Anne of the Island - Annotated (Original 1915 Edition)

I’ll admit, I approached *Anne of the Island* expecting more of the same cozy charm as *Green Gables*—but this audiobook caught me off guard. Anne at Redmond is *exhausting* in the best way: she’s still prone to melodramatic swoons (her reaction to a failed exam is pure theater), but she’s also wrestling with real stakes—financial pressure, professional jealousy, and the slow drip of disillusionment. Karen Savage’s narration is the secret weapon here. She doesn’t just *read* Anne; she *performs* her, with a voice that cracks under emotional strain and soars during Anne’s trademark rhapsodies about ‘kindred spirits’ and ‘white roads of delight.’ The supporting cast gets distinct treatments too—Gilbert’s dry wit is delivered with a smirk, while Diana’s letters sound like they’re being read over a crackling long-distance call. That said, this isn��t a flawless listen. The annotated footnotes, while fascinating, can disrupt the flow if you’re not prepared for sudden shifts from story to historical context (pro tip: the audiobook’s chapter markers help skip them if you’re in a narrative groove). And Montgomery’s romance subplots—particularly Anne’s will-they-won’t-they with Gilbert—feel *painfully* drawn out by modern standards. But those quibbles fade against the sheer *joy* of Savage’s delivery, especially in scenes like Anne’s disastrous attempt at housekeeping or her late-night confessions to Philippa. This is an audiobook for anyone who’s ever been young, overconfident, and humbled by life—and for those who love a heroine who’s as infuriating as she is inspiring.