Anne of the Island
by Lucy Maud Montgomery
326 pages
First Published in 1915

Anne of the Island is book three in an extraordinary series of stories of the charming and precocious Anne Shirley. In this tome, Anne leaves the house of green gables and Marilla behind and heads off to Richmond College.  She lives with her friends in Patty’s Place and they enjoy, as it is impossible they wouldn’t many adventures and scrapes of all sorts and sizes. All around her her friends are getting married, engaged and having children, which leaves her to wonder what life has in store for her.  Anne is growing up, and maturing, but her impulsiveness still shines right through the tips of her reddish hair. Or is it auburn now? She is still playing at love with others, while Gilbert Blythe is hopelessly trying to forget his little friend Anne from Green Gables.

There is so much to tell about this little spunky heroine, but I wish to not unveil any more. I like to read my novels clueless and I guess I assume you do too. I loved this Anne of the Island just as much as its two predecessors, it is never dull or dry– you can thank Anne for that, as she seems to be the cure to any dry moments in anyone’s life. She keeps winning me over page by page, however I will say that I get pretty annoyed with her for not falling hard after Gilbert, but flitting and flirting while breaking his heart.  Anne is many things, but she is not quick to forgive him, she is an expert at  holding on to her little grudges and grievances.

I was also entranced by the dream world she lives in, the things she wants to do, wants to accomplish and because of them many times she is willing to forsake herself in order to reach her dreams. It is a good eye opener, that no matter how lofty your dreams, or how close they are to completion– staying true to yourself is a much bigger aspiration.

Have you fallen in love with Anne Shirley yet?? Goodness, what are you waiting for!?

Dreadlock Girl Reviews Anne of Green Gables series:
Anne of Green Gables
Anne of Avonlea
Anne of the Island

Spoilers from here on down:

The ending of this book is one of the most romantic scenes ever. This paired with Anne of Green Gables on film, which does not fail to match the romantic appeal of Anne and Gilbert coming together at long last. I felt like my teeth were going to fall out, and gray hair would pop out before these two sweeties would ever figure out they were meant to be. It is a dream. Oh, and you have to watch Anne of Green Gables, and then The Continuing Story to see the beauty of this classic book moment made into a classic film moment. It is perfection.

Yeah, let this clip refresh your memory, romance….here we come!!!

9 Responses to “Anne of the Island”

1. lilly says:

   May 21, 2009 at 05:08

   I absolutely love Anne, she is and always was my favorite character and I hope I can get my daughter to fall in love with this series as well.

   Reply
2. Shona says:

   May 21, 2009 at 06:58

   Anne of Green Gables has been my absolute favorite series.The Hallmark series just gave the colours to the characters i had sketched in my mind after reading them..So Bethany thanks for reminding me ..

   Reply
3. Molly says:

   May 21, 2009 at 08:27

   I just found a copy of Anne of Green Gables to read over the summer. I only read the first book in the series as a young girl, but it was one of my all-time favorites. I hope to read the entire series as an adult (sometime soon)

   Reply
4. bethany (dreadlock girl) says:

   May 21, 2009 at 08:41

   lilly- I am wondering if my boys would mind reading it

   Shona- It is SO good, I just wish I had found them sooner! The movies are great. Megan Follows is so good.

   Molly- Oh, you need to keep on going with the series for sure. I think they get better and better. (I have only read through book five Anne’s House of Dreams though). I watched all the movies.

   Reply
5. Michele says:

   May 21, 2009 at 11:45

   Lovely review….really! I’d like to read this series at some point this year. I’ve collected them for my daughter (optimistic she will turn into a reader like mom), but I’d love to read them first to be able to talk to her about them.

   Reply
6. Veens says:

   May 21, 2009 at 23:13

   Hi Bethany, how are you? ope all’s well with you i am fine too

   Google guys deleted my blog :’(

   now i have lost all my reviews too ; luckily i have a few on LT.

   You have a very beautiful and cool new blog… i love it!~!!!!

   And i love the sound of this book already… i have tons of books to read
   i m hoping to start a new blog “hoping” let’s see! but i have you on my reader… so i will drop by more often!

   Take good care!
   Veens [ Giving Reading a Chance ]

   Reply
7. violet says:

   May 22, 2009 at 02:08

   I bought the second book immediately after reading the first but I have not been able to get to it yet. May be I should, I can get on track to reading the entire series. Glad you liked this one Bethany.

   Reply
8. Trish says:

   May 23, 2009 at 06:16

   I don’t know what I’m waiting for!! I really need to give these books a second chance. Don’t they make you want to go up to Prince Edward Island? I’d love to go someday.

   Reply
9. Trish says:

   May 23, 2009 at 06:16

   Ok, so it let me subscribe to the follow up comments on this post, but not the aquarium. Am I just dense??

   Reply