Chronicles of Avonlea (L.M. Montgomery Books)

Chronicles of Avonlea is a collection of several short stories penned by the beloved L.M. Mongomery, author of the Anne of Green Gables series. Her stories bring out the best of emotions; blissful happiness and the bottomless pit of despair, sometimes at the same moment.The stories in this volume include: The Hurrying of Ludovic, Old Lady Lloyd, Each in His Own Tongue, Little Joscelyn, The Winning of Lucinda, Old Man Shaw's Girl, Aunt Olivia's Beau, The Quarantine at Alexander Abraham's, Pa Sloane's Purchase, The Courting of Prissy Strong, The Miracle at Carmody, The End of a Quarrel.Now, to share with you about my absolute favorites from Chronicles of Avonlea!"Each in His Own Tongue" tells of a musically talented young boy and one of the strangest men in Carmody (or so the local gossips think), Abel Blair. He is a man who has kept to himself for years -- except for in the instance of young Felix Moore, who often stops by to practice playing Abel's violin. The beautiful deed of music must be performed in secret, for Felix's guardian grandfather doesn't approve of such things. Especially since Felix can capture the very soul of a person in musical notes and crescendos. Sometimes the angelic music is so painstakingly true that it's painful to listen to; sometimes it can help those who can't be otherwise reached."The Winning of Lucinda" is the story of an uncompleted courtship, in a way. That is, if a courtship can be constructed from two young lovers, who after a moment of discord, would not speak to each other for fifteen years, growing older, and yet still engaged throughout the entire span of time. Lucinda and Romney's humorous story is one that members of the interconnected Penhallow families whisper about to each other and have a good chuckle about from time to time. Overall, such an enjoyable story, one that set me to laughing on multiple occasions."Pa Sloane's Purchase" is another of Mongtomgery's comical pieces, bringing to life a story so silly that it's just perfect. Pa Sloane relishes in sneaking away from Ma anytime, long enough to visit the local auctions. The thrill of placing the winning bid on something, whether needed or useless, excites him for weeks on end. Ma doesn't always approve of his peculiar habit, but generally allows it to continue. Until one day while at an auction, he bids on something she never expected to have in her house again. One day he brings home a baby. (This story is priceless!)This whole volume of stories has made for a very delightful read! I would definitely recommend to any other Montgomery fans. And with an honorable mention, I now pull the following passage out of "The End of a Quarrel", for a particular moment in which many grammar-minded people, myself included, can find a kindred spirit in...[Nancy asked] "By the way, is Peter as ungrammatical as ever?""I--I don't know," said Louisa helplessly. "I never knew he WAS ungrammatical.""Does he still say, 'I seen,' and 'them things'?" demanded Nancy."I never noticed," confessed Louisa."Enviable Louisa! Would that I had been born with that blessed faculty of never noticing! It stands a woman in better stead than beauty or brains. I used to notice Peter's mistakes. When he said 'I seen,' it jarred on me in my salad days. I tried, oh, so tactfully, to reform him in that respect. Peter didn't like being reformed--the Wrights always had a fairly good opinion of themselves, you know. It was really over a question of syntax we quarreled. Peter told me I'd have to take him as he was, grammar and all, or go without him. I went without him--and ever since I've been wondering if I were really sorry, or if it were merely a pleasantly sentimental regret I was hugging to my heart."

Ah! A delightful montage of shorts from the same Canadian author who brought us Anne of Green Gables.To recognize a few of my new favorites...The Materializing of CecilOn her birthday, Miss Charlotte, now 40, decides to make a change in her life. One that involves telling a falsehood -- that she indeed did have a beau at one time. And then -- the lie comes to life.The Dream-ChildHow a grieving woman who lost her infant son replaces him with a strange little boy that appears out of the ocean one day. A touching story.The Little Brown Book of Miss EmilyRevisit Anne and Diana again! Young Anne Shirley's imagination captivates the reader with the precious bundle that old Miss Emily leaves behind upon her death...The Son of His MotherThyra Carewe intends to always keep her son's love, and strictly believes no other woman will ever enter his life to direct his thoughts away -- except one day "she" appears. What will the tragic consequences be?I certainly enjoyed some new favorites from L.M. Montgomery. She charms her way through each of her writings. And I loved getting to meet familiar faces again such as Marilla and Mrs. Rachel Lynde of Avonlea.The table of contents:Aunt Cynthia's Persian CatThe Materializing of CecilHer Father's DaughterJane's BabyThe Dream-ChildThe Brother Who FailedThe Return of HesterThe Little Brown Book of Miss EmilySara's WayThe Son of His MotherThe Education of BettyIn Her Selfless MoodThe Conscience Case of David BellOnly a Common FellowTannis of the Flats"Her poor father, now--he always said that a woman who liked books better than beaux was an unnatural creature."-L.M. Mongomery (The Education of Betty)

Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery was a proficient writer of short stories before she became famous for her "Anne of Green Gables" novels. In the long gap between "Anne of Avonlea" and "Anne of the Island", her publisher convinced her to rework some previously published short stories to reflect the setting, and some of the characters, of Anne's fictional hometown."Chronicles of Avonlea", first published in 1912 and in print ever since, contains a dozen of Montgomery's best short stories, now set in and around Avonlea. Anne Shirley is referenced in several stories, and places a leading role in "The Hurrying of Ludovic", about a man who has taken over-long in his courtship. "The Quarentine at Alexander Abraham's" features a man-hating woman trapped in a house with a rather grouchy bachelor, under quarentine for smallpox; the two come to a surprising but hilarious accomodation. "Pa Sloane's Purchase" is a touching and also funny story about a man addicted to bidding at auctions, who one comes home with a baby. "Old Lady Lloyd" concerned a bitter old woman who discovers a second chance to make a difference. Other stories feature thwarted romances, lover's quarrels, and tales of growing up.Montgomery's superb sense of humor and keen insight into the life of small towns were strong features of her novels and her short stories; "Chronicles of Avonlea" contains both and is very highly recommended to her fans.

I've never read this book before despite being a huge Anne fan as a child. If I had been looking for more tales of characters I recognized I would have been disappointed. This book is a series of quaint short stories about different unknown residents of avonlea . I enjoyed the slow paced reflection of big on times.

The 'Anne' books have been favourites of mine for many years and I have also enjoyed the 'Chronicles'. There are some of the stories that are so poignant that I can't read them very often but there are others that absolutely lend themselves to a 10 minute break with a cup of tea & tour feet up.

If you are looking for Anne of Green gables in this book you wont find more than a brief mention of her. Hpwever the stories are gentle and easy to read and can be read a chapter at a time as a stand alone story.

I havent read this on kindle yet but loved it as a teenager and read numerous times old fashioned but exciting, and tear jerking (in a sentimental way) if you like little women you should like this.

one of my favourite books as a child and still love it, will be encouraging my grand-daughters to read it too when they get a little older