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junimomo's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Racism
timmytunter's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Fatphobia and Racism
freemakd's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Death
Minor: Racism
emilytalitha's review against another edition
- 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
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 💚
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Racism, Sexism, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
sararo23's review against another edition
- 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
Minor: Racism
sarasreading's review against another edition
- 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
(Taking points off the rating for one part with some casual racism. Otherwise it would have been a 5 star read.)
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Racism
beccaand's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Death, and Sexism
Minor: Child abuse, Racism, and Xenophobia
eicart_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Moderate: Death
Minor: Alcoholism, Racism, Xenophobia, and Death of parent
bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
Moderate: Racism and Sexism
trs01's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Fatphobia