Anne of Windy Poplars is the fourth novel in the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery.
Finished on: 19.1.2022
[Here are my reviews of the other novels in the series.]

Plot:
Anne has finally graduated from Redmond college and has taken a job as the principal and teacher of Summerside High School while Gilbert remains at medical school to finish his studies. She writes him letters from Summerside and Windy Poplars, the house she found a room to board in together with two elderly widows and their housekeeper (and their cat). Anne has a tough start in Summerside, but she is determined to win everybody over.

I really didn’t expect to enjoy the Anne of Green Gables series as much as I do when I first set out to read the first novel. But their kindness and warmth is simply fantastic, and Anne of Windy Poplars is especially populated by so many wonderful characters, it’s just heart-warming.

Anne of Windy Poplars is basically an epistolary novel which I quite liked. I just like epistolary novels in general. Here, it also gives us a bit more insight into Anne’s and Gilbert’s relationship despite him not being present which I found a really good move. It also turns a bit steamy, something I never expected I’d write about an Anne of Green Gables novel.

It is lovely to see how much Anne has grown over the years – and how much she still continues to grow. And that growing doesn’t mean that she has to leave her fanciful and spirited nature behind. Just that she better knows who she is and how to take care of and use herself.

In any case, Anne of Windy Poplars has again so many wonderful characters around Anne and Montgomery has such a vivid way of describing the community of Summerside that they really come to life. And while she is an excellent observer of characters, and of how people are flawed (and that absolutely includes Anne), the way she perceives and describes them is so full of love and humor. You don’t need to be flawless to be appreciated in these novels. And I think that’s what makes them so wonderful.

I, for one, am looking very much forward to continuing Anne’s journey with her.

Summarizing: lovely.