L.M. Montgomery

In my more clear-eyed moments, I can tell that L. M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables series is her best work--unlike the majority of her other books, the Anne series balances her sentimental tendencies with her lively sense of humor. In the rest of my moments, I think--damn it, what's wrong with a little unadulterated sentiment? And thus the recommendations for my two favorite Montgomery books: Jane of Lantern Hill, the story of a preteen ugly duckling who turns into a swan once she discovers a previously unknown talent for housekeeping, and The Blue Castle, which is one of the sweetest early 20th century romances I've ever read. Both of these books have their saccharine moments, but they make up for it with buckets of charm.

Aftertaste:
None. Well, the cross symbolism with Walter in the Anne books was a little traumatizing when I was eleven, but I'm over it now. Mostly.

Availability:
Everywhere, although some of her non-Anne titles might take some digging.

(Availability Note: While we here at Wordcandy always encourage you to buy books (in fact, buy them through us! We're a very worthy cause!) we understand that sometimes, alas, one is flat broke. If that's the case, you can read copies of some or all of this author's books at this fine site for FREE.)



Other Recommendations:
Dear Enemy and Daddy Long-Legs, by Jean Webster

The Girl of the Limberlost, by Gene Stratton-Porter

The Enchanted April, by Elizabeth Von Armin

I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith

Website:
http://www.upei.ca/lmmi/ -