I’ve
been on an Anne of Green Gables kick this year and I really enjoyed reading the
new novel, Marilla of Green Gables. I have loved the Anne of Green Gable series
since I started reading it when I was twelve.
I’ve read and also own every book written by L.M. Montgomery including
all of her short story collections. I am
a fan and had great expectations for this book.
Happily they were met. The book was written so that it seemed like it
was another addition to the Anne series. Marilla is a spirited young woman with
dreams, but her dreams come to a standstill at the tragic death of her mother. Will Marilla be able to find happiness and
purpose in her life?
Marilla
meets a new friend Rachel White at the start of the story and the two have
great adventures together. Rachel is
from a wealthy family. SPOILER
ALERT: I was shocked when Rachel ended
up being Rachel Lynde. Although it was
the same first name, I didn’t realize it would be her! SPOILER END.
Neither
Marilla nor Matthew had a happy love story in this novel. It is better to have loved and lost then to
never to have loved at all, or so it seems for both. I loved the chemistry between Marilla and
John Blythe and I was heartbroken when their love story did not work out – although
I knew it would end up that way from the Anne stories.
I
like how the book ended with Marilla longing for a child to love. It was the perfect set up for the beginning
of Anne of Green Gables.
The
only outlier to the story for me involved escaped slaves. While that part of the story had me on the
edge of my seat, L.M. Montgomery would
not have written about this story, especially as it involved the love between
an escaped slave and a white woman. Otherwise
the novel seemed just like a L.M. Montgomery novel to me. It was an interesting twist to the story and
I love how Marilla was “woke”’ on a trip into town with Rachel where she was
confronted with the realities of slavery.
This seemed like a twist for the modern reader.
The
author’s note was interesting. The acknowledgements
contained MANY of my favorite authors.
This got me thinking – do all my favorite authors hang out
together?
Overall,
I loved Marilla of Green Gables and I highly recommend it to all my fellow Anne
of Green Gables and L.M. Montgomery fans out there.
This book will be published on October 23rd!
Book
Source: Review Copy from William Morrow.
Thank-you!
Hmmm--when I started reading your post, I was convinced I wouldn't like this book, but kept reading anyway. Now I'm on the fence--I like that this is grounded in LMM canon (she did mention that Marilla and John Blythe were an item once upon a time). I guess it all comes down to the writing.
ReplyDeleteGood review!
I have never read Anne of Green Gables nor this, off to have a wee look, thank you xxx
ReplyDeleteLainy http://www.alwaysreading.net
Lovely and thoughtful review, Laura. I'm glad you enjoyed this book so much.
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely grounded in LMM canon. In her author's note in the end, she discusses being a super fan and reviewing it all before she wrote this novel. You can really tell as you are reading it as it fits in so well with the other novels. I highly recommend it if you are a fan of LM Montgomery.
ReplyDelete