Want to know a beautiful story based on the 19th century? Read this.
Hello, dear booklovers! I hope you are all safe and sound in your homes (and of course, enjoying lots of books, hehe).
To continue with one of my resolutions for this year and taking advantage that we must remain at home, in these days I finished reading Anne of Avonlea, the second book of the saga Anne of Green Gables (if you want to read the review of the first book of this saga, click here).
This time our main character has grown up, she is 16 years old and has already graduated as a teacher from the Queen's Academy. Now, her best plan is to continue her studies at the university. However, due to some situations that occur with her family, Anne decides to stay in Avonlea and starts working as a teacher in the village school.
The book accompanies Anne Shirley Cuthbert from age 16 to 18 as she dedicates herself to her new job as an educator, as well as the joys and misfortunes she experiences. She always seeks to be a role model for her students, rejects any form of corporal punishment (which was not at all well regarded at the time, as beatings were then considered the quickest and most effective way of correcting behavior) and tries to lead them along the path of good. Despite the fact that this time we see a much more mature Anne and that now her agenda is much busier, she always looks for spaces in her life to give rein to her imagination. Source of image
I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.
I particularly enjoyed the way in which Anne's relationship with Gilbert Blythe evolved, since in the first book they hardly spoke to each other and Anne couldn't stand it, while in this one a beautiful friendship is being consolidated between them (which will probably emerge in future books as more than just a friendship hehe, but let's not be too hasty). I was fascinated by the way the narrator describes the admiration Gilbert feels for Anne every time they are together. Source of image
Other new characters are Davy and Dora Keith, two twins who come to Green Gables due to adverse circumstances they have experienced. Almost from the moment they arrive, Anne establishes a close and loving relationship with them, especially with Davy, who seems to have a natural gift for getting into trouble. Source of image
That is one good thing about this world...there are always sure to be more springs.
On the other hand, we also have Paul Irving, an 8 year old boy who is a student in the little school of Avonlea, and reminds Anne of herself when she was his age because she also has a great capacity for imagination. He is an extremely intelligent and observant child.
Last but not least, in this book we will also have the privilege of meeting Miss Lavendar, a 45-year-old single woman who, in spite of her age, still has a young soul, and I was undoubtedly delighted to see her way of contemplating life and her imaginative capacity that also attracts Anne. Source of image
If a kiss could be seen I think it would look like a violet.
I must say that I liked this book much more than the first one, because I think it gives us the opportunity to know Anne much more thoroughly and enjoy her day-to-day life with more dedication, unlike the first book where I have the impression that everything moves very fast and does not give you a chance to identify and feel close to the character (as I said in my review of the previous book, I thought that the TV series managed to capture much better the explosive character of Anne in her early stages in Green Gables). For me the characters are the main detail of the books, and many times they define whether I like the book or not. Personally, in order to enjoy and get involved with the story, I need to feel identified or involved with the characters as well, and that's what happened with this book.
Apart from that, I loved the way in which Montgomery describes the process of growth and maturity of our protagonist, going from having a girl full of ideas and imagination but without any capacity to manage them according to the moment and the situation, to having an Anne in the peak of her adolescence, with a profession and more responsibilities, but who still keeps certain sparks of her childhood.
One can't get over the habit of being a little girl all at once.
It truly is a very easy and quick book to read, and it keeps you stuck throughout the story, because things are constantly happening that prevent you from leaving it, hehe. Which in my opinion, is perfect for these quarantine days!
