The pictures are wonderful! I stopped reading after the first few chapters though because I'm just not that interested in the author's life. If you are, you should really enjoy this. ( )

This book is a combination biography, textual commentary, and photographs about the love of nature that L.M. Montgomery and her creation Anne of Green Gables have in common.

Any fan of L.M. Montgomery's work will enjoy this book. It manages to weave together the basic facts of L.M. Montgomery's life, from childhood through her sad death, and at the same time evoke happy memories from her novels, particularly the Anne ones.

It's not hard to see that L.M. Montgomery found particular solace in the woods, gardens, and landscapes of her home on Prince Edward Island. Passages from her journal confirm that in the midst of any distress, she sought the outdoors. There are some stunning photographs from the island in this book, especially the seascapes. The conclusion of the book becomes ever more poignant as you realize that L.M. Montgomery became an exile from her beloved island after her marriage, a circumstance that likely contributed to eventual overwhelming depression. When combined with her husband's worsening bouts of insanity, the fact that she endured as well as she did is remarkable.

While this book certainly delves into both the bitter and the sweet, it does a good job at keeping front and center the landscapes and restorative power of nature that are right at the heart of most of L.M. Montgomery's work. It inspires the reader to look for beauty in the world and treasure it, no matter what.

***I received an advance copy of this via NetGalley. To be published March 2018. ( )

As a little girl, I thought Anne and I were kindred spirits. I still think we are kindred spirits. Doesn't matter where I go there is always a house with a name, a lake that shines and trees that talk to me. So, when I found out that there was a book, The Landscapes of Anne of Greene Gables by Catherine Reid, about to come out filled with the landscapes of Prince Edward Island and the inspiration for Avonlea. I had to take a chance and request to read it! I'm so glad to have been able to read and review this book.

The pages are beautifully filled with photos of the island, some of them personally taken by Lucy Maud Montgomery herself. The inside snippets from Maud's journals are a delight.

My only dislike of the book is the repetitive nature of some of the journal entries. Even though they are lovely, and show Maud's kinsmanship with the forests, the trees and all the rest of nature surrounding her, the book tends to share the same memories over and over. I feel that the book would have been better served if there were less instead of more of the same and let Maud's words fill the pages simply.

If you are a fan of L.M. Montgomery's and haven't had the chance to visit Prince Edward Island this book is the perfect way to tamper the ache of not having visited. I know it did for me.

I was blessed to read this book courtesy of Timber Press via NetGalley for my honest opinion. ( )

This book is absolutely stunning. Includes archival images and primary source material from L. M. Montgomery, as well as beautiful current photographs from places inspired by Anne of Green Gables. If you grew up with Anne or just love nature photography (especially of Prince Edward Island), you will love this book. ( )

**I received an advanced reader’s copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Anne of Green Gables fans: take note of this book. Filled with colorful photographs of Prince Edward Island, this book takes readers to the island made famous by Lucy Maud Montgomery and her cast of strong female characters. Reid uses the text to compare and contrast Montgomery’s world and Anne’s world, linking personal similarities between Montgomery and Anne. Readers can also step into various museums and historic sites dedicated to Montgomery and the Cuthberts, thanks to numerous interior photographs of these locations. The inclusion of Montgomery’s own photographs of landscapes and nature at the turn of the twentieth century adds the perfect element to this book.

I loved every bit of this book. I stared at the photographs. I loved reading Montgomery’s own words to convey her love of landscape and the outdoors. This is the perfect book for Anne fans or even Montgomery fans. ( )