Anne d'Avonlea (T2) (1909)

This could've ended with book 1.
After reading this, I can conclude that book 1 should have just been standalone.
The author was trying to get more money when really, book 1 was just perfect on its own.
Anne and Gilbert's hate infuriated me, but to be honest, I probably would hold a grudge but Anne keeping it when Gilbert is actively apologising alot is really impressive.
We get twins, Davey and Dora, Davey is an absolute psycho and Dora is a sweet angel, yet Anne and Marilla ultimately favour Davey and dismiss Dora as boring. Also, this book didn't have the same atmosphere or questioning Anne so it wasn't as whimsical and enchanting.
The idea of favouring Davey was repeated throughout the story and I pitied Dora so much ( )

anne of green gables 1908 ( )

I didnt enjoy this as much as Anne of Green Gables, not because it was bad but because I wasnt as familiar with the stories as I am the first book and so there wasnt that strong nostalgia for me. I find reading these books interesting for the characters I love but also because the books themselves are written in such a different time. Is it still considered historical fiction if it was contemporary fiction at the time it was published? In any case it is interesting to me because the choices and views of the characters are made in a different context and thus I end up judging them differently than I would if the book were written today. ( )

2nd read:

This was a therapeutic experience. Part of it is Montgomery's love for the everyday beauty found in nature and in people. I loved that her people have their own quirks but they are still a part of the community. People are a mix of good and bad and there are usually reasons behind that. She's so neutral and, in some ways, forgiving.

The other odd reason it was therapeutic was, and again this was odd, because bad things happened. Anne and Marilla were absolutely doing their best. But bad things still happened. Life happened. Storms, scandals, death, sickness, toothaches all happened. But life went on. And things got better, and they still laughed. It was a lovely experience.

( )

L.M. Montgomery is a long time and all time favorite author of mine. She writes the perfect girls story with just the right mix of adventure, drama and happiness. I find her books a comfort to read and have re-read most of works many times over the years. They are classics for a reason and that reason is they are great. ( )