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Maud
Fourteen-year-old Lucy Maud Montgomery—Maud to her friends—has a dream: to go to college and, just like her idol, Louisa May Alcott, become a writer. But living with her grandparents on Prince Edward Island, she worries that this dream will never come true. Her grandfather has strong opinions about a woman’s place in the world, and they do not include spending good money on college. Luckily, she has a teacher to believe in her, and good friends to support her, including Nate, the Baptist minister’s stepson and the smartest boy in the class. If only he weren’t a Baptist; her Presbyterian grandparents would never approve. Then again, Maud isn’t sure she wants to settle down with a boy—her dreams of being a writer are much more important.
Life changes for Maud when she goes out West to live with her father and his new wife and daughter. Her new home offers her another chance at love, as well as attending school, but tensions increase as Maud discovers her stepmother’s plans for her, which threaten Maud’s future—and her happiness—forever.
Life changes for Maud when she goes out West to live with her father and his new wife and daughter. Her new home offers her another chance at love, as well as attending school, but tensions increase as Maud discovers her stepmother’s plans for her, which threaten Maud’s future—and her happiness—forever.
376 pages, Hardcover
First published April 25, 2017
51 people are currently reading
3,833 people want to read
About the author
Melanie J. Fishbane
3Ìýbooks82ÌýfollowersMELANIE J. FISHBANE holds an M.F.A. in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and an M.A. in History from Concordia University. With over seventeen yearsâ€� experience in children's publishing, she lectures internationally on children's literature and L.M. Montgomery, who she has been obsessed with since she first read Anne of Green Gables in Grade Six. A freelance writer and social media consultant, Melanie teaches English at Humber College. Melanie also loves writing essays and her first one, "My Pen Shall Heal, Not Hurt": Writing as Therapy in L.M. Montgomery's Rilla of Ingleside and The Blythes Are Quoted," is included in L.M. Montgomery's Rainbow Valleys: The Ontario Years 1911-1942. Melanie lives in Toronto with her partner and their very entertaining cat, Merlin. Maud is her first novel. You can follow Melanie on Twitter @MelanieFishbane and like her on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 297 reviews
June 20, 2017
Lucy Maud Montgomery lives on Prince Edward Island with her grandparents in a small town. Maud's mother died while she was just an infant and her father has moved away and married again. Maud has been shuffled around between relatives, first her aunt then her grandparents and also her father and stepmother. In the small town with her grandparents Maud gets into trouble constantly and must contend with other's feelings about her mother and father's marriage. She is too emotional and her friendship with Nate, the stepson of a Baptist minister, is frowned upon. Maud loves to read though and wants to be a writer like Louisa May Alcott. She religiously keeps a journal and works hard at her writing. Her penchant for doing things others deem inappropriate get her in trouble though and she is sent away twice, first to another aunts house when she gets in trouble with the new school teacher and then to live with her father and step mother. Even as she faces the problems of her life Maud continues to work hard at her education and continues to work to make the choices she wants.
I really enjoyed this book and I actually didn't realize it was based on a real person, the author of the Anne of Green Gables books. It was really funny because I was reading the book and I was thinking about how people who liked Anne of Green Gables would probably like this book a lot and then I got to the end and the authors note is about how it's based on the childhood of the author for the books. I really loved Maud and the way that she kept working towards what she wanted even when it would have been easier to give up. It was also great to see her making her own choices even when she struggled with the pressure from others like when her stepmother wants her to marry. I also really liked her prioritizing her writing over love which isn't something you see female characters do a lot and especially for the society she was living in where everyone thought that she'd already had 'too much' education and should just be looking for a husband because she'd turned 16. I wanted to reread Anne of Green Gables because I read them when I was so young and now I'm super excited to actually go back and do so.
I really enjoyed this book and I actually didn't realize it was based on a real person, the author of the Anne of Green Gables books. It was really funny because I was reading the book and I was thinking about how people who liked Anne of Green Gables would probably like this book a lot and then I got to the end and the authors note is about how it's based on the childhood of the author for the books. I really loved Maud and the way that she kept working towards what she wanted even when it would have been easier to give up. It was also great to see her making her own choices even when she struggled with the pressure from others like when her stepmother wants her to marry. I also really liked her prioritizing her writing over love which isn't something you see female characters do a lot and especially for the society she was living in where everyone thought that she'd already had 'too much' education and should just be looking for a husband because she'd turned 16. I wanted to reread Anne of Green Gables because I read them when I was so young and now I'm super excited to actually go back and do so.
April 12, 2017
NOTE: Received as an ARC from Netgalley.
Writing a novel inspired by such a beloved author must be a daunting task, especially when your character will no doubt be compared with and the autobiographical . This is a fascinating. though somewhat melancholy, peek into Maud's teenage years.
This book left me feeling that L.M. Montgomery gave Emily the girlhood she wished she'd had; in reality, Maud's life was more like Anne’s before Matthew and Marilla, taking care of other people's children and being treated almost like a hired girl. But like Emily, she always knew writing was her destiny.
Montgomery fans will recognize a pinch of , a bit of Emily’s "whistle and I'll come to you, my lad,� and most of all, a satisfying ending that gave me “the flash."
Writing a novel inspired by such a beloved author must be a daunting task, especially when your character will no doubt be compared with and the autobiographical . This is a fascinating. though somewhat melancholy, peek into Maud's teenage years.
This book left me feeling that L.M. Montgomery gave Emily the girlhood she wished she'd had; in reality, Maud's life was more like Anne’s before Matthew and Marilla, taking care of other people's children and being treated almost like a hired girl. But like Emily, she always knew writing was her destiny.
Montgomery fans will recognize a pinch of , a bit of Emily’s "whistle and I'll come to you, my lad,� and most of all, a satisfying ending that gave me “the flash."
October 18, 2018
Melanie J. Fishbane's Maud is not to be in any manner considered as a straight and therefore entirely non fiction biography of Lucy Maud Montgomery, but rather, it should be read and approached as an episodic (generally approachable, readable) imagined slice of life novel of the latter as a teenager, of how fourteen year old Maud is sent by her grandparents from Prince Edward Island to live with her father and stepmother in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and that while living in Saskatchewan is interesting and at times even mildly enjoyable for Maud, her problems with her stepmother (who really seems to be simply a nasty piece of work and basically just regards Maud as an unpaid family servant and drudge) soon sour Maud's sojourn and necessitate her return to Prince Edward Island after less than a year.
Now while I (as a lifelong L.M. Montgomery fan and as a reader who also tends to much enjoy and appreciate episodic novels that focus more on description than on actual plot lines and a story which moves in a straight trajectory from a distinct beginning to an end, with expectation, excitement, a climax and then a denouement) have most definitely much appreciated, even majorly loved the very many small presented details and historical, cultural bits and pieces that give Maud such a delightful and intensely palpable sense of both time and place, I do have to wonder whether especially younger readers not all that familiar with Lucy Maud Montgomery's writing and/or life might not find both the amount of details and the vast number of names (of appearing characters) potentially overwhelming if not akin to information dumps (especially if said readers are not all that much into episodic writing styles).
But for me, personally, Maud has for the most part been an absolute delight to encounter and peruse (giving me an engagingly entertaining, evocative and yes also fun portrait of what Lucy Maud Montgomery might have been like as a teenager, an imagined slice of her existence, but still one that always smacks of historic reality, of what according to Maud's own journal entries, which author Melanie J. Fishbane has used as a main source for and of her research, L.M. Montgomery's teenagerhood might well have been like). And indeed, the only reason, why I am giving Maud three and not the four stars I had originally considered is that there seems (at least for me) to be a trifle too much of a reading between between the lines thread of Maud being possibly Lesbian. For while it is definitely true that L.M. Montgomery had many intense (platonic) female friendships, why should this so often (and not only by Melanie J. Fishbane at that) be considered as her being potentially "queer" when platonic but intense male/male friendships are in my humble opinion more often than not just seen as natural, as boys being boys so to speak?
Now while I (as a lifelong L.M. Montgomery fan and as a reader who also tends to much enjoy and appreciate episodic novels that focus more on description than on actual plot lines and a story which moves in a straight trajectory from a distinct beginning to an end, with expectation, excitement, a climax and then a denouement) have most definitely much appreciated, even majorly loved the very many small presented details and historical, cultural bits and pieces that give Maud such a delightful and intensely palpable sense of both time and place, I do have to wonder whether especially younger readers not all that familiar with Lucy Maud Montgomery's writing and/or life might not find both the amount of details and the vast number of names (of appearing characters) potentially overwhelming if not akin to information dumps (especially if said readers are not all that much into episodic writing styles).
But for me, personally, Maud has for the most part been an absolute delight to encounter and peruse (giving me an engagingly entertaining, evocative and yes also fun portrait of what Lucy Maud Montgomery might have been like as a teenager, an imagined slice of her existence, but still one that always smacks of historic reality, of what according to Maud's own journal entries, which author Melanie J. Fishbane has used as a main source for and of her research, L.M. Montgomery's teenagerhood might well have been like). And indeed, the only reason, why I am giving Maud three and not the four stars I had originally considered is that there seems (at least for me) to be a trifle too much of a reading between between the lines thread of Maud being possibly Lesbian. For while it is definitely true that L.M. Montgomery had many intense (platonic) female friendships, why should this so often (and not only by Melanie J. Fishbane at that) be considered as her being potentially "queer" when platonic but intense male/male friendships are in my humble opinion more often than not just seen as natural, as boys being boys so to speak?
March 1, 2017
Fans of Montgomery’s novels will adore this exploration of her bosom friends, her handsome and teasing suitors, her rigid grandparents, and the challenges she faced in pursuing her dream of becoming an author. But readers don’t need to be familiar with Montgomery’s books to enjoy this novel. MAUD is a heartwarming story by an author who is certainly a kindred spirit of Montgomery’s.
February 7, 2017
A couple years ago, I shamelessly devoured Anne of Green Gables, falling in love with Anne and her spunky, inquisitive personality. I have forever since wondered what the author was like and what in her background had inspired her to write the story. So, when I found Maud on Netgalley and learned it was a fictional biography about Lucy Maud Montgomery, I knew I needed it for sure!
For a brief summary, this book revolves around Maud, who aspires to become a famous writer someday. Unfortunately, living in Prince Edward Island has its downsides, and her family isn't too keen on women going to college. Despite that, her friends and teachers support her very well in following her dreams. When Maud has to move in with her father across the country, she is at first reluctant, but then gives in, knowing that she'll have more of a chance at finding love- but will she still be able to pursue her dream of writing?
I first just want to applaud how unique the prose of this story was. Not too often do we see good fictional portrayals of famous people's lives, and this book was exactly that! The author obviously did tons and tons of research and gave Montgomery's life a lot of insight before starting to write.
I felt like I could really find bits of myself in Maud's curious, perfectionist nature. Her perseverance to become the person she wanted to be was out of this world, and I felt so bad for her regarding her circumstances. I could also find many bits of Anne Shirley in her as well, with her dreamy, spunky personality. I guess it is true that authors write what they know, as Anne is basically Maud's personality twin!
The plot of this book was a bit slow at first, but as it sped up, I found myself becoming more and more hooked to the story. After reading about Maud's journey, I was definitely able to tell what inspired her to write Anne's stories.
Overall, Maud was a fantastic portrayal of L.M. Montgomery's life, and I love to read about the events that inspire authors to write their books. Lovers of Anne of Green Gables will absolutely fall in love with this story, but even if you haven't read it, a) I totally suggest you do, and b) you'll probably be able to relate very well to the determined, quirky protagonist of Maud! Be sure to mark your calendars for the glorious day of May 16th, as that is when you'll be able to pick up your copy!
For a brief summary, this book revolves around Maud, who aspires to become a famous writer someday. Unfortunately, living in Prince Edward Island has its downsides, and her family isn't too keen on women going to college. Despite that, her friends and teachers support her very well in following her dreams. When Maud has to move in with her father across the country, she is at first reluctant, but then gives in, knowing that she'll have more of a chance at finding love- but will she still be able to pursue her dream of writing?
I first just want to applaud how unique the prose of this story was. Not too often do we see good fictional portrayals of famous people's lives, and this book was exactly that! The author obviously did tons and tons of research and gave Montgomery's life a lot of insight before starting to write.
I felt like I could really find bits of myself in Maud's curious, perfectionist nature. Her perseverance to become the person she wanted to be was out of this world, and I felt so bad for her regarding her circumstances. I could also find many bits of Anne Shirley in her as well, with her dreamy, spunky personality. I guess it is true that authors write what they know, as Anne is basically Maud's personality twin!
The plot of this book was a bit slow at first, but as it sped up, I found myself becoming more and more hooked to the story. After reading about Maud's journey, I was definitely able to tell what inspired her to write Anne's stories.
Overall, Maud was a fantastic portrayal of L.M. Montgomery's life, and I love to read about the events that inspire authors to write their books. Lovers of Anne of Green Gables will absolutely fall in love with this story, but even if you haven't read it, a) I totally suggest you do, and b) you'll probably be able to relate very well to the determined, quirky protagonist of Maud! Be sure to mark your calendars for the glorious day of May 16th, as that is when you'll be able to pick up your copy!
July 29, 2017
4.5/5
I loved it!! If you know me, you know that I'm probably the biggest Anne of Green Gables fan that exists (I'm actually spending the summer in PEI to visit everything that inspired it - and that it inspired). When I first saw this book, I only picked it up because its title reminded me of Lucy Maud Montgomery. Imagine my excitement when I read the description! I waited until I was actually on Prince Edward Island to pick it up and it was definitely worth it. I personally loved the entire story, but the fact that it's inspired by LMM made it so much more exciting for me! I loved reading about the places I was visiting.
Maud's character is really nice. If LMM was actually like this, she was as amazing as I've always imagined her to be! I loved reading about her relationships with her friends and family. Her life was really sad, which I already knew, but it was hard to read about it like that. Sometimes, I couldn't even imagine the actual woman experiencing all of that! As for her friendships and her love interests, I could see how they were linked to some of her fictional characters. I will say that her friendships in Prince Albert feel much weaker than the ones she has in PEI, even though she says that they are stronger. I just think that there was more telling than showing at this point, which made the story a little bit less believable. It's my only complaint, so it's not too bad!
I will definitely recommend this to everyone, whether you're an Anne of Green Gables fan or not (if you're not, WHY?!). The writing is great and the story is really nice, regardless of the person who inspired this story. I sincerely hope that there will be a sequel because there is so much more to say about LMM! I'd simply love to read more about this story.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Edit: I just met the author, Melanie Fishbane, and she's so sweet! We had a great conversation about L. M. Montgomery and books. It makes me wish that even more people had read this book!
I loved it!! If you know me, you know that I'm probably the biggest Anne of Green Gables fan that exists (I'm actually spending the summer in PEI to visit everything that inspired it - and that it inspired). When I first saw this book, I only picked it up because its title reminded me of Lucy Maud Montgomery. Imagine my excitement when I read the description! I waited until I was actually on Prince Edward Island to pick it up and it was definitely worth it. I personally loved the entire story, but the fact that it's inspired by LMM made it so much more exciting for me! I loved reading about the places I was visiting.
Maud's character is really nice. If LMM was actually like this, she was as amazing as I've always imagined her to be! I loved reading about her relationships with her friends and family. Her life was really sad, which I already knew, but it was hard to read about it like that. Sometimes, I couldn't even imagine the actual woman experiencing all of that! As for her friendships and her love interests, I could see how they were linked to some of her fictional characters. I will say that her friendships in Prince Albert feel much weaker than the ones she has in PEI, even though she says that they are stronger. I just think that there was more telling than showing at this point, which made the story a little bit less believable. It's my only complaint, so it's not too bad!
I will definitely recommend this to everyone, whether you're an Anne of Green Gables fan or not (if you're not, WHY?!). The writing is great and the story is really nice, regardless of the person who inspired this story. I sincerely hope that there will be a sequel because there is so much more to say about LMM! I'd simply love to read more about this story.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Edit: I just met the author, Melanie Fishbane, and she's so sweet! We had a great conversation about L. M. Montgomery and books. It makes me wish that even more people had read this book!
April 3, 2019
What a unique premise, telling the story of L. M. Monthomery's adolescense! 4.5 well-deserved stars for this lovely, comforting read, perfect for calm nights cozying up in bed (but minus 0.5 stars for not making me connect as much with Will as I and probably also the author wanted the reader to do) Now I really can't wait to read Anne of Green Gable's story as soon as I get the opportunity! I enjoyed this so much, even that gigantic headache that is pushing its way into my brain right now can't stop me from finally reviewing the book; even though I've certainly put it off long enough (a couple hours, that is) because I'm not ready to, don't even want to let go of Maud and her world. Still, making this sacrifice because damn if this book doesn't deserve a proper review doing it justice. (how sad that it is only me who's going to write it) It hits me everytime how much easier it is to review terrible books, because once again I'm at such a loss to describe the enormous amount of feelings I have for this novel. I've been lucky enough to have read my fair share of good books so far this year, but seldom it happens that it metaphorically (or literally? My headache begs to differ...) pains me to finish it, that's how much I grew to love the characters, the setting, the whole story in general! "Maud" is another one of those books my parents have bought me for Christmas without really knowing what it was about, just guessing that it looked and sounded like such a Kathi book - which it totally ended up to be! And at the beginning of the novel, while suspecting that I would enjoy it well enough, I had no idea how much I was actually going to love it! Silly old me never properly reads the blurb of a book on purpose because that's how real my fear of spoilers is, so opening the book I was very confused because I had no idea that it was actually a fictionalized biography of the author of "Anne of Green Gables"! I've got to admit that at first that fact felt like a bit of a let-down, being unfamiliar with Anne's story (for now - I am very determined to change that, even more after reading about her author!) and having the feeling of being cheated of more than a fair share of anectodial references to the Anne novels. But it was SUCH a great read nevertheless! It was a bit of a slow start for me at first, since I had no clue whatsoever of the experience of a girl living in that time period (1890-1892), had no understanding of what it was like, why so-called "scandals" were even seen as scandals, what the big deal was about Maud and her teacher, Maud and Nate, Maud and her dreams, Maud's relationship with religion.... But the book is written in this wonderfully affectionate way that you just can't help but fall in love with it ever so quickly! Maud is a such an endearing protagonist; if the real L. M. Montgomery was only a bit anything like her, I feel sorry for not having been alive sooner so I could've been the best of friends with her. There were so many parts in this book where I'd have loved to just jump straight into the scene, having a grand time with Maud and her friends at school, passing notes with Nate, going to school plays, or just lying around on the fields, picking berries with her cousins, going on life-changing journeys falling in love with all sorts of people...The beautiful atmosphere was practically palpable throughout the novel, it was a marvellous read! Nate was probably my absolute favourite character of the book; I'm such a sucker for well-written and sarcastically cheesy letters and the childhood-friends-turn-to-lovers trope, and romantic old me couldn't get enough of Maud's and Nate's innocent blooming relation- and penpalship. (really, those letters were EVERYTHING). Nate, dear Nate... These two had the perfect picturesque bittersweet story, and Maud's decisions spoke on such a deep level to me that it actually felt like I was sort of meant to read this book for my inner peace (without wanting to go into detail why this is the case). Even though I wished her choices would've been different ones, I could understand her thoughts all too well, since life isn't always about fairytale endings or going the easy way. Sometimes there are no right decisions and life isn't always perfect, no matter how much it pains other people involved in the scenario (in this case, ME, while having to read certain things) (buuuuh). In this case the book felt way more mature than I ever expected it to be, and I will forever cherish the first part of her story and hold it dear to my heart. The other two parts, while not speaking to me on the same inner personal level, were amazing reads as well and I thoroughly enjoyed every step of the book. The resolution felt hopeful and sad at the same time, since it once again showed how life doesn't always work out the way you want it, the way you planned it, the way you, as a reader, and you, as a person living your life, wished for it. I loved how the author not only told us the end of Maud's story, but included her friends' conclusions as well, since you become so overly attached to this characters over the journey of the book that you wish the very best for all of them and want their real life-counterparts to have lived an amazing life as well. Again, that's not always how life works out, but that's the beauty of the book: the combination of a fairytale-like story without ever forgetting the realism, as painful as it might be. I still can't believe I've actually finished the book, I find myself going back to it constantly, leafing through the pages, rereading Nate's and Maud's letters, her thoughts about certain things, the way everything came to a conclusion...what a beautifully-written book. Once again, as seems to be the case with all the books I so dearly love, I can't actually explain what's so fantastic about it, other than that I just have those very strong feelings about it that make my heart feel like it wants to burst straight out of my body (wouldn't that be a bloody mess!) I don't think there are many people who'd love this book as much as I do, but it was exactly what I needed at this very moment and stage of life. Part of why it took me (unjustified) ages to finish the story was because I didn't want to let it go, because I wanted to stay a bit longer in Cavendish, with Maud and her friends as well as her thoughts, because even though she and I are different in what we want from life (or rather in her knowing what she wants while I am aimlessly stumbling through it), I felt like I connected with her on such a strong level that now, having finished the book, I kind of feel like I lost a dear friend. Oh, isn't that the cheesiest review ever written?
Thanks to the author for making L.M. Montgomery feel as alive as I've always heard her fictional characters to be.
Thanks to the author for making L.M. Montgomery feel as alive as I've always heard her fictional characters to be.
March 8, 2020
If you are a fan of anything related to Anne of Green Gables, this book is going to take you right back to Lover’s Lane and beyond. Fishbane has created an historical fiction that tells a story of what L.M. Montgomery’s life may have been like and has written it in the style of the infamous Anne books. There are also some interesting aspects to this novel that explore the treatment of the Métis and the last section of the book that describes the extensive research conducted by the author to piece the whole story together.
What is most intriguing about this story is the style in which Fishbane has written it. The whole aura of the narrative is old fashioned and really seems to mimic the way all of those Anne stories feel. There are many heartfelt narratives as well as gorgeous descriptions of the scenery and natural landscape of P.E.I. all the way to Saskatchewan. Also, the humour that is peppered throughout the book gives the reader a sense of how Montgomery was able to laugh even when she faced adversity.
The inclusion of a diverse character, Edie, and the observations that Maud makes about the way the Métis people of Western Canada were treated during her lifetime was a very interesting component of the story. Maud often talks to her friend, Edie, about her struggles and asks her questions about her people. It really gives the reader a mini history lesson, as Maud learns some of the obstacles and harsh treatment of the Canadian Aboriginal people.
Towards the end of the novel, Fishbane gives the reader information on how she conducted her research to write the book and it is quite impressive. There is an extensive reference list that includes various works, people, and places. Fishbane also indicates that this novel is not intended to be a biography, but an historical fiction that is based on L.M. Montgomery’s life and times. The inclusion of information about the time period Maud lived in and what became of her real life friends and family was something I found very insightful.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves the nostalgia of Anne of Green Gables and historical fiction. The writing is reminiscent of L.M. Montgomery and the addition of a diverse character as well as the research information orchestrated by Fishbane makes this one book that is not to be missed.
December 21, 2018
Maud is an engaging fictionalized account of the early life of Lucy Maud Montgomery, the creator of the Anne of Green Gables books beloved the world over. While a work of historical fiction, the book encompasses many known facts and events of Montgomery's life. I was very surprised to see how very similar, in many ways, her growing up years were to those of her character Anne. It was also very sad to see how, unlike Anne, she never really seemed to have support or love from much of her family. I was very intrigued to say the least, and will be looking at a full length biography of her in the future.
I was struck by how hard Montgomery worked to be able to write her stories. In a time when women were expected only to marry and have children, and anything else was considered strange or even evil, she chose education over even her current happiness or in some cases relationships with her family. She seems to have been a feminist before the term was coined. Though she did of course later marry and have children, it was only after she was an established and successful author.
The author takes time to shed light on the condition of women's rights at this time in Canadian history, as well as the plight of some of the native people such as the Metis. There is also particular emphasis on the conflict between different denominations within the Christian church.
The author has included a brief historical biography in the back of the book, along with specifics about what happened to certain characters. This really helped to tie up the story, especially since this particular book ended before Montgomery was even eighteen.
4.5/5 stars. Highly recommend for anyone who has enjoyed the Anne of Green Gables story!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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I was struck by how hard Montgomery worked to be able to write her stories. In a time when women were expected only to marry and have children, and anything else was considered strange or even evil, she chose education over even her current happiness or in some cases relationships with her family. She seems to have been a feminist before the term was coined. Though she did of course later marry and have children, it was only after she was an established and successful author.
The author takes time to shed light on the condition of women's rights at this time in Canadian history, as well as the plight of some of the native people such as the Metis. There is also particular emphasis on the conflict between different denominations within the Christian church.
The author has included a brief historical biography in the back of the book, along with specifics about what happened to certain characters. This really helped to tie up the story, especially since this particular book ended before Montgomery was even eighteen.
4.5/5 stars. Highly recommend for anyone who has enjoyed the Anne of Green Gables story!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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March 8, 2018
I so wanted to love this title, based on the early life of one of my favorite authors. But me and this book just didn't quite see eye to eye.
There's just too much mushy stuff for my taste. It seems that the entire plot moves along based on who Maud is “in love� with. She's a young teenager, for goodness' sake (who isn't even allowed to wear her hair up, you know), and I just wanted to learn more about her development as a writer than I cared for who she was crushing on.
Some notes on various characters...
Her parents (or her mother in particular) is hinted at having a shameful past, all throughout the story.
Maud's relationship with her stepmother, on the other hand, is clearly depicted as strained. There's always tension between the two characters. I, right along with Maud, intensely disliked the woman.
Oh! And Mr. Mustard! Did such a man really exist in Maud's real life? I can hardly imagine that her parents allowed this detestable man to visit her for so long and not put a stop to it.
“To Maud, books were essential; without them she would have crumbled into despair.�
There is some character development though, and I saw some changes in Maud closer to the end of the novel, like she was going somewhere new. She does sometimes have a bit of a naughty or rebellious streak showing � but maybe that's the Anne in her.
I wouldn't recommend lightly handing this novel over to young girls who have fallen in love with quirky Anne Shirley, without a parent's perusal. I'd consider it only mildly mature, but I (personally) would only recommend it to readers 16 or older.
“But creating a world of characters who spoke to her, sharing the stories she knew and loved, this was her calling. Most of the time, she didn't feel she had control over anything but her words.�
Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy of this book; I was not required to post a positive review.
There's just too much mushy stuff for my taste. It seems that the entire plot moves along based on who Maud is “in love� with. She's a young teenager, for goodness' sake (who isn't even allowed to wear her hair up, you know), and I just wanted to learn more about her development as a writer than I cared for who she was crushing on.
Some notes on various characters...
Her parents (or her mother in particular) is hinted at having a shameful past, all throughout the story.
Maud's relationship with her stepmother, on the other hand, is clearly depicted as strained. There's always tension between the two characters. I, right along with Maud, intensely disliked the woman.
Oh! And Mr. Mustard! Did such a man really exist in Maud's real life? I can hardly imagine that her parents allowed this detestable man to visit her for so long and not put a stop to it.
“To Maud, books were essential; without them she would have crumbled into despair.�
There is some character development though, and I saw some changes in Maud closer to the end of the novel, like she was going somewhere new. She does sometimes have a bit of a naughty or rebellious streak showing � but maybe that's the Anne in her.
I wouldn't recommend lightly handing this novel over to young girls who have fallen in love with quirky Anne Shirley, without a parent's perusal. I'd consider it only mildly mature, but I (personally) would only recommend it to readers 16 or older.
“But creating a world of characters who spoke to her, sharing the stories she knew and loved, this was her calling. Most of the time, she didn't feel she had control over anything but her words.�
Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy of this book; I was not required to post a positive review.
October 2, 2017
Delightful! a life time L.M. Montgomery devotee, I was a little hesitant about a novel based on her life story... but I needn't have feared. Fishbane is one of the golden few... a true kindred spirit, who treats this novel of Maud's life with all the detail and care that and fan could wish for. There were definitely squeaks of delight, heart flutterings, and stomach butterflies involved in the reading of this book. I felt like I was in middle school again, which is awesome, because my middle school self was more pure of spirit and less world-weary than my current self is apt to be. I got a distinctly "Little House on the Prairie" vibe from the middle section that I wasn't expecting, but then again, I didn't really know about Montgomery's time out west. There was much I learned that makes me want to do my own research, reading her letters and papers to compare the book to real-life for myself!
Recommended to: Anne-Fans, Little House on the Prairie fans, those who long to be in the innocence of middle school again, letter writers.
Recommended to: Anne-Fans, Little House on the Prairie fans, those who long to be in the innocence of middle school again, letter writers.
December 18, 2017
I'm a huge fan of Montgomery (and her Anne of Green Gables series) so when a friend of mine recommended it to me, I jumped right in. This is such a well-done fictionalized account of Montgomery at a young age. Fishbane captured the essence of Montgomery and how she brought Anne to life. I loved it and highly recommend!
My Rating: 5 stars
My Rating: 5 stars
December 16, 2018
I am *slightly* obsessed with anything L.M. Montgomery wrote so when I first saw this book I knew I had to read it. The writing was very good and it was interesting to read about LMM as a teenager, and think of how her life experiences influenced her novels. I’ll have to read her journals soon!
April 1, 2017
I admit that I knew next to nothing about the life of L.M. Montgomery before diving into this story inspired by her life. The amount of research that Fishbane did in preparation for this book absolutely shines through the text. It's clear that Fishbone is a true Maud fangirl, and her passion is contagious.
I loved Maud's character in this book. While she had her weaknesses and vulnerabilities, she also had this immense source of inner strength that was quite frankly inspirational. Despite having had experienced tragedy and being treated as an outcast most of her life, Maud remained true to her self and to her passion for writing.
The cast of characters around Maud weren't nearly as dynamic for me. While they certainly had their fair share of subplots going on, their personalities fell a little flat for me and felt a bit archetypal.
I feel like this book stayed very true to the pacing of a story that would have been written during the time period this book is set in. However, that pacing for me as a modern reader felt really slow. I did struggle a bit to remain connected with the story as I was reading. That said, I think there is a very specific readership that will adore that pacing and authentic feeling.
I'm so glad I got the opportunity to read this book, because it truly was a pleasure learning more about L.M. Montgomery. If you are a fan of Anne of Green Gables, you definitely won't want to miss this!
I loved Maud's character in this book. While she had her weaknesses and vulnerabilities, she also had this immense source of inner strength that was quite frankly inspirational. Despite having had experienced tragedy and being treated as an outcast most of her life, Maud remained true to her self and to her passion for writing.
The cast of characters around Maud weren't nearly as dynamic for me. While they certainly had their fair share of subplots going on, their personalities fell a little flat for me and felt a bit archetypal.
I feel like this book stayed very true to the pacing of a story that would have been written during the time period this book is set in. However, that pacing for me as a modern reader felt really slow. I did struggle a bit to remain connected with the story as I was reading. That said, I think there is a very specific readership that will adore that pacing and authentic feeling.
I'm so glad I got the opportunity to read this book, because it truly was a pleasure learning more about L.M. Montgomery. If you are a fan of Anne of Green Gables, you definitely won't want to miss this!
April 25, 2017
Review: Maud by Melanie J. Fishbane
I've already told you all about my , as well as my obsession with Ìý. So let's dive right into Maud. =p
My first thoughts when reading MAUD: This reads like Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books! There’s something very simple, direct, and 19th century about the prose in Maud, and it instantly brought me back to all my moments learning about pioneer life as a child.
Here’s the thing, though: this is not an idyllic time. Unlike L.M. Montgomery’s whimsicalÌýAnne of Green Gables, teen Lucy Maud Montgomery's life is filled with frustration over unfulfilled ambition, Presbyterian rules, and people who just don’t understand her. In the latter, it’s a typical teenager’s life, but in the former two, it’s a life that’s really restrictive and not really conducive to a creative mind.
Maud (as L.M. Montgomery was called) starts in 1890, when the titular character is 14. While she has wonderful friends, and a budding romance with a schoolmate, Maud’s home life is dominated by her devout and conservative grandparents.
The novel is split into three books documenting three tumultuous years in Maud’s life where we see her develop as a writer and teen. To tell you more about the other two books would be spoiling, though (can you spoil a story about a historical figure that’s hundreds of years old?). Suffice to say, the years are each filled with frustration and doubt, friendship and love, and always, Maud’s feeling that she doesn’t belong.
Fishbane paints Maud as not just ahead of her schoolmates in academics, but also ahead of her time. Throughout the novel, we see Maud continually get placed in situations where she's the odd one out. She's almost an orphan, shuffled around from relative toÌýrelative, and whispered about because she's so dreamy and determined.
But as much as she's placed in that Othering role, Maud also makes choices that set her apart.ÌýEven at 14 (and you can tell, even from earlier than that), she is singularly focused on her dream and destiny of becoming a writer. She absorbs vast quantities of literature, makes hard decisions in favour of her calling, and literally uses writing as her escape. Writing is both cathartic and academic for her.
It’s this obsession that pushes Maud to become more than just a wife and mother, as so many of her contemporaries are inclined to do. It makes her desperate for more education, understanding the necessity of absorbing more literature in order to better herself. And it makes her desperate for a way to become self-sufficient in a time when women are supposed to rely on men for everything from the vote to the next glass of milk.
What you see in this book is how not just L.M. Montgomery’s real life, but her ideas for her stories get shaped and changed. It’s not the Anne books that everyone knows, but instead, an understanding of how Maud got to a place where Anne became the thing she wrote.
Reading Maud is like getting to have a really long coffee date with your favorite author when she was a teen - spilling her problems and woes. It’s one part documentation, one part reportage, and one part bittersweet sympathy. You’ll ache and be frustrated for Maud, but you’ll cheer her and when she gets a much-needed win.
Bonuses:
I couldn't help but use GIFs from the new Anne series on CBC (and Netflix) for this part!
Maud of Green Gables:ÌýWhile there isn’t actually a real house named “Green Gablesâ€� or town named “Avonleaâ€�, there are definitely parallels between Cavendish, where Maud grew up, and the people she meets. If you’re an Anne or Emily fan, I think you’ll see those parallels pretty easily, and it’s kind of delightful when you do.
Letters & Notes: I have a thing for books where you get to see correspondence between characters, and this one has some really adorable letter writing.
Honest But Swoony Romance: I don’t want to give things away, but one of the most amazing things about this book is that there is more than one love interest without getting cliche. And...that’s all I’m going to say about that. Enjoy the swoons, guys!
Realistic Girl Friendships: While Maud celebrates the romance and friendship that are the trademarks of all of LMM’s work, it also recognizes the difficulty of keeping relationships alive and growing. It’s a really honest and bittersweet take on friendship that I appreciated so much.
Historical Writing: I haven't read a YA historical that tries to write in the style of the literature of the time, and I think it’s done successfully here. I appreciated that the prose and omniscient narration remained a bit removed from Maud, in the style of the time, but you could actually track Maud’s progression as a teen through the dialogue she uses in each section (she gets a lot more thoughtful, much like Anne, as she grows up!).
The Final Word:
A well-researched novel about the teen life of the iconic Anne of Green Gables author L.M. Montgomery, Maud takes the bones of one of Canada’s most celebrated authors and elevates it into historical fiction that will challenge youth. Readers fond of Anne and Montgomery’s other books will enjoy recognizing characters and moments in Maud’s life that parallel her books, but will also see how much of an escape literature became for Maud.
This isn’t always a happy story, and it’s definitely not one without hardships. What kept me going is Maud’s determination to break out of her situation. This is an unabashedly feminist take on Maud’s life, and on the lives of women in the 1890s. A solid debut.
-----
MAUD by Melanie J. Fishbane is out in bookstores today! Will you be reading it? Are you an Anne of Green Gables or Emily of New Moon fan? Are you interested in reading about Ìýyour favorite authors' teen lives? Let me know in the comments!
I've already told you all about my , as well as my obsession with Ìý. So let's dive right into Maud. =p
My first thoughts when reading MAUD: This reads like Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books! There’s something very simple, direct, and 19th century about the prose in Maud, and it instantly brought me back to all my moments learning about pioneer life as a child.
Here’s the thing, though: this is not an idyllic time. Unlike L.M. Montgomery’s whimsicalÌýAnne of Green Gables, teen Lucy Maud Montgomery's life is filled with frustration over unfulfilled ambition, Presbyterian rules, and people who just don’t understand her. In the latter, it’s a typical teenager’s life, but in the former two, it’s a life that’s really restrictive and not really conducive to a creative mind.
Maud (as L.M. Montgomery was called) starts in 1890, when the titular character is 14. While she has wonderful friends, and a budding romance with a schoolmate, Maud’s home life is dominated by her devout and conservative grandparents.
The novel is split into three books documenting three tumultuous years in Maud’s life where we see her develop as a writer and teen. To tell you more about the other two books would be spoiling, though (can you spoil a story about a historical figure that’s hundreds of years old?). Suffice to say, the years are each filled with frustration and doubt, friendship and love, and always, Maud’s feeling that she doesn’t belong.
Fishbane paints Maud as not just ahead of her schoolmates in academics, but also ahead of her time. Throughout the novel, we see Maud continually get placed in situations where she's the odd one out. She's almost an orphan, shuffled around from relative toÌýrelative, and whispered about because she's so dreamy and determined.
But as much as she's placed in that Othering role, Maud also makes choices that set her apart.ÌýEven at 14 (and you can tell, even from earlier than that), she is singularly focused on her dream and destiny of becoming a writer. She absorbs vast quantities of literature, makes hard decisions in favour of her calling, and literally uses writing as her escape. Writing is both cathartic and academic for her.
It’s this obsession that pushes Maud to become more than just a wife and mother, as so many of her contemporaries are inclined to do. It makes her desperate for more education, understanding the necessity of absorbing more literature in order to better herself. And it makes her desperate for a way to become self-sufficient in a time when women are supposed to rely on men for everything from the vote to the next glass of milk.
What you see in this book is how not just L.M. Montgomery’s real life, but her ideas for her stories get shaped and changed. It’s not the Anne books that everyone knows, but instead, an understanding of how Maud got to a place where Anne became the thing she wrote.
Reading Maud is like getting to have a really long coffee date with your favorite author when she was a teen - spilling her problems and woes. It’s one part documentation, one part reportage, and one part bittersweet sympathy. You’ll ache and be frustrated for Maud, but you’ll cheer her and when she gets a much-needed win.
Bonuses:
I couldn't help but use GIFs from the new Anne series on CBC (and Netflix) for this part!
Maud of Green Gables:ÌýWhile there isn’t actually a real house named “Green Gablesâ€� or town named “Avonleaâ€�, there are definitely parallels between Cavendish, where Maud grew up, and the people she meets. If you’re an Anne or Emily fan, I think you’ll see those parallels pretty easily, and it’s kind of delightful when you do.Letters & Notes: I have a thing for books where you get to see correspondence between characters, and this one has some really adorable letter writing.
Honest But Swoony Romance: I don’t want to give things away, but one of the most amazing things about this book is that there is more than one love interest without getting cliche. And...that’s all I’m going to say about that. Enjoy the swoons, guys!Realistic Girl Friendships: While Maud celebrates the romance and friendship that are the trademarks of all of LMM’s work, it also recognizes the difficulty of keeping relationships alive and growing. It’s a really honest and bittersweet take on friendship that I appreciated so much.Historical Writing: I haven't read a YA historical that tries to write in the style of the literature of the time, and I think it’s done successfully here. I appreciated that the prose and omniscient narration remained a bit removed from Maud, in the style of the time, but you could actually track Maud’s progression as a teen through the dialogue she uses in each section (she gets a lot more thoughtful, much like Anne, as she grows up!).The Final Word:
A well-researched novel about the teen life of the iconic Anne of Green Gables author L.M. Montgomery, Maud takes the bones of one of Canada’s most celebrated authors and elevates it into historical fiction that will challenge youth. Readers fond of Anne and Montgomery’s other books will enjoy recognizing characters and moments in Maud’s life that parallel her books, but will also see how much of an escape literature became for Maud.
This isn’t always a happy story, and it’s definitely not one without hardships. What kept me going is Maud’s determination to break out of her situation. This is an unabashedly feminist take on Maud’s life, and on the lives of women in the 1890s. A solid debut.
-----
MAUD by Melanie J. Fishbane is out in bookstores today! Will you be reading it? Are you an Anne of Green Gables or Emily of New Moon fan? Are you interested in reading about Ìýyour favorite authors' teen lives? Let me know in the comments!
July 18, 2017
My friend Melanie wrote a book, and Penguin Teen Canada published it, I FINALLY got to read it, and now I’m getting to write about it! If you can’t tell, I’m pretty excited about it—and with good reasons. Here are the top four things I love about Melanie Fishbane’s debut, Maud: A Novel:
One: the voice. Melanie knows her subject really, really well. She has read and read and re-read Maud’s fiction and her life-writing, and that knowledge comes through in the voices of both Maud and the narrator. The protagonist’s voice echoes the Maud of her early journals, excited about friends, and boys, and possibilities, passionate about language and feelings and experiences, about conveying her world through her words. The book’s voices capture the tone of both Maud’s creative and life-writing, but Melanie brings a contemporary engagement to what could have been fusty or old-fashioned. She helps Maud speak to a new generation of readers.
Two: the homages. Melanie is a fan not just of Montgomery, but of Laura Ingalls Wilder, and some scenes (driving with Will, poring over her wardrobe) call to mind vividly favorite moments from Wilder’s Little House series. But Melanie also manages subtle homages to Montgomery’s own work. I see echoes of not just Anne, Montgomery’s most famous character, but also to Emily, the character that feels most like me—and most like my conception of Maud herself. These homages are lovely little Easter-eggs in the narrative, but readers new to Montgomery won’t be impeded at all by their lack of context.
Three: the filling in of gaps. This is a novel, and it never pretends to be anything else. Melanie has taken what we do know about young Maud and fleshed it out, created stories, conversations, context, and relationships that delve deeper into her intimate and emotional life than anything left by Maud herself. These creations are eminently respectful of her subject, and both honor Maud’s life and reach out to new readers.
Four: the writing. There is an intimacy between the author and her subject, a closeness of respect, admiration, and, yes, love; yet there’s recognition that her subject is human, flawed and imperfect. As I have mentioned, Melanie brings a contemporary intimacy that sees her character’s flaws—notably her pride and her sensitivity—but makes her accessible, likable, and understandable. She has worked to, in some ways, reflect Montgomery’s own love of nature and delight in description, and to build a true °Ã¼²Ô²õ³Ù±ô±ð°ù°ù´Ç³¾²¹²Ô, a story of an artist’s coming-of-age. I love the voices of the character and the narrator, but behind those, I most of all love the voice of the author.
Okay, five things.
Five: the end matter: I am a big nerd, and I simply adore context. This book includes references, a section titled “More about Maud and Her Times,� a section on “What Happened to Maud’s Friends,� and, of course, a section on “Further Reading.� Each of these pieces offers a wealth of information and excellent resources that will start the budding Montgomery fan or scholar on the road to discovery.
Melanie J. Fishbane was given a daunting (and some might say unfulfillable) task: to bring to life, in fiction, a singularly well-beloved author. She has done it, and, in so-doing she has offered to a new generation of readers her subject’s literary bounty.
One: the voice. Melanie knows her subject really, really well. She has read and read and re-read Maud’s fiction and her life-writing, and that knowledge comes through in the voices of both Maud and the narrator. The protagonist’s voice echoes the Maud of her early journals, excited about friends, and boys, and possibilities, passionate about language and feelings and experiences, about conveying her world through her words. The book’s voices capture the tone of both Maud’s creative and life-writing, but Melanie brings a contemporary engagement to what could have been fusty or old-fashioned. She helps Maud speak to a new generation of readers.
Two: the homages. Melanie is a fan not just of Montgomery, but of Laura Ingalls Wilder, and some scenes (driving with Will, poring over her wardrobe) call to mind vividly favorite moments from Wilder’s Little House series. But Melanie also manages subtle homages to Montgomery’s own work. I see echoes of not just Anne, Montgomery’s most famous character, but also to Emily, the character that feels most like me—and most like my conception of Maud herself. These homages are lovely little Easter-eggs in the narrative, but readers new to Montgomery won’t be impeded at all by their lack of context.
Three: the filling in of gaps. This is a novel, and it never pretends to be anything else. Melanie has taken what we do know about young Maud and fleshed it out, created stories, conversations, context, and relationships that delve deeper into her intimate and emotional life than anything left by Maud herself. These creations are eminently respectful of her subject, and both honor Maud’s life and reach out to new readers.
Four: the writing. There is an intimacy between the author and her subject, a closeness of respect, admiration, and, yes, love; yet there’s recognition that her subject is human, flawed and imperfect. As I have mentioned, Melanie brings a contemporary intimacy that sees her character’s flaws—notably her pride and her sensitivity—but makes her accessible, likable, and understandable. She has worked to, in some ways, reflect Montgomery’s own love of nature and delight in description, and to build a true °Ã¼²Ô²õ³Ù±ô±ð°ù°ù´Ç³¾²¹²Ô, a story of an artist’s coming-of-age. I love the voices of the character and the narrator, but behind those, I most of all love the voice of the author.
Okay, five things.
Five: the end matter: I am a big nerd, and I simply adore context. This book includes references, a section titled “More about Maud and Her Times,� a section on “What Happened to Maud’s Friends,� and, of course, a section on “Further Reading.� Each of these pieces offers a wealth of information and excellent resources that will start the budding Montgomery fan or scholar on the road to discovery.
Melanie J. Fishbane was given a daunting (and some might say unfulfillable) task: to bring to life, in fiction, a singularly well-beloved author. She has done it, and, in so-doing she has offered to a new generation of readers her subject’s literary bounty.
May 13, 2017
Man did this bring be back to my childhood. When I was younger, historical fiction books were one of my all-time favorite genres. I devoured books set in the past, especially those with spunky, intelligent young women intent on taking life into their own hands. And, of course, Anne of Green Gables was among those beloved books. So when I had the chance to read a historical fiction book based on one of my childhood favorites, I knew I had to read it.
That being said, I found myself a little disappointed. The story was enjoyable, don't get me wrong. And it's clear Fishbane definitely did her research when writing this book. But, I just didn't love it like I wanted to. Maybe my tastes in books have just changed over the years. It made me a little sad though. Because I really wanted to adore this book. I just couldn't
I had a difficult time getting into the story and had to force myself to read the first few chapters. After the rough beginning, I did end up really enjoying the story and delightful characters. It just took me some time to get invested. The fact that things seemed to jump around a little and the rather abrupt transitions between scenes probably didn't help mattes.
But, despite my difficulties, I still really liked Maud. The characters were wonderful, and the novel was filled with all sorts of history. Anyone who is a fan of stories like Anne of Green Gables should definitely check this out!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for giving me the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!
That being said, I found myself a little disappointed. The story was enjoyable, don't get me wrong. And it's clear Fishbane definitely did her research when writing this book. But, I just didn't love it like I wanted to. Maybe my tastes in books have just changed over the years. It made me a little sad though. Because I really wanted to adore this book. I just couldn't
I had a difficult time getting into the story and had to force myself to read the first few chapters. After the rough beginning, I did end up really enjoying the story and delightful characters. It just took me some time to get invested. The fact that things seemed to jump around a little and the rather abrupt transitions between scenes probably didn't help mattes.
But, despite my difficulties, I still really liked Maud. The characters were wonderful, and the novel was filled with all sorts of history. Anyone who is a fan of stories like Anne of Green Gables should definitely check this out!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for giving me the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!
April 14, 2017
I love Anne of Green Gables and all the other books that L.M. Montgomery has written. So I was very excited to get the opportunity to read this fictionalization of Lucy Maud Montgomery's early years. Ms. Fishbane has done a wonderful job of writing a nice story based on Maud's journals and letters. Reading very much like Anne of Green Gables, the book shows a rather feisty Maud in some aspects and shy in others. I enjoyed reading about the history of the areas and the social and class structure (including native peoples). I particularly was interested in where Maud's friends ended up, and Ms. Fishbane tells us at the end of the book. This will be a book that I will purchase for my library once it is available. Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for allowing me to read this book.
July 16, 2017
I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This lived up to all my expectations for a story about beloved Maud. I think Melanie Fishbane captured Maud's independent, creative spirit and used just the right amount of fiction to complement the fact.
Will be reading this again, maybe after a bit of revisiting Maud's own journals.
This lived up to all my expectations for a story about beloved Maud. I think Melanie Fishbane captured Maud's independent, creative spirit and used just the right amount of fiction to complement the fact.
Will be reading this again, maybe after a bit of revisiting Maud's own journals.
May 18, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and making all the comparisons between the real-life characters in Maud's world with the later ones in her books. A good book for those of us who can't get enough of Lucy Maud Montgomery.
April 23, 2017
See Full review here:
*I was provided an e-ARC through Net Galley and Penguin Random House Canada, thank you so much*
I have been extremely excited about this book ever since I first heard about it. A story based on the teenage years of the author who wrote the Canadian classic, Anne of Green Gables? YES GIVE IT TO ME NOW! Although, I’ve only read Anne once (I am going to re-read it soon, however!) it really touched my heart. It was funny, charming and I absolutely adore it. (Plus I have seen the show many. many times). So reading this story and finding the connections between the Maud’s life and Anne’s life was truly a treasure. However, this is a work of fiction so Maud’s life most likely did not unravel as it did in this book. Still I really enjoyed Maud’s character and the story of her life when she was fourteen.
Reading this book gave me a little more insight into what Maud’s life could have been like growing up a teen in the 1890s.
What I liked
Characters:
Maud: How could I not like Maud? She was charming, caring and ever so studious. She loved hanging out with her friends and helping her grandparents despite their stern demeanour. I really enjoyed her perseverance against the challenges put in her path. She was trying to find somewhere she belonged in a community that only remembered the scandal of her parents. Her father and step-mother situation was probably the most hurtful experience she had to go through in terms of family issues. She faced backlash and denial as she tried to make a career for herself, something women in the 1800s were not typically found doing. Yet, Maud found her way to make her writing dream come true and I really appreciated that about her. She went through a lot of change over the course of the novel which I found relatable because who can really say they are the same person today as they were three years ago?
I feel hesitant to mention other characters for means of spoilers…but I really enjoyed the friendships she made with Laura and Mollie. This is a story of Maud’s life over the course of two to three years. So some people come and go while others stay. It was truly fascinating to see how her relationships with the characters played out.
The Setting: *I will gloat a little here.* FOR ONCE I HAD AN IDEA OF WHERE THE CHARACTERS WERE! You get to explore the peaceful shores of Prince Edward Island, the dusty and farm-like wild west of Saskatchewan. And the hustle and bustle of the cities in Ontario. I just found the change in setting and travelling very beautiful and exciting!
It didn’t shy away from the bad aspects of Canadian History: While there is not a lot of emphasis, there is a very important message about the treatment of First Nation and Indigenous peoples of Canada during the time period. There was a Métis character who was an actual person in Maud’s, life that was present in the story. Although she was not in the story for long, I think it was a good thing for the author to use her to represent the struggle of the First Nations in Canada.
It had Anne flair: I think my favourite part about this novel is how the author made the connections between Maud’s life and Anne’s life. At first I was expecting Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert or Gilbert to waltz into Maud’s life. Instead I found the people who inspired those characters. The setting that inspired Green Gables. The life of an orphan-like girl who discovered kindred spirits and the scope of imagination which inspired a certain red-head I know and love!
Romance: I am not going to mention a who, in case of spoilers but I will say that the romance was sweet and absolutely adorable. It made my heart squish in the good way. (It also broke a couple times)
What I Disliked
The Pacing Was Confusing: This is usually not a concerning thing if it is an action novel or mystery and you just want to know what is going on. When I consider the pace of this novel, I am talking about the actual time line in the writing. Things went a little to fast sometimes as in the characters would jump from one moment in time to another which was weeks away from the original.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. I thought that it was fun, engrossing and a great look into the life of a female Canadian author. Even though this novel is very fictitious and many of the events and plot lines were made for the sake of the character developments I thought it was a fantastic portrayal of Maud’s life when she was young. Fishbane did a tremendous amount of research for her novel. I’m telling you pages of pages of reading material (all listed at the end of the book) which I think she deserves a round of applause for!
Rating: 4.5 / 5 stars (I just found it incredible!)
Recommend?: Even if you’re not Canadian and you know nothing about our history, Anne or our geography 😉 I still recommend you to read the coming of age story of an author. I suggest you read Anne of Green Gables first, then read this to find all those Anne connections!
*I was provided an e-ARC through Net Galley and Penguin Random House Canada, thank you so much*
I have been extremely excited about this book ever since I first heard about it. A story based on the teenage years of the author who wrote the Canadian classic, Anne of Green Gables? YES GIVE IT TO ME NOW! Although, I’ve only read Anne once (I am going to re-read it soon, however!) it really touched my heart. It was funny, charming and I absolutely adore it. (Plus I have seen the show many. many times). So reading this story and finding the connections between the Maud’s life and Anne’s life was truly a treasure. However, this is a work of fiction so Maud’s life most likely did not unravel as it did in this book. Still I really enjoyed Maud’s character and the story of her life when she was fourteen.
Reading this book gave me a little more insight into what Maud’s life could have been like growing up a teen in the 1890s.
What I liked
Characters:
Maud: How could I not like Maud? She was charming, caring and ever so studious. She loved hanging out with her friends and helping her grandparents despite their stern demeanour. I really enjoyed her perseverance against the challenges put in her path. She was trying to find somewhere she belonged in a community that only remembered the scandal of her parents. Her father and step-mother situation was probably the most hurtful experience she had to go through in terms of family issues. She faced backlash and denial as she tried to make a career for herself, something women in the 1800s were not typically found doing. Yet, Maud found her way to make her writing dream come true and I really appreciated that about her. She went through a lot of change over the course of the novel which I found relatable because who can really say they are the same person today as they were three years ago?
I feel hesitant to mention other characters for means of spoilers…but I really enjoyed the friendships she made with Laura and Mollie. This is a story of Maud’s life over the course of two to three years. So some people come and go while others stay. It was truly fascinating to see how her relationships with the characters played out.
The Setting: *I will gloat a little here.* FOR ONCE I HAD AN IDEA OF WHERE THE CHARACTERS WERE! You get to explore the peaceful shores of Prince Edward Island, the dusty and farm-like wild west of Saskatchewan. And the hustle and bustle of the cities in Ontario. I just found the change in setting and travelling very beautiful and exciting!
It didn’t shy away from the bad aspects of Canadian History: While there is not a lot of emphasis, there is a very important message about the treatment of First Nation and Indigenous peoples of Canada during the time period. There was a Métis character who was an actual person in Maud’s, life that was present in the story. Although she was not in the story for long, I think it was a good thing for the author to use her to represent the struggle of the First Nations in Canada.
It had Anne flair: I think my favourite part about this novel is how the author made the connections between Maud’s life and Anne’s life. At first I was expecting Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert or Gilbert to waltz into Maud’s life. Instead I found the people who inspired those characters. The setting that inspired Green Gables. The life of an orphan-like girl who discovered kindred spirits and the scope of imagination which inspired a certain red-head I know and love!
Romance: I am not going to mention a who, in case of spoilers but I will say that the romance was sweet and absolutely adorable. It made my heart squish in the good way. (It also broke a couple times)
What I Disliked
The Pacing Was Confusing: This is usually not a concerning thing if it is an action novel or mystery and you just want to know what is going on. When I consider the pace of this novel, I am talking about the actual time line in the writing. Things went a little to fast sometimes as in the characters would jump from one moment in time to another which was weeks away from the original.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. I thought that it was fun, engrossing and a great look into the life of a female Canadian author. Even though this novel is very fictitious and many of the events and plot lines were made for the sake of the character developments I thought it was a fantastic portrayal of Maud’s life when she was young. Fishbane did a tremendous amount of research for her novel. I’m telling you pages of pages of reading material (all listed at the end of the book) which I think she deserves a round of applause for!
Rating: 4.5 / 5 stars (I just found it incredible!)
Recommend?: Even if you’re not Canadian and you know nothing about our history, Anne or our geography 😉 I still recommend you to read the coming of age story of an author. I suggest you read Anne of Green Gables first, then read this to find all those Anne connections!
July 10, 2018
I loved this story about LM Montgomery's life. It was so cool to see the things that happened in her life that probably inspired things in Anne of Green Gables (and probably more of her stories but I haven't read anything outside of the Anne series yet). Now I'm motivated again to read everything LM Montgomery ever wrote.
August 31, 2018
Like so many kids in Canada and elsewhere, Anne of Green Gables was among my first book loves. I wanted to be friends with Anne and Diana, and Gilbert was one of my first boy character book crushes. And an adaptation of the book was among the first theatre productions that I saw - when Matthew died onstage in Charletown, I wasn't sure my heart would ever heal!
One of my favourite nonfiction books this year is and Historica Canada recently released a lovely Heritage Minute about LM Montgomery: So I felt primed to enjoy "Maud" as soon as I saw the cover and read the description. Plus, historical fiction is my favourite genre, so I was excited to pick up the fairly fat hardcover YA novel.
Still, I did not looooove "Maud." I liked it, if not wholeheartedly. I didn't connect with the Maud character or her circle of friends and relatives as I would have hoped, and found that much of the novel, particularly the first section set on Prince Edward Island, rather plodded. My favourite bit of the book turned out to be the afterword and the section that gives a very brief bio on each of the real people on whom the characters are based, including some of Maud's chums and relations.
I'm struggling with giving this one a star rating, settling on 2.5-3.
All this said, if you are an Anne fan, please do not be deterred from reading "Maud." But I do also suggest checking out:
.
One of my favourite nonfiction books this year is and Historica Canada recently released a lovely Heritage Minute about LM Montgomery: So I felt primed to enjoy "Maud" as soon as I saw the cover and read the description. Plus, historical fiction is my favourite genre, so I was excited to pick up the fairly fat hardcover YA novel.
Still, I did not looooove "Maud." I liked it, if not wholeheartedly. I didn't connect with the Maud character or her circle of friends and relatives as I would have hoped, and found that much of the novel, particularly the first section set on Prince Edward Island, rather plodded. My favourite bit of the book turned out to be the afterword and the section that gives a very brief bio on each of the real people on whom the characters are based, including some of Maud's chums and relations.
I'm struggling with giving this one a star rating, settling on 2.5-3.
All this said, if you are an Anne fan, please do not be deterred from reading "Maud." But I do also suggest checking out:
.
February 18, 2017
I loved this fictionalized story of Maud's teenage years, but I feel like I should also include the disclaimer that was one of my favorite authors growing up. I loved her stories about Anne and Emily, thought was wonderful, and enjoyed many of her other books. All of the copies of her books that I collected still hold a special place in my heart, as well as on my bookshelf. So, if you have read and enjoyed L.M. Montgomery’s work, I believe that you will enjoy this book as well.
The book starts slowly with a background of her early life with her grandparents and other relatives, but it becomes much stronger once she travels to Saskatchewan to live with her father and his new wife. The story includes more romance than I expected, but it is also a bittersweet story of the difficulties and choices that her dedication to writing sometimes involved. It provides a clear perspective of how she used her own experiences in her writing and made many references that I recognized. I was also pleased to see that the book ends with an author’s note which explains a few adjustments to the actual timeline and a description of what happened to several of the characters after the time covered in the book.
*I received an electronic copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review.
The book starts slowly with a background of her early life with her grandparents and other relatives, but it becomes much stronger once she travels to Saskatchewan to live with her father and his new wife. The story includes more romance than I expected, but it is also a bittersweet story of the difficulties and choices that her dedication to writing sometimes involved. It provides a clear perspective of how she used her own experiences in her writing and made many references that I recognized. I was also pleased to see that the book ends with an author’s note which explains a few adjustments to the actual timeline and a description of what happened to several of the characters after the time covered in the book.
*I received an electronic copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review.
February 9, 2017
I just finished the historical fiction treatment of young L.M. Montgomery written by my friend, Melanie Fishbane. I cannot claim to be an unbiased reader, but I can claim to be an expert on the biography of the Canadian author, having researched the characters this book since 1994. Melanie has done her homework and allows readers to walk in the young writer's shoes as she navigates the first steps on her path to fame. Here we see Maud's developing ambition and sense of purpose as well her budding self-confidence and struggle to find the comfort of belonging within her family. And, yes, there is adolescent romance with cute nice boys, real ones. Nevertheless, she persists. Enjoy.
June 6, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. While it is fiction, it reads more like non-fiction. When I was reading, I couldn't help but notice similarities between L.M. Montgomery and Anne Shirley from . There were some moments in Maud that were both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Maud is a well researched book about family, friendship, and following your dreams. After reading this book, with material pulled from Montgomery's own personal journals, I am more curious to read them. I highly recommend this book to fans of L.M. Montgomery.
March 12, 2017
I couldn't finish the book. I read over 130 pages and drop it. The book evokes one of the most beloved fictional characters, Anne of Green Gables, but that is about it. It's missing the magic, attention to details and heart that I found in Anne's series created by Lucy Maud Montgomery . No humor and its lack of depth in characters and stories made me realize this is not what I was looking for.
February 9, 2017
Any fan of Anne of Green Gables will enjoy Fishbane's quiet story of Montgomery's life. It becomes apparent how Montgomery used themes and incidents from her own life to create the "Anne" series. Very enjoyable reading.
November 12, 2018
2.5 stars.
I was expecting so much more from this, but the writing felt dull and the dialogue unrealistic. I didn't hate it, I just found it annoying. It almost felt like the author was trying to mimic L.M. Montgomery's style and it wasn't working. Oh well...
I was expecting so much more from this, but the writing felt dull and the dialogue unrealistic. I didn't hate it, I just found it annoying. It almost felt like the author was trying to mimic L.M. Montgomery's style and it wasn't working. Oh well...
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