Anne of the Island

By L. M. Montgomery

Anne of the Island is the third book in the Anne of Green Gables series, written by Lucy Maud Montgomery about Anne Shirley. Anne leaves Green Gables and her work as a teacher in Avonlea to pursue her original dream (which she gave up in Anne of Green Gables) of taking further education at Redmond College in Nova Scotia. Gilbert Blythe and Charlie Sloane enroll as well, as does Anne's friend from Queen's Academy, Priscilla Grant. During her first week of school, Anne befriends Philippa Gordon, a beautiful girl whose frivolous ways charm her. Philippa (Phil for short) also happens to be from Anne's birthplace of Bolingbroke, Nova Scotia.

The girls spend their first year in boardinghouses and decide to set up house thereafter in a lovely cottage called Patty's Place, near campus. The girls enter their second year at Redmond happily ensconced at Patty's Place, along with Queen's classmate Stella Maynard and her "Aunt Jimsie" (their chaperone), while life continues in Avonlea. Diana Barry becomes engaged to Fred Wright and Davy and Dora continue to keep Marilla busy.

Midway through their college years, Gilbert Blythe, who has always loved Anne, proposes to her but Anne rejects him; although she and Gilbert are very close, she holds sentimental fantasies about true love (all featuring a tall, dark, handsome, inscrutable hero) and does not recognize her true feelings for Gilbert. Gilbert leaves, his heart broken, and the two drift apart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookRix
• Release date: Oct 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9783736802964

L. M. Montgomery

Lucy Maude Montgomery (1874-1942) was born on Prince Edward Island, Canada, the setting for Anne of Green Gables. She left to attend college, but returned to Prince Edward Island to teach. In 1911, she married the Reverend Ewan MacDonald. Anne of Green Gables, the first in a series of "Anne" books by Montgomery, was published in 1908 to immediate success and continues to be a perennial favorite.

Reviews for Anne of the Island

[bookconcierge · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Audio book performed by Susan O’Malley

In book three of the series, Anne Shirley goes away to Redmond College, along with Gilbert Blythe and Charlie Sloane. She rooms with her old friend Prissy Grant, and a new friend Philippa Gordon. College life has some surprises in store for Anne, including more than one marriage proposal and a possible new career as a writer.

I never read these books as a child, but I am certainly enjoying them now. Anne is a marvelously engaging character – intelligent, naïve one minute, sensible the next, caring, loyal, and enthusiastic. If memory serves (it’s been over 40 years, after all), the interactions of the college roommates seems spot on perfect for students of that age. Oh, the excitement of young love – and the indecision! There are still scenes that take place on the island, of course, as Anne returns home for holidays, but the focus of the book is her college experiences as she grows into a young woman.

Susan O’Malley does a fine job performing the audio book. She has good skill with various voices, easily differentiating the characters.

[magadri-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a good love story. We get to see Anne grow up and finally be honest with herself.

[thelostentwife · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is my favorite book of the Anne of Green Gables series (well, one of two favorites). The story held in the pages of Anne of the Island is one filled with the growing pains of youth, the losing of dreams, replaced by the gaining of new dreams, the making of new friends, saying goodbye to old and life continuing it's everlasting journey of passing us by.Although the times were different, much of what L.M. Montgomery wrote of Anne's experience at college is still the same today. It's a time for discovering yourself, of getting to know who you are. And for Anne, who's mind is "constantly changing" so she's having to "reacquaint herself" with it (one of my favorite quotes in the book), college is everything I remember it being for me as well.I think one of the reasons I love Anne so much is because she has such a perfect, wonderful appreciation for home. Sure, she sees it through rose-tinted glasses, but I don't think that's a bad thing. I think we all long to have that place in our minds, that home filled with memories and the ghosts of our youth. Remembering mine helps to steady me when things get rough, but also has such a bittersweet taste to it - and that's what Anne of the Island captures so well.Ruby Gillis, Gilbert Blythe, Patty's Place, Diana (Barry) Wright, the births of new characters, the deaths of some old favorites, all happen in this story and it's very much a turning point. The ending of something special and the beginning of something new and exciting.

[othemts · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The third book of the Anne Shirley series sees Anne off to college on Nova Scotia, studying, making new friends, and setting up a new home. Letters and visits to home emphasize Anne's growth and change as she spends time away from her beloved home. There's also continuing intrigue regarding her relationship with Gilbert Blythe. Enjoyable, but lacking the magic of the first book.

[seriousgrace · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Anne of the Island is the third "Anne Shirley" book by Lucy Maud Montgomery (L.M. for short). The first two books, Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea cover Anne Shirley's childhood from ages 11-18 but Anne of the Island takes over when Anne leaves Avonlea for Redmond College in Novia Scotia. The title comes from Anne's distinct connection to Prince Edward Island while away at the landlocked college. This leaving is a pivotal phase of Anne's life and the title is supposed to reflect that. While at college Anne is making new friends, rediscovering her past (she lost both of her parents and was adopted by Miss Marilla as a baby), and has the unfortunate task of warding off many suitors asking for her hand (she has no less than four marriage proposals during her time at Redmond).

[amerynth · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Anne of the Island is one of my favorites of the series. It's in this book that Anne heads off to Redmond college -- discovering herself and finding a way to balance her romantic notions with the real world around her. Anne and her circle of friends truly grow up in this novel -- finding their future careers and husbands. Anne retains the spunk of the earlier novels but has mellowed a bit with age, so she remains an interesting heroine.

[chlebo_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My favorite Anne book so far! Probably because this book had the most of the dashing Gilbert in it...heheh. Oh, and I liked Anne's cat too.

[tjsjohanna_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book makes me frustrated with Anne - she lets her imagination run away with herself and makes a muddle of her life. Things I like about this book - the delightful picture of Patty's Place - I wish I had lived somewhere like this when I was going to college! The way in which Anne finally has her eyes opened and the way the resolution of Anne's romantic life somehow resolves Marilla's too in a sort of karmic way. The comedic moments that still find their way into Anne's life, despite the fact that she is more adult than child now.

[sandra.k.heinzman · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I never read the Anne books before, and I'm loving them! I'm listening on Audible and love the narration.

[debs4jc · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Like a breeze of fresh air, going back to the world of Avonlea and the characters of Anne, Gilbert, Diana, and their friends and family gives me the most refreshing feeling. And in this one we get to see Anne and Gilbert's relationship change, though not without some major bumps in the road. Anne's life as a college student at Redmond with her friends old and new becomes a time for her to learn many lessons about life. A most satisfying read that I would recommend to anyone!

[hopefully86 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Anne of Avonlea was one of my childhood favorites. The series follows Anne on her many escapades, through funny and memorable adventures alike. Anne has every stubborn and quirky quality found in any girl...and her love of life is contagious. When I think of these books I am transported to a field of green and a warm summer wind.

[deltaqueen50 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

By this, the third book of the series, Anne is a young woman and after working for a couple of years as a teacher, she has saved enough money to go to University in Nova Scotia. Some of her friends are also enrolling at Redmond, and she makes new friends as well. By the second year, tired of boarding houses, there are four girls who decided to rent their own house and together with the elderly Aunt Jimsie, as a chaperone, they set up house for the remaining three years. Friday nights are designated as the evening for receiving gentlemen callers and these attractive girls have plenty of those. Gilbert Blythe is a regular and it is very obvious to everyone that he has deep feelings for Anne. Anne who is very fond of her childhood chum, dreads having to hurt him, As Anne leaves girlhood behind and matures into a young woman, there is little trace of the orphan girl that was. Anne has become serene, sensible and very steady in purpose. In one area however, she seems to lag behind her friends and as she attends one wedding after another, she appears to not be able to see the love that is right in front of her, instead she is still holding out for that elusive Prince Charming that she imagined as a young girl. It takes a dark time and an almost tragedy for Anne to be able to understand where her heart is leading her.I am loving my re-reading of this series, and have come to love Anne as much now as I did when a girl.

[pamkaye · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Here we are again! Book 3 of the Anne Shirley series.....Each book gets better. L.M. is giving Anne such maturity in this installment. Anne leaves home for college, finds new friends, connects with old ones, and falls in love.Another one that I didn't want to put down. I read it through in 2 sittings.

[nancynova · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Anne's tale continues with her 4 years at a university in Nova Scotia, with summers and holidays on PEI. A few of her chums from PEI are also at school with her, plus she meets new friends, bids goodbye to a childhood classmate who dies of consumption, almost gets engaged, rejects Gilbert's (and two other) proposals, and in the end is back in Avonlea, a graduate, and finally realizes that she's in love with Gilbert.

[mahallett · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

anne is a little too goodie-goodie. and why doesn't she want gilbert?. didn't like the reader. she gushes. the story is already gushy. a little tone-down would have been better.

[norabelle414 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

audiobook - This, the 3rd book in the Anne of Green Gables series, had a different narrator whom I liked better. She made Anne sound more adult (which, obviously, she is) and she was really good at the different voices. It was probably my favorite Anne book so far; I like that Anne isn't nearly as whiny and annoying as she was in the previous books. The whole Roy vs. Gilbert thing didn't really move me, but that might be due to cultural/language differences between Anne's time and mine.

[satyridae · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

When I first joined GoodReads, I went through and marked a lot of childhood favorites with the number of stars I remembered them earning from me. I reflexively marked all the Anne books with lots of stars. I've long had a soft spot for Anne, and I know I read this series several times as a kid. Had you asked me last month, I would have professed to loving the entire series. Then I embarked on a project to revisit them, and oh how sorry I am that I did. The first book was a delight. The second, not so much. And now this one.

It is with a heavy heart that I confess to loathing this book this time through. I can't stand the verbal quirks Montgomery assigns, especially to Davy "I want to know" and Mrs. Rachel "That's what". I hate the simplistic and treacly Christianity. The scene where Anne tells the dying Ruby what Heaven is like honestly made me queasy. The prose is positively purple throughout.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I hate this book. A lot.

[leftik_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I like this one in the series as well. Although, I will say, I kinda like the Kevin Sullivan version better...

[jenj5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one of my favorite volumes of the Anne series. I think I enjoy it for the romance, the friendships, and the number of proposals Anne racks up even if several are not very complimentary. Update: Well, the end is a little mushier than I remembered with Anne and Gilbert walking together and building their fantasy life while talking together as no real people ever would. The proposal from the hired boy completely makes up for it though!

Listened to Blackstone Audio's CD edition narrated by Susan O'Malley. I don't think O'Malley's great so far, she doesn't do a very good job of differentiating among the girls' voices, but I like her better than Barbara Caruso - at least she pronounces Avonlea like a normal person and Davy's voice is much better in this one. After finishing, I'd say O'Malley does a competant job.

Previously read many times.

[rachelellen_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Usually I like this one pretty well but it just fell really flat for me this time. Maybe because the older I get, the more distance I feel from the lighthearted college life depicted in this book. I've "grown up" with Anne Shirley -- when I discovered her books I was the same age as Anne when she arrived at Green Gables, and I've read them over and over through the years, getting older (necessarily) as I went, passing up Anne as a teenager and then Anne as a college student and then Anne as a working woman and then Anne as a young wife and new mother, until now I'm more in a Rainbow Valley sort of stage. And that's kind of depressing -- because Rainbow Valley is where Anne pretty much completely disappears.Oh, wait a minute. This was a review for Anne of the Island, wasn't it. Sigh. Um, OK. Less Philippa next time please, Maud.

[wanderlust_lost · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book sees Anne leave PE Island for not-so-distant Kingsport to attend college.Though she is accompanied to her new college by the likes of childhood friend/sweetheart Gilbert Blythe and the prissy Priscilla "Prissy" Grant she finds the new environment strange. But Anne is nothing if not up for a challenge and she finds that as her life grows and her experiences expand that Gilbert isn't the only boy interested in her, and that life doesn't have to be as sleep as PE Island.

[goodnightmoon_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Two drawbacks (as with the other books): whole paragraphs devoted to describing the scenery using unreadable, too-flowery language; and absolutely no details about many, many things (e.g., four years of college go by in this book!). One big upside: what a sweet last chapter, when Anne finally realizes how dumb she was to turn down Gilbert the first time and then he asks again. It's what we waited through three books for!

[rainbowdarling · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Anne of the Island is one of my favorite stories in the series. Anne always seemed to be at just the right age, with just the the right amount of romance left in her. Part of the appeal may be the resolution of the romance that any reader would have inferred as "meant to be" from early on in Anne of Green Gables. The whole series is a joy and this one ranks among m favorites.

[abigailadams26 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

L.M. Montgomery's irrepressible red-headed heroine, Anne Shirley - she of the high ideals, fiery temper, and elfin beauty - returns in this third volume devoted to her adventures, first published in 1915, and following upon the initial Anne of Green Gables (1908), and its first sequel, Anne of Avonlea (1909). Picking up one week after the events of the preceding book, Anne of the Island is the story of Anne's four years at Redmond College, and follows her as she leaves the island - Prince Edward Island, that is - for the fictional town of Kingsport, Nova Scotia. Here she plunges into the labor and leisure of the college experience - her studies, in which (predictably) she excels in English; her friends, both old and new; her living situation, first in a boarding house, and then in the delightful Patty's Place; and finally, her first serious "beaus" (and proposals!) - emerging, in the end, transformed from girl to woman.I have always loved this book, enjoying everything from the love-triangle involving Anne, Gilbert Blythe and Royal Gardner, to the many little holiday and summer interludes, in which Anne returns to Avonlea, and to her circle of family and friends at Green Gables. The doings of those four college girls - Priscilla Grant and Stella Maynard, two of Anne's old school chums from Queens; Philippa Gordon, a flighty but lovable rich girl whom the others meet for the first time at Redmond; and Anne herself - who take up residence together, make for an engaging story (I particularly adore the three cats!), and I cannot think of Patty's Place without wishing that I too had had the experience of living in such a house, while in college!Of course, this being L.M. Montgomery, it isn't all sweetness and light, and the early death of Ruby Gillis - one of Anne's grade-school chums - from consumption, provides a poignant counter-balance to the more carefree aspects of the story. While there's no doubt that this particular part of the novel functions as a cautionary tale - so much so, that a number of other reviewers have found it offensively preachy - I have always been moved by Anne's genuine struggle, in her discussion with Ruby, to articulate her own inchoate beliefs about the metaphysical. This balancing of the inner and outer life - of the everyday and the eternal - is something I always find particularly well done, in Montgomery's work, and in her characters.All in all, Anne of the Island was as delightful on this reread (hard to say how many times it's been), as the first time I encountered it! I think I may reread the next "Anne" book - Anne of Windy Poplars - sooner, rather than later.

[26kathryn · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It took me quite a long time to read this book, even though it's reasonably short. I think that's because I wasn't enjoying it as much as I thought I would. I really loved the first two books in the series, but this one sort of fell flat for me.It is beautifully written, but I was getting bored of all the descriptions and stuff when the story was going nowhere. I also found a couple of the characters really annoying (Especially Phil, ugh).

[susanbevans · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Anne of the Island is book 3 in L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables series. It is a continuation of the story of Anne Shirley as she goes away to school at Redmond College in Kingsport. Some of Anne's old chums from Avonlea are also at Redmond - Charlie Sloane and Gilbert Blythe, but Montgomery also introduces new and interesting characters. L.M. Montgomery certainly has a way with characters! She writes people that are really believable. These are people you will wish were in your life - as you follow them on their journey, they become your friends as well.Anne of the Island is the book that finally sees some serious development in the Gilbert/Anne dynamic, and for this reason it seems to be the favorite of the series for a lot of Montgomery fans. While I enjoyed the story just as much as the previous two books, I wouldn't say it would be my favorite - my heart will always belong to the little orphan girl from Anne of Green Gables. She becomes a remarkable young woman over the course of the years, but some of my favorite Anne-escapades take place in the first book.As always, L.M. Montgomery is a master of the literary form. Her descriptions are well-formed and breathtaking in their scope - not a single word could be omitted:"The sea was roaring hollowly in the distance, the fields were bare and sere, scarfed with golden rod, the brook valley below Green Gables overflowed with asters of ethereal purple, and The Lake of Shining Waters was blue-blue-blue; not the changeful blue of spring, nor the pale azure of summer, but a clear, steadfast, serene blue, as if the water were past all moods and tenses of emotion and had settled down to a tranquility unbroken by fickle dreams."Isn't that fantastic!? Drink in the beauty...These are wonderful books for all ages and there is a little something for everyone here: adventure, romance, drama, suspense, and comedy. If you give Anne a chance, you'll have a bosom friend for life!

[lucygirljb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Certainly my favorite Anne book in the series; in college, I dreamed of living at Patty's Place with my girlfriends. Such a sweet time that means so much in your life - so glad that I could share it with Anne.

[booksandwine · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Finally, Anne meets with a dash of Romance. This book follows Anne's college years at Redmond, we are introduced to some wonderful new characters and Patty's Place. LMM's descriptions and prose is quite delightful. I felt this book was a nice escape into a lovely world where all have good intentions and life is a little more gentle.

[swampygirl-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Some laugh out loud moments, some moments were it seemed a little to happy-go-lucky. Over all, fairly successful for a third book in a series.

I think what knocked that fourth star off for me was the chick flick ending sort of thing. I knew it was coming, but it just didn't end the story in a very creative way. Other then that this book was rather timely for me, as I am just completing my senior year of university. Going to a conservative Christian University I could still relate to it pretty well, especially the idea of all your friends getting married off and having babies and such. I think the first book will always be my favorite though.

[nadinec.keels · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Bitter must be mixed with sweet as life goes on, and goes on changing, but in going on for Anne, "with the blowing of the west wind old dreams returned," making it all worth it. A number of points made me sigh, as well as laugh; I literally laughed aloud during Anne's First Proposal. Goodness, Montgomery was a genius.