Review: After Anne

There's not much worse for a reader than picking up a book you end up not liking. I’ve gotten way better over the years of not finishing books that aren’t thrilling me and actually DNF-ed one the same week I was reading After Anne. Perhaps that’s part of why I kept reading Logan Steiner’s book. To put down two books in a row? Ugh, no fun. The other part was I just kept hoping the book would get better. And, I admit, I wanted to see how Steiner would end the novel. All in all - I should not have let my love of Anne of Green Gables and Lucy Maud Montgomery blind me and I shouldn’t have read this book.

Here’s the description:

As a young woman, Maud had dreams bigger than the whole of Prince Edward Island. Her exuberant spirit had always drawn frowns from her grandmother and their neighbors, but she knew she was meant to create, to capture and share the way she saw the world. And the young girl in Maud’s mind became more and more persistent: Here is my story, she said. Here is how my name should be spelled—Anne with an “e.”
But the day Maud writes the first lines of Anne of Green Gables, she gets a visit from the handsome new minister in town, and soon faces a decision: forge her own path as a spinster authoress, or live as a rural minister’s wife, an existence she once likened to “a respectable form of slavery.” The choice she makes alters the course of her life.
With a husband whose religious mania threatens their health and happiness at every turn, the secret darkness that Maud herself holds inside threatens to break through the persona she shows to the world, driving an ever-widening wedge between her public face and private self, and putting her on a path towards a heartbreaking end.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that I love Anne of Green Gables. It’s kind of cliche for a Canadian reader to adore the series but adore it I do. When I was asked to review a fictionalized story about the author and it was compared to Jennifer Robson's novels, well, how was a girl to say no? First of all, Steiner does not even come close to Robson. Second, I think this book was just too fictionalized. I know I wasn’t reading a real biography but something rubbed me very much the wrong way when I learned a large chunk of the book (which seemed to be pulled from/inspired by real journal entries from Maud) was totally and completely made up.

I’ve tried to really think about why I was uncomfortable with the way Steiner approached Maud’s life. There was a tiny part of me that didn’t love that it was an American author taking on a Canadian legend. I figured that was a little bit…ridiculous, not to mention unfair, so I worked to set that aside. But I really didn’t like how she opened the novel - with Maud’s son being called to her house after her death and him realizing it was very likely a suicide. Now, I knew that Maud had had her challenges with her own mental health, as did her husband. But I didn’t know her granddaughter had stated in 2008 that Maud had died by suicide. Though that's still up for some debate - no autopsy was performed and other family members seem to think it could have been an accident. Was I just assuming that this book would be as light and lovely as most of Maud’s own books were? Probably. Was I opposed to having a less than ideal truth be exposed about one of my favourite authors? No, not necessarily. I really do appreciate the honesty as we, as a society, need to be less focused on putting on a sunshine and rainbows front when in public. I’m glad to have learned more but I’ve already gone looking for more accurate resources than this novel because I don’t trust the fictionalized version. I must admit that maybe I was a little sad to have to read that Maud was driven to end her own life - I don’t wish that upon anyone, and especially not the creator of one of the most beloved heroines in literature.

The subject matter should have been a win for me and, as I’ve tried to outline above, it was not. So how about the writing? Well. That wasn’t great either. The novel takes place over a number of years and Steiner did not write in a linear manner. I actually have no idea how many time periods were mentioned and I did not enjoy all the time jumping. It was far too confusing and not done well.

Another reviewer on Goodreads mentioned that one should just read Maud’s own journals instead of this novel and I would have to agree. I think Logan Steiner’s heart was in the right place - at least I hope it was - but After Anne was a major miss for me. Hopefully her next novel is better but I’m not sure if I’ll be picking it up.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, William Morrow (HarperCollins) via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.* 

Review: Anne of Manhattan

I have loved Anne of Green Gables for a long, long time. It's one of the first big girl books I remember reading and it was so long ago that I can't really remember when I first picked it up. But I remember the feeling of reading the series and how much I loved the wonderful, descriptive world L.M. Montgomery created and the dreamy red-headed orphan who inhabited it. I've reread them all and have watched most adaptations. I've seen a stage production. I've visited Montgomery landmarks - though Green Gables still eludes me. Maybe in 2022? Even though I'm a really big Anne fan, I welcome additions to the Green Gables world so it was with cautious optimism that I requested to review Brina Starler's Anne of Manhattan, just published earlier this month. And, friends? I adored it.

Here's the book's description:

After an idyllic girlhood in Avonlea, Long Island, Anne has packed up her trunk, said goodbye to her foster parents, Marilla and Matthew, and moved to the isle of Manhattan for grad school. Together with her best friend, Diana Barry, she’s ready to take on the world and find her voice as a writer.When her long-time archrival Gilbert Blythe shows up at Redmond College for their final year, Anne gets the shock of her life. Gil has been in California for the last five years—since he kissed her during a beach bonfire, and she ghosted him. Now the handsome brunette is flashing his dimples at her like he hasn’t a care in the world and she isn’t buying it.
Paired with the same professor for their thesis, the two former competitors come to a grudging peace that turns into something so much deeper…and sexier than either intended. But when Gil seemingly betrays her to get ahead, Anne realizes she was right all along—she should never have trusted Gilbert Blythe.
While Gil must prove to Anne that they’re meant to be together, she must come to terms with her old fears if she wants a happily-ever-after with the boy she’s always (secretly) loved.

One thing you must know is that Anne of the Island is my favourite of the series and I've been hoping for years that someone would do a true adaptation of that book. Anne with an E didn't get that far into the series and the mini-series from the '80s didn't quite interpret the third book in the series  as I would have liked. So. I was really, really excited when I realized that Starler's novel was essentially going to be a modern Anne of the Island. It's just the island in question is in New York, not Canada. And, you know, it's present day, not the late 1800s. I liked that Starler aged Anne for the story, too. She's in her mid-twenties in the book and is working on her Master's so she's not a new college student. She's still young but she's grown up, too. All of that made for a story that just hit a lot of my favourite things so it's no real surprise that I enjoyed the book.

For the most part, Starler did a good job at honouring the feeling of the characters Montgomery created. Though I did find Anne to be a bit more...organized and precise than she should have been. I didn't really expect to see the dreaminess of a young girl but she seemed to be more controlled and, dare I say boring, than I thought that girl would have grown up like. But the friendships with Diana and Phil and Jane were just as you'd expect (even if the story is more about Anne and Gil than Anne and her bosom friends). The women are ride or die and even if they weren't in the story as much as I wanted, you knew they were in Anne's corner. Marilla and Matthew were as delightful as ever and Rachel's busybody-ness was softened. Starler updated the characters' skin colours and sexual preferences, as you may expect from a book set in present day NYC. And Gilbert? Still my OG Book Boyfriend. I was swooning constantly.

Speaking of...it was a bit weird to be reading as Anne and Gilbert had sex because, well, this is ANNE. But it's also a modern day love story and a girl has needs. The romance was swoonworthy and you'll probably need a fan during the steamier scenes. And even though I knew how things turn out for Anne and Gilbert in the original story, I was still super invested in discovering how their Happily Ever After would turn out in this adaptation.

The novel has both present day and flashback scenes and both Anne and Gilbert have chapters from their perspectives. The "then" chapters tell the modern day version of Anne of Green Gables and outlines how Anne came to arrive at Green Gables and the interactions between her and Gil when they were younger. I liked having past and present come together and appreciated seeing the story from each character's point of view.

I enjoyed Anne of Manhattan so much. Adaptations of beloved classics aren't for everyone and they aren't always well done but I was happy with Brina Starler's novel. It was a familiar story that made my heart so happy but it was modernized just enough to be a fresh story for today's readers. I'd recommend it to those who enjoy adaptations. If you're more of a purist, maybe pass on it.

*An egalley was provided by the publisher, HarperCollins Canada, via Edelweiss in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Marilla of Green Gables

Like most Canadian girls, I love Anne of Green Gables. I've read the books (multiple times), watched the Megan Follows movies (multiple times), and have been watching Anne with an E, the newest TV adaptation, as well. So when I heard Sarah McCoy had written a novel about Marilla, I was excited. Cautious but excited. I try to go into adaptations and the like with an open mind but of course I'm always a little worried about what a new person (whether it be an author, actor, director) will do to the original work. Marilla of Green Gables isn't perfect - because nothing can be perfect - but it was enjoyable and, I think, a worthy addition to the world of Anne.

Here's the (extremely long) synopsis (which I didn't even bother reading before requesting this book because I knew I'd want to read it no matter what):

A bold, heartfelt tale of life at Green Gables . . . before Anne: A marvelously entertaining and moving historical novel, set in rural Prince Edward Island in the nineteenth century, that imagines the young life of spinster Marilla Cuthbert, and the choices that will open her life to the possibility of heartbreak—and unimaginable greatness
Plucky and ambitious, Marilla Cuthbert is thirteen years old when her world is turned upside down. Her beloved mother has dies in childbirth, and Marilla suddenly must bear the responsibilities of a farm wife: cooking, sewing, keeping house, and overseeing the day-to-day life of Green Gables with her brother, Matthew and father, Hugh.
In Avonlea—a small, tight-knit farming town on a remote island—life holds few options for farm girls. Her one connection to the wider world is Aunt Elizabeth “Izzy” Johnson, her mother’s sister, who managed to escape from Avonlea to the bustling city of St. Catharines. An opinionated spinster, Aunt Izzy’s talent as a seamstress has allowed her to build a thriving business and make her own way in the world.
Emboldened by her aunt, Marilla dares to venture beyond the safety of Green Gables and discovers new friends and new opportunities. Joining the Ladies Aid Society, she raises funds for an orphanage run by the Sisters of Charity in nearby Nova Scotia that secretly serves as a way station for runaway slaves from America. Her budding romance with John Blythe, the charming son of a neighbor, offers her a possibility of future happiness—Marilla is in no rush to trade one farm life for another. She soon finds herself caught up in the dangerous work of politics, and abolition—jeopardizing all she cherishes, including her bond with her dearest John Blythe. Now Marilla must face a reckoning between her dreams of making a difference in the wider world and the small-town reality of life at Green Gables.

McCoy does a wonderful job of capturing the essence of Green Gables and Avonlea. Her Marilla was quite similar to Montgomery's Anne (not too surprising since the novel starts with Marilla at about the same age as Anne was when she first came to Green Gables) which, for the most part, was lovely and seemed true to the Marilla we all know and love. I did find myself sometimes wondering if she really would have been that imaginative or outspoken. It was hard to reconcile younger Marilla with older Marilla. She became a bit more recognizable after a heartbreaking event (which I did see coming but that doesn't make it any less devastating) because she loses her innocence. As she gets older, though, she finishes her schooling and stays up to date with politics - even voicing her opinion at a town hall. That didn't really feel familiar but it was enjoyable to read nonetheless.

Speaking of the politics, those parts of the story are really what made me recognize that this wasn't a Green Gables story written by Montgomery. Further, that this wasn't a book written during the 1800s. It's a historical novel written in the present day and reads as such. I don't recall Montgomery ever really noting what was happening in Canada or the world as Anne was growing up. There may have been passing mention of a Prime Minister or something of that nature, but Marilla was very clearly living and engaging in her time. This wasn't a bad thing...it's just a thing that makes it a McCoy novel instead of anything else. Does that make sense? Related to the history - I was amused when it was revealed that Izzy, Marilla's aunt, lived in St. Catharines because that's where I live. It wasn't until much later that you realize the importance of this.

I did really like that McCoy peppered the story with familiar names and faces. Meeting a young Rachel Lynde (née White) was way more fun than I thought it would be. It's hard to relate to Rachel in Anne of Green Gables but I think I like her even more now. In any other prequel, I think it would have been odd to have the same families show up but this is Avonlea after all. Most people never leave so of course the same names (Andrews, Sloan, Barry, just to name a few) would carry on from Marilla's youth to Anne's.

McCoy notes in her Author's Note that the book all started when she couldn't stop thinking about a line from Anne of Green Gables, Chapter 37 (emphasis is McCoy's):

"What a nice-looking fellow he is," said Marilla absently. "I saw him in church last Sunday and he seemed so tall and manly. He looks a lot like his father did at the same age. John Blythe was a nice boy. We used to be real good friends, he and I. People called him my beau."
Anne looked up with swift interest.
"Oh, Marilla - and what happened?"

I'm sure I thought the same as Anne and McCoy throughout the years but the difference between me and McCoy is she had to do something about it. Marilla of Green Gables is her answer to Anne's question. What did happen between Marilla and John Blythe? I think this is where McCoy shone. She tells the story of young love so wonderfully that my heart was full and aching through the entire book because I, of course, knew how things turned out for Marilla and John.

Finally, I have to share a quote from page 159 that Anne fans will love because it really shows the connection between Marilla and Anne plus how well McCoy knows and understands Montgomery's work:

Never mind today, she thought. There was no undoing the mistakes in it. But tomorrow was new with time a-plenty to make things right.

Love love love.

I could probably discuss and pick apart this novel until the Cuthberts' cows came home to Green Gables but I won't. I'll simply say this: Anne of Green Gables fans should be thrilled with Sarah McCoy's Marilla of Green Gables. It captures the heart of Marilla and Green Gables and should find it's way to every Anne lover's bookshelf.

*An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher, HarperCollins Canada, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Top Ten Tuesday: All About Romance

Created by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature. (Side note: I only did one TTT in 2016! And it was over a year ago! Crazy.)

Happy Valentine's Day, bookworms! Are you doing anything special today? Nothing planned for me. We're not into celebrating Valentine's Day so it's just another Tuesday in our house. Even though I'm not part of a typically romantic couple, I adore romances. I will read pretty much any book that has any hint of a romance - chick lit, women's fiction, literary fiction, historical fiction, and, of course, romances. Gimme 'em all. I'm interpreting today's TTT of All About Romance Tropes/Types as a list of my favourite tropes. I've included an example for each so you get a better idea of what I mean by the trope. Links lead to Goodreads. I only came up with eight because, to be honest, it was getting late on Monday night and I needed to get to bed! What are some of your favourite romance tropes?

Small Town
This is, hands down, one of my favourite tropes. I don't really know why because I wanted to get out of my own small hometown so badly but I guess there's just something about stories in teeny little towns to tug at my heart.

Example: I love Nora Roberts' Inn Boonsboro series and thought The Perfect Hope was the perfect way to wrap up the series. Bonus: you can actually visit the Inn and bookstore. Nora and her husband own them!

Second Chance
I think I love these stories so much because, like most people, I always wonder about what could have happened if life had gone one way instead of another. (To be clear, these days I wonder about more career related things than relationships gone wrong!)

Example: Jennifer Weiner puts her own (fantastic) spin on the second chance romances in Who Do You Love.

Classic Example: Persuasion by Jane Austen. And there have been so many books written that pay homage to this wonderful story, too!

Christmas
I absolutely adore Christmas and one of my favourite things about the holiday is reading all of the romances that have anything to do with Christmas. It does get annoying when "Christmas" gets slapped on a story that barely has a whiff of peppermint or evergreen. But...when there is the holiday spirit and a sweet romance? Oh, I'm a happy girl.

Example: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is, well, simply wonderful. It has the Christmas spirit and it's by one of my favourite author/blogger/people, Marie Landry. Bonus: It also takes place in a small town and is a second chance romance.

Summer Vacation
This trope is only really applicable to YA novels. I think I have a fondness for them because I had quite a few summer romances in high school. There's just something magical about those few months off school when the weather is beautiful and you don't have a care in the world.

Example: Sarah Dessen wins all of the summer vacation stories. Yes, there are other, amazing authors, like Morgan Matson, but I've been reading Dessen for so long that summer vacation = her novels. Along for the Ride is my favourite summer story because it also takes place in a beach town.

Friends to Lovers
This trope can be overdone but when it's done right? I love it. One friend realizes they have feelings for the other but they don't know if the feelings are reciprocated. Such tension!

Example: Anne of the Island. There are so many great examples but...it's Anne and Gilbert. Swoon.

Boy/Girl Next Door
This kind of carries on from the friends to lovers but I just really like when two friends grow up together and end up realizing they're in love with each other.

YA Example: My Life with the Walter Boys was so much fun to read. I need more!

Athletes
Either I haven't found enough or there just aren't enough sportsing romances out there. Good ones, of course. I particularly need more with baseball or hockey or basketball. There are enough football books out there already. Anyway. I've played sports and enjoy watching them so I also really enjoy reading about athletes falling in love. And yes, I'm being a bit sexist when I think of these types of stories. Tall, strong, men with all sorts of other redeeming qualities on top of their athletic prowess? Yum.

Example: This was a really hard one to choose because the few I've read (there should be more!) are all so good. But my virtual bestie, Laura Chapman, has an awesome series about football (yes, I know what I just said) that everyone should read. Start with First & Goal.

Road Trip/Vacation
This is sort of the adult version of the summer vacation trope. I like reading about couples who are in a different place than they're used to and either fall in love or fall in love more deeply while they're vacationing.

Example: Karina Halle has written so many books that would suit for a lot of these tropes (without being cliche...important!) but one of my favourites of hers is Where Sea Meets Sky which brings a guy from BC to New Zealand because he's chasing after a girl.

Top Ten Tuesday: Fall TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

Tomorrow is the first official day of fall! Can you believe it? As much as I love fall clothing, I am not looking forward to cooler weather and Canadian winter! The books I've included in this week's Top Ten Tuesday are a mix of titles. Some of them are not released yet so I'm looking forward to reading them as soon as they're released. Others are for events, book clubs, blog tours, or just because. What are you looking forward to reading this fall?

Racing the Sun - Karina Halle
This is a bit of a cheat as I just started it yesterday but I need to have it done before the weekend so I can pass it (and another of Halle's) onto a friend I'm seeing on Sunday!

Surviving Ice - K.A. Tucker (publication date: October 27)
I'm so excited for this last book in the Burying Water series! More than I thought I would be, actually. I'll admit that I'm still not sure if I'll love reading about Ivy but I love Tucker so I know it'll be a good story.

The Girl on the Train - Paula Hawkins
This is a book I've been thinking about reading and I always decide not to because it's so not my usual fare. However, the time has come for me to dive in because I'll be leading the discussion for next month's Beer and Books event the library I work at holds every month. Can't run a meeting without reading the book first!

Avelynn - Marissa Campbell
This will be a read for the magazine I review for. Apparently it will appeal to fans of Outlander!

Smoke - Catherine McKenzie (publication date: October 20)
Catherine is one of my favourite authors. I actually have a signed ARC from BEA that I've been holding off on reading. I think I just wanted to wait until closer to the publication date (it feels like a fall book) plus I know as soon as I read it I'll have to start waiting all over again for her next book!

Anne of Ingleside - L.M. Montgomery
I've gotten back into the swing of things with the Green Gables Readalong. This one is October's read.

Poles Apart - Terry Fallis (publication date: October 20)
I've still only read one of Fallis' novels but I'm going to rectify that soon with his upcoming book. I have an ARC (that the boyfriend has already devoured) that I'm really looking forward to reading!

A Sister's Place - Savannah Page
I've read and loved Page's other works (the When Girlfriends... series) so I'm excited about this one. I have to have it read before November for a blog tour.

The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah
This one will be next month's book club pick. I just had my first meeting last night and put the book on reserve at my library. 23 holds. Gulp.

The Vintage Guide to Love and Romance - Kirsty Greenwood
I've received a few books from publishers in the last little while and this is the one I'm most looking forward to diving into. It seems like it'll be really different and fun!

Top Ten Tuesday: Best of 2015 So Far

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

We're halfway through 2015 (how did that happen?) so it's fitting that this week's TTT topic has us listing our favourite reads of the year so far. Yikes. It's hard! Apparently I've read a lot of good books this year. I managed to get it down to 10 but if you want to see all the books I've loved this year, check out my Goodreads page! What have some of your favourite reads been this year? Links will lead to reviews or, more likely, the Goodreads page. (I'm soooo behind on reviews!)

Anne of Green Gables/Avonlea/the Island/Windy Poplars - Lucy Maud Montgomery
Lindsey of Reeder Reads decided to do a Green Gables Readalong that, if I'm being honest, a lot of us are failing at. BUT! It is an amazing idea. I adored the Anne books when I was younger and rereading them has been fabulous. I'd forgotten how lovely the story and writing is. I can't wait to get my TBR list down a bit and continue reading the last four books. If I had to pick a winner of the four I've reread so far though, Anne of the Island would definitely come out on top.

Saint Anything - Sarah Dessen
Guys. I cannot tell you how much I loved Dessen's latest book. I wasn't crazy about her last two so I wasn't sure what to expect with Saint Anything. This one is a bit darker than her others (and I'm SO GLAD the cover design reflects that and didn't make it all girly like they tend to be for hers...but I'm veering off into another topic altogether...) but that's kind of what makes it oh so good. It's real and raw and just amazing. Read it.

99 Days - Katie Cotugno
I heard about this YA novel through Jamie (who, you should already know, is behind Broke and Bookish and also her fab blog The Perpetual Page-Turner). I totally trust her YA recommendations because she is a contemporary lover and that's really the only YA I read. I haven't read Cotugno's first, How to Love, yet but I imagine I will soon because I just really loved how her latest novel was written and I loved Molly, the main character. She's in a crazy messy situation, which won't be for everyone, but I thought the feelings Molly was having were totally spot on.

Four Seconds to Lose - KA Tucker
I keep reading the next in Tucker's series (this one is the third in the Ten Tiny Breaths, which I loved) and saying to myself, "Oh, there's no way I could love the next one more." That's why I give myself breaks between them because I don't think I can handle jumping into another character's life. But. I really think Four Seconds to Lose is my favourite of the three I've read (just put the last one on reserve at my library!) so far. Maybe. Oh, I don't know anymore. Long story short: I just effing love Tucker's books.

The Royal We - Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
I could not stop reading this book! You don't have to be a royals lover to enjoy it but having at least some sense of Will and Kate's relationship will probably make you like the book more. The book is hilarious but it has all the emotions you want and need packed in its (many, many, many) pages.

At the Water's Edge - Sara Gruen
I adored this historical fiction novel. I loved that it was set in Scotland but I equally loved reading as the main character, Maddie, learned about herself. The story gets a little harrowing at times, you're not entirely sure how stable her husband is, but the high emotions and tension are what suck you into this story.

The Marrying Type - Laura Chapman
I love books about wedding planners, I love books that are a subtle nod or homage to Jane Austen's novels, and I love Laura. So, it's no surprise that I loved her latest, The Marrying Type. It's a fun book with a lot of heart.

In the Unlikely Event - Judy Blume
I admit that I actually couldn't tell you exactly what Judy Blume books I read growing up. Are you there God? It's me, Margaret, for sure. But other than that? No clue. But that didn't stop me from wanting to read her new book. She's a legend for a reason. And oh man am I ever glad I read this one. The story is so captivating and I actually loved that so many characters were able to tell their part of the story. It sounds like it wouldn't work, and from any other author it might not, but in Blume's hands, it adds to the crazy nature of the story. Make sure you read this one.

The Knockoff - Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza
Another admission: I wasn't sure how much I'd love this book. But the good news is I loved it a lot! The story takes a very real problem (those who don't understand the technology being shoved at them by the younger and (generally) more tech-savvy generation) and makes it extreme. And it's awesome that it's extreme because that's what you expect in a novel about the fashion world. It's the perfect read for the summer.

China Rich Girlfriend - Kevin Kwan
This one was probably my most anticipated read of 2015. I freaking loved Crazy Rich Asians when I read it two years ago and could not wait to get back into the insane life of these characters. The imagery in this one is amazing and the story is so crazy but so good. I'm already impatient for the third book! And the film adaptation! Whee!

O Canada!

Happy Canada Day to all my lovely Canadian readers!

In honour of our country's birth I've decided to do a (very) little round up of some Canadian authors because, as Indigo puts it on their Pinterest board, the world needs more Canada.

Whenever anyone asks me about Canadian literature my first answer is always Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. I adore Anne. In fact, I even had an Anne doll when I was growing up...and a picture...and bookmark...and little ceramic container with her straw hat as the lid...and...well, the list could go on and on. If I remember correctly, there was one summer when I was in my very early teens when I decided to read every single Anne book in one summer (that's 8 books in all, by the by). What can I say? The little red headed orphan grabbed me and I loved reading about her. I've seen the movie with Megan Follows numerous times and I've even seen a play. Sadly, I have yet to get to Prince Edward Island to see Green Gables but it's on my unofficial bucket list.

A more current Canadian author I'm absolutely in love with is Catherine McKenzie. She's written three novels so far - Spin, Arranged, and Forgotten (links lead to my reviews). Her books don't necessarily take place in Canada but the fact that she's from this great country (Montreal, to be precise) is pretty fantastic. Her books are now released in the US as well so American readers can now enjoy the awesomeness that are McKenzie's novels.

Through my blogging and challenge participation I've come across two fabulous Canadian chick lit authors - Kathleen Kole and Heather Wardell. My favourite of Kole's is definitely her latest - Favorable Conditions (review is here) and I haven't read a Wardell novel that I haven't liked. I am eagerly awaiting what both wonderful ladies come up with next.

There are so many other Canadian authors out there but I admit that I have not read nearly enough Canadian literature. Perhaps I'll make it a Canada Day Resolution to read more novels by authors from this great country. :)

I hope you all have a wonderful Canada Day (or Sunday for those of you who aren't celebrating this particular holiday) filled with reading, sun, and fireworks.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Childhood Faves

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. They created this feature because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to start participating in this fun feature. This week's list is Top Ten Childhood Faves. Don't forget to check out their blog for a full list of everyone participating.

I decided to start with this week and Top Ten Childhood Faves because I've always been a huge reader. My mom used to read to my sister and I all the time and we just kept on going once we were able to read on our own. This list is a mix of both from when I was just a toddler up until the end of grade eight (that's when I decided childhood stops). Because I was such a book addict (ha..."was"...yeah, I still am) I had to create an Honourable Mentions part to this post because I couldn't settle on just ten! I hope you enjoy this list :)

1. Little House Books - Laura Ingalls Wilder
This favourite comes with a really amusing story. The nursery school I went to was accidentally sent a complete box set with a big book order. I was only four years old at the time but they obviously knew I was going to be an avid reader so the teacher told my mom she could have it. I'm so glad I got that set because it was one of my favourites growing up. I even read all the other books that were about her mom, daughter, and so on. They were definitely more fictionalized but I loved them just the same.

2. Anne of Green Gables Set - Lucy Maud Montgomery
If you looked for a Canadian girl who's never heard of Anne of Green Gables I'm sure you'd only come up with a handful. This is a classic that's been read many times over by many girls. I devoured all of the books in one summer and I've also watched the movies and even a few episodes of the animated series!

3. The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear - Audrey and Don Wood
I absolutely adored this picture book. It has the best story and some amazing artwork. This little mouse is trying to hide a gigantic strawberry from the bear with some hilarious results. If you're looking for a book for a young kid I definitely recommend you order this one!

4. Cinderella
Oh, Cinderella. What little girl doesn't fall in love with one of the Disney princesses? In my case, I adored Cinderella. When I was little my mom used to read me this story All. The. Time. From what I've been told, she would read it to me before bed and I would always fall asleep. It didn't matter if it was the first story or the third, without fail, I would fall into a Disney filled slumber after hearing the story of Cinderella and her glass slipper. While this story may appear as though I didn't like the book (I mean, who falls asleep during something they enjoy?) I like to think of it as a soothing story that was so comfortable and familiar that I was able to sleep soundly. :)

5. The Baby-Sitter's Club Series - Ann M. Martin
I loved loved loved this series when I was younger. There were so many to choose from at the library and I was always upset when one was missing. If I remember correctly, I had to make sure I read them in order. They were numbered for a reason! I think many girls grew up wanting to have a profitable babysitting  business just like Krisy, Claudia, Mary Anne, and Stacey. They seemed to have it all together! And the super specials? Fantastic. They were so much bigger with a much more involved storyline! When I used to work in a bookstore I always wanted to recommend this series but they're so outdated and hard to find that I never felt I could. Not to worry! You can now purchase updated and released versions of the books. Now, go find a twelve year old girl to give them to. And throw in the movie too...classic :)

6. Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis
I have to confess that I haven't actually read the entire series. I know, I know. It's on my list of favourites and I haven't read all the books. I fail. However! I have read up to Prince Caspian (did a book report on that one in grade seven. Complete with a map and a stuffed sword fighting mouse!) and always enjoyed the fantasy and magical feeling the books gave me. An enchanted wardrobe that led you to a whole other universe? Count me in.

7. Winnie the Pooh - A.A. Milne
The Bear with Little Brain. He is probably the best bear ever (though I'm sure some would argue with me. Any takers?) and most loved by many generations. I'm in my twenties and still love him. In fact, I have asked for the newest movie for Christmas! Now if that doesn't make me the coolest person ever, I don't know what will. I loved Pooh Bear so much that I actually did a speech on him in grade seven (that appears to have been a good year school project-wise for me). I may have even moved on to the second level - speaking in the gym - that year! (I was painfully shy so to read a speech to many people was a big deal for me.) The story about a boy and his bear is so classic that it's no wonder he's stuck around for so many years.

8. Harry Potter Series - J.K. Rowling
Whenever I read Harry Potter I am always thankful that my younger sister was at just the right age when they became popular. We weren't one of the early adopters but I think we were one of the first to jump on the bandwagon after the first three books were released. And, boy, am I ever glad we did. My sister and I are definitely a little obsessed (she's done the midnight line up to buy the books. I never went that far figuring that she'll stand in line, read the book, and then pass it onto me) and we're totally ok with that. These books are best sellers for a reason. The story is great and your imagination goes wild when reading them. Thank you J.K. Rowling for creating such an amazing world and allowing us to be a part of it.

9. Little Women  - Louisa May Alcott
No, I was not a crazy advanced reader. My grandmother bought me an abridged copy of the classic and I used to read it all the time. And I admit, I still have not read the full novel. It's currently open on my Kobo and is waiting patiently for me to get started. There's just something about a story of four sisters who were so different yet so similar that I really liked.

10. The Wonderful Pigs of Jillian Jiggs - Pheobe Gilman
Jillian Jiggs was great. There were a couple of books written about her crazy life but the one I remember most is the one where she makes all sorts of pigs out of old nylons. She had old pigs and young pigs, fat pigs and skinny pigs and she didn't want to sell any of them! The drawings and story were just downright adorable.

Honourable Mentions

- Berenstain Bears - Stan and Jan Berenstain
- Charlotte's Web - E.B. White
- Amelia Bedelia - Peggy Parish
- His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
- Circle of Magic  - Tamora Pierce

I hope you have enjoyed this massively long post and amusing (I hope) insight into my childhood. I sure had fun writing this and I came across two really amusing sites that any child of the nineties will appreciate. Check them out here and here and have a good laugh. I would love to hear what some of your favourites are too so please leave a comment!

Happy reading :)

September Chick Lit Review: Arranged

Ever read a book that you almost didn't want to finish because you didn't want it to be over but you desperately needed to find out what happened to the characters? Arranged by Catherine McKenzie was one of those books for me. I did not want to put it down! As much as I wanted to know what happened at the end of the story, I also didn't want it to be over because I wanted to stay engrossed Anne's life.

Want to know what this amazing book is about? Well, no need to wait any longer - here's the synopsis from Goodreads:

Anne Blythe has a great life: a good job, good friends, and a potential book deal for her first novel. When it comes to finding someone to share it with, however, she just can't seem to get it right.

After yet another relationship ends, Anne comes across a business card for what she thinks is a dating service, and she pockets it just in case. When her best friend, Sarah, announces she's engaged, Anne can't help feeling envious. On an impulse, she decides to give the service a try because maybe she could use a little assistance in finding the right man. But Anne soon discovers the company isn't a dating service; it's an exclusive, and pricey, arranged marriage service. She initially rejects the idea, but the more she thinks about it-and the company's success rate-the more it appeals to her. After all, arranged marriages are the norm for millions of women around the world, so why wouldn't it work for her?

A few months later, Anne is travelling to a Mexican resort, where in one short weekend she will meet and marry Jack. And against all odds, it seems to be working out-until Anne learns that Jack, and the company that arranged their marriage, are not what they seem at all.

 Wondering why the name Catherine McKenzie sounds familiar? Regular readers of my blog (and I love you guys!) will know that I read her first novel Spin awhile back (read my review here!) and absolutely loved it. I had actually picked up Arranged while I was in Chapters before I read Spin but didn't buy it. Once I got Spin from the library and devoured it I went right out and purchased Arranged. I'm so glad that I did.



Oh, Anne with an E. I love you.

 First of all, I LOVE that the main character's name was Anne Shirley Blythe. Yes. Named for that Anne Shirley. Anne of Green Gables was one of my favourites growing up and I know I'm not alone. Many Canadian girls grew up reading about this innocent red headed orphan. Highly recommended! Anyway, it was a little extra something in the novel that I just couldn't not mention. :)

Staying with Anne - I loved her. I think she was an amazing character and McKenzie made sure that the reader really got a sense of what Anne was like. She's a much more "with it" character than Katie in Spin but she still had some, shall we say, flaws that she had to work on throughout the course of the novel.

Anne also had a great cast of supporting characters - her best friend Sarah, boss/editor/friend William, brother Gilbert (yes, Gilbert Blythe), and sister-in-law Cathy. The only thing I'd say is that there were perhaps too many secondary characters and I didn't get a real sense of any of them. However, they were all there for Anne and that's quite important.

The story itself seems a little crazy but it really isn't. You just don't hear about arranged marriages very often anymore. I'm actually very curious as to how McKenzie came up with this idea. It's just such an interesting topic that I found myself wondering how many people have arranged marriages these days.

As for Jack? Loved him too. He really does seem like a perfect match for Anne but a good story can't be, well, good without some twists and turns. McKenzie delivers and makes you wonder how everything's going to turn out. The chemistry between Jack and Anne is just sexy enough and pretty realistic. Granted, I don't know what it would be like to jet off to Mexico to marry a man without ever meeting him before, but, hey, anything can happen on "vacation" :)

Finally, one other tidbit about this book that I loved - after a catastrophic revelation Anne is watching a marathon of Gilmore Girls on tv. As it turns out, Anne and I have the same favourite Gilmore Girls episode! It's the episode when Luke and Lorelai finally kiss for the first time (though the episode before that, Liz's wedding, is also a fave episode). I just thought it was pretty neat that we loved the same episode. Kinda geeky, I know. But I'm ok with that!
Exciting side note: While checking out Catherine's website I discovered that she has a third novel, Forgotten, coming out sometime...well, sometime. SO EXCITED! :) You can bet that I'll be reading it as soon as I can get my hot little hands on it.

Any readers from the States concerned that they can't get a copy of this easily? Not to worry! You can buy Arranged for Kindle (ok, it won't let me link which is SUPER annoying but go to Amazon.com, search for the book and it's there. Unless it's lying to me. I'm sorry if that's the case) AND Spin, Arranged, and the forthcoming Forgotten will all be published by HarperCollins in the US next year. Canadian friends, on the other hand, have no excuses. Buy Arranged and Spin right now. Read and enjoy. You won't be disappointed!

Happy reading :)