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A review by novella42
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
This story was important to me as a child and now returning to it as an adult I can see why. Anne obviously has as much or more PTSD from trauma as I had as a kid, and turned to daydreaming to cope—dissociating—the way I always have. As an adult I empathize just as much with Marilla and Matthew (who must have had social anxiety) and have found new dimensions in their characters. L.M. Montgomery definitely has a nuanced grasp of compassion, grief, and the human spirit. I enjoyed the amusing way she uses dialogue to have characters "tell on themselves."
As a writer I was impressed with the way she crafted unique voices for many of the people. (I do think Matthew could've used fewer "well, now..." moments, but it was still part of his charm.) I also was impressed by her ability to convey information through dialogue without it always being an "info dump" — Anne is certainly the "exposition fairy" of this story, but it's well earned in her character, and Montgomery gets quite deft with it at times, especially by the end of the story.
As a writer I was impressed with the way she crafted unique voices for many of the people. (I do think Matthew could've used fewer "well, now..." moments, but it was still part of his charm.) I also was impressed by her ability to convey information through dialogue without it always being an "info dump" — Anne is certainly the "exposition fairy" of this story, but it's well earned in her character, and Montgomery gets quite deft with it at times, especially by the end of the story.