Reviews

Akin to Anne: Tales of Other Orphans, by L.M. Montgomery, Rea Wilmshurst

emme_faith's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

lilacs_book_bower's review

funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Actually a re-read of one of LMM's short story collections.  The collections are comfort reads for me.  This collection focuses on individuals finding a family/home/sense of belonging, whether it is long lost family or adoptive families, a home, a purpose.  

venusenvy's review

Short stories!  Will read another time!

bethchrissink's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

pixieauthoress's review against another edition

4.0

When reading this collection of stories it is important to remember that they were never intended to be read together. They were all written for publication in magazines and newspapers, often months or years apart. Although I enjoyed reading 'Akin to Anne', I have to admit that perhaps grouping them together by theme might not have been the best idea. Reading the same plot over and over again can be tiresome, so I'm quite glad that I read a different story or two each day for a fortnight. There were some stories that, while being mildly enjoyable, I've probably already forgotten, and others that I thoroughly enjoyed and found very sweet. Below is a list of the stories included in this collection, arranged depending on how much I liked them. I do recommend this book to fans of L. M. Montgomery as each story features her lovely and memorable style of writing. But I'd suggest not to read more than two stories at a time as this can really spoil them. 7/10

Loved:
Charlotte's Quest
The Running Away of Charles
Penelope's Party Waist
Charlotte's Ladies

Enjoyed:
Freda's Adopted Grave
The Girl Who Drove the Cows
Jane Lavinia
Millicent's Double
The Little Black Doll
Her Own People

Average:
Marcella's Reward
An Invitation Given On Impulse
Ted's Afternoon Off
Why Not Ask Miss Price?
The Fraser Scholarship
The Story of an Invitation
The Softening of Miss Cynthia
Margaret's Patient

samiwise's review against another edition

2.0

I liked most of these stories, but I felt that having them all together made their similarities obvious to the point of seeming predictable. I think they would be more enjoyable mixed in with other short story types.

libmiko's review against another edition

3.0

I read this in high school at the Piqua Library, and I hadn't seen a copy anywhere since. I finally ordered it from a used book site. The "Oh, you're the daughter of my half-sibling I lost touch with!" formula gets a little old, but I love the story "Charlotte's Ladies."

heatherliz's review against another edition

3.0

It was cute but after a while it got very repetitive. Here’s the formula:
X has no family. *insert some strange happenstance* X meets Y who gives a little start upon seeing X. Y latter takes X aside and asks about X’s parents. X and Y learn they’re somehow related and X lives with Y happily ever after.

katherineep's review against another edition

5.0

A collection of sweet old fashioned stories involving people finding long lost families or at least a place to belong.

katekat's review against another edition

4.0

L.M. Montgomery is a long time and all time favorite author of mine. She writes the perfect girls story with just the right mix of adventure, drama and happiness. I find her books a comfort to read and have re-read most of her works many times over the years. They are classics for a reason and that reason is they are great. These are true comfort books for me and books I enjoy re-reading again and again.