Anne of the Island (Anne of Green Gables #3)

Synopsis

New adventures lie ahead as Anne Shirley packs her bags, waves good-bye to childhood, and heads for Redmond College. With her old friend Prissy Grant waiting in the bustling Kingsport and her frivolous new friend Philippa gordon at her side, Anne tucks her memories of rural Avonlea and discovers life on her own terms, filled with surprises . . . including a marriage proposal from the worst fellow imaginable, the sale of her first story, and a tragedy that teaches her a painful lesson. but tears turn to laughter when Anne and her friends move in to an old cottage and an ornery cat steals her heart. Little does Anne know that handsome Gilbert Blythe wants to win her heart, too. Suddenly Anne must decide whether she's ready for love.

Loved

• I just have to say that besides the original Anne of Green Gables, this book is definitely my favorite of the series. I had forgotten how much I loved it, and I think I loved it so much more as an adult than as a child or pre-teen.

• Gilbert! FINALLY. Gilbert Blythe was my first love. I've loved him ever since I first read this as a nine-year-old, and my love for him grew even more as a teenager. I'm not exaggerating- from about age 12-16 I would watch the Anne of Avonlea movie every week- I literally mean every week, and I would skip all the parts where Gilbert wasn't present or discussed. Reading the books again I've been a little disappointed with how little Gil appears, but in Anne of the Island he's finally really part of the story. When he proposes to her and she refuses (which only happens once, not three times as in the movie), I just die inside- it's so painful! I love Gil because he is handsome, smart, and charming, but most of all because he loves Anne despite her seven freckles, her temper, her pride, and her contempt for him. 

• Their love story. "I don't want diamond sunbursts or marble halls, I just want you." You better believe I used to/still do watch that scene on the bridge at the end of Anne of Avonlea over and over and over (literally rewinding it and playing it again about five times over). So reading this scene for the first time in years was so happy and I've listened to it multiple times in the past week to relive it :) It's so relieving and satisfying to watch Anne discover her feelings for Gil and realize she's loved him this whole time. I really mean it when I say their love story is my favorite of all time. 

• Growing up. Listening to the first chapter of this story just about broke my heart when Anne leaves Avonlea. I actually cried in the car on my way to work because I felt so nostalgic that Anne was growing up, and life at Green Gables would never be the same for her. This series, and especially this book, is so nostalgic for me because I relate to Anne so much and I really feel like I've grown up with her. Just as what happens for us, I loved watching Anne discover her own life and become her own person apart from Green Gables, while still keeping it tucked close to her in all she does. Anne becomes so wise in this book, and I love how it talks about her developing a sense of humor. It's fun to see her temper and sharp tongue refine into cleverness and wit that charm everyone she meets.

• Patty's Place. I would love to be a fly on the wall at Patty's Place with those four girls, their aunty, and the cats. I love how Anne lives in such a cozy, quaint place to match her dreams and imagination. I also love her friends- especially Phil. Phil's open frankness and frivolity are shocking at first, but so refreshing when you realize that she is completely genuine and unassuming. Her character is a striking complement to Anne's and I love their friendship throughout their college years.

• Roy Gardner. I don't love Roy Gardner himself, but I love that Anne finds her "ideal"- melancholy, dark and devastatingly handsome. And even better, I love that she doesn't love him. This is something many of us have experienced and it makes Anne even more relatable to watch her realize that love isn't found in a Tennyson-spouting perfect fairytale, it's found in the people who have shaped you and have loved you through, and in spite of, your worst experiences and mistakes. 

Didn't Love

• I thought every word of this book was absolutely perfect and I wouldn't change a single thing about it :)

Content

• Language: 
• Not a single curse.

• Sexual content: 
• The most scandalous it gets is Phil flirting with all the boys and not committing to any of them (*gasp*).

• Violence:
• The only violence that occurs happens between two cats who end up being the best of friends :)

 

Overall Thoughts

Watching Anne leave Green Gables was so nostalgic and sad, so I thought I wouldn't enjoy reading about Anne's life at Redmond. But I absolutely loved every chapter of this book as Anne discovers new friends and experiences, all while keeping Avonlea a part of her. I loved being at Patty's Place with the girls, going to dances, laughing at Anne's ridiculous marriage proposals, and most of all, watching Anne realize her love for Gilbert. The last chapter in which they finally reconcile with each other is my favorite chapter in the whole series because, as I said, theirs is my favorite (fictional) love story. Although I enjoyed this book as a young girl and teenager, this time reading it I found myself completely enraptured in the nostalgia and heartache of Anne's growing up because I could whole heartedly relate to her as an adult, which made this story even sweeter.