L.M. Montgomery discussion

Is there anybody here who has read the Emily books that would like to discuss them?

I have! I think I’m an unusual Montgomery fan in that her Anne series is actually kind of far down my list of favorites. What were your thoughts on the Emily books?

I really enjoyed the books, as always I love L.M. Montgomery's descriptions of nature and the imagination of her main character, but I didn't like the ending so much. I'll copy what I wrote from another Emily of New Moon discussion page.

I should have felt happy for Emily and yet I just felt bad for Dean. He was such a sad fellow. Teddy's character didn't seem as developed as Dean's and maybe I wouldn't have felt this way if it was. I would have liked Dean to have found happiness in some way also. On the other hand, maybe it would be boring if every character had a happy ending. Perhaps knowing lonely Dean is still wandering out out there under the stars makes it more interesting. When it comes to Ilse, I liked her in the beginning but as the book went on I found myself not enjoying her character as much, she became almost annoying to me.

Interesting! I found Dean’s actions regarding Seller of Dreams too self-serving to believe he really loved Emily and wanted the best for her, therefore I didn’t feel terribly sorry for him. I agree that Teddy’s character was a bit flat at times, however. And I felt some acknowledgment that Ilse was probably correct in her assessment of him as a bit of a flirt would have shared the burden of mistakes more evenly between them, rather than have it just be Emily’s fault for making him think she didn’t care.

Aren wrote: "Interesting! I found Dean’s actions regarding Seller of Dreams too self-serving to believe he really loved Emily and wanted the best for her, therefore I didn’t feel terribly sorry for him."

It was self serving I agree. Dean didn't know she'd burn the book however. What was her reason for agreeing to marry Dean though? I didn't necessarily want to see Dean with Emily, but I wanted him to find happiness somehow, maybe with somebody else.

True points, those! Emily wasn’t blameless either. Most of Montgomery’s characters do end up happy with someone else even if they’ve been jilted, don’t they? I wouldn’t have minded seeing him happy with someone else, he wasn’t all bad. And I agree with your earlier statement that Ilse as an adult was more annoying than charming like she was as a child. I felt like the characters in the Emily books were all just a touch darker than in most of her other works.

They do seem darker for some reason. The Anne books seem to have been written in a more light hearted manner. I am now reading Jane of Lantern Hill. Have you read that book?

I have! It’s been a while, so I don’t remember it in great detail, it wasn’t one that was especially memorable to me even though I did like it.