Arianne, to comment on the question you asked in our last discussion--I do find it odd that Anne stopped writing after having a family. I actually misremembered these books and was sure she had kept on writing after her marriage--is that another Montgomery character? Maybe it's Betsy-Tacy.
Anyway, I didn't love this one--all the kids are adorable, but between Gilbert's aunt and Anne's sudden insecurity, things get a little less fun. Also, you'd think she'd be more secure in her marriage considering how many kids they were popping out!
We don't see Emily after her marriage, but I think we're supposed to assume she keeps writing.
Yeah, with all those kids, I think it's safe to say they were regularly having sex : )
I do think there's a reason that the next two books begin to focus exclusively on the children. I don't think L.M. Montgomery knew what to do with Anne as a character anymore. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that she does kind of give up some of her dreams. Sure Anne is happy being a wife and mother, but...
I love though how in all these books she brings back all sorts of characters and families. When you think about it, it's a rather elaborate world that Montgomery creates. It sometimes makes me think she had lots of "back stories" for secondary characters that we never even see.
You know, I wonder if Montgomery didn't know what to do w/ Anne b/c Anne had such a happy and idealized life--when Montgomery definitely didn't. Maybe it's easier to imagine kids and their adventures. It's probably more fun to write, too.
I think they do allude to Anne still writing those little "character sketches" when she has time. They make it sound like she doesn't have much time, though.
Emily's marriage seemed so based on creativity - her whole relationship with Teddy, in fact.
Anne's relationship with Gilbert seemed to be more about Anne forming her own whole family and showering her own children with all of the love she missed out on in her deprived childhood.
Oh! And it seems, lots of babymaking hot sex. haha!
Christinamerge, I think that's a good point about why family would be really important to Anne, considering how she was an orphan.
One of my favorite parts of the book is when Jem decides to buy Anne that "pearl" necklace and how bad he feels when he finds out it's not real. What are some of your favorite incidents involving the children in this book?
Side note: Alicia, I think I'll want a break for a few months from doing these little online reading groups (after we finish the Anne books), but sometime in the future we should do the Emily books.
My favorite parts of these books are the mentions of the Avonlea people - Davy & Dora and Marilla and Mrs. Lynde and Diana's family. They are small and not frequent, but they are always so interesting.
I mix up the children stories between this one and Rainbow Valley so much, I'm not sure which stories came from which books.
Alicia and I were talking about how Walter is our favorite. I think I would have had such a massive crush on him as a little girl. I liked when they sent him to that house so Anne could have Rilla and he walked all the way home.
Walter is pretty sweet. I love that all of her children inherit a little bit of her imagination and her love of nature.
I was thinking today about the portrayal of little girls' friendships in these books and how passionate they always are. It still seems realistic to me today. I remember vowing to be BFF with different girls over the years and how serious it all seemed. I'll even admit buying one of those silly heart necklaces one time (the ones that were split in two parts---your friend would wear one and you'd wear the other). And upset you would feel when you were rejected. Montgomery just really captures it.
Arianne, to comment on the question you asked in our last discussion--I do find it odd that Anne stopped writing after having a family. I actually misremembered these books and was sure she had kept on writing after her marriage--is that another Montgomery character? Maybe it's Betsy-Tacy.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I didn't love this one--all the kids are adorable, but between Gilbert's aunt and Anne's sudden insecurity, things get a little less fun. Also, you'd think she'd be more secure in her marriage considering how many kids they were popping out!
We don't see Emily after her marriage, but I think we're supposed to assume she keeps writing.
ReplyDeleteYeah, with all those kids, I think it's safe to say they were regularly having sex : )
I do think there's a reason that the next two books begin to focus exclusively on the children. I don't think L.M. Montgomery knew what to do with Anne as a character anymore. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that she does kind of give up some of her dreams. Sure Anne is happy being a wife and mother, but...
I love though how in all these books she brings back all sorts of characters and families. When you think about it, it's a rather elaborate world that Montgomery creates. It sometimes makes me think she had lots of "back stories" for secondary characters that we never even see.
You know, I wonder if Montgomery didn't know what to do w/ Anne b/c Anne had such a happy and idealized life--when Montgomery definitely didn't. Maybe it's easier to imagine kids and their adventures. It's probably more fun to write, too.
ReplyDeleteI think they do allude to Anne still writing those little "character sketches" when she has time. They make it sound like she doesn't have much time, though.
ReplyDeleteEmily's marriage seemed so based on creativity - her whole relationship with Teddy, in fact.
Anne's relationship with Gilbert seemed to be more about Anne forming her own whole family and showering her own children with all of the love she missed out on in her deprived childhood.
Oh! And it seems, lots of babymaking hot sex. haha!
Christinamerge, I think that's a good point about why family would be really important to Anne, considering how she was an orphan.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite parts of the book is when Jem decides to buy Anne that "pearl" necklace and how bad he feels when he finds out it's not real. What are some of your favorite incidents involving the children in this book?
Side note: Alicia, I think I'll want a break for a few months from doing these little online reading groups (after we finish the Anne books), but sometime in the future we should do the Emily books.
My favorite parts of these books are the mentions of the Avonlea people - Davy & Dora and Marilla and Mrs. Lynde and Diana's family. They are small and not frequent, but they are always so interesting.
ReplyDeleteI mix up the children stories between this one and Rainbow Valley so much, I'm not sure which stories came from which books.
Alicia and I were talking about how Walter is our favorite. I think I would have had such a massive crush on him as a little girl. I liked when they sent him to that house so Anne could have Rilla and he walked all the way home.
Walter is pretty sweet. I love that all of her children inherit a little bit of her imagination and her love of nature.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking today about the portrayal of little girls' friendships in these books and how passionate they always are. It still seems realistic to me today. I remember vowing to be BFF with different girls over the years and how serious it all seemed. I'll even admit buying one of those silly heart necklaces one time (the ones that were split in two parts---your friend would wear one and you'd wear the other). And upset you would feel when you were rejected. Montgomery just really captures it.