Anne of the Island

Good storytelling is good storytelling whether complex or simple; Heidi or War and Peace. Montgomery's style is crisp, simple and enjoyable. Her stories were not in the style of War and Peace but on the hand, I don't think Leo Tolstoy could have written anything like Anne of Green Gables. In any case, Lucy Maud Montgomery is near the top of my favorite writers especially when I need something to enjoy without effort. I think I have read all of her dozens of books and many of her scores of short stories.

Anne is all grown up and off to the big college of Redmond. Montgomery seems to put into her stories the tales which have an oral tradition of the Maritime Provinces. I have no doubt that this is the source of many of Anne Shirley's adventures. There is a ring of truth to them. They actually happened to someone at some time. My favorites include the two old woman of Patty's Place; oh, yes and the cats! I know they were real. No one could make them up. To Anne's eternal vexation, the all grown up young lady received some of the best "worst" proposals of marriage ever. They stand alongside Mr. Collins' proposal to Elizabeth Bennet and even Mr. Darcy's first proposal to the same lady as awesomely horrible. I think Montgomery reports actual proposals. Oh, yes, she refused them all, including the rather nice expected (by the reader)one from Gilbert.

The death of Ruby Gillis, the beautiful social butterfly is one of Montgomery's best scenes. In addition, that moment when Anne thought Gilbert was dying and she has a flash of insight into her own heart is quite moving. One last thing, "playing gooseberry" or "going gooseberry" means to chaperon. I got that straight from the P.E.I. public relations department and the LM Montgomery Institute.

That would give away an important part of the story.

She has a kind voice, reads with a great deal of feeling, and does a good job doing different voices.

Anne of the Island is a great example of how a girl can be strong-minded and goal-oriented, but still feminine.

Anne, of course! ;) But I think all of the girls at Patty's Place are great supporting characters. I particularly enjoy Philippa. She's a riot with her awareness of her own beauty and yet she's as humble as can be because she realizes beauty isn't everything.

Barbara Caruso brings the characters to life and gives them their own little

I always laugh and let out a whoop when she and Gilbert FINALLY get engaged! :)

If you love the Anne books, I really don't know how you can be disappointed with Barbara Caruso's reading of them. Other versions I've listened to have either lacked enthusiasm or made Anne sound air-headed and screechy. Caruso captures the essence of Anne's imagination as well as her kind heart. I will be listening to this audiobook over and over!

Middle of the pack. Not really special.

I have only listened to the Anne books so far. And like most Authors or stories, the original is the best. Than the next book. Than the next. So this not the best one. BUT if you like Anne, than you will still enjoy terribly this one too.

Anne. She was always portrayed well.

Marrilas adopted twin son. He was very funny and LM Mont captured his childlike nature well.