Ahoy there me mateys! Welcome to the eighteenth broadside – the Lucy Maud Montgomery edition. In 2018, one of me favourite books of all time, anne of green gables, will turn 110 years old! Me crew members jackie b @ deathbytsundoku and jane @ greenishbookshelf have been doing an anne-read-along and I have been happily following their progress. I adore LMM’s writing, have read 17 of her books, and think this be a fine time to highlight the author . . .
Please note: All book descriptions are from Goodreads and the book title links lead to Goodreads.
The collection that I grew up reading (and rereading) included 8 books that tell the stories of Anne Shirley growing up on Prince Edward Island. The tales begin with anne of green gables. The Cuthberts, a brother and sister, hope to adopt a boy orphan to help with the farm. However when Matthew goes to pick up the orphan, he finds a red-headed little girl instead. Their lives are never the same. Both they and this pirate Captain ended up in love with Anne with an E. She was feisty, intelligent, imaginative, clever, and just all around awesome. Ye get to read Anne’s adventures from being a newcomer in a small town, to making new friends and enemies, through growing up, to falling in love (sigh!), to working, to having children. Then we even get to follow some of her children. I have to admit I was a bit obsessed. I adored the movie with Megan Follows who will always be me Anne:
Then there was the Avonlea show in me later years that I watched and adored. And when me ma took suggestions for where to go in Canada, I begged to go to PEI. Which we did. Me ma is awesome. The trip was a dream come true. From seeing the Haunted Wood and getting to walk Lover’s Lane to looking at the red mud, I was absolutely ridiculously excited. I even got me postcards stamped at the Cavendish post office. I still call friends “bosom buddies” and “kindred spirits.” Me first mate also recently read this book and thought it was wonderful (so he didn’t have to walk the plank!). Book one is a classic that I think everyone should read and the rest of the books make me heart happy too. Okay I know there is not a lot of details here about these books and just a lot of ramblin’ but I adore them all. Arrr!
Some favorite quotes:
“A bosom friend—an intimate friend, you know—a really kindred spirit to whom I can confide my innermost soul. I’ve dreamed of meeting her all my life.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
“It was November–the month of crimson sunsets, parting birds, deep, sad hymns of the sea, passionate wind-songs in the pines. Anne roamed through the pineland alleys in the park and, as she said, let that great sweeping wind blow the fogs out of her soul.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
Goodreads has this to say about the first novel:
When Marilla Cuthbert’s brother, Matthew, returns home to Green Gables with a chatty redheaded orphan girl, Marilla exclaims, “But we asked for a boy. We have no use for a girl.” It’s not long, though, before the Cuthberts can’t imagine how they could ever do without young Anne of Green Gables–but not for the original reasons they sought an orphan. Somewhere between the time Anne “confesses” to losing Marilla’s amethyst pin (which she never took) in hopes of being allowed to go to a picnic, and when Anne accidentally dyes her hated carrot-red hair green, Marilla says to Matthew, “One thing’s for certain, no house that Anne’s in will ever be dull.” And no book that she’s in will be, either.
This series is about another orphan girl, named Emily, who grows up in Canada. Don’t ye just love the cover for book one? A cat and a book. Yup. Sign me up. Now I have to admit that since Anne had me heart and soul, I never was as obsessed with Emily. But like Green Gables, this series has wonderful friendships, fun antics, and the lovely writing of LMM. Really I should read these again at some point!
Goodreads has this to say about the first novel:
Emily Starr never knew what it was to be lonely — until her beloved father died. Now Emily’s an orphan, and her mother’s snobbish relatives are taking her to live with them at New Moon Farm. She’s sure she won’t be happy. Emily deals with stiff, stern Aunt Elizabeth and her malicious classmates by holding her head high and using her quick wit. Things begin to change when she makes friends: with Teddy, who does marvelous drawings; with Perry, who’s sailed all over the world with his father yet has never been to school; and above all, with Ilse, a tomboy with a blazing temper. Amazingly, Emily finds New Moon beautiful and fascinating. With new friends and adventures, Emily might someday think of herself as Emily of New Moon.
This series is two books. I have to admit that me memories of this are: “I loved it.” That is it. No details at all. Sheesh! I think this duology is certainly going to get a reread in 2018. Arrrr!
Goodreads has this to say about the first novel:
Patricia Gardiner loved Silver Bush more than anything else in the world. She was born and raised in the beautiful old-fashioned house on Prince Edward Island, “where things always seemed the same” and good things never changed. But things do change at Silver Bush–from her first day at school to the arrival of her new own first romance. Through it all, Pat shares her experiences with her beloved friends and discovers the one thing that truly never changes: the beauty and peace she will always find at Silver Bush–the house that remembers her whole life.
So that be me introduction to L.M. Montgomery. If ye haven’t read any of her novels I would suggest ye hoist those sails and get moving!
To visit her website go to:
To see a complete list of all books she has written visit:
To add this author or her novels to Goodreads go to:
If ye missed me other author broadsides:
I quite love LM Montgomery – have read all of her novels, most of her short stories, and some of her nonfiction. The Emily series captured my heart before I met Anne, and I also loved the Story Girl books. However the one I most often recommend is her stand-alone The Blue Castle. Have you read it? It’s less believable than some of her other works but still wonderful.
Another blogger I follow wrote a multicultural, modern-day rewrite of Green Gables with her twin daughters called Anusha of Prospect Corner, which you might be interested in.
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I never read the Blue Castle but I am certainly going to add it. Thanks for the recommendation. As for the re-telling. I think I will pass on that. Green Gables is just one of those favorites where I don’t need another version in me head. Now if it was a fairy-tale retelling then that might be different!
x The Captain
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What a wonderful choice for a broadside! Love Anne of Green Gables 😀 It’s so cool you went on a trip to PEI!
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I really would go back again. Perhaps one day. Thanks fer the comment matey!
x The Captain
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I hope you get the chance! 😀 You’re welcome!!
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Great post! I love Anne of Green Gables so much, as well! It’s my dream to go to PEI someday, so I can pretend to be an for the day. 😉 I’ve never read the Emily series, but I hope to someday soon. Jane of Lantern Hill is another LM Montgomery favorite of mine. Anne is still, of course, my favorite, but I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed Jane’s story, too! 🙂
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pretend to be *Anne
silly typos…
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I haven’t read Jane of Lantern Hill but that will go on me list too! PEI is awesome for Anne but also has lots of other beautiful things on it. I highly recommend. Thanks fer the comment matey!
x The Captain
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I loved Anne of GG too – although to be honest it was so long ago that I read it that I can barely recall anything. I hope you enjoy your rereads.
Lynn 😀
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Maybe ye should watch the awesome movie if ye haven’t yet! Or if ye have. It’s so good.
x The Captain
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I loved Anne of Green Gables and had no idea she had written so many others books. ‘Anne’ was incredibly important to me at a very difficult time when I was a child and it was a delight to hear those quotes again – it was uplifting, funny and engrossing. Thank you:)). Can I just say that Doreen’s comment brought a lump to my throat – lovely!
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Since I am the ma in your recent blog
I thought it would be appropriate to comment
I remember going to Prince Edward Island with you and I was so happy you
Suggested going there! The island is gorgeous
And I watched your world light up and come to life when we went to Anne of Green Gables as you ran ahead down the Lane
Great memories ….
I would love to do it again
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Sign me up! I would be happy to go back to PEI with ye!
x The Captain
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I really liked Anne of Green Gables as well. I tried one of the later books and didn’t really enjoy it, so I’ve decided to just let Green Gables be the one that exists for me 🙂
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Well it’s her best in me humble opinion so no worries there!
x The Captain
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