The Emily Novels by L.M. Montgomery

NadineTimes10 · Post by **NadineTimes10** » 03 Apr 2015, 17:18

Emily of New Moon, Emily Climbs, and Emily's Quest make up my favorite series by one of my all-time favorite authors, Lucy Maud Montgomery.

I read the series in adolescence and again in adulthood to examine some of the literature that influenced my thought processes about growing up, back while I was growing up, and though I was introduced to Anne of Green Gables first--through television, videos, and hearing so much about her in general--I read all of Emily’s books before I read Anne’s. Black-haired, purplish-gray-eyed Emily is similar to red-haired, gray-eyed Anne in the fact that neither girl is generally agreed upon to be “beautiful,” so to speak (Emily not being beautiful so much as her countenance makes one think of beautiful things), but they’re the kind of girls people enjoy looking at anyway. What’s more, both girls are orphans, both girls are writers. But Emily takes her writing further than Anne does.

Emily’s series also resembles Anne’s in the sentiment that there’s a certain bleakness in the fact that childhood must inevitably pass and, alas, humans who live long enough are destined (or doomed?) to become adults at some point.

But I think Emily's series remains my favorite because of the way the poignancy of entering adulthood is brought out through the foursome of Emily, Teddy, Ilse, and Perry; because of the oh-so-aching theme of Dean, unfortunately called "Jarback" by the community; and also because, in some ways, I’ve related to Emily more than to any other character I’ve read. I so understand "the flash" and the pain and joys she experiences in friendship, in romance, and in writing.

Combine all that with Montgomery’s unfailingly splendid descriptions of nature and places like Blair Water, and it makes up some of the best reading of my life.

Ealasaid · Post by **Ealasaid** » 09 Apr 2015, 13:10

I re-read the Emily series every couple of years. I found them in my childhood after reading the Anne series and have been in love ever since. The similarities you note are very interesting. I only have fuzzy memories of Anne herself, since it has been more than 20 years since I read the Anne series; however, I do love the Anne movies.

Throughout my childhood and teen years and now through my adult years, I have watched Emily blossom through that quiet, imaginative little girl who lost her beloved father but found her place at achingly beautiful New Moon; to her sometimes angsty teenage years in Shrewsbury with cold; stern Aunt Ruth; to the darker adult years after Shrewsbury where Emily was so unsure of the path her life should take and if Teddy had any love for her.

I, too, related to Emily and maybe that is why I loved her character so much. And oh my, how I always wanted to have such a madcap chum as Ilse! I always loved the foursome of Emily, Ilse, Teddy and Perry. Just saying those names conjures up the pictures I have for them in my head.

And I adored the characters of Aunt Laura and Aunt Elizabeth, who loved Emily so much and whose lives were changed for the better after fate decided that she should live there. And Cousin Jimmy, who found in Emily a companion who understood him as no one had ever before.

Every time I do another read of those books, I am still amazed at how LM Montgomery brought every one of her characters to life!

NadineTimes10 · Post by **NadineTimes10** » 09 Apr 2015, 15:38

Ealasaid wrote:Every time I do another read of those books, I am still amazed at how LM Montgomery brought every one of her characters to life!

Me too! She just had such a distinct way with her characters, where you can see how "different" they are and yet you understand them. Even her settings, the towns and houses and trees and all, become memorable characters. Like, I'll never forget the Disappointed House in the Emily books; the house is like a person your heart just aches to help. I'm slowly adding more and more of Montgomery's books to my library. I'd eventually like to read them all--except maybe her short stories from "the dark side," since spooky stuff was another one of her specialties but sometimes too spooky for me.

I wish there were Emily movies! (Unless they do exist somewhere and I just haven't found them.) I've heard of the Emily of New Moon television series but have been a little nervous about checking it out. I suspect that stretching the book(s) into a whole TV series would require adding in quite a lot, like Little House on the Prairie did, and though that doesn't bother me with Little House, I'm not ready for it with Emily yet.

Ealasaid · Post by **Ealasaid** » 09 Apr 2015, 15:47

Oh my, the Disappointed House! She wrote that house as if it were alive. And the Wind Woman. And the Land of Uprightness. I could go on and on. She truly brought everything to life.

I read somewhere that LMM did suffer from depression in her life, and perhaps that is where some of the darkness in her writing comes from. But seriously, what author does not write a piece of themselves into their work?

I heard about the Emily TV series, but every single review I ever read about it said that it was tremendously awful.

I would love it if Sullivan Entertainment - the studio who brought the Anne movies to the screen - were to do Emily movies. I bet they would do a beautiful job.

That is funny that you mentioned the Little House series. I adore those books as well, and love the TV series. The differences are hilarious, though, especially in the later seasons. You hardly recognize the TV series as even belonging to the LHOTP books. But that doesn't bother me at all. I love both the books and the TV series!

NadineTimes10 · Post by **NadineTimes10** » 09 Apr 2015, 17:45

I've not seen as much of the later Little House seasons, but I recently started watching the series again from the very beginning and plan to work my way up.

And yes, it'd be great if Sullivan Entertainment could produce Emily movies. The filmmakers did a wonderful job of capturing the spirit of the Anne novels, and the casting was so on point. Imagine if an actress became Emily Byrd Starr from childhood to adulthood as excellently as Megan Follows became Anne Shirley!

Ealasaid · Post by **Ealasaid** » 10 Apr 2015, 08:47

It will be fun to watch the Little House seasons from the beginning. My daughters and I are reading the books from the beginning in the hope of visiting some of the Laura sites soon.

Megan Follows astounded me as Anne Shirley. The producers would have to work their tails off to find someone who could embody Emily as well as she embodied Anne!

lwahls2 · Post by **lwahls2** » 14 Apr 2020, 20:13

I know this is an old thread but I absolutely love LM Montgomery. While the Anne series is my favorite, the Emily series is great as well! I love to find other Anne lovers in the world, or "kindred spirits." LM Montgomery paints a beautiful picture and puts you right there with the characters of her books. Now if you excuse me, I'm about to go read Anne of Green Gables for the 1000th time.

NadineTimes10 · Post by **NadineTimes10** » 14 Apr 2020, 20:22

lwahls2 wrote: ↑14 Apr 2020, 20:13 Now if you excuse me, I'm about to go read Anne of Green Gables for the 1000th time.

!!

Lady-of-Literature · Post by **Lady-of-Literature** » 19 May 2020, 19:28

What makes the Emily's series so similar to Anne's and what are their differences?

EmmaZ · Post by **EmmaZ** » 23 Jul 2020, 10:21

I read the Emily Series when I was about 10 years old. I was shocked at first by how sad it is at the beginning but the main character, Emily, was so relatable for me that I had to find out what happened next! The series has been sitting on my bookshelf since then but I think they deserve to be reread soon.

NadineTimes10 · Post by **NadineTimes10** » 23 Jul 2020, 12:41

EmmaZ wrote: ↑23 Jul 2020, 10:21 I read the Emily Series when I was about 10 years old. I was shocked at first by how sad it is at the beginning but the main character, Emily, was so relatable for me that I had to find out what happened next! The series has been sitting on my bookshelf since then but I think they deserve to be reread soon.

It's quite the enlightening experience rereading this kind of series as an adult.

AGreatUsername · Post by **AGreatUsername** » 23 Jul 2020, 16:55

The Anne series is one of my all-time favorites. I've probably read it all the way through ten times or more, and the first book many times more than that. My copies are old and yellowed and frayed at the edges as any much-loved books should be, and I have the Kindle editions too. I remember reading Emily of New Moon at some point, but I don't think I ever read the rest of the series. I'll have to pick them up and give them a try after reading this thread, thanks for the info all!

EmmaZ · Post by **EmmaZ** » 02 Aug 2020, 13:23

NadineTimes10 wrote: ↑23 Jul 2020, 12:41
EmmaZ wrote: ↑23 Jul 2020, 10:21 I read the Emily Series when I was about 10 years old. I was shocked at first by how sad it is at the beginning but the main character, Emily, was so relatable for me that I had to find out what happened next! The series has been sitting on my bookshelf since then but I think they deserve to be reread soon.
It's quite the enlightening experience rereading this kind of series as an adult.

I haven't read them again yet but I completely agree. I've reread other childhood books and I think I loved them even more than I did the first time!

NadineTimes10 · Post by **NadineTimes10** » 02 Aug 2020, 13:30

EmmaZ wrote: ↑02 Aug 2020, 13:23 I haven't read them again yet but I completely agree. I've reread other childhood books and I think I loved them even more than I did the first time!

It's been the same for me and other favorite children's books.