Anne of Avonlea

1909, 1988 Bantam Classic edition
L. M. Montgomery
Anne of Avonlea
Original price $2.95, purchase price $1.75
OK condition paperback
B

The second "Anne" book is just as good as the first.  It covers the two years in which Anne teaches at her old school, and learns a few things herself.  The school parts are fine, but I prefer to read about the AVIS campaign to beautify Avonlea and Miss Lavendar's middle-aged romance.  Anne is 16 to 18 in this story, so she's more grown-up but still getting into scrapes.  She helps Marilla raise twins that a distant relative has left, bratty Davy and boring Dora.  I could've done without this thread, but I guess Montgomery felt that there wasn't enough of children saying the darnedest things.  Fourteen-year-old Charlotta the Fourth is my favorite new character, but I don't think she comes back.  The Mr. and Mrs. Harrison thread is pretty good, although I was surprised that Ginger the parrot is killed off so soon.  There are more references to Canadian politics than usual, and confusingly Mrs. Lynde, who doesn't believe in higher education for women, is a Liberal.

The book ends with Miss Lavendar's wedding, as Anne and Gilbert prepare to go off to Redmond College.  He's been carrying a torch for her for years, but she only gets a sense of it now.  Despite her romantic imagination, she doesn't seem to see what's right in front of her.  She's quicker to spot Diana & Fred.  I don't remember Fred in the first book, but suddenly he's there as part of the gang.  Anne's sad to lose her best friend to marriage, but at least it'll be a long engagement.  Not only does Mrs. Barry want Diana wait till she's 21, but the third Anne book must wait till 1915....