Winding down AudioBook month – just two more days to go.  Today’s post is returning us back to the third book in my childhood favorite by Lucy Maud Montgomery:  Anne of the Island.  Post Hypnotic Press, the producer of this series, has created an outstanding compilation of these stories, and a little birdie told me that they are working on the rest of the Anne catalog for a series of 6 titles in total all narrated by Colleen Winton.  This is certainly a series that should be on your list of “must haves” for those days when you want to return to a simpler time, and visit with old friends.

AudioBook Review:

Our little Anne has grown up: she’s taught school and now is off to a new adventure: Redmond College.  A scholarship earned when she was at Queen’s teacher’s college gave her the opportunity, and Mrs. Rachel Lynde moving in at Green Gables to help Mariilla with Davy and Dora now that her sight is even more troublesome allows Anne to take advantage.

There is still a spark of the young and dreamy girl that we have come to love through this series, and her fanciful imaginings don’t lessen, she is just more disciplined now, if still prone to losing herself in fantasy.  Coming to Redmond with Gilbert, Prissy and Charlie, Anne is quickly absorbed into all that Kingstown has to offer, with new friends and old keeping her surrounded with love and laughter.   A good student and better friend, Anne’s on again – off again friendship with Gilbert brings her no end of heartache, and these two childhood friends are run through several trials as their path to a happy ever after is bound to be rocky.

Several secondary characters, some old and many new are introduced and soon become as dear to readers as they are to Anne. LMM brings characters of all ages and experiences together to bring a sense of community, and Anne seems to be at the center of them all.  A lovely balance of heart and imagination, real friendships and a sense of place that is both solid and exacting build a world that is perfect for an escape but feels real and believable.  Equal measures of laughter, tears and dreams highlight this series of days in the life, with a heroine in Anne that is hard to resist and not fall in love with. When you have that, and the author’s ability to mix language, description and detail to build easy visual images for readers it will become a favorite.

Colleen Winton’s performance as narrator and character voices of this story are the perfect match.  It feels as if she loves this series as much as I do, and wants you to share in the secret delights. Much like little Hester Prynne’s hidden garden, there are layers and nuances that abound in every chapter and scene, and you only have to be open and enjoy it all.  Her narrative style matches the characters well, the wit, the strength and even the softer dreamy moments all combine to make an unforgettable and enjoyable listen.  A soft and sweet story redolent with the feel of a simpler time and place, with characters you want to have to tea, you will find yourself curling up with this series and this book more times than you can count.

Stars: Overall: 5  Narration: 5  Story: 5