are there in so many small moments & thoughts, but she doesn't recognize them for what they really are. And when tall, dark, handsome Roy comes along murmuring his romantic compliments, well...I get it! ⬇ 2d

BarbaraJean (Cont'd) And ugggghhh, the necklace!! I loved the way Anne realizes that Gilbert's flowers are what “fit“ for convocation & then puts on that necklace. She is so close to realizing that GILBERT is what fits, not Roy. But her pride and gossip about Christine keep getting in the way. When she thinks about how Gilbert can see the humor in things... but that Roy has no sense of humor, and that may make life a little dull... I want to just shake her. ⬇ 2d

BarbaraJean (Cont'd) ALSO! 😂 Roy is such a blank. All we hear is that he's rich, handsome, and does all the perfect romantic things. I never get a sense of who he actually is. It's like he has no personality. But Gilbert shows up to take Anne on “rambles,“ gives her the flowers she loves that remind her of home, and little gestures like the necklace demonstrate their shared past & shared jokes. That was SO romantic to me, far more than Roy's generic romance. 2d

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BarbaraJean

Anne of the Island | Lucy Maud Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread - Anne of the Island discussion - 2/4

📚Were Anne‘s experiences at this age relatable for you: going away to college, roommate hijinks, college relationships and romances, as well as her personal growth?

📚What do you see as the biggest similarities or differences between Anne‘s college years and college experiences in our own time?

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, CogsOfEncouragement, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair

lauraisntwilder I was more worldly than Anne when I was in college, but the friendship aspects were relatable. I rented a townhouse with a friend and we had fun setting up house. (We didn't have any cats or old aunts though!) 1w

CogsOfEncouragement I cannot relate too much, but see things are similar to what my daughter experienced recently in college. Very interesting. Some things have changed so much in the last 100 years, and yet some are still so common to us. 1w

kwmg40 Anne's experiences were relatable for me -- the initial nervousness and loneliness, followed by making new friends and learning to live on my own. I only received one marriage proposal, however, and we're still married after 33 years! 1w

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder @CogsOfEncouragement @kwmg40 Anne's experiences felt surprisingly relatable to me, given that this is set 100+ years ago. The friendships, living w/ roommates, even the romances. The awkwardness of the proposals felt very familiar, in trying to turn someone down gracefully! I had zero proposals in college, but boy was it awkward turning down weird/thinly veiled date invites. The externals differ, but the emotions felt universal! 2d

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BarbaraJean

Anne of the Island | Lucy Maud Montgomery

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread - Anne of the Island discussion - 1/4

📚How did you like Anne of the Island as compared to Green Gables and Avonlea?

📚If this is a re-read for you, was there anything that stood out to you that you hadn‘t noticed before?

📚If this is your first read, what stood out to you the most?

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, CogsOfEncouragement, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair

lauraisntwilder I like this one better than Avonlea, but not quite as much as Green Gables. This was a reread, but when I read it before I hadn't read Chronicles of Avonlea. It struck me as funny how often Ludovic Speed was mentioned. 1w

CogsOfEncouragement This is a reread. Fun to see Anne continuing her education, making friends, and living in a beautiful home. 1w

kwmg40 I recall that, when I'd first read the Anne books as a teen, Avonlea was my favourite, maybe because I identified with her at that age. Now, on rereading, I like Anne of the Island much better, though Green Gables will always be a favourite. 1w

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TheAromaofBooks I love both books, but Island takes the win. There is so much more character development and story progression here. Avonlea is fun but nothing really moves forward in that book. 5d

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder Haha—yes, all the Ludovic Speed references felt a little excessive! It did make me want to go re-read that story, though—so perhaps it had its intended effect. I felt like she should have put the story in here instead of talking about it so much! (edited) 3d

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder @kwmg40 @TheAromaofBooks This one was my favorite the first time I read the series (in jr. high) but now it‘s a three-way tie between Green Gables, this one, and House of Dreams. I can‘t decide between them! I feel like Avonlea really doesn‘t hold up well. I liked it well enough the first time I read the series, but like it less and less upon re-reading. The Miss Lavendar plot line saves it for me, though. 3d

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CogsOfEncouragement

Anne of the Island | Lucy Maud Montgomery

pick

This is a reread for me, but enough years have passed I did not remember the details that keep the reader in suspense in this one. I adore this whole series. Very enjoyable to read it this time with #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead

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BarbaraJean

Anne of the Island | Lucy Maud Montgomery

Hello, #KindredSpirits! Just a little check-in here at the halfway point of Anne of the Island:

How is your reading going? What are your thoughts so far?
What have you enjoyed most in the first half of the book?
Any favorite sections or quotes?

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, CogsOfEncouragement, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, julieclair

BarbaraJean I‘m loving this re-read (this will always be one of my favorites!), and finding Davy far more endearing here than in AoA. The Charlie Sloane bits had me cracking up—Phil saying that Gilbert‘s chum “had eyes that stuck out THAT FAR.” And the part where he digs up and sits on one of the forbidden cushions. 😂 Then the section with Ruby ALWAYS gets me—it‘s so well done and so heartbreaking. 2w

BarbaraJean I‘m also noticing so many LMM life episodes! The chloroforming, and then not being able to get out of bed to turn out the light after reading a ghost story. And Anne‘s visit to the house where she was born—it was just beautiful, and echoed LMM‘s own words about her parents. 2w

TheAromaofBooks I love this book so much!!! I wish that it was MORE books because I would 100% read a book about each year of Anne's college experience! I really love her warm friendship with the other girls, but how she stays in touch and spends so much time with Diana when she's home. The baking powder story episode cracks me up every time - having the hero mention baking powder as the final line of the story 😂 Even though LMM didn't want to write “lovering“ ⬇ 2w

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TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) I think she does such a great job with the Anne/Gilbert story, and I think stays so true to Anne's character. Like Phil says, Anne has fallen in love with this idea of love instead of being able to recognize it when it's in front of her face. We get the hints that Anne isn't actually as indifferent towards Gil as she thinks she is, and all sets up beautifully for the second half of the story. And speaking of romance - Jane's proposal ⬇ 2w

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) for her brother is another episode that absolutely sends me every time. 😆 On the whole, I think we see such character growth for Anne in this one, and it's SO well done. 2w

lauraisntwilder I'm not to the halfway point yet -- I got behind on LMM's journals so I've been catching up there this week. The girls have just secured Patty's Place. I agree with everything both of you have said though. After AoGG, I think this is my favorite Anne book. 2w

CogsOfEncouragement Enjoying Phil‘s dramatic ways: “And I have such a cold in the head—I can do nothing but sniffle, sigh and sneeze. Isn‘t that alliterative agony for you?” 2w

CogsOfEncouragement This was too funny: …wound up by saying that she was disgusted with Spencervale church and she never meant to darken its door again, and she hoped a fearful judgment would come upon it. Then she sat down out of of breath, and the minister, who hadn‘t heard a word she said, immediately remarked, in a very devout voice, ‘Amen! The Lord grant our dear sister‘s prayer!‘ 2w

CogsOfEncouragement This is my second read. This was one of my fav quotes from the series: The little things of life, sweet and excellent in their place, must not be the things lived for; the highest must be sought and followed; the life of heaven must be begun here on earth. 2w

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Oh, me too! I would absolutely read a whole series of books for Anne‘s college years! I adore Patty‘s Place and all the friendships between the girls. I think you‘re absolutely right that LMM gets Anne‘s character development spot on here. And it‘s so relatable for me, anyway! Diana putting the baking powder into the final line of the story is HILARIOUS. And the fact that she didn‘t see it as ridiculous is even funnier. I loved ⤵️ 2w

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) Gilbert‘s response that no-one would fault her for wanting the prize money—and I wonder if the high melodrama of the story made that ridiculous line fit right in 😂 I‘m still waiting for my favorite of Anne‘s proposal, though: the “will yeh hev me?” one 🤣 2w

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder Oh, I‘m glad you‘ve been able to do some journal catch-up! Those are a bit harder to binge… with the Anne books, it‘s hard to stop! 2w

BarbaraJean @CogsOfEncouragement I love Phil so much!! I get a much clearer picture of her than of the other girls, and she‘s so endearing. There really are some great quotes here—that story you mentioned is hilarious!! And the passage about living for the highest (especially with the context with Ruby) is both beautiful and heartbreaking. 2w

kwmg40 This novel is one of my favourites. I love Anne's first steps into adulthood and independence, and Patty's Place seems so warm and comfortable. Phil is an adorable character, but spending time with a real-life version of Phil would drive me crazy. I'd rather have a more low-key friend like Priscilla! 2w

BarbaraJean @kwmg40 Ha! Yeah, Phil might be a bit much in real life! I think I wouldn‘t mind her as a friend, but definitely not as a roommate/housemate—even with Priscilla and Stella to balance things out! 2w

julieclair This is my first time to read this book. I adore how Anne is maturing, but glimpses of her dreamy, imaginative, spunky, childhood self still come through. The baking soda prize story was a hoot! And I love the cat Rusty… how he just attached himself to Anne… so sweet. But the chloroform scene was very hard to read. Patty‘s Place sounds like the absolutely best college living arrangement ever. Although I agree with @kwmg40 that Phil would ⬇️ 1w

julieclair drive me nuts as a roommate. But she‘d be fun as a friend. The scene where Anne turned down Gilbert‘s proposal broke my heart. Anne is just so stubbornly blind! 1w

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LitsyEvents

Anne of the Island | Lucy Maud Montgomery

Repost for @BarbaraJean

Happy almost New Year, Kindred Spirits! Today begins our buddy read of Anne of the Island. I‘m really looking forward to re-reading Anne‘s college adventures!

I‘ll post a check-in halfway through on Jan. 4, and our discussion will be on Jan. 11. Let me know if you‘re not tagged and you‘d like to be! #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread

See original post at https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2822463

BarbaraJean Thanks for sharing! 3w

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BarbaraJean

Anne of the Island | Lucy Maud Montgomery

Happy almost New Year, Kindred Spirits! Today begins our buddy read of Anne of the Island. I‘m really looking forward to re-reading Anne‘s college adventures!

I‘ll post a check-in halfway through on Jan. 4, and our discussion will be on Jan. 11. Let me know if you‘re not tagged and you‘d like to be! #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMReread

rubyslippersreads, JenlovesJT47, CogsOfEncouragement, lauraisntwilder, kwmg40, TheAromaofBooks, LitsyEvents, julieclair

SpeculativeFemale I read these so many times growing up and still love them! 3w

BarbaraJean @SpeculativeFemale Me too—they‘re such beloved favorites for me!! 3w

TheAromaofBooks I know this is considered one of the weaker Anne books, but I love it so much!! 3w

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks I don‘t understand this one being viewed as weaker, because it had always been my favorite! (House of Dreams eclipsed it for me a few years ago, but still!) 3w

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Bookwormjillk

Anne of the Island | L.M. Montgomery

pick

One last book for #FoodAndLit #Canada

I got on an Anne of Green Gables kick last month and wanted to fit one last one in this year.

#XMasChaCha #ReadOutTheBooks

Texreader, Catsandbooks, TheAromaofBooks

Texreader That‘s awesome!! 3w

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! This is usually considered one of the weaker books in the series, but I love all the little adventures of Anne living at Patty's Place! 3w

Bookwormjillk @TheAromaofBooks I like it too. I like seeing Anne branch out on her own 3w

Catsandbooks ❤️🇨🇦 3w

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