Lucy Maud Montgomery: Anne of Green Gables (2021, Independently Published)
English language
Published Nov. 19, 2021 by Independently Published.
Orphan Anne Shirley has always relied on her imagination to help her. Now she is being sent to Avonlea to live with the Cuthberts. Where she slowly wins their hearts. With new friends and her imagination to liven things up there is no telling where Anne will go!
Stunning descriptions of nature and extraordinary picture of life before the “great” wars. Surprisingly prescient and relevant. Glad to have read it as an adult as I think I may have only perceived it as moralising when I was a kid.
I love it more every read through
Sea Change by S. M. Wheeler
Lilly Rosa hasn't had the easiest childhood. Her parents, though wealthy, are always fighting and her gender and disfiguring birthmark have disqualified her for either heirdom or advantageous marriage. Her secret friendship with a loquacious kraken named Octavius has given her all the joy she needs, until he is captured and she needs to buy his freedom. And his freedom comes very dear.
At this point the fairytale turns dark.
With beautiful prose and a strong hand for character building, Wheeler spins a tale full of blood, friendship, and extremely difficult choices. I was powerfully reminded of the Hayao Miyazaki's film "Princess Mononoke" and Guillermo del Toro's "Pan's Labyrinth", in that while Lilly solves her problems it's not without change and gruesome loss.
