Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

29 reviews

julesadventurezone's review against another edition

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funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

People say autism is a modern phenomenon as if Anne Shirley wasn't autistic in 1908. Love her.

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junimomo's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


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timmytunter's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables is a highly whimsical, wholesome, and enjoyable read. The story is set in the idyllic and salubrious setting of Prince Edward Island, Canada, which perfectly complements the spirited nature of its eponymous protagonist. 

Anne Shirley is an exceptionally compelling character. Her vivacity, vim, and ceaseless prolixity make her an endlessly charming protagonist, and indeed, are no doubt the reason she is such a beloved literary character. From her very first introduction, Anne's boundless imagination and spirited personality captured my heart. 

A highlight of my read of the book was witnessing Anne's growth and maturation into a (slightly) more well-rounded individual. Throughout the novel, we see Anne navigate various trials and tribulations, gradually learning to temper her impulsive nature with a deeper sense of empathy. 

Equally enchanting is the development of Anne's relationships with her adoptive parents, Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. Matthew's quiet, unconditional support and Marilla's initially stern but ultimately loving guidance provide a heartwarming backdrop to Anne's journey. Their evolving dynamics speak to the power of love and family (biological or adoptive).

Slightly hampered by some excessive melodrama, and unrealistic in its quixotism, the novel’s overall charm nonetheless earns it a solid 4 out of 5 stars. 

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freemakd's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25


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emilytalitha's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I’m not sure what I can say about this book that hasn’t been said at one time or other over the many years. It’s a classic for a reason. 

But as someone who likes very few classics, there really is something special about this one. Lucy Maud Montgomery created a wonderfully eccentric and fascinating cast of characters in the Avonlea gang, with an extremely compelling, relatable, and unique protagonist in Anne. 

For the time this book was written, especially, Anne is such a wonderfully complex and rich character. She was so ahead of her time in so many ways– definitely neurodivergent coded, undoubtedly a sufferer of maladaptive daydreaming, no doubt a direct result of her trauma, and a girl who wasn’t afraid to question things that everyone else blindly accepts even when it seems a little radical. For when this book was written, that’s INCREDIBLE, and it’s a real testament to the author that she was able to write a character so realistically and make her so relatable even in a time where a lot of the language we’d use to describe her now didn’t exist. 

I love the philosophies Anne comes up with throughout the book, and I love her perspective on religion and how personal and emotional it is compared to how rigid, formal, and unfeeling the other characters’ are. I love how she thinks so deeply about everything, a true overthinker just like all of us in 2024. She’s just so unique in everything and yet so relatable. This was a favorite book (& the movie too) of mine as a child and rereading it now I can really see how formative Anne was to my personality. So much of what I grew up to be is just her, and I’m grateful for her influence. 

This book also contains one of the most scrumptious and satisfying slow burn enemies to rivals to lovers arcs of all time. Well, I say this book, but it’s SO slow burn that you don’t even get into the lovers part until the sequels, but so many hints of it are already there even in this book. Seriously, Anne and Gilbert are the BLUEPRINT. I’m obsessed with them, truly. If you’re an enemies to lovers girlie and wanting to get into classics but don’t know where to start, start here. They will change your life. 

There are certain aspects of this book that didn’t age well. Very brief moments of casual racism & fatphobia that I found very uncomfortable to read, as well as bits about the politics and culture of the time period that are a little confusing if you’re not a historian. Both of these things are very minor and hardly mentioned in the book but they are present, so it’s good to be aware going in. I think with classics it’s so important to love them for what they are but also to acknowledge their flaws. 

This book is such a classic, though, and I’ve had such a fun time revisiting it. It always feels like coming home when returning to Avonlea 💚

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sararo23's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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sarasreading's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I haven't read this book since I was a preteen, and I still love it. Reading as an adult I can immediately see all the ways Anne is 100% a kid with ADHD, and I related much more to Marilla in being somewhat overwhelmed by the abundance of Anne's personality. The emotional parts made me so much more emotional as an adult, and I absolutely sobbed at the big sad thing. 

(Taking points off the rating for one part with some casual racism. Otherwise it would have been a 5 star read.)

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beccaand's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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eicart_reads's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0


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bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

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I just can’t with this book 😳 it’s so painfully dull and slow that I can’t get into it. Anne never shuts up and just talks incessantly about the most mundane things! I don’t mind character driven books but if there’s no plot and it’s just flowery descriptions and endless chatter I have zero interest. I love classics and maybe I would’ve enjoyed it more as a child or teen but  as an adult I don’t have the patience for this 

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