Discussion Post: Anne's House of Dreams

[myr_soleil]

Hi everyone! Welcome to our discussion post for one of my favorite books, Anne's House of Dreams. I hope you liked it as much as I did, and I can't wait to hear what you think!

Comments

[kindness_says]

5. Is Cornelia a feminist ("Now you know, Anne, I always take the ground that us women ought to stand by each other.") or just sexist ("We've got enough to endure at the hands of the men, the Lord knows")?

Can there be a third option, "hilarious"? but um, both I guess.

6. "Some people might think that a Redmond B.A., whom editors were beginning to honor, was 'wasted' as the wife of a struggling country doctor in the rural community of Four Winds." Do you think Anne is wasted as a housewife?

Sure. But we waste parts of ourselves no matter what we do, imo; I don't think a lot of people are lucky enough (or have enough hours in the day) to do everything they want to do and use all their possible talents, etc., etc. I think Anne made a decision that felt right for her and ultimately (I figure) brings her tons of joy and she totally doesn't regret it and that's that. <3

7. Imagine you don't know how "Dick's" operation turns out. Do you think Gilbert should have told Leslie about the operation?Yes. Withholding that information: not his

[katayla]

Sure. But we waste parts of ourselves no matter what we do, imo; I don't think a lot of people are lucky enough (or have enough hours in the day) to do everything they want to do and use all their possible talents, etc., etc. I think Anne made a decision that felt right for her and ultimately (I figure) brings her tons of joy and she totally doesn't regret it and that's that. <3

YES. I think this is the best summing up I've seen. And I do think it was a conscious decision. Maybe not specifically about writing, but in general. She chose motherhood. She didn't do it because she "had to."

especially as I get older, those later grown-up chapters of books like Little Women and the Little House series, I tend to love more than the ones from when they're four or twelve or whatever?

ME TOO. Actually, I felt that way about the Little House books from a fairly young age, haha. IDK! I just like people to be old enough to fall in love!

[h_loquacious]

Sir Wilfrid Laurier is an early (and very famous) Canadian Liberal Prime Minister.

Also, the idea of you googling "shorten the baby" makes me giggle. I suppose it says something about me that I just knew what that meant...

[kindness_says]

Today I was at a bridal shower and the actor I was with was talking about "standing up" at the wedding, and the groom and bridesman and I were all like, "..." and then she was like, "Is that a Midwest thing?" (she's from Wisconsin) and I was like OH. I did know what you meant! but it wasn't...yeah.

I think I've probably read the phrase before, but...I don't know, she was like SADDDDDDDDDD and I was like, "...o_o What are you doing that's so sad?!" Oh, gosh, though, makes me think of a status my old dance teacher posted recently about her little girl turning 7, and how were birthdays so exciting for the kids and so bittersweet for the parents...

[muramatsu_aoi]

1. Did you like the book? Do you like the setting of Anne married, or did you miss having her in school?

Yes! As much as I loathed Anne had to move away from Avonlea post marriage, I grew to love the Four Winds community in its own right. The only nitpick I have with LMM is that she sketches such memorable characters; and then leaves them behind for a new setting. Would have loved to have more of Marilla, Antony Pye, Diana, Mrs. Lynde & all the other characters.

2. How about those new characters? Leslie, Captain Jim, Cornelia, Susan, Jem, Owen - did you like their addition?

LOVE. I like the fact that each character had their own personality, with their own role in Anne's life. None of them came across as a Mary Sue. My favorites were Capt Jim & Cornelia.

3. What do you think of Gilbert in this book? Is there finally enough Gilbert for you? Do you like seeing what happens after the main couple gets married?ahh. I don't think there could be enough of Gilbert. For once, we were only seeing him as a husband-figure from Anne's POV;