L.M. Montgomery – Some thoughts

If there is one author whose works I can read over and over again, it’s definitely L.M. Montgomery. So, naturally, I have read and re-read Anne of Green Gables series several times. But, I’ve also read many of her other novels, short story collections – of which, Emily of New Moon series is probably the next best after Anne series – and her extensive poetry collection too. And all of her writings are simply put – beautiful.

I find solace and comfort in her writings. She paints picture of nature – particularly the sky – so that when you close your eyes and bring up the picture, it makes you feel nostalgic, happy and warm. You could almost smell the smoke from wood fires, hear the soft tinkling of cow bells, see the purple and rosy skies, feel the chill of evenings and touch the dew settling in the grass. Her writings frequently features short but succinct and imagination-provoking description of sky, flowers, trees, rivers, meadows and rural life in general and all of this is very dear to me having lived a good portion of my childhood in a rural area amidst forest.

Not to mention, the memorable characters of her books. I have found, particularly when I read her books as a teenager, plenty of things to learn from her characters. I cannot put it in words, but they have been nothing short of inspirational for me in certain aspects – maybe not positively always, but that’s how one interprets the books, but over all, a good inspiration all the same.

Now there is something to be said about her too-perfect settings and characters. But, in her defense, all I can say is, she never said she was writing to reflect real societies or people any way. Her settings and characters by being perfect, made it all the more the sort of literature you go back to time and again because you enjoy it – without stress or worry of real life, just full of adventures, good people and wholesome stories.