Monday, February 24, 2014

Chronicles of Avonlea & Further Chronicles of Avonlea

Anne of Green Gables (and all that came after) was one of my favorite books as a girl. How was it I had never read L.M. Montgomery's Chronicles of Avonlea or Further Chronicles of Avonlea? Determined to rectify this omission, I read both recently. Montgomery's stories are, it must be said, a bit formulaic, with an innocence and a naivete that seems contrived, if not impossible. Widows, orphans, and old maids feature prominently; generally, love comes to all, often late in life, and virtually all stories end happily ever after. There is a sweetness to some, a sappiness to others, but it must be said that, generally, the people and places run to sameness. Montgomery's star is the setting, her beloved Prince Edward Island, whose twilights glimmer, waters dance, and beauty imbues each tale Montgomery spins. As I haven't much to add regarding the Chronicles and Further Chronicles of Avonlea, I can at least share a few pictures (starting with the Green Gables house) of the island that shaped all of Montgomery's writings. It really is a lovely place.






No comments:

Post a Comment