Katja Labonté's Reviews > Anne of the Island

5+ stars (9/10 hearts). One of my favourite things about this series is that Anne grows up through them. Seeing her leave Avonlea and really begin the adult life by herself in another province, at college, is so much fun, every time.

Anne just becomes sweeter and wiser and lovelier throughout the series, and she remains such an inspiration to me. Priscilla, Philippa, and Stella are excellent sidekicks and teach you a lot, all the while diverting with all their humour… as do dear Aunt Jimsy, fun Reverend Joe, darling Gilbert, and poor Roy. As a college student and a beginning adult, I am motivated and encouraged by the girls.

It’s really such an excellent book to grow up with and read consistently. I love the humour and beauty of this book, and how real it is—the stories and characters and thoughts and lessons are real—most of them boiling down to how to be a responsible, beautiful person. The romance is lovely and such a good lesson (is romance what you expect it to be, or do you imagine it to be something else and become confused?). I can hardly explain how strong and elegant and timeless and good this book is, and how wonderful the writing style. And the ending of this one is just so so beautiful... Montgomery is a genius for endings. <3

A Favourite Quote: It must not be with her as with poor butterfly Ruby. When she came to the end of one life it must not be to face the next with the shrinking terror of something wholly different—something for which accustomed thought and ideal and aspiration had unfitted her. 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.
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: ...the Lake of Shining Waters was blue—blue—blue; not the changeful blue of spring, nor the pale azure of summer, but a clear, steadfast, serene blue, as if the water were past all moods and tenses of emotion and had settled down to a tranquility unbroken by fickle dreams.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “I had a nickel with me when I got on the car. I thought it was in the left pocket of my coat. When I got settled down comfortably I felt for it. It wasn't there. I had a cold chill. I felt in the other pocket. Not there. I had another chill. Then I felt in a little inside pocket. All in vain. I had two chills at once. ... I concluded I must have put it in my mouth and swallowed it inadvertently. Just ... when all hope had fled, ... I suddenly remembered where I had put that wretched coin of the realm. I hadn't swallowed it after all. I meekly fished it out of the index finger of my glove and poked it in the box. I smiled at everybody and felt that it was a beautiful world.”