Anne of Avonlea

Anne of Green Gables #2

by L.M. Montgomery

A "kindred spirit" of readers around the world

At sixteen, Anne is both exhilarated and slightly terrified to be teaching at the Avonlea schoolhouse. But she's determined to win the heart of every student—especially troublemaker Anthony Pye. After all, she still knows a thing or two about troublemaking herself...

With rambunctious six-year-old twins staying at Green Gables, a village "improvement" project that goes disastrously wrong, and her college entrance exams to study for, Anne will more than have her hands full. At least her best friend Diana and tormentor-turned-ally, the dashing Gilbert Blythe, will be there to help see her through.

Inspiring the dreamer in all of us, Anne is hailed as a favorite by everyone from Mark Twain to Duchess Kate.

This new edition lovingly restores the original, unabridged text and includes an all-new, exclusive introduction with special memories from L.M. Montgomery's granddaughter.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Audiobook, Romance

155 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 14, 1909

About the author

Lucy Maud Montgomery was a Canadian author, best known for a series of novels beginning with Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908.

Montgomery was born at Clifton, Prince Edward Island, Nov. 30, 1874. She came to live at Leaskdale, north of Uxbridge Ontario, after her wedding with Rev. Ewen Macdonald on July 11, 1911. She had three children and wrote close to a dozen books while she was living in the Leaskdale Manse before the family moved to Norval, Ontario in 1926. She died in Toronto April 24, 1942 and was buried at Cavendish, Prince Edward Island.

Reviews

[emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up a book I had no intention of reading on a whim and discovered one of my new favorite series.

This must be positive karma for an immensely lovely deed I did in a past life. (It couldn’t have been this life, because I spend most of my time reading and eating cookies, and while I’d count both of those as immensely lovely activities I don’t know if I can unbiasedly say they’re really contributing to the greater good.)

I did not own this book when I finished the first one, an evil I had to counteract by purchasing this the next day. And then reading it immediately. And, once again, enjoying every second of it.

I do not know where all this good karma came from but I DO NOT want it to stop.

These books are just so lovely. I don’t even want to pick up the next one (which would be book #4) because then I’m one book closer to finishing the series, and I absolutely can’t have that because I want to live in this series forever.

I don’t know if I’ll ever really be able to write a true review of an Anne book. I definitely couldn’t with Anne of Green Gables. I think the best I’ll ever be able to do is write at length about how desperately I wish Anne and her kindred spirits were real, and I could live in Avonlea with them and visit Green Gables and all their beautifully named haunts. I’d go to school in the early twentieth century (previously a nightmare scenario for me) in a heartbeat if Anne Shirley would be there.

I just love these books so much.

Bottom line: It’s a very rare thing to find a story you love so desperately that you feel lucky to have discovered it. That’s how I feel about Anne.

------------------
pre-review

i.

love.

Anne.

infinity stars / review to come!!!!

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was more enchanted by this book the first time I read it. More recently, I was put off by the description of the pair of twins Anne and Marilla adopt: Davy and Dora.

Davy is a handful, asking impossible questions, getting into trouble and so forth. Dora is quiet and well-behaved. Anne and Marilla love Davy more (by their own words). The idea is repeated three or four times. Good little Dora is respectable, obedient, predictable and boring; she just doesn't need as much attention and direction as Davy does, and thus is less lovable.

I found this idea actually repulsive. I kept thinking it would serve Anne and Marilla right if little Dora -predictable, obedient, second class Dora- shaved her head, pierced her nipple, got pregnant and ran off with a Hell's Angel, just because she figured out that the trouble maker rated higher in their affections. Aren't they familiar with the saying "still waters run deep?" Someone has to care enough about this quiet, obedient, seemingly unimaginative person to find out what her interests and passions are.

[Miranda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why did Anne have to grow up so fast?

The first book was fabulous! Lots of fun mischief but the second has her at 16 already! Where did those four years go? Laura Ingalls Wilder didn't skimp out on the childhood.

I enjoyed this book - seeing Anne blossom into a young school teacher (aside: Totally not fair that everyone get such great jobs out of high school?? Same with Laura Ingalls Wilder. They just handed out jobs to anyone who would take them!)

A pet peeve of mine was really played upon. All kids are precocious angels. Yes, Anne has some struggles but you know from the start that she's going to overcome them magnificently.

It's a little too predictable. And the precocious moments were bordering annoying.

Also, did anyone else feel for poor Dora? Her twin brother, Davy, is a complete bullying snot yet Anne and Marilla just adore him (they even admit that the care more for that little snit)?!

Sure Dora is quiet, but she is dutiful and obedient and deserves twice as much attention as they are lavishing on that horrible Davy.

Still loved this book though!!

Audiobook Comments
Read by Barbara Caruso and she really let this audio shine.

YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE ANNE SO MUCH.
This book was a great continuation of her story and I love seeing Anne and her friends start to become adults while still keeping their fantastic personalities.
Gilbert is also my fave forever especially because he is WAITING FOR HER without expecting anything beyond friendship - though he is still hopeful, he's more concerned about being a man worthy of her while being her friend, not convincing her he's a "nice guy".

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Anne of Avonlea drinking game:
Take a drink of your tea/soda/plum wine every time
-Anne's grey eyes are mentioned
-Marilla is sarcastic
-Paul Irving says "you know"
-Paul Iriving refers to his "little mother"
-Diana's weight is mentioned
-Anne or Marilla express their preference for Davy/speak unkindly of Dora because she's "too good."

The character of Davy just about ruined this book for me. I kind of hated him. His sister, Dora, is a sweet, mild-mannered, overall good kid. And so Davy takes great joy in tormenting her endlessly. But Anne and Marilla just write this off as him being "mischievous," never taking into consideration how awful this must be for Dora.

Davy even locks his sister alone in the dark in a neighbor's barn, just because he thinks it would be funny to make everyone worry(!?). When Dora is finally found, she's been crying for hours. The end result of this episode? Anne and Marilla say they love Davy more because he needs them more. No, Dora needs them to protect her - from her brother. And they utterly fail.

Anne's "scrapes" in the first book were because she often acted before thinking, or had a quick temper. But Davy's actions are thought out and deliberate, and he does them because he likes making trouble, making his sister cry, and getting a reaction out of people. Very, very different, imo.

In addition, this book felt a lot more sickly-sweet and moralized more. It wasn't nearly as good as the first (isn't that always the way?), and I don't think I'll continue on with the series, even though I did want to see Anne and Gilbert get together.

[Nikola · Rating 5 out of 5]

2019: 5/5
2023: 5/5 uwielbiam całym sercem

[Tharindu Dissanayake · Rating 5 out of 5]

"We always love best the people who need us."

The second book of Anne picks up immediately after Anne of Green Gables, to move across her first two years back at Avonlea as the school teacher. To be honest, I'm one of those who felt in love with the original mainly because how entertaining little Anne's life was. It took a bit getting used to the new period. However, with introduction of several new characters, some of which share certain characteristics of little Anne, made the book have some similarities with the first book.

The way Anne see the world is still as beautiful as ever, and had become more poetic. Given the ending of the first book, which introduced a bit of a sadness, it is obvious most reader of Anne of Green Gables would most likely move through Anne of Avonlea, and they will definitely be satisfied.

"After all, when one can see stars and skies like that, little disappointments and accidents can't matter so much, can they?"

[Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁ · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's almost worse now that Anne and Gilbert are actually friends. *rubs fist over heart*



BUT.

I will persevere!

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhh!



This was exactly what I needed . . . the long soak in a hot tub, the breath of fresh air, the perfect antidote to the hatred and venom spewed by the racist, rabid yam currently running for President. Yes, after a week of watching a 70-year-old toddler throw daily tantrums, it was so refreshing to pick up this book and escape to a world where you could stumble upon a stranger's house and be invited in for tea.

This volume concentrates on Anne's two years spent teaching. There are good days and bad days as she attempts to mold the young minds of Avonlea.
Newly orphaned twins - the lifeless Dora and the way-too-lively Davy - come to live with lifelong spinster Marilla, prompting Mrs. Rachel Lynde to quip, "You're never safe from being surprised till you're dead." A local kook successfully predicts a wicked storm, and the Village Improvement Society, a group spearheaded by Anne and Diana to spruce up Avonlea, is born.

Love and laughs abound, and yes, it's sappy as hell, but as I said, exactly what I needed.


I have a feeling I'm going to be rereading the rest of this series before November rolls around. It's so nice to know that when I wake with a 3 AM panic attack, convinced that Trump has already won and life as we know it is over, that Anne's simple, and simply beautiful, world will be waiting for me.

[Melissa KT · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed Anne of Avonlea but I did not find it as engaging as Anne of Green Gables. Here's why.

Anne of Green Gables gave the reader lots to look forward to. Will Marilla let Anne stay? When will Anne meet Diana? Will she ever forgive Gilbert?

While reading Anne of Avonlea, I didn't find myself asking any such questions or looking forward to anything. The book didn't seem to be leading up to anything as far as Anne was concerned. It read more like a series of situations involving Anne while the actual "story" was happening to another character named Miss Lavender. Marilla adoped twins in this one and Montgomery focused so much on the boy, Davy, that I couldn't help but wonder why she bothered to write in his twin sister Dora at all.

Anne of Avonlea basically felt like a "passing of time" for Anne. I kept waiting for something to happen to her but it just didn't. I'd still like to continue with the series to see how things progress. Even though Anne of Avonlea didn't quite meet my expectations I found it a charming read and would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Anne of Green Gables. It was nice to visit the old beloved characters again.

[Candi · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I’d like to add some beauty to life. I don’t exactly want to make people know more… though I know that is the noblest ambition… but I’d love to make them have a pleasanter time because of me… to have some little joy or happy thought that would never have existed if I hadn’t been born."

I think my timing with this book was just perfect. I read this around the Thanksgiving holiday, and I believe not only is it a comforting piece, but also a wonderful reminder to be thankful for the small joys in life that make the heart sing. A stroll through the woods, picking flowers, spending time with old, dear friends, making new friends with those eccentrics that might otherwise go unnoticed, teaching a small child an important lesson, cooking a special meal for a guest, and remembering and honoring those that have passed from our lives – these are all things that Anne makes part of her daily life with exuberant delight and much grace. I wish there were more Annes in the world!

Anne of Avonlea is the second book in the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery. You likely will assume that these are re-reads for me. They are not! Somehow I missed the pleasure of reading the Anne books as a child or teen and read my very first one this past June. Well, I’m late to the party, but hopefully at least fashionably late – I’m sure Anne would somehow agree. In this book, we see Anne at the age of sixteen and just beginning her career as a teacher in Avonlea. She has grown and matured, but still carries that zest for life that makes her the person everyone loves so much. "Those who knew Anne best, felt, without realizing that they felt it, that her greatest attraction was the aura of possibility surrounding her… the power of future development that was in her. She seemed to walk in an atmosphere of things about to happen."

Anne and her friends decide to take on a new project, that of the Village Improvement Society. They are not exactly sure what this will entail, but they hope to make Avonlea an even better place to live. As Anne and company get out and about in the community, we make the acquaintance of a number of interesting new characters right along with them. Anne may not have thought it quite funny, but some of their little predicaments while fundraising managed to bring a smile to my face. Not everyone is on board with their ideas! Always the pragmatist, Mrs. Rachel Lynde can’t help offering her two cents on the endeavor: "What’s this I hear about your going to start up a Village Improvement Society, Anne?... you’ll get into no end of hot water if you do. Better leave it alone, Anne, that’s what. People don’t like being improved." I can’t say I disagree with Mrs. Lynde in this case! Some people are just not willing to make a change.

From the surly Mr. Harrison and his foul-mouthed parrot to the angelic Paul Irving to the quirky Miss Lavendar at Echo Lodge to the mischievous twin Davy, I delighted in sitting down with these folks for a short while and taking my mind off the holiday grind. If you haven’t read these before, I highly recommend them. They are not just for kids! I have the next three or four books in the series just waiting to be read. I will pull them out from time to time when I need to be reminded of the small pleasures in life, and savor them as they should be – much like my little stash of Dove dark chocolates. I don’t want to gobble them down all at once! 4.5 stars for Anne of Avonlea – naturally, I’m rounding up!

"After all, I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string."

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, I remember liking L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Avonlea immensely when I first read it as a young teenager, and during my recent rereads, I have still managed to enjoy most of the story (most of the featured episodes) almost as much as I did then, especially the anecdotes about the Avonlea Village Improvement Society (AVIS). But even more than the AVIS interludes, I have been rather pleasantly surprised at how much I have loved reading about both Paul Irving and Lavendar Lewis (two characters to whom I did not really feel all that drawn when I first read Anne of Avonlea
However, I did and do find myself having rather major problems universally liking the character of Davy Keith. And indeed, it is not Davy's rather mischievous nature that I find problematic, but the fact that he is so often deliberately cruel and nasty to his twin sister Dora. Not only that, but I have also and with flustered sadness noticed that Dora is more often than not ignored and denigrated by almost everyone, from Anne to even Mrs. Lynde, simply because she is a quiet, unobtrusive child (and "must" therefore by extension also be boring and monotonous). And when one recalls what Anne's own childhood was like, and how she was both emotionally and spiritually neglected before she came to Green Gables, it is supremely ironic and annoying that Anne now seemingly approaches Dora in a similar manner, often ignoring her because Davy's exploits are more interesting, or more to the point, are perceived as being more interesting.

Furthermore, I also tend to believe that there is actually a rather uncritical acceptance by L. M. Montgomery herself, as Anne's (and others') often rather negative assumptions of and towards Dora are never really actively criticised (yes, Anne realises that she might have a bit of an unfair and careless attitude towards Dora, but even though she is aware of this, she does not really ever strive to rein in her at times quite overt favouritism of Davy, and actually even attempts to justify it to herself and others). And as someone who also was rather quiet and unobtrusive as a child and teenager, this has quite bothered me during my recent rereads and continues to more than somewhat chafe (strangely enough though, when I was a teenager, when I first read Anne of Avonlea, this fact did not seem to bother me all that much, although at that time, I often did feel rather ignored and under-appreciated by both my family and the world).

Now I would still most strongly recommend this novel, as well as the entire Anne of Green Gables series. It is just that Anne of Avonlea, while certainly magical, does indeed and in my opinion have its potential issues (at least it did and does for me), with specifically the often overt favouritism of Davy Keith over his sister, over Dora, being majorly potentially problematic, a favouritism actually made considerably worse by the fact that it also so often seems universally accepted, even justified (and thus, from the Anne of Green Gables series, Anne of Avonlea while definitely enjoyable, does also not rank amongst my personal favourites).

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

"In the twilight Anne sauntered down to the Dryad's Bubble and saw Gilbert Blythe coming down through the dusky Haunted Wood. She had a sudden realization that Gilbert was a schoolboy no longer. And how manly he looked—the tall, frank-faced fellow, with the clear, straightforward eyes and the broad shoulders. Anne thought Gilbert was a very handsome lad, even though he didn't look at all like her ideal man. She and Diana had long ago decided what kind of a man they admired and their tastes seemed exactly similar. He must be very tall and distinguished looking, with melancholy, inscrutable eyes, and a melting, sympathetic voice. There was nothing either melancholy or inscrutable in Gilbert's physiognomy, but of course that didn't matter in friendship!

Gilbert stretched himself out on the ferns beside the Bubble and looked approvingly at Anne. If Gilbert had been asked to describe his ideal woman the description would have answered point for point to Anne, even to those seven tiny freckles whose obnoxious presence still continued to vex her soul. Gilbert was as yet little more than a boy; but a boy has his dreams as have others, and in Gilbert's future there was always a girl with big, limpid gray eyes, and a face as fine and delicate as a flower. He had made up his mind, also, that his future must be worthy of its goddess. Even in quiet Avonlea there were temptations to be met and faced. White Sands youth were a rather "fast" set, and Gilbert was popular wherever he went. But he meant to keep himself worthy of Anne's friendship and perhaps some distant day her love; and he watched over word and thought and deed as jealously as if her clear eyes were to pass in judgment on it. She held over him the unconscious influence that every girl, whose ideals are high and pure, wields over her friends; an influence which would endure as long as she was faithful to those ideals and which she would as certainly lose if she were ever false to them. In Gilbert's eyes Anne's greatest charm was the fact that she never stooped to the petty practices of so many of the Avonlea girls—the small jealousies, the little deceits and rivalries, the palpable bids for favor. Anne held herself apart from all this, not consciously or of design, but simply because anything of the sort was utterly foreign to her transparent, impulsive nature, crystal clear in its motives and aspirations."

"Perhaps, after all, romance did not come into one's life with pomp and blare, like a gay knight riding down; perhaps it crept to one's side like an old friend through quiet ways; perhaps it revealed itself in seeming prose, until some sudden shaft of illumination flung athwart its pages betrayed the rhythm and the music, perhaps. . . perhaps. . .love unfolded naturally out of a beautiful friendship, as a golden-hearted rose slipping from its green sheath."

...oh, Gilbert Blythe...<3

[sAmAnE · Rating 5 out of 5]

در این جلد آنی معلم شده
قسمتی که نامه‌های بچه‌ها و موضوعات انشا و کلا مربوط به تدریسش و کلاسداریش بود برام خیلی دوست داشتنی بود.
کلا رابطه‌ی خوبی با بچه‌ها داره، بخصوص اون قسمتی که دوقلوها رو ماریلا به سرپرستی گرفت و شیطنت‌هاشون خیلی بامزه بود.

[leynes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gosh, how I hated this book. As most of you know I LOVE (absolutely adore) the first book in the series, Anne of Green Gables. I loved every single character and even though many people find Anne annoying, I really took her into my heart. I also love the Netflix adaptation Anne with an E, I fell in love with Prince Edward Island, Diana, Marilla and Matthew, even good ole Rachel Lynde. It has become a comfort show for me. So my expectations for the second book were high. I was super excited to see a more grown up Anne, to accompany her on all the silly adventures and scrapes she would get herself into as a young woman but no! what we got is a moralising tale that got on my goddamn nerves.

My biggest gripe with this book is not that it's hella boring (barely anything of significance happens) but that all of the new characters (Davy, Dora, Mr Harrison, Ms Lavendar, Paul Irving etc.) are so shitty and boring that they pale in comparison to the ones we already fell in love with in the first book. On top of that, many of our beloved characters, first and foremost Anne herself, feel very different, so much so that they are barely recognisable, most of her actions feel so out of character. It's a shit show.

But let's start in the beginning! Anne is about to start her first term teaching at the Avonlea school. I was very excited to finally see Anne as a teacher but what Montgomery does with her in this position is infuriating. Anne is the worst teacher ever. But more on that later.

The book soon introduces Anne's new and problematic neighbour, Mr. Harrison, and his foul-mouthed parrot, as well as the twins, Davy and Dora. They are the children of Marilla's third cousin and she takes them in when their mother dies while their uncle is out of the country. Whilst Dora is a nice, well-behaved girl, her brother Davy is the exact opposite, much more of a handful and constantly getting into many scrapes.

As many reviewers have pointed out, the favoritism that Anne and Marilla exhibit, favoring Davy over Dora, despite (or because of) his more riling and original nature, is infuriating. At one point, Anne says to Marilla: "I like Davy better than Dora, for all she’s so good.", and she agrees with her. It's so bad. Davy is probably the most annoying (!) character in this entire series. I hated him with a passion. Montgomery uses him in such a gimmicky way and none of the scrapes he gets into are fun or entertaining to read about. She uses him to teach her readerships lessons on how to behave properly and how to raise children. No, thanks. On top of that, it's pretty misogynist that Anne and Marilla dislike Dora so, she's too "boring", too perfect for me. Excuse me, what? She's just a kid. And she deserves as much attention and love as her wild brother.

Other characters introduced are some of Anne's new pupils, such as Paul Irving, an American boy living with his grandmother in Avonlea while his widower father works in the States. He delights Anne with his imagination and whimsical ways, which are reminiscent of Anne's in her childhood. And here lies another problem. Just as with Davy and Dora, Anne exhibits favoritism when it comes to her students as well, which makes her the worst teacher ever. She is so judgemental of all students who aren't like her. At one point she thinks of one of her students: "Annetta is a quiet little puss and a model of good behaviour, but there isn’t a shadow of originality in her." Who says that about their own students?? My God. When one of her students trips on her way to the chalkboard, Anne says to her:

“Really, Barbara”, she said icily, “if you cannot move without falling over something you’d better remain in your seat. It is positively disgraceful for a girl your age to be so awkward.”

What the hell? Does that sound like the Anne of the first book to you? What has gone wrong here? And I understand that Montgomery wanted to show how Anne struggles to find her footing as a teacher but I genuinely think that her character changed so much that she is barely recognisable. Her actions and words simply don't ring true. I also hated the whole ordeal with Anthony, a boy in her class who kept disrespecting her. Anne tried reasoning with him but at the end, the one thing that wins Anthony over is when she beats him like his dad used to, even though in the beginning she vowed to never whip any children. It's bonkers. Her weird obsession with Paul is also uncomfortable to read about from a modern perspective. Like, we get it, you see yourself in him, but chill, girl. Montgomery describes Paul as follows: "There is nothing weak or girlish about him in spite of his dreams and fancies. He is very manly and can hold his own in all games." Okay, thanks, I hate it here.

Later in the book, Anne and her friends meet Miss Lavendar Lewis, a sweet but lonely lady in her 40s who had been engaged to Paul's father 25 years before, but parted from him after a disagreement. At the end of the book, Mr. Irving returns and he and Miss Lavendar marry. This was quite the sweet subplot but I unfortunately didn't care. I didn't like Miss Lavendar and was much more interested in her (horrible) treatment of her maids, whom she all named Carlotta. But no, we must focus on the eccentric old lady because she's oh-so special. Cool.

Anne discovers the delights and troubles of being a teacher, takes part in the raising of Davy and Dora, and organizes the A.V.I.S. (Avonlea Village Improvement Society) together with Gilbert, Diana, and Fred Wright, though their efforts to improve the town are not always successful. The Society takes up a subscription to repaint an old town hall, only to have the painter provide the wrong colour of paint, turning the hall into a bright blue eyesore. This book sees Anne maturing slightly, even though she still cannot avoid getting into a number of her familiar scrapes, including selling Mr. Harrison's cow after mistaking it for her own, accidentally rubbing red dye on her nose before meeting a famous author, and getting stuck in a duck house roof while peeping into a pantry window.

Unfortunately, none of these silly little adventures are as fun as the ones in the first book. They're not as memorable or original. I also disliked how much of a backseat Anne's friendship to Diana took in this book. Whenever we see Diana she is only complaining about how fat she's gotten and by the end of the book she is married of to Fred Wright and we never see her again. NO, NO, NO.

Towards the end of the book, Mrs. Rachel Lynde's husband dies and Mrs. Lynde moves in with Marilla at Green Gables, allowing Anne to go to college at last. The only silver lining in this book because Rachel rooming with Marilla is all I needed in my life. In the last chapter, Anne and Gilbert make plans to attend Redmond College in the Autumn.

Personally, I really like Anne and Gilbert together but I fear that I like the idea of them (and the representation of them in the show Anne with an E) more than what Montgomery actually delivers. There are very few interactions between the two of them in this book but let's look at some significant moments:

She had a sudden realisation that Gilbert was a schoolboy no longer. And how many he looked—the tall, frank-faced fellow, with the clear, straightforward eyes and the broad shoulders. Anne thought Gilbert was a very handsome lad, even though he didn't look at all like her ideal man.

So far ... so good? I mean, it's pretty standard romance, I guess, but I can live with that. Gilbert is a MANLY MAN (...good for him?) but not Anne's type (we all know she's kidding herself but whatever). What I have more of a problem with is how Gilbert views Anne:

In Gilbert's eyes Anne's greatest charm was the fact that she never stooped to the petty practices of so many of the Avonlea girls -- the small jealousies, the little deceits and rivalries, the palpable bids for favor. Anne held herself apart from all this, not consciously or of design, but simply because anything of the sort was utterly foreign to her transparent, impulsive nature, crystal clear in its motives and aspirations.

It's giving: SHE'S NOT LIKE OTHER GIRLS. And there's nothing I hate more than that trope. Get the fuck outta here. Anne is NOT special, no matter how hard Montgomery wants to drive the point home that Anne is a special snowflake who is superior to other girls, I assure you, SHE IS NOT.

However, I have to give Montgomery credit for the end of this book, and Gilbert and Anne's last conversation, because it truly hit me in the feels and made me sooo excited for the third book (jokes on me, because that turned out to be shit, but regardless). Listen to this:

For a moment Anne's heart fluttered queerly and for the first time her eyes faltered under Gilbert's gaze and a rosy flush stained the paleness of her face. It was as if a veil that had hung before her inner consciousness had been lifted, giving to her view a revelation of unsuspected feelings and realities. Perhaps, after all, romance did not come into one's life with pomp and blare, like a gay knight riding down; perhaps it crept to one's side like an old friend through quiet ways; perhaps it revealed itself in seeming prose, until some sudden shaft of illumination flung athwart its pages betrayed the rhythm and the music, perhaps … perhaps … love unfolded naturally out of a beautiful friendship, as a golden-hearted rose slipping from its green sheath.

Excuse me while I scream in a corner but this shit is PERFECT. Call me a hopeless romantic but I love everything about this scene. Montgomery found the exact right words here!

Another highlight for me was the callback to Matthew: "Anne had never missed her weekly pilgrimage to Matthew’s grave. Everybody else in Avonlea, except Marilla, had already forgotten quiet, shy, unimportant Matthew Cuthbert; but his memory was still green in Anne’s heart and always would be." Oh man, how I have still not recovered from his death. I love that Montgomery acknowledges his persistent impact on Anne's life.

***

TW: use of a derogatory term for indigenous people (I*jun)

[Debbie W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why I chose to listen to this audiobook:
1. I'm refreshing my memory after reading this book so many years ago; and,
2. July 2023 is my self-appointed "O'Canada Month"!

Praises:
1. I enjoyed how Anne moved from girlhood in Anne of Green Gables to young womanhood within her community. From teaching at the local school, volunteering through Avonlea's Improvement Society, to relating with a variety of interesting characters that we readers meet for the first time, Anne continued to delight me with her vivid descriptions of her natural surroundings, her enthusiasm making new friends, and her "scandalous" dilemmas she seems to frequently get entangled in (For readers of this series: Did you ever notice that some of the scrapes Anne gets herself into were only because Marilla put something in the pantry that didn't belong there?) 😂; and,
2. even though many scenes involve "old-fashioned" thoughts (to our more modern way of thinking) and the occasional cringeworthy reference, I'm impressed how forward-thinking Anne was in her teaching methods.

Niggle:
Although I thought adoptive 6-year-old twin Davey was a hoot, 10-year-old Paul Irving's character was too unrealistic, even for boys his age back in the 1880s.

Overall Thoughts:
Author L.M. Montgomery's use of eloquent prose and imperfect but endearing characters brought a breath of fresh air and all the feels to this reader!
Looking forward to reading Anne of the Island!

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the book Anne of Green Gables so much. I enjoyed this book, but it did not have the same impact on me that the first one did. There was much about this book that I loved, but I did miss Anne as a child. She is becoming an adult, a better adult than most.

I did love the hilarious things the children said. I mean they were things I could hear any child saying. Davey was a little crazy. That kid has some sociopathic tendencies. Still, he was so funny. He enjoyed causing some excitement around that place. It was pretty amazing. Davey's poor sister though was so boring even the adults thought she was boring.

Paul was another good student. I liked him. He was very Anne-like. The children were the highlight of the book. Lucy Montgomery really know how to write children. It is her gift.

Anne is a teacher at like 16 going on 17. She teaches for one year before she is going on to college. This is the year that the book covers. She is a young teacher. She also doesn't want to squash the imagination and hopes of children. She wants to befriend them instead of corporeal punishment. That is funny too as everyone keeps telling her to beat the children.

I thought the book was a little long in places and the story dragged a little. I am also used to a faster pace thanks to modern literature. It's nice to slow down the pace of story and read something different. Still, the language does cast a spell and Prince Edward Island seems magical.

I look forward to reading the next one. This is a wonderful series.

[Kristin Hackett (Merrily Kristin) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't even put into words how much I adore this series<3

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This isn't as good as the first, in my opinion. I was hoping for more interaction with Anne and Gilbert. Though they are both members of the Avonlea Village Improvement Society, the two of them actually do not have many scenes together since he teaches at a school that is further away and is only home on weekends (I think?) and during summer break.

The addition of the troublemaking orphan Davy to the story nearly ruined this book for me. He has a twin sister named Dora who is a total angel, but Anne plainly states (and Marilla feels the same way) that she loves Davy more. I didn't find him charming, adorable, funny, precious, etc. I wish I could erase his existence in these pages. I hated how Anne was around him: she would feel guilty for punishing his bad behavior and she would give in whenever he turned on the charm around her. Everything I loved about Anne would disappear when she's around this boy. You can't even argue that Anne prefers him because he was a troublemaker like she was when she was a child, because while Anne did get into crazy predicaments, she always had good intentions behind her actions. Davy does not. He makes mischief because he can, because he's bored. I hated how poor Dora would be ignored, but I guess that's really the author's fault since she didn't think of her as much of a character.

I still plan on reading at least the third book in the series, but I really, really hope Davy is nowhere to be found in it.

[Virginie Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful reading day, thanks to Anne! I loved the new characters and the fact that we see Anne teaching, as I'm a teacher myself. As in the previous book, there were plenty of amazing quotes and cute moments. It's great to know that there are many other books in the series!

4.5 stars rounded up

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

[Kerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was wonderful to be back with Anne again! This was a buddy read with Carolyn and Leeanne and it is lovely to be able to have a discussion about the story, to see what stands out to each reader and the different observations made. I am very excited by the prospect of following Anne's journey through life, and I loved every moment of this book.

Anne's time as a teacher was very enjoyable, and her endeavours with the Avonlea Village Improvement Society and the rather amusing results of their efforts was more interesting than I would have guessed. What I loved about the first book, and what continues with the second, is how it is all so engaging and exciting, even though it is not an action focused book. Anne's friendships, her 'kindred spirits', her earnest enthusiasm for life and the world makes for captivating reading. L.M. Montgomery's writing has this magical quality to it that makes even the simplest chapter riveting.

The addition of Davy and Dora to the family was a mostly enjoyable one. While I wasn't as fond of Davy as Marilla and Anne seemed to be, he did not irritate me as much I had feared. I suppose that is damning him with faint praise, but he was quite an exasperating child! I much preferred Dora. In our discussion, Carolyn called Dora 'serene' and I think that fits her so well. I tend to think of her now as Serene Dora, a title of sorts. She is such a sweet little thing and thoroughly unappreciated by Anne, Marilla and everyone else really.

I adored Miss Lavendar just as much as Anne did, and also found Charlotta the Fourth a fun character. Her fervent admiration of Anne was completely understandable. I know Davy was probably a little too precocious and earnest for some readers, essentially a young boy version of Anne herself, but I really did love him and found the talk he has with Anne about his mother and her mention of her own parents particularly touching.

I had spied the title of the final chapter at the start of the book and I admit my heart had dropped a little. A Wedding at the Stone House. I had thought Anne would be the bride, and I couldn't help feeling let down that it had all happened so quickly. Because of this, I had thought the earlier dream of college would be replaced by that of being a very young wife and mother. But I was wrong-- and thrilled to be! When Marilla came up with a solution that allowed Anne to head off to college I was blown away, thrilled for her and adored Marilla for not letting the opportunity slip by. And the romantic in me loved that Miss Lavendar's Prince returned at last. I was very satisfied with every part of the book, but especially the final chapters, which felt perfect.

I restrained myself to only a few chapters a day so that I didn't devour the book in one sitting, and after a few days I found myself making sure it was the final thing I read before trying to sleep. There was something so calming and heartwarming about finishing the day with Anne's adventures and observations.

I look forward to seeing what comes next for Anne and everyone else in Avonlea.
🐄🦜💐

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read Anne of Green Gables many times over the years (this one's my favorite Anne of Green Gables), but it's just now that I decided to continue with the series. I'm so glad I did, because I was really missing out!

In Book 2, Anne is now 16 yrs old and is a teacher at Avonlea School. Anne is still as cheerful and optimistic as ever, and isn't too old to get into all sorts of trouble. Lots of new characters were introduced in this book, but Matthew was terribly missed.

It was so nice to catch up with Anne again! I really enjoy Lucy Maud Montgomery's writing style and creativity. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anne of Green Gables is one of my favorite books ever. But the story doesn’t stop there! I’ve never read the entire series, so I’m on a mission to do just that. This second installment I have read before, and I love it just as much as the preceding book. Here, Anne takes her first halting steps into adulthood, and the change is both charming and sad. Anne will always be a free spirit, but seeing her temper that spiritedness enough to become an effective teacher was fascinating to behold.

I’ve always loved schoolmarm stories. There’s something about one-room schoolhouses and having to teach to so many age groups simultaneously that blows my mind. I’m a teacher, but I can’t even fathom having to teach every subject to every age group every single day. I don’t know how teachers of the past did it. The thing is, I know that if I had lived in the same time period, I would have sought out to do exactly that. Though it was undoubtedly hard work, there’s a romance to being a schoolmarm that has always appealed to me. Because of this, I love reading about school teachers of the past. I have to say, Anne Shirley made a remarkable schoolmarm. She’s kind and thoughtful and is just barely out of childhood herself, so she remembers what it’s like to be on the other side of the blackboard, so to speak. All of those traits coupled with her renowned imagination means that Anne can relate to her students better than most, and that she finds new and unique methods of teaching them.

One of my favorite parts of this book was the introduction of two new little boys: Paul Irving and Davy. I don’t think you could possibly find two more radically different boys in real life or in fiction. Paul Irving is a sweet, smart, thoughtful boy with an imagination that rivals Anne’s, and he and Anne are undoubtedly kindred spirits. Davy is a spitfire, a rambunctious boy with the greatest propensity for questioning I’ve ever seen. And the questions that boy comes up with! There’s no way I could’ve kept a straight face while trying to answer some of those questions. Though both boys are as different as can be, they’re both incredibly dear to Anne.

In this book we also visit Echo Lodge for the first time and meet Miss Lavendar, another kindred spirit. Miss Lavendar is an old maid unlike any other. She refuses to go gently into spinsterhood, and has instead built a beautiful if lonely life for herself. Echo Lodge is beautiful and magical, almost like a fairy realm. And Miss Lavendar makes a stunning fairy queen; the only way you could guess her age is by her snow-white hair. She’s just as imaginative as Anne, and she gets a wonderful happy ending in this book.

The book ends with Anne and Gilbert both deciding to head off to college. Even though I love knowing where their story is heading (after all, theirs is often billed as one of the greatest romances in fiction), I’m loving every second of the journey. It’s so nice to have a romantic element that isn’t instantaneous, but instead builds over the course of multiple books. Romance when approached this way just feels both more realistic and more wholesome to me.

Can you tell I love this series? I wish I had discovered it when I was a child, but I’m enjoying it immensely now as an adult. If you love historical fiction with a bright and uplifting worldview, you owe it to yourself to read this series. It’s one of easiest classics to read that I’ve yet to come across.

[Katja Labonté · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+ stars (9/10 hearts). This book picks up exactly where book one left off, and it is the perfect sequel.

Anne is an older, maturing girl now and I loved watching seeing her grow more. There is so much to be learned from this book—lessons of how to live simple, everyday life with beauty and truth and inspiration. Marilla is much the same as in the old book, yet more mellow. Mrs. Lynde, Diana, Jane, Ruby, the Allans—all delightfully the same.
And there are new characters—Mr. Harrison, absolutely hilarious; Paul, a darling; Miss Lavender & Mr. Irving, both wonderful; Davy, so funny and so real; and a thousand other minor but real characters.

This book is full of beauty and truth and romance, and hilarious humour... proof that everyday life is full of romance and tragedy and comedy.... The writing style is gorgeous, as always, and the messages are SO good. And I love how this book ends—Montgomery is a GENIUS with closing paragraphs. This is just such a beautiful book, and an excellent book for girls to grow up with. I just can’t express how good and beautiful it is…

Content: A couple euphemisms, a few opinions I don’t agree with, a mention of ghosts (as unreal).

A Favourite Quote: “I’d like to add some beauty to life,” said Anne dreamily. “…I’d love to make [people] have a pleasanter time because of me … to have some little joy or happy thought that would never have existed if I hadn’t been born.”
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: Anne rose betimes the next morning and blithely greeted the fresh day, when the banners of the sunrise were shaken triumphantly across the pearly skies. Green Gables lay in a pool of sunshine, flecked with the dancing shadows of poplar and willow. Beyond the land was Mr. Harrison’s wheatfield, a great, windrippled expanse of pale gold.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “…he’s a real bad man.”
“Indeed he's not,” said Marilla indignantly.
“He is … he says he is himself,” asseverated Davy. “He said it when he prayed in Sunday School last Sunday. He said he was a vile worm and a miserable sinner and guilty of the blackest ’niquity. What did he do that was so bad, Marilla? Did he kill anybody? Or steal the collection cents? I want to know.”
Fortunately Mrs. Lynde came driving up the lane at this moment and Marilla made off, ... wishing devoutly that Mr. Bell were not quite so highly figurative in his public petitions, especially in the hearing of small boys who were always ‘wanting to know.’

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhh!



This was exactly what I needed . . . a long soak in a hot tub, a breath of fresh air, a visit with Anne. Whenever the news, work, or life in general gets too much, it's always so refreshing to pick up this book and escape to a world where you can stumble upon a total stranger's house and be invited in for tea. (Man, they eat a lot of cake in this book. What a perfect world!)

This volume concentrates on Anne's two years spent teaching. There are good days and bad days as she attempts to mold the young minds of Avonlea.
Newly orphaned twins - the lifeless Dora and the way-too-lively Davy - come to live with lifelong spinster Marilla, prompting Mrs. Rachel Lynde to quip, "You're never safe from being surprised till you're dead." A local kook successfully predicts a wicked storm, and the Village Improvement Society, a group spearheaded by Anne and Diana to spruce up Avonlea, is born.

Love and laughs abound, and yes, it's sappy as hell, but as I said, exactly what I needed.

It's an election year, and I have a feeling I'm going to be rereading the rest of this series before November rolls around. It's so nice to know that when I wake with a panic attack at 3 a.m. that Anne's simple, and simply beautiful, world will be waiting for me.

Originally read in the eighties, reread 7/2016, and 5/2024. Review revised May 2024.

[Haleigh DeRocher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, Anne.
What can I say about this story? Anne as a young girl was sweet, fun loving, silly, and just a tad too imaginative for her own good. Always getting into scrapes. But always, always finding the good and the beauty in life. Anne as a young woman? Even better. I absolutely loved seeing Anne in her role as teacher of the Avonlea school. Her spirit is just so sweet and pure - there's literally nothing not to like about her.
I also really enjoyed the introduction of new characters like Mr. Harrison, Miss Lavender, and the twins. I also have such a soft spot for sweet, old, pessimistic Marilla 😆
LM Montgomery's writing is probably some of the prettiest I have ever read. I am constantly amazed at the breathtaking imagery of her stories.
Simply cannot wait to see where Anne goes next.

[Karen J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anne of Avonlea by L. M. Montgomery
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

How can you not love any books written by L. M. Montgomery. I absolutely love all the series of books of Anne. Anne of Avonlea as an audiobook I listened to, the narrator was fantastic and made the story line even better. I remember reading the Anne series when I was very young. As an adult the Anne series is even more enjoyable.

[Britany · Rating 4 out of 5]

OH Marilla!

Anne's back! She older and wiser and more beautiful than that gangly red-headed girl that first came to Avonlea. This book walks us through Anne as a older teenager, she's back as a schoolteacher at the local school with difficult pupils, she refuses to rule by corporal punishment, but simply to treat her students with kindness. Marilla ends up adopting two twins who are orphaned- Dora & Davy and little Davy just stole my heart in this story. My other favorite was Miss Lavender and her story. Another batch of Anne was just what I needed to break up some of the deeper, darker reading out there right now.

I must confess after reading Anne of Green Gables, I was enthralled. I then did watch Anne with an E on Netflix and became HOOKED! Cannot wait to now continue on with the series as all kindred spirits must.

[Carolyn Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly don't know how I'm supposed to put into words how much I adore EVERYTHING about the "Anne" books!!!

L. M. Montgomery has officially become an all time favorite author of mine. Meaning I will now proceed to buy every book she has ever written, and read every biography that has ever been written about her!

The way she can write the simplest thing, and then turn it into something with magic is just breathtaking to experience!

Anne continues to be one of my favorites characters to read about. She feels more like a friend than a fictional person made up of words.

I will forever be grateful for what L. M. Montgomery has given me, a new friend and a new home!

P.S. I'm in love with Gilbert, but he belongs with Anne!! 💕