Title:
Anne of the Island
Author:
L.M. Montgomery
Read
by: Alan Munro
Publisher:
Trout Lake Media
Length:
Approximately 8 hours and 57 minutes
Source:
Purchased from Audible
Anne
is finally off to college at Redmond. Together
with Gilbert and Charlie Sloane, they represent Avonlea as they work towards
their Bachelor of Arts degree. This book
covers the four years of college for Anne and her trials and triumphs. She also visits home in Avonlea and we get to
hear about our other favorite characters from past books.
I
thought it interesting that at their second year in college, Anne and friends
rent a very nice house together and one of the girl’s aunts comes to be a
housekeeper for them. I thought –
wouldn’t it have been great to have a housekeeper while I was in college? I guess back in those days before vacuum
sweepers, washers, dryers, and other modern conveniences, one would need help
to get the chores done.
It’s
fun listening to this novel in a different time period. I was horrified by the scene where Anne and
friends try to euthanize a stray cat that befriends Anne as they don’t think it
will get along with Aunt Jimsie when she comes with her cats to housekeep and
be a chaperone. I was so disturbed
listening to this section, I could hardly take it. But it was common practice at the time. Let’s just say, it all turns out okay.
I
liked that in this novel, Anne learns more about her parents and their
story. Getting to see their home and
letters was poignant and bitter sweet. I
wish L.M. Montgomery had written their story as well. It’s tragic how so many died young back in
the old days. Ruby Gillis has such a
fate in this novel with tuberculous.
This
novel was the turning point in the Anne and Gilbert Blythe romance. I felt so sorry for Gilbert when he proposed
and Anne turned him down saying she couldn’t think of him like that. As her friend Phil said basically – Anne
Shirley, you are making a big mistake.
What I love about Gilbert and the romance between him and Anne is that
he truly respects her as an intellectual equal and they also share a sense of
humor. It’s a great romance for what you
would really like to see in a marriage, and this book is a great look into what
people think they want (dark, brooding, romantic heroes) and who the true
heroes are. I loved it. In this book, it’s Anne’s journey from
thinking she wants the storybook hero to recognizing the true hero and what is
important in a life partner.
What
I love the most about L.M. Montgomery’s books are her great characters. They are charming and cantankerous, loveable
or despicable, they are all unique and often fit the mold of someone that you
know. I love as Anne meets new people and
we get to learn their unique stories – tragic or humorous.
I
listened to Anne of the Island on audiobook. I was not a fan of Alan Munro’s
narration. It was very dry. I usually listen to audiobooks while I am
driving and I had to turn this one off and listen to it instead while doing
chores around the house as I was afraid I’d fall asleep while driving. He was very monotone. I thought he was a
strange pick for a narrator about a lively young woman. Anne has such a sparkling personality. It would have been a better pick to have a
female narrator that was a voice actor that could put feeling behind the
narration. I was especially annoyed that
Munro did not pronounce Avonlea correctly, and at one point gave Gilbert a
western accent. It made me throw my headphones off in anger more than once!
Favorite Quotes:
"I don't want sunbursts or marble halls, I just want you.”
“I've loved you ever since that day you broke your slate over my head in school.”
“I wouldn't want to marry anybody who was wicked, but I think I'd like it if he could be wicked and wouldn't.”
“I love them, they are so nice and selfish. Dogs are TOO good and unselfish. They make me feel uncomfortable. But cats are gloriously human.”
“When you've learned to laugh at the things that should be laughed at, and not to laugh at those that shouldn't, you've got wisdom and understanding.”
Thank you for your honest and thoughtful review of this audio book, Laura. I do wonder why a female narrator was not chosen.
ReplyDeleteOne of my absolute favorites in the Anne series--I love Patty's Place and life at Redmond college and how Anne grows and changes and stays the same all at the same time.
ReplyDeleteThe male narration for this book sounds so off.
Jane - you've captured this book perfectly. I loved it!
ReplyDeleteThe narration was completely off for this book. I'm listening to Anne of Windy Poplars right now and the narration is great!