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In the fifth book in the series, 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 in their own dream house on the misty purple shores of Four Winds Harbor. But a new life means fresh problems to solve-and fresh surprises. As Anne and Gilbert begin to build that new life, some of those problems and surprises come in the show more form of their new neighbors: Captain Jim, the lighthouse attendant with sad stories about the sea, Miss Cornelia Bryant, the direct woman who still manages to speak from her heart, and Leslie Moore, the tragically beautiful girl who intrigues Anne... show lessTags
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I'm not sick anymore, but I keep reading the Anne books. I sincerely think they boost my immune system! I read Anne of the Island and my cold vanished the next day. It's probably because nothing warms my soul like mushy, endearing Anne. True, her life is hella boring now that she's a wife and mother (and OMG a Conservative!), and we have to rely on her neighbors for adventures, but still. I'm as interested in her as any of my flesh and blood childhood friends.
In this fifth installment of the classic Canadian series - first published in 1917, it was actually the fourth Anne book that Montgomery wrote, but is now considered the fifth, as it chronicles events just after those in the subsequently published (1936) Anne of Windy Poplars - Anne Shirley is now Anne Blythe, doctor's wife, and embarking on a new phase of her life. Coming to live in Four Winds Harbour, where Gilbert will be taking over the practice of his Uncle Dave, the newlywed Anne finds her "house of dreams" in a little shore-side cottage - built years before by the old Four Winds schoolmaster, in anticipation of his beloved's arrival from the Old Country - and here she experiences all the joys and heartaches of young married life. show more Here she and Gilbert pass their honeymoon, settling into a wonderful new routine; here they make many interesting new friends, from that plain-speaking spinster, Miss Cornelia, to that storytelling old sailor, Captain Jim - not to mention beautiful Leslie Moore, with her tragic history - and here Anne bears and loses her first child: the tiny, pale little Joyce bringing true tragedy into her life for the first time.
Reading Anne's House of Dreams again for the umpteenth time - I honestly couldn't say, at this point, how many times I have read the eight books in this series - I was once again caught up in Montgomery's powerful storytelling, and struck by her beautiful language. Her descriptions of the wonders of the natural world are particularly lovely here - I loved the passages about the sea and sky, in their many moods - and her characters just as quirky and appealing as ever. I always care about Montgomery's people, even when, like Anne and Gilbert as it concerns some of Miss Cornelia's statements, I am laughing at their flaws. Of course, reading with a more critical eye, in light of our upcoming discussion of this title, over in the L.M. Montgomery Book Club to which I belong, I did spy a number of themes that made the story slightly less pleasing that it had been for me, hitherto.
It was annoying to see how Anne constantly downplayed her own literary ability - never before in the series had she dismissed herself as a mere scribbler of "fairy-tales," as if a) that were all she was capable of, and b) there was something less worthy in fairy-tales - and I could have lived without the whole "logic vs. feeling" dichotomy that plays out, in the resolution of Leslie Moore's storyline. Unlike some reviewers, it didn't trouble me that Gilbert proved correct, with regard to this latter (after all, Anne can't be right all the time), but I did dislike the fact that the distinction between logic (Gilbert and Captain Jim) and feeling (Anne and Miss Cornelia) fell out along gender lines. Leaving those issues aside - and I was far more conscious of them, on this reread, that previously - I still found myself falling under Montgomery's spell, and (as per usual) abandoning myself to the experience with pleasure. Recommended to anyone who has read the previous four Anne books! show less
Reading Anne's House of Dreams again for the umpteenth time - I honestly couldn't say, at this point, how many times I have read the eight books in this series - I was once again caught up in Montgomery's powerful storytelling, and struck by her beautiful language. Her descriptions of the wonders of the natural world are particularly lovely here - I loved the passages about the sea and sky, in their many moods - and her characters just as quirky and appealing as ever. I always care about Montgomery's people, even when, like Anne and Gilbert as it concerns some of Miss Cornelia's statements, I am laughing at their flaws. Of course, reading with a more critical eye, in light of our upcoming discussion of this title, over in the L.M. Montgomery Book Club to which I belong, I did spy a number of themes that made the story slightly less pleasing that it had been for me, hitherto.
It was annoying to see how Anne constantly downplayed her own literary ability - never before in the series had she dismissed herself as a mere scribbler of "fairy-tales," as if a) that were all she was capable of, and b) there was something less worthy in fairy-tales - and I could have lived without the whole "logic vs. feeling" dichotomy that plays out, in the resolution of Leslie Moore's storyline. Unlike some reviewers, it didn't trouble me that Gilbert proved correct, with regard to this latter (after all, Anne can't be right all the time), but I did dislike the fact that the distinction between logic (Gilbert and Captain Jim) and feeling (Anne and Miss Cornelia) fell out along gender lines. Leaving those issues aside - and I was far more conscious of them, on this reread, that previously - I still found myself falling under Montgomery's spell, and (as per usual) abandoning myself to the experience with pleasure. Recommended to anyone who has read the previous four Anne books! show less
Warning: This review may contain spoilers.
Going into this book, I was expecting a sappy, sentimental read and braced myself accordingly. And yes, the first quarter of the book delivers more sappiness than an entire sugar bush at the peak of maple syrup season. I found it difficult to muster up the will to continue, and even as I kept going I thought "Well, I don't see how this book can improve," because all was almost obnoxiously well at the little house of dreams.
But then LMM delivered a quick left hook to the gut with a shocking plot twist that I did not see coming at all. It was indeed a tragedy, but that dose of sadness was just what the book needed to get its groove back for me. Anne became much more relatable and it helped her show more grow as a character. The other characters also came into even sharper focus for me at that point somehow. A couple of other surprising plot elements (or at least surprising to me) sprinkled in with the more predictable ones (romances, a sadly inevitable death, etc.) kept me turning pages at a decent clip through the second half of the book.
Of the other characters, Captain Jim was definitely my favourite. Kindly father figures with loads of stories to tell are always welcome in my literature. I also found myself reading a fair few of Cornelia Bryant's "Isn't that just like a man?" lines out loud -- she was a great character as well.
Overall this ended up being a surprisingly good installment in the series, once that major plot twist happened. I'm amazed at how well it managed to turn itself around -- even better than my experience with Anne of Avonlea. show less
Going into this book, I was expecting a sappy, sentimental read and braced myself accordingly. And yes, the first quarter of the book delivers more sappiness than an entire sugar bush at the peak of maple syrup season. I found it difficult to muster up the will to continue, and even as I kept going I thought "Well, I don't see how this book can improve," because all was almost obnoxiously well at the little house of dreams.
But then LMM delivered a quick left hook to the gut with a shocking plot twist that I did not see coming at all. It was indeed a tragedy, but that dose of sadness was just what the book needed to get its groove back for me. Anne became much more relatable and it helped her show more grow as a character. The other characters also came into even sharper focus for me at that point somehow. A couple of other surprising plot elements (or at least surprising to me) sprinkled in with the more predictable ones (romances, a sadly inevitable death, etc.) kept me turning pages at a decent clip through the second half of the book.
Of the other characters, Captain Jim was definitely my favourite. Kindly father figures with loads of stories to tell are always welcome in my literature. I also found myself reading a fair few of Cornelia Bryant's "Isn't that just like a man?" lines out loud -- she was a great character as well.
Overall this ended up being a surprisingly good installment in the series, once that major plot twist happened. I'm amazed at how well it managed to turn itself around -- even better than my experience with Anne of Avonlea. show less
Book number 5 of the Anne of Green Gables series is finally done, and I am as happy & satisfied as I was after reading the first Anne book.
After the boring third book and the disastrous fourth book, I had almost given up on this series. Today, after completing Anne's House of Dreams, I'm glad my romantic curiosity got the better of my logical side. After the unnecessary story stretch and boring characters of the previous two books, we finally have the story moving ahead clearly and beautifully. Gilbert is a doctor now. Anne and Gilbert are wed, and they move into their own "house of dreams" in a distant village to begin their new life together.
The writing is crisp and picturesque right from the first page. Though it is still show more descriptive, it does not overdo it. The new characters introduced are so interesting that you can't help falling in love with them.
For those who are not much fond of endless nature descriptions and needless chatter in books, I would say that you can safely come to book 5 after book 2. All that you need to know about books 3 & 4, I have written in my short reviews on their respective pages. There's nothing else of importance or interest in them. This is strictly my opinion of course. Serious fans of the series might enjoy all the detailed descriptions and beating about the bush.
Three books more to go on the series, and I hope they will be in the same vein as this delightful book 5. It would be great if the series ends on this high.
Rating for Anne's House of Dreams: 4.5/5
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Join me on the Facebook group, "Readers Forever!", for more reviews and other book-related discussions and fun. show less
After the boring third book and the disastrous fourth book, I had almost given up on this series. Today, after completing Anne's House of Dreams, I'm glad my romantic curiosity got the better of my logical side. After the unnecessary story stretch and boring characters of the previous two books, we finally have the story moving ahead clearly and beautifully. Gilbert is a doctor now. Anne and Gilbert are wed, and they move into their own "house of dreams" in a distant village to begin their new life together.
The writing is crisp and picturesque right from the first page. Though it is still show more descriptive, it does not overdo it. The new characters introduced are so interesting that you can't help falling in love with them.
For those who are not much fond of endless nature descriptions and needless chatter in books, I would say that you can safely come to book 5 after book 2. All that you need to know about books 3 & 4, I have written in my short reviews on their respective pages. There's nothing else of importance or interest in them. This is strictly my opinion of course. Serious fans of the series might enjoy all the detailed descriptions and beating about the bush.
Three books more to go on the series, and I hope they will be in the same vein as this delightful book 5. It would be great if the series ends on this high.
Rating for Anne's House of Dreams: 4.5/5
********************************************
Join me on the Facebook group, "Readers Forever!", for more reviews and other book-related discussions and fun. show less
After the first book in the series, I have liked each one just a little less than the one before it. It didn't seem quite the same anymore and also began to feel repetitive. Fortunately, this book brought me back to the love I had for the first book.
It's not as if there are no more characters or situations that in some way mirror those from earlier books. But there was a lot less of that, and overall, everything felt new and fresh again. I'd say the characters introduced in this book, as well as getting to see Marilla and some of the others a bit more, really made the book for me. Not to mention Gilbert and Anne starting their lives together. I loved Captain Jim and got a kick out of Miss Cornelia, especially the way she and Captain Jim show more bantered.
Then there's Leslie Moore. Of all the ways her story could have gone--and I had a few different predictions, believe me--I never imagined that twist.
Overall, I loved this book about as much as I loved the first book in the series. Unfortunately, it only highlighted the slower, drier books in between. I have no idea what to expect of the rest of the books in the series, but I can't wait to find out. show less
It's not as if there are no more characters or situations that in some way mirror those from earlier books. But there was a lot less of that, and overall, everything felt new and fresh again. I'd say the characters introduced in this book, as well as getting to see Marilla and some of the others a bit more, really made the book for me. Not to mention Gilbert and Anne starting their lives together. I loved Captain Jim and got a kick out of Miss Cornelia, especially the way she and Captain Jim show more bantered.
Then there's Leslie Moore. Of all the ways her story could have gone--and I had a few different predictions, believe me--I never imagined that twist.
Overall, I loved this book about as much as I loved the first book in the series. Unfortunately, it only highlighted the slower, drier books in between. I have no idea what to expect of the rest of the books in the series, but I can't wait to find out. show less
Newlyweds Anne and Gilbert Blythe settle into married life in their new home, meeting neighbors both friendly and not.
In my re-read of the whole Anne of Green Gables series, I did read this one a while back, in chronological order (of the storyline). I, however, forgot to ever write up a review of it so this one won't be fresh or great.
This book takes place in yet another new town with Anne meeting still new people. We hardly ever hear of the old Green Gables friends but instead learn the whole history of folks in this new locale. There is one hard-to-crack nut in their neighbor Leslie, who is bitter about her hard-knock life and refuses to let Anne in as a friend. Persistent Anne is not eager to give up though.
Meanwhile, back at home, show more Anne has settled down into being a housewife and her teaching career is no longer mentioned as a thing, despite her years of college and training, and the likelihood that this town has a school, too. She gives birth to one healthy baby and one stillborn baby, thus reaching high highs and low lows.
At the end of the novel, Gilbert decides to move them again so that Anne must leave this house of dreams. I know it's very much of the time, but I feel this book is truly the beginning of the end of the spunky, feisty, lovable Anne who is instead subsumed within the ambitions of her doctor husband and the foibles of her children, becoming an incredibly bland and unremarkable character from here on out in the series. show less
In my re-read of the whole Anne of Green Gables series, I did read this one a while back, in chronological order (of the storyline). I, however, forgot to ever write up a review of it so this one won't be fresh or great.
This book takes place in yet another new town with Anne meeting still new people. We hardly ever hear of the old Green Gables friends but instead learn the whole history of folks in this new locale. There is one hard-to-crack nut in their neighbor Leslie, who is bitter about her hard-knock life and refuses to let Anne in as a friend. Persistent Anne is not eager to give up though.
Meanwhile, back at home, show more Anne has settled down into being a housewife and her teaching career is no longer mentioned as a thing, despite her years of college and training, and the likelihood that this town has a school, too. She gives birth to one healthy baby and one stillborn baby, thus reaching high highs and low lows.
At the end of the novel, Gilbert decides to move them again so that Anne must leave this house of dreams. I know it's very much of the time, but I feel this book is truly the beginning of the end of the spunky, feisty, lovable Anne who is instead subsumed within the ambitions of her doctor husband and the foibles of her children, becoming an incredibly bland and unremarkable character from here on out in the series. show less
Oh... I wouldn't say it's "sad" to see Anne grown up. It does give you a sense of nostalgia, comparing Anne Blythe to little Anne Shirley, but it isn't exactly sad, to me. It's life, and Anne moves right along with it. She laughs, she dreams, she dances around the beach when she thinks no one can see her...
She's Anne, as a woman, interpreted for young readers in another time. The Blythes are newlyweds, behaving as newlyweds behave, but of course Montgomery doesn't describe all of their physical affection in literal terms; this isn't a romance novel. But if Gilbert answers Anne, answers her without words, we get it, and I think it's lovely. Montgomery doesn't dwell on Anne's pregnancies, befitting literature meant to be read by children show more in the early 1900s. But we get it, when there's something Anne's longing for, even when she doesn't say it aloud. Little Anne Shirley longed to have a bosom friend, and Anne Blythe longs to have a child. She's still Anne.
Then, of course, Four Winds must be the most beautiful place on earth, while you're there. Montgomery never fails at painting nature. It's what makes her one of my favorite authors for good old-fashioned "comfort reading." Sure, it's a lot of sentiment on my part, but having a place to fully indulge that kind of sentiment is what makes books like this GOOD. show less
She's Anne, as a woman, interpreted for young readers in another time. The Blythes are newlyweds, behaving as newlyweds behave, but of course Montgomery doesn't describe all of their physical affection in literal terms; this isn't a romance novel. But if Gilbert answers Anne, answers her without words, we get it, and I think it's lovely. Montgomery doesn't dwell on Anne's pregnancies, befitting literature meant to be read by children show more in the early 1900s. But we get it, when there's something Anne's longing for, even when she doesn't say it aloud. Little Anne Shirley longed to have a bosom friend, and Anne Blythe longs to have a child. She's still Anne.
Then, of course, Four Winds must be the most beautiful place on earth, while you're there. Montgomery never fails at painting nature. It's what makes her one of my favorite authors for good old-fashioned "comfort reading." Sure, it's a lot of sentiment on my part, but having a place to fully indulge that kind of sentiment is what makes books like this GOOD. show less
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Author Information
380+ Works 158,762 Members
One of the best-loved children's/young adult authors, Lucy Maud Montgomery was born on November 30, 1874 in Clifton, Prince Edward Island, Canada, the daughter of Hugh John and Clara Woolner. After attending Prince of Wales College and Dalhouse College in Halifax, she became a certified teacher, eventually teaching in Bideford, Prince Edward show more Island. She also served as an assistant at the post office and as a writer for the local newspaper, The Halifax Daily Echo. Best known for her Anne of Avonlea and Anne of Green Gables books, Montgomery received many high honors. She was named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 1923 and a Canadian stamp commemorates Montgomery and Anne of Green Gables. In addition, various museums dedicated to the book series and Montgomery's life dot Prince Edward Island. The books in the Anne series follow the growth and adventures of a red-haired, spritely, high-spirited and imaginative orphan named Anne who lives on Prince Edward Island. The success of these books rested in Montgomery's ability to vividly recollect childhood and her easy storytelling ability. They are tremendously popular to this day and have been translated into more than 35 languages and adapted as movies and PBS television productions. On July 5, 1911, L.M. Montgomery married Ewan Macdonald, a Presbyterian minister, and the marriage produced three children. She died on April 24, 1942. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Anne's House of Dreams
- Original title
- Anne's House of Dreams
- Original publication date
- 1917; 1997 (Nouvelle édition française, Presses de la Cité) (Nouvelle édition française, Presses de la Cité)
- People/Characters
- Anne Shirley Blythe; Gilbert Blythe; Leslie Moore; Cornelia Bryant; Susan Baker; Captain Jim (show all 9); Owen Ford; Joyce Blythe; James "Jem" Blythe
- Important places
- Four Winds Point, Four Winds, Prince Edward Island, Canada; Prince Edward Island, Canada; Canada
- Dedication
- To Laura in memory of the olden time
- First words
- "Thanks be, I'm done with geometry, learning or teaching it," said Anne Shirley, a trifle vindictively, as she thumped a somewhat battered volume of Euclid into a big chest of books, banged the lid in triumph, and sat down up... (show all)on it, looking at Diana Wright across the Green Gables garret, with gray eyes that were like a morning sky.
- Quotations
- But it ain't our feelings we have to steer by through life—no, no, we'd make shipwreck mighty often if we did that. There's only the one safe compass and we've got to set our course by that—what it's right to do.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"Good-bye, dear little house of dreams," she said.
- Original language
- English
- Canonical DDC/MDS
- 813.52
Classifications
- Genres
- Children's Books, Fiction and Literature, Kids, Young Adult
- DDC/MDS
- 813.52 — Literature & rhetoric American literature in English American fiction in English 1900-1999 1900-1945
- LCC
- PZ7 .M768 .A — Language and Literature Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Juvenile belles lettres
- BISAC
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- ISBNs
- 296
- UPCs
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- ASINs
- 109