Emily of New Moon

Emily #1

by L.M. Montgomery

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.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, Canada

ebook

First published December 13, 1923

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

[Ruby Granger · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first, I actually liked this more than the Anne books. Like Anne, Emily observes and sees beauty in everything around her; however, she is even more of a writer than Anne. She tries to articulate all of the lovely things she sees, and then Montgomery shares this poetry with us. It is a treasure trove of nature writing. Having said that though, I ended up not liking the plot so much. Maybe it's that the characters are less striking and likeable, but I started to find it a little tiresome three quarters in. To be fair though, that's probably because I'm reading it as an adult.

[Wendy Darling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-reading for our discussion on Friday, May 27th! https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Anne fans, I INSIST that you try Emily at some point.

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I love the Emily books so much. Her passion and her dreams, along with her dignity, were expressed in a way that really appealed to me when I read them as an impressionable teenager. The formative years of every girl's life are filled with wild hopes and worries and exhilaration, and as an adult, I re-read this series with a great deal of fondness.

I also love Teddy Kent. Such a romantic character, and how lovely to have your childhood friend be the love of your life!

Some of the anecdotes, like many of L.M. Montgomery's, do cross over into exaggerated predicaments and a wee bit of melodrama...but honestly, that's part of the fun of indulging in books like these.

It had always seemed to Emily, ever since she could remember, that she was very, very near to a world of wonderful beauty. Between it and herself hung only a thin curtain; she could never draw the curtain aside-- but sometimes, just for a moment, a wind fluttered it and then it was as if she caught a glimpse of the enchanting realm beyond-- only a glimpse-- and heard a note of unearthly music.

ETA/content warning: (for the series as a whole) Adult readers will certainly recognize severely problematic behaviors from Dean Priest, one of Emily's mentors when she's a little older. When I read the books as a child, I thought his later romantic attentions towards her were a little creepy, but mostly because OBVIOUSLY SHE IS MEANT TO BE WITH TEDDY. I was more bothered by his infuriating betrayal of her trust as far as her writing was concerned, and recognized that the age difference and time period play into his pursuit of her. Still, he exhibits controlling, possessive, manipulative behavior, and the power dynamics are terrible, even as mature and independent as Emily is. It's not brutally or aggressively controlling, but manipulation—and grooming—are there all the same.

[April (Aprilius Maximus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh how I wish this was written in our time because this would be so, so gay. Emily and Ilse belong together and we all know Nancy and Caroline are a thing. What a heckin shame.
Also, CATS.
That's it. That's the review.

[Duane Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily of New Moon is right up there with Anne of Green Gables. Emily Byrd Starr is another timeless and unforgettable character from the mind of L.M. Montgomery.
She's more serious and complex than Anne but just as stubborn and just as lovable. Written for teens and young adults, but anyone can enjoy this wonderful classic.

[Magrat Ajostiernos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emily es una especie de hermana de Ana (de Tejas Verdes), siguen caminos separados que a veces se encuentran y por tanto, siendo tan fan de Ana, tenía que disfrutar de Emily, y así ha sido.
Es una historia más pausada y costumbrista, que se detiene más en los pequeños acontecimientos y personajes que vamos encontrando en el camino de la protagonista, quizás faltan grandes momentos o algún personaje realmente destacado, pero la lectura fluye dulce y pausada haciéndote disfrutar del camino.
Hay cosillas que no me han entusiasmado (especialmente de la parte final) pero aún así, es una novela infantil dulce y divertida, que sin tener la chispa de Ana sí que tiene otros encantos, como el amor por la literatura (y el autodescubrimiento de Emily como escritora) o esos toques de cuentos de hadas que la protagonista imagina.
Una buena lectura sencilla, que aunque pasada de moda en algunos aspectos, sigue siendo un lugar seguro y feliz al que acudir para disfrutar de la inocencia y belleza de otro tiempo.

[Ali Book World · Rating 5 out of 5]

با عشق، پنج ستاره‌ی کامل تقدیم به امیلی و مونتگمری عزیزم😭

امیلی یکی از جذاب‌ترین و متفاوت‌ترین و حال‌خوب‌کن ترین کتابهای عمرم شد.
شخصیت امیلی واقعا جذابه، یک دختر یتیم که هیچ چیز باعث نمیشه ظلم رو بپذیره، کله‌شق و یک دنده ست اما همین باعث میشه قوی‌تر باشه و راهش رو پیدا بکنه و کم نیاره... فوق‌العاده‌ست!
داستان در اوج جدی بودنش، طنز خاصی هم داره که خود امیلی زحمت این طنز بودن رو به دوش میکِشه!
با اینکه تا الان فقط جلد اول رو خوندم اما این مجموعه جای خاصی در قلبم پیدا کرده و شخصیت امیلی واقعا بی‌همتاست!
به جرئت میگم که بعد از اینهمه سال کتابخوانی، کراشم در دنیای کتاب‌ها را پیدا کردم: امیلی!

این گفتگو بدجوری خنده روی لب‌هام میاره: 😂

+ خاله لورا، "کله خر" کلمه‌ی خوبی‌ست؟
- نه! نه!
+ حیف شد، کلمه‌ی جالبی بود.

الان به هرکی میرسم میگم: کله‌ خر کلمه‌ی خوبیه؟ 😂😂

[Nikola · Rating 5 out of 5]

2020 nie wiem ile gwiazdek
2026 5/5 Ale wybitnie mnie skręca Dean Priest

[Sana · Rating 4 out of 5]

خیلی شیرین بود.
حس میکنم شخصیت امیلی بهتر از آنشرلی حداقل برای من آنشرلی در جلدهای آخرش یکم تغییر میکنه که خوشم نیومد‌.

[Carolyn Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/4.5 stars*
🌟🌟🌟🌟
There is something quite magical about the way L. M. Montgomery weaved words together! She captured innocence, whimsy, imagination, ambitious, family, love, and friendship in a very singular way!
I loved following Emily's story, and I'm very excited to continue on with reading the next two books in this trilogy!
I will say, I do prefer Anne of Green Gables. Anne holds a very near and dear place in my heart, which I don't think will ever change! With that being said, I thoroughly enjoyed Emily of New Moon and being back with Ms. Montgomery's enchanting words!

[Helene Jeppesen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In many ways, this book ressembles "Anne of Green Gables" a lot. It speaks of a young girl who admires the world's beauty while growing up amongst family and friends. However, "Emily of New Moon" touched me a lot more. There was something about Emily and her personality that appealed to me a lot. The same goes for her struggles which, in my opinion, were really cruel and harsh and made me care for her even more.
I also really liked the fact that Emily actually grows up in this book and goes out a little bit in the world (something that I missed in Anne of Green Gables). All of this made sure that I was never bored, and I gradually grew to care a lot about poor and sweet Emily.
Emily is an aspiring writer/poetess, and this novel does contain long passages of diary entries which I had to get used to. Nevertheless, I grew to appreciate even those because they added very much to her story and her growing up. All in all, a really endearing and honest story that I'm keen on continuing very soon with the next novel in the series.

[Elinor Loredan · Rating 5 out of 5]

July 2025 reread:
I relate to Emily so much more than Anne. Like Emily I feel compelled to write whether or not I have merit or will ever make even a cent of money from it. I also have Emily's moodiness and am inspired by her sense of morality even when no one is watching, such as refusing to secretly do things Aunt Elizabeth forbids. Over the entire story lies a haunting beauty the Anne series simply does not have. I think, too, that the Emily series feel a bit less forced and contrived than the Anne one--likely because much of Emily's story is based on LMM's own life.

***
2021 reread:
The Anne books are a warm gold. The Emily ones are a deep, rich purple. And I will never settle which I like better, just as I cannot choose between the the sun and moon.
*****
It's interesting, because I think I'd be a little afraid to meet Emily because of the scrutiny with which she approaches people-although I do that myself!

I love her spunk, though. When she hid under the table to listen to the family conclave and was retorting furiously to them in her mind, I immediately thought, "I like this girl!" I also feel like I relate more to Emily than to Anne. Emily is more brooding and withdrawn like me, whereas Anne is someone I wish I was like.

Delight and magic are found in Emily's fancies, such as the Wind Woman, and in the characters Cousin Jimmy and Father Cassidy. But what I love most about the book is what I have in common with Emily: the glory, relief, and fascination of writing things out. Writing words, the choicest I can think of, with a pen has always been one of the greatest feelings for me, whether they compose thoughts, 'deskripshuns', or stories. Like Emily, I tend to think of my experiences in terms of how I would write them out, and so I read the letters to her father with much sympathy and interest.

[Manybooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even more so than L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables series, her Emily of New Moon trilogy novels (Emily of New Moon, Emily Climbs and Emily's Quest) have always been absolutely and utterly personal favourites, and mostly so because while I have definitely and certainly enjoyed reading about Anne Shirley, her bubbly extrovertedness is not and can never be even remotely as close to me and to my own rather internal and quiet personality as equally imaginative and dreamy as Anne Shirley but also considerably more introverted Emily Byrd Starr. For indeed, Emily is absolutely and totally I, and a character, a persona to whom I can therefore relate much better and with considerably more ease than to either Anne Shirley and yes also to Emily's main sidekick and best friend Ilse Burnley who most certainly is an enjoyable and interestingly enough depicted character but who is also much too external and often considerably too all over the place, even bordering on the extreme for my personal reading tastes.

Now aside from my emotional kinship and attachment to young Emily Byrd Starr, I guess what has always made the Emily novels so special, so encouraging and uplifting (and indeed all of them, but my favourite is most definitely this here first novel, is Emily of New Moon) is that even with tragedies, sadness and emotional neglect being often rather overtly and painfully described by L.M. Montgomery (and in a manner so detailed and laden with pathos that she obviously seems to be writing from her own personal experience here), Emily is always able to keep engaging in her passion and need for writing even when especially her Aunt Elizabeth staunchly and rather unbendingly at first disapproves (and of course primarily and delightfully with Cousin Jimmy's help, who is probably one of my most favourite male L.M. Montgomery's male characters, period, richly and with exquisite and loving detail depicted, possessing a total and sweetly pure heart of gold and who is in fact also more than willing to unconditionally forgive Aunt Elizabeth for having pushed him into the New Moon well when they were children, even though this has had a lasting both physically and mentally painful effect on him).

And most definitely, I have certainly always in the Emily novels much preferred Cousin Jimmy as a character to say Aunt Laura, who while sweet tempered and always sympathetic towards Emily, is actually a rather pale and paper thin character with not much if any backbone and fight so to speak (and if truth be told, I do even rather prefer Aunt Elizabeth as a character to Aunt Laura, for while there is not really anything to Aunt Laura, Aunt Elizabeth always does appear as a real flesh and blood individual, as a character who might indeed be hard, severe and not always very sympathetic and empathetic towards her niece, towards Emily, but who still is a much more richly nuanced character than Laura who mostly just appears as a one dimensional leaf in my humble opinion). And yes indeed, I also do very much love love love how slowly but surely throughout the course of Emily of New Moon, both Emily and Aunt Elizabeth start to increasingly understand and appreciate one another until by the end of the novel, the latter considers her niece no longer merely an inconvenient duty and burden, no longer just the unloved and loathsome offspring of Juliet Murray's and Douglas Starr's unapproved of elopement and marriage, but a beloved and increasingly appreciated child (so eloquently and warmly depicted at the end of Emily of New Moon during Elizabeth's vigil at Emily's bedside when Emily is seriously and frighteningly ill with the measles, and where Elizabeth finally does admit to her sister Laura just how much she loves her niece and how much Emily actually has come to mean to her).

And now finally (but for and to me very much importantly), I do have to admit that I have aways had a somewhat difficult time accepting those dissenting voices which seem to imply that the character of Dean Priest is somehow and supposedly a pedophile (although I still do respect those readers who find him creepy, as what my reading tastes and viewpoints are, are of course not necessarily those of other readers). However and the above having been said, I personally do still NOT in any manner consider Dean Priest a potential pedophile (never have and never will), since his interest in Emily is (and in the first novel, in Emily of New Moon especially) entirely spiritual in nature, that he is not at all interested in Emily in a sexual and physical manner whatsoever, but in my opinion simply recognises and appreciates a kindred soul (as yes, Emily herself also does with him). And truthfully, aside from Cousin Jimmy and main protagonist Emily Byrd Starr, Dean Priest is probably also one of my favourite characters in Montgomery's Emily of New Moon series, well, at least until the third novel, until Emily's Quest, where Dean becomes more and more jealous of Emily's writing and actually causes (coerces) her to destroy, to burn her manuscript and then to be so devastated by this that she falls down the stairs and seriously injures herself. And yes, I do hope that those readers who tend to consider Dean Priest as a problematic individual and perhaps even as somewhat pedophilic will NOT now equally consider me thus, but be that as it may, I have indeed always adored Dean Priest (at least in the first two Emily novels, in both Emily of New Moon and Emily Climbs) and indeed until Dean's jealousy and almost stalker like clinginess in Emily's Quest, I for one had also kind of wanted Dean and Emily to become a couple as I just do not all that much like Teddy Kent as Emily's love interest (finding him a nicely enough conceptualised character but with not all that much which I personally would find either stimulating or engaging, and the same holds true for Perry Miller I might add, whom I do find more interesting than Teddy Kent but still not really of much narrative substance).

[Rikke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily. My dearest Emily; my childhood friend and childhood idol, my inspiration and my consolation. There are books so special, read in such a tender age, that they become part of you. I wouldn't be the person that I am today if it wasn't for Emily Byrd Starr.

“It had always seemed to Emily, ever since she could remember, that she was very, very near to a world of wonderful beauty. Between it and herself hung only a thin curtain; she could never draw the curtain aside-- but sometimes, just for a moment, a wind fluttered it and then it was as if she caught a glimpse of the enchanting realm beyond-- only a glimpse-- and heard a note of unearthly music.”

Emily is a dreamer. A hopeful artist, poetry-writer, and a whimsical little creature with pointed ears and almost violet eyes. She is touched with a child's honesty and a strong sense of righteousness. She is constantly making up beautiful scenes in her mind, and she cannot write them down fast enough. But even though her pen is in constant motion, her mouth is hardly ever moved. She is quiet. Not necessarily because she is shy, but because she is cautious of her words; she doesn't spill them randomly. She values them.

Emily's life is bittersweet. While she is able to perceive all the glistening beauty in the world, she is touched by sorrow, her father's death and the stern eyes and expectations of her aunts. She is constantly misunderstood by everyone – even herself. But still, she lives. She hopes, dreams, laughs and she lives. She is able to observe and appreciate the little wonders in life, which people so easily overlook. She is someone to admire and someone to aspire to.

“She will love deeply, she will suffer terribly, she will have glorious moments to compensate.”

Even now, this story pulls at my heartstrings. Emily still wins my heart, over and over again. As I started to reread this cherished book this morning, I thought I would just read a chapter or two, but I couldn't put the book down. I am completely under Emily's spell, and yet again I find myself wondering how my childhood would have been without her. Would it be there at all?

[Katharine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily of New Moon has a much darker quality than the Anne of Green Gables series – and Emily as a character is not nearly as likable or sweet as Anne. But she seems real. Although LMM tends to stylize/idealize her heroines a little, you can sense the three-dimensional quality of Emily's personality from the first chapter. Anne is 3D too, of course, but Anne's character tends to emerge little by little, whereas Emily dominates her story right from the start. And there's plenty of attention to Emily's worst qualities – pride and a nasty temper being the main two. As beloved as Anne is, Emily has more interesting possibilities. When I read these books as a child, I identified less with Emily, but found her fascinating all the same. And rereading as an adult, I'm more aware of the way LMM is playing with twists on the expected in these books.

The plot follows basically the same arc as Anne of Green Gables, with orphaned Emily coming to live in a farmhouse on Price Edward Island; but whereas in Anne you get comic scenes like Diana and the cordial, or apologizing to Mrs. Rachel Lynde – in Emily you get adultery, hatred, gossip, and several extremely creepy, possibly psychotic characters. Teddy's mother is horrible, and Dean Priest a little weird – I notice the dark tone so much more rereading now than I did fifteen years ago!

Bottom line: One of LMM's more complex and interesting stories and heroines, if not as heartwarming and lovely as the Anne series.

[Matti Karjalainen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lienee syytä aluksi tehdä tiettäväksi yksi juttu. Olen ollut innokas lukija koko elämäni ja lasten- ja nuortenkirjastotyö on työllistänyt minua kohta neljännesvuosisadan, mutta siitä huolimatta yleissivistyksessäni minulla on kaikki nämä vuodet ollut tyttökirjaklassikoiden kokoinen aukko. Lukematta ovat jääneet niin Pikku naisia, Vihervaaran Anne kuin Seljan tytöt.

Nyt peli saatiin kuitenkin auki, mistä kiitos kivalle kirjahaasteelle! Ja vieläpä enemmän kuin oivallisella tavalla. Kanadalaisen L.M. Montgomeryn "Pieni runotyttö" (WSOY, 2002) oli nimittäin kerta kaikkiaan hurmaava lukukokemus, jonka takia päädyin tekemään työmatkaani ylimääräisen lenkin, että ehtisin lukea bussissa vielä yhden luvun.

Noin kymmenvuotias Emilia-tyttö jää orvoksi ja päätyy ylpeydestään tuttujen sukulaistätiensä hoivaan Uusi Kuu -nimiselle sukutilalle. Kirjassa seurataan hänen vaiheitaan parin seuraavan vuoden ajan. Emilia on mitä mainioin päähenkilö, joka haltioituessaan kokee erikoislaatuisia leimahduksia ja osaa ottaa vähintään yhtä tuikean katseen kuin Paddington-karhu.

Tarinassa ei tapahdu hirvittävän suuria, mutta sen verran Prinssi Edwardin saarelle mahtuu draamaa kuitenkin, että lukijan mielenkiinto ei pääse herpaantumaan. Suuri kiitos siitä kuuluu Montgomeryn henkilögallerialle. Hahmot ovat välillä vähän ilkeitä ja aika usein hieman eksentrisiä, mutta ehdottoman kiinnostavia. Etenkin Emilian ja Elisabet-tädin välisissä kohtauksissa on kipinää!

Merkittävää roolia romaanissa näyttelee Emilian kirjoittaminen, jonka hapuilevia ensimetrejä ja hidasta mutta varmaa kehittymistä seurataan jokseenkin sympaattisesti. Lieneekö siinä kaikuja kirjailijan omasta elämästä, mene ja tiedä. Suosittelisin mielelläni romaania kirjoittamista harrastavalle nuorelle lukijalle.

En minä osaa oikein sanoa, miksi tästä tykkäsin niin paljon kuin tykkäsin, mutta kaiken kaikkiaan "Pieni runotyttö" on vuoden parhaita romaaneja ja ehdottomasti positiivisin lukuyllätys. Täytyy varmaan ottaa haltuun myös sarjan muut osat!

[Sarvenaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

همین الان تمومش کردم.
امیلی در نیومون سومین کتابی بود که از مونتگمری خوندم، داستان شیرینی داشت.
امیلی و خاله الیزابت و بحث های بینشون فوق العاده شیرین و جذاب و گاهی خنده دار بودن واسم.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although the main character is an eleven-year-old girl, this book is really written for the amusement of adults. It reminded me of Understood Betsy in this way. Children truly are so entertaining: their childish antics, innocent musings, a curiosity that would shame a cat, and their failed attempts at word usage, to name a few. Yes, any parent/adult who reads this will laugh out loud!

Although I found Emily somewhat annoying at first (she can be very "impertinent," talking back or bluntly speaking her mind to her elders; and this done both innocently or by provocation), she grew on me and I liked her a lot by the end. And she had a cast of very realistic and notable characters alongside her. Honorable mentions are Father Cassidy and Dean Priest - such funny, down-to-earth men. Don't forget witty Perry either, who has his heart set on marrying Emily.

Much of the book is humorous but there are certainly sad, sentimental, shocking and heart-warming moments as well. Maybe not "all the feels" but certainly close. A good solid book to turn to when you're wanting a book for you and not the children.

Ages: 13+

Content Considerations: nothing to note.

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[Shaghayegh · Rating 4 out of 5]

داستانای مونتگمری اینطورین که باید براشون صبر کنی، ذره ذره خود واقعیشونو نشون میدن!
چقدر فصلای آخرو دوست داشتم، بحثای خاله الیزابت و امیلی، پدر کسیدی، دین پریست، آقای کارپنتر، مهربونیای جیمی، همه و همه باعث می‌شدن بخوان از کوه بالا برم تا به قله برسم.
کتاب مثل هر کتاب کلاسیک دیگه‌ای توصیف زیاد داره، اما دوست داشتنی و ملیحه.

[kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Also read: ~2006/07]

After Emily Byrd Starr is orphaned, her Aunts Elizabeth and Laura take her to live with them at New Moon—and soon Emily finds herself quite at home at the proud farmstead. She founds the local underaged artist's guild, writes and writes and writes, and grows into her legacy.

1. For a book allegedly for children, this review is going to have a lot of swearing in it [trigger warning for fucking goddamned child predators]:

JESUS FUCKING CHRIST DEAN PRIEST IS A FUCKING PEDOPHILE AND IT'S FUCKING GROSS.

I quite honestly have made myself forget the majority of the latter Emily books because of the presence of Dean Fucking Priest—somehow, I had completely blocked out his introduction in this book. I wish I had remembered it because I would have at least been able to prepare myself for this EPIC BULLSHIT: "'Well, do you think me handsome?' he said, sitting down on another stone and smiling at her." (THIS IS LITERALLY HOW HE INTRODUCES HIMSELF TO EMILY; DON'T FUCKING ASK 12 YEAR OLD GIRLS IF THEY FIND YOUR 34-YEAR-OLD SELF ATTRACTIVE?!?!? THAT'S FUCKING GROSS??) AND ALSO: "Stars are prismatic—palpitating—elusive. it is not often we find one made flesh and blood. I think I'll wait for you." (The emphasis is MINE but I don't think I need to highlight how fucking CREEPY AND GROSS IT IS FOR A MAN WHO WENT TO SCHOOL WITH HER FATHER TO HELPFULLY DECIDE HE'S JUST GOING TO 'WAIT' FOR A CHILD—A LITERAL CHILD—I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WAS EVER OK?!?!) AND ALSO: "But I can read your thoughts, Star—it won't ever do to think anything you don't want me to know."(THAT'S FUCKING ABUSIVE AS SHIT!!!!!! AND HE SAYS IT TO A CHILD!!!!!!)

OH AND THIS FUCKING NONSENSE:

"What worries me about writing novels," confided Emily, "is the love talk in them. I'm sure I'll never be able to write it. I've tried," she concluded candidly, "and I can't think of anything to say."

"Don't worry about that. I'll teach you some day," said Dean.

"Will you—will you really?" Emily was very eager. I'll be so obliged if you will. I think I could manage everything else very nicely."

"It's a bargain then—don't forget it. And don't go looking for another teacher, mind. [...]"

I think the worst part (in Emily of New Moon, at least) is how Montgomery paints this as completely normal behavior and goes on to glorify Dean Fucking Priest as someone important to Emily and necessary to the woman she becomes. I mean, I fucking hope not? If he's truly a "guiding presence" in her life, that's because he FUCKING GROOMED HER and it's ABUSIVE AS FUCK and I'm honestly regretting my decision to reread this series because I know just how much worse it gets. But all those red flags are right there in that introductory "ramble" they take as he escorts Emily back to her Great-Aunt Nancy's house: he presents himself as a potential romantic object; he views her as a sexual being; he begins laying the groundwork for controlling how she thinks and acts and speaks; he intentionally lets her misunderstand what he says.

THERE IS NOTHING ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH THAT COULD CONVINCE ME THAT DEAN PRIEST ISN'T A FUCKING PREDATOR AND THE VERY PRESENCE OF HIS GROSS SHIT IN THIS TRILOGY DESTROYS IT FOR ME.

2. Which is a goddamned tragedy because Emily is such a complex, messy heroine. I love the ... acerbic nature of the narration in handling Emily: how she is both something unique and worthy of gilding, but also something dark and sly and petty. She is, of course, preternaturally gifted, and everyone comes to admire, or revere, or at least acknowledge her Specialness—but she suffers, too, and on a scale that grounds her in the world of us unskilled, unspecial masses.

(Here is where I say how much I was enjoying things until DEAN FUCKING PRIEST THE PEDOPHILE SHOWED UP AND DESTROYED FOREVER THE HAPPINESS OF A MOST BELOVED REREAD.)

3. This is half a complaint, half not, but: I love how developed Isle is, and her friendship with Emily, and how much less so Teddy and Perry are drawn. They're obviously important characters in Emily's life, but this book is so clearly about Emily and her friendships and vital connection to Isle that it just...made me feel feelings about girls and friendships and how often those are left shadowy and empty.

4. (Teddy's goddamned mother, tho. Just straight murdering animals that her son adores because Montgomery grew up in a fucking dark time.)

5. I am going to leave my original rating of 3 stars: everything that isn't Dean Fucking Priest gets 3.5+ stars; everything that is Dean Fucking Priest gets -5 stars and also flagged as a fucking pedophile.

Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

[Rachel Aranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart overflows with love for this book. I completely understand the love and admiration so many people have for the characters and author of this series!

I read “Jane of Lantern Hill” back in April and May of this year. I really enjoyed it and became determined to read more by Mrs. Montgomery. It was a little ridiculous how long it took me to choose between all the book options available. (Color me impressed that she wrote so many novels throughout her life.) Being in a reading funk didn’t help either... I heard somewhere that Emily is more biographical a character than her others, which made me want to read this series. Will definitely read a biography on her in the future.

This book was delightful! It completely got me out of the reading funk I was in. I'd read books that were really good but I was feeling like I just didn't want to read for some reason. The characters all come alive and are memorable in their own ways. What’s interesting is how Mrs. Montgomery showcased the faults and strengths that each character has. She gives you hope they’ll change their faults but realistic knowledge that they might not. I will forever be sad that these characters don’t exist AND that I will never meet them.

EVERYONE should read L.M. Montgomery sometime in their life. I’m reading her later in life (in my 20s) but I can see myself rereading this series throughout my life. Highly recommend for those wanting a nice middle grade read that has a mix of fun and sadness of situations that many people can relate to like death of a loved one, loss of friendship, finding a BFF, being the new kid, ect.

[زهرا نجاری · Rating 5 out of 5]

بار اول - فروردین ۱۴۰۱
بین نظرات خوندم که این کتاب رو میشه «زندگی بخش» توصیف کرد و کاملاااااا موافقم
میترسیدم بعد از‌خوندن کتابهای آنه شرلی دیگه این کتابی برام جذابیت نداشته باشه اما خوشحالم که شروعش کردم و فوق العاده لذت بردم
***
بار دوم - مهر ۱۴۰۳
پاییز اومده و دلم میخواست میون همه ی کتابهای جدی جدیدی که باید بخونم و رمان های جدیدی که یکی در میون مزخرف از کار درمیان، چیزی بخونم که روحم رو نوازش بده. در نتیجه باز امیلی رو دست گرفتم و با ورق زدن هر صفحه بیشتر زنده شدم.
پ.ن (خطر لو رفتن داستان):
کاش اولین باری که امیلی و جاربک همو ملاقات میکنن همچین اختلاف سنی فاحشی وجود نمی داشت تا می تونستم بیشتر لذت ببرم

[_PARNIAN_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

چقدر دلم برای امیلی عزیزم تنگ شده بود!
البته از آنه جلد دو و سه و از امیلی هم جلد دو و سه اش را دوست دارم. کودکی هایشان قشنگ است و همینطور بزرگسالی و زندگی زنانه‌شان. اما من نوجوانی می‌خواهم. می‌فهمید که؟
خلاصه که لذت بردم. مخصوصا آنجا که پدر کسیدی به امیلی گفت:" ادامه بده... ادامه بده..."
باید ادامه داد...

[Sevda.Abz · Rating 5 out of 5]

اگه بگن این کتاب رو تو یک جمله تعریف کن میگم: کتابی که توش زندگی جریان داره :)

[Someone Who Reads]

یه سه گانه از ال ام مونتگومری, نویسنده آن شرلی ای که عده زیادی شیفته ش هستن. منم آن شرلی رو دوست داشتما, نمیخوام متفاوت بازی دربیارم :) ولی امیلی رو بیشتر دوست داشتم. هیچوقت آن شرلی رو تموم نکردم چون یه جایگزین براش پیدا کرده بودم.
آن شرلی پرانرژی, اجتماعی و پر حرف بود. به وسیله همین چیزا اطرافیانش رو مجذوب خودش کرده بود.
ولی امیلی همون چیزاییه که آن شرلی نیست و من هستم. ساکت و مودیه, با دوستایی که مثل خودش مطرود و حتی منفورن و یواش یواش پیداشون کرده نمایش اجرا میکنن, میگن و میخندن و شیطنت میکنن ولی آخرش امیلی برمیگرده به نقطه امنش که خلوت و تنهایی خودشه. هیچوقت مثل آن شرلی یهو تخیلات و زاویه دید عجیب غریبشو به زبون نمیاره. همه ش رو پشت کاغذهای باطله مینویسه و برای خودش نگه میداره. متنفره از اینکه بهش بگن شبیه کیه و دوست داره فقط خودش شبیه خودش باشه. امیلی با همه کج خلقیا و دوست نداشتنی بودنش قهرمان ادبی بچگیای من بود و شاید هنوزم باشه.


https://taaghche.com/book/52175

[June G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before Maud's Betsy-Tacy series had its Emily, bless our souls, Lucy Maud had hers. And I say "bless our souls" in the most literal sense, because time spent with either Emily can feed an inner flame reduced to the faintest flicker by heartbreak, doubt and despair. But please--Emily Byrd Starr is no shrinking violet. Here we have a fierce, free-spirited young iconoclast who, even more than Anne with an "e", has a thing or two to teach any adult with enough sense (and imagination) to listen.

[Miriam Simut · Rating 4 out of 5]

I initially gave this 5 stars but I do feel it's more of a 4 star book for me personally. I think Anne just packs a bigger punch and I did lose some momentum with the plot in this one. I do love Emily as a character and see 12-year old me in so many aspects of Emily's character! I do think Dean is .... a creep. We'll see what I think of the rest of the trilogy.

[Sajede · Rating 4 out of 5]

خیلی قشنگ بود.
امیدوارم دنیای امیلی توی دو تا کتاب دیگه هم همینقدر ساده و قشنگ باشه.
نمی‌تونم صبر کنم تا جلد بعدی رو شروع کنم.
راوی: معصومه اوشلی ( امیدوارم درست نوشته باشم.)

پ‌ن: به شدت دوست مکاتبه‌ای می‌خوام.😶

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was little, my mom passed on to me and my sister all of her glorious, hard-back books from her childhood. Louisa May Alcott, Gay Melody (look it up), and, her favorites, The Anne books. She told us how her father, the quiet newspaper editor, took her to the library and insisted she had to read about Anne Shirley. Something about the book jacket made Mom sneer, but her dad insisted, so she read it. As we all know had to happen, Mom fell in love. And when her daughters were old enough, she insisted we had to read them. Her older daughter appreciated them, but her younger daughter (yours truly) was the true kindred spirit.

Mom told me she was just sure there had been more books, but her collection stopped at Anne of Ingleside. Then one day, Mom went to the grocery store, which meant I got to go to the bookstore in the same strip mall. There it was: Rainbow Valley. Then in a few more months, my personal favorite of the Anne books, Rilla of Ingleside. A publisher had decided to re-release the Anne books. But then came more.

I'd always loved Anne. I am a kindred spirit, after all. But she and I would never have been quite bosom friends. Emily Byrd Starr, though. Oh, Emily and I are cut from the same cloth. First reading Emily of New Moon when I was about the age Emily is in that book was like coming home.

I read Emily's Quest regularly, whenever I'm feeling particularly tempestuous. But it occurred to me this weekend I don't think I've actually read the entire series from the start for many, many years. Since I'm feeling rather dark and stormy, now seemed a good time. I think it was the right choice because while I will never be able to recapture the thrill of finding Emily for the first time, I will never be sorry to spend my time with her.

[Hani · Rating 4 out of 5]

چقدر کتاب شیرینی بود و واقعا باهاش همراه شدم،تمام لحظاتی که کتاب رو میخوندم تک تک تصاویر رو توی ذهنم تصور میکردم، پر از توصیفات زیبا بود و شاید اگه نوجوون بودم واین کتاب رو میخوندم حتی بیشتر ازش لذت می‌بردم. برم سریع تر جلد بعدی رو شروع کنم:))))

[Kavita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read something light and decided on the Emily series by L.M. Montgomery. I had recently read her Anne of Green Gables series for the first time ever and enjoyed it (at least the first few books). I had hoped this would be in the same vein. On the surface, both Anne and Emily seem to have similar lives. They are orphans, living with strict guardians who eventually develop a soft spot for them. But as heroines, they are so different!

Emily's father dies and she is then taken by the proud Murrays who see it as a duty to care for their estranged sister's child. They don't really want to take her in but draw lots to see who is to take up the dirty work. The burden falls to Aunt Elizabeth, who lives with her sister, Laura, and brother, Jimmy, at New Moon. So off to New Moon goes Emily. The story develops gradually as Emily develops a relationship with her guardians and neighbours and makes friends.

Emily is a writer and it is through this lens only that we see her. Her letters to her father take up quite a large portion of the book. This, while interesting and presenting more detail to the story, gives a rather unidimensional aspect to the narrative. The one angle I really enjoyed is the relationship between Emily and Aunt Elizabeth. Both being of different temperaments, they often don't get along but they learn to be fond of each other despite their own best efforts. I wish more time had been devoted to their relationship development.

There were aspects to this book I did not enjoy. Emily may be a more complex character than Anne, but she is less likeable. Anne is a happy child who is adjustable and can be rather stubborn at times. But Emily is too adult even when she is a child. There is some pretentiousness to her which I found unattractive. I didn't really warm to the main character as much as I expected. I also found most of her relationships uninteresting. The book lacks the subtle humour I have come to expect from Montgomery.

The one big let-down was Dean Priest. He was a friend of Emily's father and the two had been at school together. Emily meets him on a visit to a great-aunt and he rescues her from death. But he is an extremely creepy man who keeps throwing sexual innuendos at a 12-year old continuously. Emily, despite her precociousness, is too innocent to actually understand his nefarious intentions and makes firm friends with him. What shocks me is that her two aunts, apparently such sticklers for form and bent on protecting Emily from being spoilt, so much so that they deny her further education, do not see it fit to keep this Priest guy at arm's length. His conversations with Emily clearly show that he is grooming her! Hope he disappears in the future books.

Overall, Emily of New Moon is a mediocre read and not a great start to the series. I do hope it gets better.