Book Forty-Four: Emily of New Moon

Author L. M. Montgomery is best known for Anne of Green Gables, no doubt.  Anne with an 'e' was indeed a 'kindred spirit' to this young reader growing up.  Her exploits with Diana are the stuff of legends.  Strangely enough, I only now just discovered Emily of New Moon.

Emily Starr is orphaned at an early age and left to be raised by her overbearing relatives of New Moon.  Deemed a 'peculiar' child by her Aunt Elizabeth, Emily is left to her own devices at New Moon.  Cousin Jimmy takes a shine to Emily and encourages the child in her peculiar ways.  Emily is an aspiring poetess.  She is compelled to write much to the dismay of Aunt Elizabeth.

Montgomery has a brilliant pen.  She has the ability to write convincingly of characters and issues that readers can relate to.  Infidelity, alcoholism, and death aren't exactly the choicest of subjects.  Montgomery has always managed to approach difficult topics with honesty and without the cruelty.  She respects her readers and her characters allowing them mistakes and reconciliations.  Everything is not always 'rosy' but working through life and the cards dealt without giving up one's identity is the over-arching theme.

As I see it, Emily of New Moon is a precious gem of a book.  I'm looking forward to finishing the series to see what becomes of my newest favorite heroine.