“All precious things discovered late
To those that seek them issue forth,
For Love in sequel works with Fate,
And draws the veil from hidden worth.”
—Tennyson
How lovely to start a book with a quote. It gives such a special feeling to the book, placing it in an emotional period of your heart. I realize now that I’ve read Lucy Maud Montgomery’s “Anne of the Island”, how molded to the story it is, and hope you read it and see so too.
While I often skip the introduction to every book– I want in on the story– this one caught my eye; I found it very sweet that the person who wrote the foreword, Kate Macdonald Butler, is the author’s granddaughter. Also, knowing that Montgomery, like Anne, was orphaned, makes the story more heartfelt. It seems as if it were the stored-up imaginations of a real-life Anne.
What was most interesting to me was that the first book in this beloved series was rejected five times prior to publication, and stored away in a hatbox, in neglect. Coming back to it a year later, Montgomery decided that it wasn’t such a bad story and sent it again. Thanks to that, the series “Anne of the Green Gables” began. To me, the third book cannot beat the enchantment I felt as a child reading the first book in the series– it was one of the reasons I got into reading after all– but I found it better than the sequel.
Published in 1915, “Anne of the Island” is the third book in the “Anne of Green Gables” series, continuing the life of now 18-year-old Anne. Lucy Maud Montgomery takes us to Redmond College in Kingsport, where Anne navigates hard work, enjoyment and the changes that come when growing up. Anne is ready to go off to college, where she will reunite with her old friend Priscilla and meet her new friend, the eccentric yet good-natured Philippa. Her academic goal is to study hard to get her BA degree, but be able to go to college without having Marilla Cuthbert, Anne’s mother figure, pay for it.
New merged with old beautifully. New friendships blossomed, old ones dug deeper roots; the faded boards of the Green Gables house in Avonlea always bears the name of home, and the cozy Patty’s Place is just its extension. And I was so excited to see how Anne and Gilbert’s relationship underwent changes during their college years– and where it ended.
Montgomery’s descriptions don’t come alive in my world; they take me to the place they belong and incorporate a part of me in their memories. The tender moments invite you to intimacy, holding a hand in tears and dancing around in laughter. The seasons are written to enchant, the passing of life is marked by their beauty, something I think I associate with Montgomery’s writing. Not to forget the valuable asset Davy provides in comedy, as well as those fresh airs of innocence, and the lively aspect of Anne’s imitation of suitors.
I grew as Anne grew, just a bit younger. As a child, I wanted to be her, and in some ways, I still do. Her colorful view on everyday life, and the headfirst way she processes her emotions, make her a person you’d want to be around. Seeing her unique and vibrant personality mature brought me happiness.
The book goes at a slower pace, which may be something to take into consideration– especially when books that make you regret the unfortunate eye skip to the bottom of the page are usually on your best reads list. If you love beautiful descriptions of landscapes and a variety of fun characters, the world of Anne welcomes you. But of course, if anything inclined you to read it, I wholeheartedly insist you give it a try. Happy reading!
