I just finished Rilla of Ingleside again.
Elisabeth, Naomi Bennet, Adellaide, (and whomever else has read it,) if you read this, please just sympathise with me for a moment.
This bit at the end of Rilla of Ingleside that describes Rilla's feelings perfectly describes my own while reading the last chapter:
"Emotion shook Rilla from head to foot. Joy--happiness--sorrow--fear--every passion that had wrung her heart in those four long years seemed to surge up in her sould for a moment as the deeps of being were stirred."
Yes. Yes, Rilla. That is how I felt whilst reading your book, such is the talent of L. M. Montgomery.
I cried the whole time while reading the last chapter. It was Jem's homecoming that started it. Dog Monday--I was just smiling and laughing and sobbing silently. Then when Jem talks about Walter--more tears...
This book!!!
I don't know if there are words to properly describe how I feel about this book--except perhaps what I quoted already.
I don't want to give any spoilers because seriously--I think everyone should read this book. You don't actually need to read the whole Anne series before, though it is the last book of that series. It works fine as a stand-alone, and in my opinion is the best of them all.
I don't know if I could choose favourite parts--except that definitely the last chapter, the ending, is my favourite. As I said, I cried throughout it all--but they were mostly tears of joy.
This book, admittedly, is sad. It's about World War I, so it has sadness connected with it. But I promise the sadness does not ruin it like sadness does in some books, and the ending is very happy. Tears of joy. I do not like books with sad endings. If it has sadness, it needs to end happily. And L. M. Montgomery did that very, very wonderfully.
(For anyone who doesn't know, L. M. Montgomery is my very favourite authouress ever.)
So. Have you read this book? If so, please feel with me. And I know you agree that it's a wonderful book, for anyone who has read it thinks so. If not: Go read it. (That is, if you enjoy such books as Anne of Green Gables or other L. M. Montgomery, or Little Women, or Jane Austen's books. If you like those old-fashioned books, I think you'll like this book.) It's--it's--indescribable. And in my opinion,
It is perfect.
YES. YES. YES. I LOVE this book so much. (As you can tell from my name:)) I always cry when reading it. Walter is SO SWEET. Rilla is hilarious, and the way her character develops is lovely. There's so much in that book, and it never fails to break your heart, every time.
ReplyDelete~Rilla Blythe
I love that you have your name as Rilla Blythe!!! Yes, yes, yes, yes! I agree with everything you said! I just love it. Yes. Thank you, Rilla, for understanding with me!!!
DeleteOh yes! The ENDING! And the part where Susan is reassuring Rilla that Jem can't be dead because of how Dog Monday was acting. Aww. That was just overwhelmingly emotional.
ReplyDeleteI don't like sad endings either. I think Rilla of Ingleside was a little too sad for me overall, but the ending sort of made up for it. It was so full of hope. And I liked that. :D
Very nice review, Rae!
Yesss, that part made me cry too!! Pretty much any part with Dog Monday gives me feels.
DeleteYes, hope! The feeling of hope was part of what made it so good!
Thank you!
Yessssss I love Rilla! I love how she changes from being a little bit silly and superficial to being an incredibly strong and good person (while still keeping her sweet personality!) and OH MY I love Walter so much. I like to pretend THAT PART never happened so I can just imagine that he married Una and they had eight kids and none of them ever died. LM Montgomery is the best <3
ReplyDeleteYes! She becomes who she was meant to be!
DeleteI LOVE Walter! I accept the fact that THAT PART happened because L. M. Montgomery said so and it's part of the book, but...but...I still always wish that he had come home and married Una because SERIOUSLY...It just makes me feel sooo sad to think of Una! It's just tragic! I'm going to cry just thinking about it!
Montgomery is the best!
AZUYUIYRZIUTYZIUTYRUIYU. THIS BOOK. BLAHHHHHH. IT'S THE BEST. AND WALTER AND UNA AND RILLA AND KEN. AND WALTER. AND ENDLESS TEARS. THAT IS ALL.
ReplyDelete(Those are my elegant thoughts on Rilla of Ingleside. :-P)
~ Naomi
YES. Yes, yes, yes. Exactly. Thank you. :)
DeleteAn LM Montgomery devotee!! I thought I was alone in a sea of strangers. I love her books and stories and characters and words and...how, how did she become such a wordsmith? Walter was my favorite of the Blythes because he was the poet and I sympathize. Rilla annoyed me half the time and thrilled me the other half. And I appreciate stories in which the characters develop and become better people. --Libby
ReplyDeleteSERIOUSLY. I agree with everything you said!
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