Book Description
The daughter of a disgraced earl, she matched wits with a prince.
It is the fourteenth century, the height of the Medieval Age, and at the court of King Edward III of England, chivalry is loudly praised while treachery runs rampant. When the lovely and high-spirited Joan of Kent is sent to this politically charged court, she is woefully unprepared for the underhanded maneuverings of her peers.
Determined to increase the breadth of his rule, the king will use any means necessary to gain control of France—including manipulating his own son, Edward, Prince of Wales. Joan plots to become involved with the prince to scandalize the royal family, for she has learned they engineered her father’s downfall and death. But what begins as a calculated strategy soon—to Joan’s surprise—grows into love. When Joan learns that Edward returns her feelings, she is soon fighting her own, for how can she love the man that ruined her family? And, if she does, what will be the cost?
Filled with scandal, court intrigue, and prominent figures of the Medieval Age, The First Princess of Wales has at its center a wonderful love story, which is all the more remarkable because it is true. Karen Harper’s compelling, fast-paced novel tells the riveting tale of an innocent girl who marries a prince and gives birth to a king.
Customer Reviews:
Good Book and glad that I read it.......2007-08-15
I picked this up not knowing what to expect and found that I liked it a lot. In fact, it only me a day and a half to get through the whole thing.
I found it to be informative and fun. It has inspired me to find out more about Joan of Kent and that whole time period. I hope that others read it and give it a chance. I think that you'll like what you find.
Now to find her other books and hope that they are as good.
great book!.......2007-06-23
I recieved this book as a birthday gift, and was quite amazed that it turned out to be a book I would have picked myself! Aside from one war scene that was a bit boring for me, the rest of the book was really intruiging, and kept me reading on. There are some parts in the book, that as a women makes you cringe...but unlike the previous reviews, I don't think that it was all intended to be romantic. I had no idea it was even listed under romance. It more came across to me as being a historical fiction, and along with that also comes how women were treated during that time..which wasn't always the best. I would definitely recommend this book, but be prepared for some harsh parts.
LOVES IT!!.......2007-03-29
Harper has an incredible nac for writing and her words flow smoothly throughout the book. She is well researched, her plot is well planned and put together, her characters are well made and dynamic, the sexual tension is off the charts, and she manages to grab hold of the reader's emotions. I literally could not put the book down, so wonderful it was. It is definitely among my top five books of all time, and I have absolutely NO bad thing to say about the writing. Many times I felt like crying for the heroine or hero and the action never stops, moving the reader from page after page to see what happens next. I am sure that I will enjoy this book many, many times more. Absolutely GREAT reading... not your regular run-of-the-mill, sappy love story... the sweetness of their love is made more sweet by the bitterness of the trials and tribulations they must endure for years before they are finally united in holy matrimony. READ IT!
Readable Despite Its Extreme Faults.......2007-03-11
Aside from the shallow, fatuous characterizations, the gratuitous borderline-rape sex scenes, the anachronistic dialogue, and the utter lack of historical verity it was not a bad read. If you are looking for a realistic depiction of Joan of Kent or fourteenth century England, you will be sorely disapointed.
Ms. Harper was unable to even accurately portray Joan's honours and dignities, refering to her as the "Duchess of Kent" and stating that her husband, Thomas Holland, did not assume the titles by her right. The Holland-Salisbury case and the consequeseces of the death of Edmund of Woodstock are grossly distorted. The historical continuity is preposterously inaccurate, as are the names and relative ages of Joan's siblings and children.
As for the unwarranted copulation and the vapid, desultory female characters, anyone who has previously read Ms. Harper's work will not be surprised. Despite all of these severe flaws, I found this book easy to read and not unenjoyable. Consider it as a beach read or on a commute.
I can't believe all the negatives on this book.......2007-02-14
So what that some of the ages of the major characters don't add up. The love story is true and the author's creation of Joan's and Prince Edward's characters and relationship with each other is very believable. Prince Edward was arrogant and self assured just as a prince in his time should be. What woman wouldn't enjoy the attention, desire, and eventually, the love of a most beloved prince. I have to warn those fans of true historical novels, such as those of Sharon Kay Penman, that this is more of a romance novel. But, it is still a fun read.
Book Description
'Deeply affecting....a novel that provides as much fresh insight into the social history of America as it does into the nature of adolescence.' -The Christian Science Monitor Prince Edwardis the profound story of Benjamin Rome, a ten-year-old boy living through the summer and fall of 1959 in Prince Edward County, Virginia. The stage for the massive resistance of local whites against nationwide desegregation, the county is a frightening and passionate place of shifting loyalties and ardent belief. It is here that Ben must learn to navigate not only his adolescence, but the politics of the time through his powerful family. A brilliant melding of historical record and personal experience, Dennis McFarland's fifth novel is an affirmation of his devastating emotional insight and graceful narrative gifts.
Customer Reviews:
Swirling Around in History.......2006-06-07
Using a page from actual history as his background: Prince Edward, Virginia circa 1959 and the success of segregationists to close the public school system thereby forcing African Americans to seek out education on their own, Dennis McFarland focuses on the fictional Rome family and specifically a young man Ben and the effects of all of this history on he and his family.
With warmth and sympathy towards Ben and his basically helpless situation, McFarland imbues Ben, as he also did in the excellent "Singing Boy," with thoughts well above his actual chronological age: " I knew only that I was fated to make stupid mistakes of one kind or another, and at times like this--late at night, alone, sitting on the sidelines, useless and at loose ends in a world everyone else seemed to know what they were supposed to be doing--I would inevitably and repeatedly make the error my father often appeared to be waiting for me to make.": a succinct, in a nutshell explanation of the often frightening state of being the youngest in a family and more to the point of being a kid anywhere, anytime.
Ben's family are Chicken farmers and like many kids, embarrassed by much of what their parents say or do, this serves as a source of constant humiliation: "My father loved trotting out the egg as nature's most perfect food, but my brother, my sister and I were humiliated by having to reveal ourselves as chicken farmers. I thought this recurring moment of shame was connected to the abysmal stupidity of the animal who provided our livelihood."
Ben is also smart of enough to realize that what his happening around him in regards to the closing of the public schools and the place of African Americans in all of this controversy is fraught with complexity: everyone has their opinion and Ben serves as a vessel into which all this stuff is poured: "I found it immediately appealing, persuasive coming from a Negro man...the idea that slavery not having been as bad as some people would have you believe fit nicely with a general notion I'd often heard expressed, that things used to be better then than now. What it did not fit with, no matter how appealing, were the stories I'd heard Granny Mays tell in the woods, like the one in which the slave girl was beaten practically to death for failing to perfectly groom the white girl's horse."
Though at times too didactic for its own good, McFarland is after all telling a real story here and therefore feels protective of the history involved, "Prince Edward" still manages to move and entertain with passages of beautiful writing and gorgeous fat juicy prose
likable, fast-paced, good voice, sharp detail.......2005-01-26
Price Edward enters into familiar territory with the coming-of-age in the racist South novel, set in this case in Prince Edward county after they have decided to close their public schools and open private ones rather than integrate. Here the narrator is 10-yr-old Benjamin Rome, whose family include (take a breath): a pregnant, married-to-absent-husband-and-not-in-love older sister; a thieving, rakishly charming, on-the-surface-racist-but-somewhat-more-complex-underneath older brother; a distant, harsh segregationist father and more-softly distant sorrowful mother (neither of whom is happy in marriage); and finally, Big Daddy Cary-his grandfather, the sternly crazy or crazily stern patriarch of the family who also happens to be a child molester. Not family but deeply in the mix as well are the Black family who live in the Cary's tenant house: Ben's childhood friend Burghardt who faces the prospect of no school, Burghardt's dad Julian who works for Ben's father, and Burghardt's grandmother, sorrow and dignity personified.
McFarland is working within a well-known genre here, which causes some difficulties, a genre which unfortunately for others has a true classic within it (To Kill a Mockingbird). This is not as moving or as deeply felt as Mockingbird, but of course that could be said about 99 percent of the books out there. And Prince Edward has its major differences with Lee's book. In Mockingbird, Scout's family fights the good fight whereas Ben is surrounded by a family who is all over the map: his father and grandfather are segregationists, actively so. His brother seems to be on the surface, but, without giving details, is shown to be a much more complex read than that. His mother seems just out of it, happily oblivious, while his older sister rages in frustration, declaring at one point that their racist actions (or tolerance of such) literally is making her physically sick. On the other side, Burghardt is just coming of an age to understand how raw the feelings of most whites toward him are (one of the more moving scenes is when he finally understands this), Julian is of the "take what you have and don't complain to make things worse" mode, and Granny is a model of dignity and fortitude and intelligence. Within that mix, Benjamin finds it hard to find his moorings, and in fact, one of the nice touches of the novel is that he never fully does, at least not at that age, to the dismay of his older narrating self.
The characters are mostly sharply drawn as one would expect from McFarland, descriptions are all vividly detailed with wonderful small touches, and people act as people act, rather than act to serve the purpose of plot or theme. A problem is that working in such a familiar genre means some of the characters are just that, a bit too familiar: the persistently dignified older Black woman, the fawning Black man, the crazy old patriarch, etc. I'm not sure McFarland completely solves this problem.
The subplot with Big Daddy Cary, Ben's grandfather, makes for a nice parallel story to the larger issues, but at times seems a bit too pat for that purpose. It feels both utterly believable and natural and also a bit contrived. His sister's story with regard to her husband and her pregnancy on the other hand seems to work better, though some may find it overkill.
The book is well-paced, a quick read, with some moving scenes, a nice complexity of character and situation, and an ending that is, if not fully resolved or happy, more true to life. And the voice is consistently spot on throughout. If McFarland doesn't transcend the genre, he does make good use of it, turning it to his own purposes for the most part. Recommended.
a fast paced novel.......2004-07-15
This novel kept me wondering what was going to happen next. Was mean Daddy Cary going to get what was coming to him? Was Lainie going to continue dreaming of getting away? I loved Granny Mays, I loved her talk in the woods.
this is an excellent book, partially based on fact.
Step back to 1959 in rural Virginia.......2004-06-21
I picked this book from the library's new fiction shelf on a whim, and was very pleasantly surprised. McFarland does an excellent job of bringing the reader into the story - I felt like I had stepped back to 1959 and was experiencing the racial tensions of that time.
The characterization is strong, although I finished the book wanting to understand more about the father and the grandfather and all the dynamics in this troubled family. In fact, a sequel with these characters would be a treat - McFarland has by no means plumbed their depths.
I had never heard of the shameful school system closings that went on in the early '60s, as described here. The author's afterward explaining that those events and the instigators he used in the book were actual people added punch to an already powerful story.
coming to terms with the past:: a footnote to shame.......2004-05-07
Dennis McFarland's Prince Edward takes us back to a time and place where race pervades almost every move, every sound out of every mouth, every thought. 1959 in Prince Edward County, Virginia is a time when freedom is a word, but a forced choice is what surrounds every abstraction.
It is the form of the forced choice that is not a choice (for example the robber's "your money or your life" is not really a choice although it has the form of a choice), which structures the characters' lives--all African-Americans, the boys on the edge of adolescence, women stuck in distressed or not existent marriages. McFarland recreates from fact and imagination a world in which we see souls having to come to terms--having to name--the loss of choice. At the same time, the major characters choose not to name Names, choose to keep knowledge unforgiven, hidden, unsaid, but never undone.
Until, literally, now. It is the story of Benjamin Rome. He tells it, lives it, and sees it. He tells us what could never be said in 1959 during massive resistance, during the days of hatred simply based on race. The tale is a footnote of shame; each member of the Rome family burns in some way while the town of Farmville disintegrates (in all senses of the word). And there are all kinds of shame running throughout the book. And all kinds of ways the truth is subverted, glossed over, or left out.
This bildungsroman is not so much a tale of a pilgrim's progress as it is an education into the ways society educates its young (and, for the African Americans, the way society chooses not to give them a right to be educated).
But I've left the best for last. I've made it seem that the book is a kind of allegory and there's perhaps a bit of that. What is truly great though, are the characters who don't give a damn about the abstract. The beauty of the prose and the details of character make us want to get closer, to sneak a peek at these lives. And reading is a form of spying, and observation is central to this book, the scenes in which we see others seeing several forms of primal scene. We have to think of Lynch's Blue Velvet to understand how many horrors underlie the American Landscape. The more important predecessor to this book is, of course, To Kill A Mockingbird. Lee's masterpiece cannot be outdone but its stark contrasts could stand a bit more humanity. McFarland has done what no one has dared do. He's taken some of the themes of that work and made it more complex, more nuanced, and more real. This book should be read by anyone with an interest in character, story, and the true history of our heritage. I hope schools, especially here in Virginia, will take this book to class. I celebrate the author's courage, talent, and humanity. You will too.
Average customer rating:
- Inspirational classic
- Fun, simple tale with a moral and some humor
- Gripping & narrative
- Prince and the Pauper
- A classic story of mistaken identities
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The Prince and the Pauper (Penguin Classics)
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
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 Twain, Mark
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ASIN: 0140436693 |
Book Description
Twain's historical tale about Edward VI and a pauper who exchange places by accident just days before Henry VIII's death.
Customer Reviews:
Inspirational classic.......2007-03-18
One of the most persistent themes in American pop and literary culture is the switched identity plot. Movies like Garfield 2, Face-Off, Big Business and Double Dragon have been based on this trick. Where did it all start? Probably with this children's classic by Mark Twain. Set in Renaissance England, it tells the story of two boys who look exactly alike, except one is a prince and the other is a poor boy. The two meet each other, exchange places, and have loads of fun. All ends well as they each regain their proper places with more wisdom and friends than before.
The text of the book is readable by most elementary school kids, though the length is quite long for a children's work. The dialogue is English, and might make hard reading the first time around, and the comedy might be dry for those not used to it. But the book is enjoyable and totally appropriate. I highly recommend it.
Fun, simple tale with a moral and some humor .......2007-02-19
The Prince and the Pauper is a classic tale of switched and mistaken identities when two young boys who are similar looking in appearance happen to meet each other and decide to change appearances. Despite the fact that the two look similar, the two boys have led quite different lives--one boy living a poor, destitute life with an abusive father, and the other, living a life of luxury. Once the two boys decide to switch to see how each other looks, they seemingly do not know that it will be hard to switch back. Mark Twain's ability to establish a children's story with a sense of royalty and fantasy intermixed is clearly attributed to his forte as a great versatile writer, both of satire and comedy, as well as fantasy. While the story has a simple idea and basis for its course--the idea that two boys must learn how to live in the "others" shoes for awhile--the greater strength and stability is to depict a strong moral in the story, which is that we often do not know or appreciate how hard things can be for someone else in life.
Another fun aspect of this work is simply the trademark satire from Twain. He has a way of making fun of the idea of royalty in a dignified and subtle way, and has fun once the two boys are in the "others" world. Not only this, but he has fun "overdoing" some of the scenes for both boys. Tom Canty is distressed at the process of how much trouble it is to do anything without the "Royal Court" helping him with an everyday task, from taxing to simple. The king is ashamed at the ill treatment he receives from mean citizens of the town, and despite his protests of being a king, no one listens.
Each child gets himself in unwittingly bad circumstances that he wishes himself out of, and each must find ways at adapting to their new life. For instance, Tom Canty cannot believe the power that his words has in the court of law, and he is both shocked, and impressed, by his ability to literally change the course of those condemned to death. Although frightened at first, he learns to manage his new station in life. Meanwhile, the poor king has to life an unaccustomed life of poverty, and must deal with all the malevolent allies of poor Tom's father, despicable individuals who rob, cuss, steal, and are vulgar. Generally, he struggles, but is aided by a generous man named Miles Hendon, who helps him through all the difficulties.
Perhaps another moral evoked from Twain's tale is that of not thinking yourself better than another person, despite your or their station in life. The boys seem to have to deal with this by the book's end, and learn their ways, having a greater and deeper appreciation of the opposite point of view.
There is plenty of adventure, imagination, and humor to keep you entertained in this book. At times, several scenes do get a little confusing, but overall it is a rather quick and simple read. The Bantam Classic edition also has footnotes to explain terms in the index, and fairly big print easy for reading.
Gripping & narrative.......2006-10-21
Mark Twain classic "The Prince and the Pauper" has ever been so excitedly ever told tale of two look-alike boys; a tale of the rich and the poor. No wonder, this has ever been the best educational pick in the classroom as kids would love to dive into imagination and get the moral of the story. Two different worlds and Tom Canty and Edward Tudor shared the same birth date and same features. Fate brings them and they decide to change clothes for few minutes. This leads to the adventures beyond wildest dreams. He pokes fun at the old upper class in England and showed how wrong it was to judge people by outward appearances. Born in November, the author's other famous Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer were my fav too. A good Pick for all ages.
- ilaxi
Prince and the Pauper.......2006-07-17
Wow! What a story this was. Twain was a great story-teller in his own right with the ability to inject his own feelings into the book. This book is very much a satire attacking the life under a tyrant. And although the book was written in a good-humored state, one can see the sourness behind it all.
The book started out with a prince and a poor lad, who really looked alike, switching clothes. They soon found themselves into very uncomfortable positions as the two had to step into the life of the other. The pauper was very much uncomfortable with all the regal etiquettes imposed and followed in the royal court. And the Prince flowed into the streets, still believing and telling everyone that he was the Prince of England. This only made himself look like a clown, soon the Prince found himself in the company with a bunch of thieves, gangs, and pickpockets. He even drew a spanking from the pauper's vogabond father, who believed the Prince was his son Tom Canty. The two's lives would soon come to at a criss-cross at the coronation of the Prince, and many interesting things ensued.
Overall, this book was well-written, well-told, and well-described. I give it a four stars instead of a five because there are small segments in the book that are quite boring, but nothing major that lasts more than 5 pages at a time. This book is definitely a classic that is worth reading.
A classic story of mistaken identities.......2006-06-05
In Mark Twain's classic historical novel, Tom Canty, a poor boy from the London slums, and Edward Tudor, Prince of Wales, unwittingly swap places. Because they bear an uncanny resemblance to each other, no one believes them when they announce who they really are. So their adventures begin ...
I recommend this book to just about anyone, especially historical-fiction fans. I adored it. The novel is humorous, witty, adventurous and has a lot to say about the human folly of judging people by outward appearances. Plus, it's a classic that's actually a quick read!
Average customer rating:
- Truly a wonderful novel.
- Great gift
- An excellent book for girls
- A Great Classic Read
- Not just for children
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Anne of Green Gables Value Collection (Anne of Green Gables Novels)
L.M. Montgomery
Manufacturer: Listening Library
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Binding: Audio Cassette
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ASIN: 0807206466
Release Date: 2001-09-11 |
Amazon.com
When Marilla Cuthbert's brother, Matthew, returns home to Green Gables with a chatty redheaded orphan girl, Marilla exclaims, "But we asked for a boy. We have no use for a girl." It's not long, though, before the Cuthberts can't imagine how they could ever do without young Anne of Green Gables--but not for the original reasons they sought an orphan. Somewhere between the time Anne "confesses" to losing Marilla's amethyst pin (which she never took) in hopes of being allowed to go to a picnic, and when Anne accidentally dyes her hated carrot-red hair green, Marilla says to Matthew, "One thing's for certain, no house that Anne's in will ever be dull." And no book that she's in will be, either. This adapted version of the classic, Anne of Green Gables, introduces younger readers to the irrepressible heroine of L.M. Montgomery's many stories. Adapter M.C. Helldorfer includes only a few of Anne's mirthful and poignant adventures, yet manages to capture the freshness of one of children's literature's spunkiest, most beloved characters. There's just enough to make beginning readers want more--luckily, there's a lot more in the originals! Illustrator Ellen Beier creates vibrant pictures to portray the beauty of the land around Green Gables and the spirited nature of Anne herself. (Ages 5 to 8) --Emilie Coulter
Book Description
Read by Megan Follows
8 hours, 24 minutes
6 cassettes
New this fall from Listening Library to coincide with the animated series, The Anne of Green Gables Value Collection includes: Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island.
Download Description
Lucy Maud Montgomery's timeless story of an impetuous young orphan who finds a family in the small Canadian town of Avonlea.
Customer Reviews:
Truly a wonderful novel........2007-08-17
No matter what age you are or what genre of book you usually read, this is a terrific work of art. Everyone should take a rainy afternoon off to sit back, relax and read one of the greatest novels ever published. (And all other novels in the Anne of Green Gables series is just as exceptional!)
Great gift .......2007-08-14
My niece loves this book. She was gifted them for past christmas. She says she has read it several times now. Great story for the almost teen.
An excellent book for girls.......2007-08-14
but my whole family loves this book along with the whole series. L.M. Montgomery's style of writing brings you right in with Anne. She makes the reader feel like a kindred spirit.
A girl who is accidentally chosen to be adopted winds up being the best thing that ever happened to Green Gables. Lots of fun and excitement is the only thing that can describe the life of Anne.
A Great Classic Read.......2007-04-18
Anne of Green Gables is about an orphan who is adopted by Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert. It takes Anne awhile to adjust to life in the elegant Green Gables, and gets into some pretty funny mishaps, like accidently giving her friend Diana too much raspberry cordial, for example, but in the end finds her way. Anee's point fo view is hilarious and very entertaining. This is a wonderful read for girls everywhere and is a classic that is not to be missed.
Not just for children.......2007-04-09
I first read "Anne of Green Gables" when I was a young teenager. It had been my mother's favorite book and was not in print at the time. My grandmother had a copy of this book as well as most of the other "Anne books". I was completely enchanted by the odd little red headed orphan who spelled her name with an "e". At the end of two weeks, I had read all of the Anne books and started over at the first. As the years passed, the books came back into publication and I've purchased copies of everything by L.M. Montgomery that is in print. More than 20 years later and I still love the Anne books.
L.M. Montgomery created characters so believable that you can imagine your own joy at seeing the White Way of Delight for the first time or the mortification of jumping into bed on top of your best friends grumpy old aunt. This is a story you can read over and over and never be bored. I must warn you though. When this story ends, you will want to pick up "Anne of Avonlea" and when you finish that one, you won't want to waste any time picking up "Anne of the Island". Unlike other sequels or series, the story doesn't get old or redundant. Anne goes to Queens and then makes it to college. She marries and has children of her own in "Anne's House of Dreams" and "Anne of Windy Poplars". Finally, the series ends with stories of her children in "Rainbow Valley" and with "Rilla of Ingleside" as her youngest deals with being a young woman during WWI. Instead of buying just the first book, buy the set, The Complete Anne of Green Gables Boxed Set (Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne's House of Dreams, ... Rainbow Valley, Rilla of Ingleside)
Average customer rating:
- Anne Revisted
- Homage to home,a tribute to the 'sacred sites' of Lucy Maud
- Author brings us closer to 'Anne'
- This was the worst of all books concerning Montgomery....
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Anne's World, Maud's World: The Sacred Sites of L.M. Montgomery
Nancy Rootland
Manufacturer: Nimbus Publishing (CN)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1551091429 |
Customer Reviews:
Anne Revisted.......2001-01-30
When the thousands of Lucy Maud Montgomery fans make their pilgrimage to Prince Edward Island every year they expect to find everything in its place. Nancy Rootland, a writer from sunny California, has some insights to share about this in her illustrated book entitled Anne's World, Maud's World: The Sacred Sites of L.M. Montgomery (Nimbus). Her text slides easily from Montgomery's childhood, memorable moments and quotes from Anne of Green Gables to Rootland's own feelings as she enters these 'sacred sites' and experiences the places she has only ever read about but of which she feels so much a part. Add to this a collection of high quality photographs and you have a book that is a delight to the eye and a joy to read. Rootland delights in placing herself in scenes from both Maud and Anne's lives. Looking at herself in the china cabinet she sees the reflection of Katie Maurice. She visits the beach and watches Nate, Maud, and Amanda talking about their teenage hopes and dreams as the sun sets. She stands on the platform of Kensington Station with Maud and her grandfather waiting for the train that will take them to Prince Albert. Rootland surmises that in 1880 they did not know the future anymore than she does for herself a century later, except that she knows she will return to the sacred sites someday. Rootland experiences deja vu. Everything is where it should be, right down to Marilla's amethyst brooch on her night stand, "where it belongs", where she, and thousands like her, expect it to be, every day, every year, now and forever.
Homage to home,a tribute to the 'sacred sites' of Lucy Maud.......2001-01-27
"The Sacred Sites of L.M. Montgomery" seems a pretty silly subtitle for a book unless you're a total fan of Lucy Maud. I am not one. However, to my surprise, I found this small book, titled Anne's World, Maud's World, to be readable, enjoyable - even at times - thought-provoking. How Nancy Rootland came to write it is a remarkable story in itself. "In January of 1981," she relates, "I was browing in a bookstore in Southern California when the title Anne of Green Gables caught my eye...I slid the book off the shelf and started leafing through the pages - and that was it. I could barely put it down long enough to get over to the sales desk, and while I was driving home my eyes kept wandering over to the package on the seat next to me." She finished the story in one sitting, amazed at how Anne's experiences paralleled her own. She found she shared the author's and Anne's perception of nature. That summer she read all 20 of L.M. Montgomery's novels. For 11 years, Nancy Rootland learned more about her favourite author while waiting for the time when she'd be free to make the long journey to Prince Edward Island. This book is the record of what she found there and how she reacted to the "sacred sites." She was not disappointed . A fine writer herself, Rootland knows how to convey atmosphere, feelings, the sense of past and present meeting - all that's so difficult to articulate without sounding silly. She doesn't sound silly. Here's an example. "Such is the beauty and spiritual grandeur of this enchanted isle and the remarkable sons and daughters of its history, that access to the sacred, which thrives in sites both natural and constructed, is always possible. So convinced am I of this power of place that I invite you, reading these words, to come here and find out for yourself. All you need to take with you on your journey is an open heart and a bit of imagination." No need to spell out how Anne's World, Maud's World, conveys the spirit of home. Rather I'll mention what a beautiful little (110 page) book this is. Fine, coloured photographs of the " sacred sites" alternate with Rootland's commentary, which, in turn, is studded with quotations from Montgomery. First we see Anne's World, then Maud's. Two simplified maps at the end show the relevant places of PEI and in the Cavendish area. For an Anne-lover or Montgomery-lover, this book would make a perfect present. But anyone who's wondered about the mystery of how a character can some alive enough to fill an area with his or her presence will also appreciate Anne's World, Maud's World.
Author brings us closer to 'Anne'.......2001-01-23
Nancy Rootland's book explores environment of Montgomery and Anne. Through the writing of LM Montgomery, the world has an opportunity to look in on a beautiful rural community. A sense of home and of belonging are strong themes in the Anne books and Nancy Rootland uses this message to show us some of the places that were so dear to the author of Anne of Green Gables and places that have become sacred to readers. In Anne's World, Maud's World: The Sacred Sites of L.M Montgomery, Nancy Rootland has transported us to that place where Anne and her people live. Rootland expects to see Anne and Marilla or Matthew emerge from the fields or orchard at any time, and so do we. The photographs of the places that are so pivotal to the world of Anne and of Maud herself, will captivate the reader and invigorate the imagination of those who have read and re-read the books. The author invites the reader to experience this incredible place and uses her prose to evoke the writing style of Maud Montgomery, the pictures lead us on a journery of discovery for Anne and for our own sense of peace and tranquility. Rootland's background in teaching and as a teacher of child psychology provides some of the insights for her portrayal of the emotional story of the orphaned Anne and the lonely Maud. There is real feeling and caring for the child that Anne charaterizes and that Maud really was. Beautiful photos, and evocative text permit the reader to join Anne and Maud on the journey home.
This was the worst of all books concerning Montgomery...........1999-11-06
This book was horrible. As a long time Anne of Green Gables fan, I must say I was very disappointed.
Book Description
"How horrible it is that people have to grow up!"
Wishing couldn't keep Anne of Green Gables from growing up. Anne's whole world was changing. Her childhood friends were beginning to get married, and Anne herself was leaving the island for four years of college. Now handsome Gilbert Blythe wants to win Anne's heart, and suddenly Anne must decide if she's ready for love... and for following her dreams if they mean leaving Green Gables behind forever.
Download Description
In the third Anne of Green Gables story, difficult choices await Anne as she leaves her small town to begin college.
Customer Reviews:
Sup, lolz.......2007-03-21
Anne of the Island is the third installment of the smash Anne of Green Gables series. The book begins with Anne leaving for college to further her education the second time. When she arrives, she encounters a slew of minor domestic problems, a new group of friends, and Love. All of which she deals with using that famous atypical personality of a "Kindred spirit"
Although the book deals with more serious subject matter than the preceding books, as a reflection upon Anne's growing older, the book starts with the lighthearted catchy fun that made Anne famous in her prequels. Most of this fun is centered on the Anne's encounters with her roommate cats Rusty, Joseph, and Sarah-Cat. Anne's exclamations of fear at being stalked by the docile house cats is classic Anne and delicious fun.
The Book also dives into more serious matter, with Lets be friends-Lets be more than friends-Lets be friends-I hate you-Marry me! Gilbert abandoning his indecisiveness and aggressively courting Anne. Although this relation is of little interest to male readers, it is made a key plot element, most likely because it is attractive to the books target demographic, pre-teen girls. Luckily, most of the content on Anne's romance does nothing to affect other parts of the story much and as a result are harmless to skip when they become drab.
Anne of the Island is a solid installment in the Anne series. Although not equaling or surpassing Anne of Green Gables, "Of the Island" leaves little to be desired besides not having a near constant usage of the word "eh". If you an Anne fan, pick up her third book. Eh.
i read this over and over again........2006-08-16
this book never gets old. i've had it for so long and now i'm off to college and i still enjoy reading it cover to cover. anne is a great character, one who is easy to love and who explains herself well. the other characters are also quirky. something about this book is very universal, which i think explains why even in this century i still find myself being able to relate to Anne. the plot, while essentially a love story, is not overly sappy. and while most people would probably expect the ending, the twists and turns throughout the novel keep you entertained and engaged.
Delightful.......2006-06-23
"Anne of the Island" is my favorite Anne book, and the last chapters of my copy are worn and torn because I have read it so many times. I loved it as a young girl, and I loved it again when I read it from my college dorm room (in fact, I think it's time for another rereading!). Plus, of course, a college education makes many of the literary references more relevant than they were at age 11.
Anne fans already know how wonderful are these chapters of Anne's life. This book outlines an important epoch in the series and answers the all important question of whether they will or they won't--a turning point on which the next five books hinge. And since you must start at "Anne of Green Gables" to appreciate any of it, this review cannot convince to you read just book three. It is just one more love letter to "Anne of the Island" added to this review panel.
ENJOYED THIS THIRD OF THE SERIES AS MUCH AS THE FIRST.......2006-03-21
The story of Anne continues with this work and the author stays true to her style, story line and character developement. This, like the other books in this series, have a rather timeless nature about them and a comforting charm. The reader, of course, must remember the time they were written and the style and syntax used at that time. From my own point of view, this is great. I enjoy this type of writing and certainly enjoy Ms. Montgomery's story telling abilities. In this work, Anne goes off to Redman College and her adventure continues. Recommend these books for readers of all ages. Wish there were more works out there like it.
Still relevant now.......2005-06-26
I first read this book in middle school after reading Anne of Green Gables. When I first got to college, I was having a hard time adjusting and rediscovering this book made it so much more bearable to be away from home. L. M. Montgomery captures the feelings of homesickness and confusion so beautifully. Every time I need a pick me up, I just go back to the novel.
Book Description
The spirited redhead returns in this heartwarming sequel to Anne of Green Gables. Now she's the schoolma'am in the same place where she was a student, and not much older than her pupils. Anne's determination provides the same "scope for imagination" that made this book's predecessor a treasure for young readers.
Download Description
Our heroine, now 16, finds adventure and romance in the first sequel to Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables.
Customer Reviews:
A classic - and it's Dover!.......2007-09-26
Although I love _Anne of the Island_ and _Anne of Windy Poplars_ even more, this is a great book. It's not quite as gooey as Green Gables, and the hijinks of Anne and her crowd, almost adults but not yet, are fun and interesting as windows to another age. I do wish, however, I could step in and take Gilbert for myself - like all heroines whose authors wish to write many more books, she takes so young to yield!
The Dover edition is, as always, a great price.
Here's Why.......2007-02-08
I really enjoyed the first Anne book, but the second was a bit dull. It was still nice, but Anne and Gilbert's relationship doesn't go anywhere!!! So if you want to read an Anne book where it does, I strongly recommend Anne of the Island. I just didn't find this novel as capturing as I had hoped. Maybe it was too much description. I always have a problem with too much of that. While reading I had to keep skipping ahead to see when the next time Gilbert would even be mentioned!!! So like I said, it was okay.
Wonderful Book.......2006-12-13
The Book I read was by L.M. Montgomery. It is called Anne of Avonlea. This book is a realistic fiction.
This book is the second in a series of 8. It is about an adopted girl named Anne Shirley. She won a scholarship to Redmond College but when she finds out her adopted mother Marilla may go blind she stays behind. Anne starts teaching at a local school. Marilla's Relative dies and she adopts her two twins.
I loved this book. It was funny and cute. It kept me reading. I read the third one right after I finished it. I think that this book is appropriate for aged 10 and up.
From a queer, young girl to an attractive auburnette schoolteacher..........2006-05-25
Even though L.M. Montgomery did not intend Anne of Green Gables to be a series, she still captivates with her eager readers in Anne of Avonlea.
There are still quite a few differences, Anne has grown from a "queer", fiery, young girl to a wiser, calmer, auburn-headed schoolteacher. Yes, a schoolteacher. Also, as we follow Anne in this Bildungsroman literature, the romance between her and Gilbert Blythe peeks through shyness and past misadventures in this novel.
Some people consider it a book not as interesting as the first, and perhaps this is because Anne is no longer a child and could not grow into a young woman with the same inexperienced attitude.
Altogether, my opinion of the book is that it was a good follow-up and I sympathize that it would be hard to make up such great a book as Anne of Green Gables.
Boring Boring Boring!.......2006-05-03
How could anyone sit and read this boring work of fiction. I am actually listening to the audio version and I am almost falling asleep and cannot remember a word the reader has said.
I am going to stick to the movie versions of Anne of Green Gables instead of reading the rest of the books. At least the movies keep your interest.
Book Description
Anne is the mother of five, with never a dull moment in her lively home. And now, with a new baby on the way and insufferable Mary Maria visiting--and wearing out her welcome--Anne's life is full to bursting.
Still, Mrs. Doctor can't think of any place she'd rather be than her own beloved Ingleside. Until the day she begins to worry that her adored Gilbert doesn't love her anymore. How could that be? She may be a little older, but she's still the same irrepressible, irreplaceable rehead--the wonderful Anne of Green Gables, all grown up. She's ready to make her cherished husband fall in love with her all over again!
Customer Reviews:
Jen.......2007-01-20
I loved this book. I admit I love all the Anne books, but this one is one of my favorites. I loved hearing about her children and more about what is going on in Anne's head. It is a sweet book.
L.M. Montgomery's last novel does not do justice to our beloved Anne-girl.......2006-04-29
"Anne of Ingleside" is the sixth book in L.M. Montgomery's "Anne of Green Gables" series, but it was the last of the eight books written. Montgomery had originally ended her series in 1920 with "Rilla of Ingleside." In 1936 she wrote "Anne of Windy Poplars," which became the fourth book and fit in between "Anne of the Island" and "Anne's House of Dreams," covering the three years the red-headed orphan spent teaching while waiting for Gilbert to finish medical school. "Anne of Ingleside" was written in 1939 and is set ten years after "Anne's House of Dreams," and before "Rainbow Valley." This allows Montgomery the opportunity to retroactively foreshadow what would happen to her son Walter in the World War and other aspects of the final pair of books.
At this point Anne and Gilbert have five children, are about to have a sixth, and have made Glen St. Mary into a home. But then Gilbert's maiden Aunt Mary Maria arrives and puts a serious damper on the happy household. Anne's primary focus is on her children and their daily little crises, although Jem wanting a dog turns out to be a constant concern. It takes a little get used to Anne Shirley being a mother, but what is impossible to believe is that Anne is suddenly worried that Gilbert no longer loves her. But Anne is not only convinced of this, but is equally sure that Gilbert is interested in somebody else, the widowed Mrs. Andrew Dawson of Winnipeg, who was formerly Christine Stuart. Yes, the same Christine Stuart that Anne was jealous of in "Anne of the Island" when she thought Gilbert was dating her, even though the truth was he was simply providing her with an escort since her fiance was out of town. Apparently our Anne-girl can be fooled twice and the entire business is carried all the way until the final chapter, which is why I round down on this one. It has to be clear to all those who love the character of Anne Shirley and the writing of L.M. Montgomery that this novel is on the bottom shelf and it is there for good reason.
This was Montgomery's last novel, her previous effort being "Jane of Lantern Hill" in 1937. That was a solid story about a young girl reconciling her parents, but "Anne of Ingleside" really does seem like Montgomery took everything she had left and mixed it together for a last novel. At the end Montgomery describes Anne in her white gown, her hair in two long braids, looking, "like the Anne of Green Gables days . . . of Redmond days . . . of the House of Dreams days. That inward glow was still shining through her." That is what we want to hear, but it is really too little too late. However, just accept that this book is an abberation. Even though the Blythes are secondary characters in the next book, "Rainbow Valley," is it one of my favorites and the story of the Blythes during the World War makes for a fascinating ending to the story, even if it is far removed from where we started with the red-headed orphan who was adopted by Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert.
Good!.......2006-04-06
Not the best Anne book, but good! :-) It's 'good' to see some conflict in Anne and Gilbert's marriage instead of the sweet but forced bliss in ANNE OF WINDY POPLARS and ANNE'S HOUSE OF DREAMS.
Not at all disappointed.......2005-08-15
I'm surprised at how many Anne fans are disappointed in Anne of Ingleside. Of course, Anne can't be the same 13-year-old girl we first met, but I'm still rooting for her all the way. Some say Anne has her "ideal life," but near the end of this novel, Anne does stumble upon some insecurity, which I found absolutely devastating. I have laughed and cried with Anne throughout this series, and this installment is no exception. Now, we get to meet Anne's children, who have trials of their own. Not a bit boring to me. I would still recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the younger Annes.
a strange disappointment.......2005-06-22
I hated this book even when I was a kid. Lucy Maud Montgomery didn't know how to "create" a happy marriage between Anne and Gilbert because her own marriage was so disasterous. In real life, Lucy Maud's only friends were women and her negative attitude towards her husband is reflected in this book. Gilbert should have been outgoing, interesting, debonaire and REAL. Instead, he's a flat cardboard character who hides in the background. Although Anne is only in her late 30's, she's a prim and repressed matron who feels life has passed her by as she watches her children grow. And the kids are annoying! Saintly Walter is being primed as the sacrificial lamb and martyr--a destiny he fulfills in "Rilla of Ingleside." There's something weirdly disturbing and unreal about them...and their parents. Believe it or not--the most fascinating character is "Christine," the sultry widow who flirts with Gilbert and tries to "steal" him away from Anne--sort of! Christine is a little naughty and not very nice (by early 1900's standards) and she spices up this otherwise dull book.
Book Description
Anne's own true love, Gilbert Blythe, is finally a doctor, and in the sunshine of the old orchard, among their dearest friends, they are about to speak their vows. Soon the happy couple will be bound for a new life together and their own dream house, on the misty purple shores of Four Winds Harbor.
A new life means fresh problems to solve, fresh surprises. Anne and Gilbert will make new friends and meet their neighbors: Captain Jim, the lighthouse attendant, with his sad stories of the sea; Miss Cornelia Bryant, the lady who speaks from the heart -- and speaks her mind; and the tragically beautiful Leslie Moore, into whose dark life Anne shines a brilliant light.
The original, unabridged text
A specially commissioned biography of L. M. Montgomery
A map of Prince Edward Island
From the Paperback edition.
Download Description
This is Lucy Montgomery's last book of the Anne series. Gilbert has become a doctor and now Anne has a wedding day set. Anne has found her "House of Dreams" and decides to leave Green Gables. Please Note: This book is easy to read in true text, not scanned images that can sometimes be difficult to decipher. The Microsoft eBook has a contents page linked to the chapter headings for easy navigation. The Adobe eBook has bookmarks at chapter headings and is printable up to two full copies per year. Both versions are text searchable.
Customer Reviews:
My favorite ANNE book!!!!!!!.......2006-04-06
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS BOOK! This is my favorite Anne book, hands and hooves down. I liked hearing about Anne's full transition into womanhood and the fact that she never really let her full spirit be crushed. Gilbert was a little too soppy in this story, but it is okay. And I really, really enjoyed the wedding scene. And the whole Leslie Moore story is so exciting, but sad...until she meets the sexy (by 1900's terms :-p )Owen Ford! And Captain Jim is something else...he is such an enjoyable, lovable character and the story of lost Margaret is slightly cliched (perfect love swept away, man vows never to love anyone else), but WONDERFUL.
A Book to Treasure.......2006-01-28
This book is about finally finding your true love and creating a home for him. Anne's House of Dreams is fairly anticlimatic, and does not have quite the same romantic suspense as Anne of the Island. But the reader cannot help but be taken in by the turn of the century seaside setting and the dreamy quality of the narrative. Anne finds happiness with longtime friend and beau Gilbert Blythe. We see the mature Anne as a young married woman who still has adventures. She meets a host of other characters, neighbors who enrich the story. There are stories within stories, spooky nights, misty harbours, and safe shores. I was rooting for Anne as she danced along the seashore, singing to herself, taking up her skirts by the waves. And she makes friends and acquaintances along the way. A pleasant book altogether. It takes you to a place you want to go back.
passionate couple--but not who you think!.......2005-10-06
The passionate, sexy couple in this novel aren't Gilbert and Anne, even though they are newlyweds. It's handsome Owen Ford and the beautiful Leslie Moore who are passionately in love. They are one hot, gorgeous couple--in fact, they make Anne and Gilbert seem dull, bland and boring by comparison!
Both Leslie and Owen are renegades--non-conformists who follow their own rules and live by their wits. They've both been hurt and disillusioned by the world around them. But they're also idealists who secretly desire love--and when they first met, the sexual attraction is so intense you can almost feel it through the pages of the book! This attraction grows stronger and Owen eventually decides his love for the married Leslie is wrong--so he tragically leaves town, assuming he will never see her again. By an odd twist of fate, Leslie eventually becomes a "free woman" and they reunite. The passion and desire felt between them is beautifully written--and it's extremely sensual for a book first published in 1917.
By comparison, Anne and Gilbert are the boring married couple who are settled in their ways. We are even treated to their "first fight." Lucy Maud Montgomery admired men who were creative free-thinkers and non-conformists---both Owen Ford and another favorite--Barney Snaith of "The Blue Castle"--fit this description perfectly. Unfortunately Gilbert doesn't even come close. As the tiny town's physician, he has become self-righteous and uptight. Lucy Maud stopped making Gilbert interesting after her second "Anne" book and he's basically a non-entity from there on. But you won't say that about Owen!
A Breath of Fresh Air.......2005-06-09
I'll always have a special place for the earlier books, especially 'Anne of the Island', but nothing is unmatched to 'Anne's House of Dreams'.
I always have a certain problem when reading Anne books. Although I enjoy the plot and characters, I resent the melancholy, wistful feel to it everytime Anne goes into a new chapter of her life. There was the last chapter of the first book; 'A Bend in The Road', where the simple description and mood of the scene was so heart-wrenching that I almost cried. 'Anne of Avonlea' was just as sentimental as the previous book, with Anne realizing she cannot turn back time to when she was eleven. We, as readers feel the impact too. We have come to love each and every one character in Avonlea and we cannot stand to watch the years go by and be forced accept that the people are changing. 'Anne of the Island' cured that depressing tone slightly by bringing in cheerful college life but still retained the usual Avonlea village scenes into it. A romance brewing between Gilbert and Anne also helped distract readers from getting too upset about Anne growing up and leaving her childhood days forever. But nevertheless the proposal scene at the last chapter brought up those suppressed feelings out once again and left us smiling a bittersweet smile at the closing descriptions of the book.
But in 'Anne's House of Dreams', we are introduced to a whole new atmosphere. No longer is Anne running dreamily into magical forests and delighting in fairy brooks, listening to the whispers of the trees or playacting as a Fair Maiden with her childhood friends. The fairy-tale, static forests of Avonlea are replaced with a vast sea, salty breezes and spicy scents of seagrass in the air. Whereas the previous books were stuffy and melancholic, this book is wonderfully refreshing and light. Instead of feeling that everything is going to end (growing older, beloved characters dying, leaving Green Gables and Avonlea), we find ourself anticipating Anne's new life as a married woman.
And the plot construction! I've never read an Anne series with a plot so tight and focused. The twist at the end concerning Leslie's husband was the cream of the crop, and I've also enjoyed the beautiful life-story of Captain Jim. Even Anne and Gilbert are involved into this snug plot, they are mostly the benefactors of the events: Gilbert's idea to cure Leslie's husband and Anne's idea to have Captain Jim's life-story written down.
On the other hand, I would complain that there weren't many scenes of the old characters; save Gilbert (duh) and Marilla. It's as if Anne is losing contact with her old life, which makes me a bit sad. I was dying to know more about Davy, Diana, Paul Irving, the Pyes, and even Charlie Sloane. I would love the series more if Anne remained in Avonlea and raised her family in the midst of the atmosphere that we have come to recognize and cherish. What's the use of getting us attached to the 'Lake of Shining Waters' and 'The White Way of Delight' and 'Lover's Lane' and 'Hester Gray's garden' and 'Dryad's Bubble' if Anne was going to move away and leave all those memories behind? Blame it on Gilbert. (kidding)
I finished reading this book with a heart-warmed feeling in my heart for the first time, it seemed more appropriate as a beautiful closure to the series. It should have ended here instead of dragging along until she fades away to become a secondary character in the next three upcoming books.
This one is my favorite of the Anne books (after the first)........2004-09-15
Although I loved and still love all the Anne books - I discovered them as a teen-ager and am still re-reading them every now and then - I especially love to re-read Anne's House of Dreams.
There are so many elements to make a good story! There is the romantic aspect of Anne and Gilbert setting up house together, then there are some of my very favorite characters - Captain Jim and Miss Cornelia. They certainly don't make them that way anymore! Between the four of them (five including Leslie) there are so many thought provoking discussions, and we get a fascinating view of life "on the harbor" for those times.
But what really sends this book way over the five star category is definitely Miss Cornelia! This is a character that not only is living and breathing throughout the book, you wish she would pop up in your living room! Wouldn't I love to meet her! If you like strong, independent women, and you thought that they were only a character of fiction (surely a hundred years ago women were meek and timid?), well, this book was written quite some time ago, and Miss Cornelia could almost put Gloria Steinhem to shame! Miss Cornelia is the strong, independant woman that you thought did not exist in those days - she owns her own house and fields, she manages very, very well, thank you very much, will not get married because she doesn't want a man telling her what to do, and certainly does not need a man to help her self-esteem! She also thinks that men were only put on this earth to enslave women, and the world would be much better off without them "believe me!") I love her favorite phrase "isn't that just like a man", it became part of my mental thinking process.
Certainly better than anything written today!
Books:
- The Gold Coast
- The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town
- The Journey of the Lost Boys: A Story of Courage, Faith and the Sheer Determination to Survive by a Group of Young Boys Called "The Lost Boys of Sudan"
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- The Marcelli Princess (Marcelli Sisters)
- The Name of the World: A Novel
- The Quickening
- The Scarlet Letter (Penguin Classics)
- The Secret (Unabridged, 4-CD Set)
- The Servant: A Simple Story About the True Essence of Leadership
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