The 3rd and Final Year at Windy Poplars
Dear Kindred Spirits,
I wholeheartedly apologize for this delayed newsletter. It has been my aim to write a Kindred Spirits newsletter every Friday. Since this Book Club’s inception in February, I have been able to do just that, up until this week. I have no excuse other than that time slipped away from me recently. But I have returned, and will aim to resume my weekly, Friday newsletter cadence.
We have completed yet another book from the Anne of Green Gables series. This one certainly had a different feel, and as I shared last week, we now know it is at least in part due to the large time gap in the writing of this novel compared to the others.
For context:
Our previous read, Anne of the Island, was written in 1915, our next read, Anne’s House of Dreams, was written in 1917, but what we just completed, Anne of Windy Poplars, was written in 1936. I expect that Anne’s House of Dreams may feel more familiar than the somewhat out of place narration of this one.
In year 3 at Windy Poplars, a whole new cast of characters continues to be introduced; from the twins Gerald and Geraldine to Miss Minerva. Once again, the stories are fun and interesting, but they often feel singular and many of these characters feel out of place, with a chapter or two of a story and then no completion to said story. I suppose that is life. We cross paths with countless others, often learning of, and perhaps impacting, one sliver of their lives, only to move onward in our own journeys and to never hear from these others again. Of course, there are many who are with us through it all, but I remain grateful and amazed by the countless stories whose endings (or middles or anythings!) I will never know. This is what it is to be human.
In the front yard of my very own House of Dreams, last Spring.
Miss Minerva of the Tomgallon House is one of these out of place stories. Anne is invited to a dinner which turns into an unexpected, overnight visit. Upon staying the night with Miss Minerva and learning of all the tragedies that have taken place in this home, including in the very room she sleeps in, Anne ponders “but is there not something strange about any room that has been occupied through generations?” We’ve seen this concept in the series before, an exploration of the memories held by physical spaces.
While the Tomgallon house is not the most pleasant of places, Anne reminds herself that once upon a time she dreamed of sleeping in a spare room, and here she is in a spare room wishing to be back at home.
What were your wishes or wildest dreams from childhood that have become mundane moments of your life? Let’s try to recapture the childlike wonder of these everyday things.
Anne reflects that the Tomgallon House is the home of Yesterday, whereas little Elizabeth lives in the world of Tomorrow.
Elizabeth fantasizes about the elusive, yet oh so near, Tomorrow. “This is Tomorrow. You can’t catch me anymore. You’re only in Today.”
What does the idea of Tomorrow mean to you?
Anne meddles again and writes a letter to Elizabeth’s father. I can relate to the feeling of wanting to ensure others are loved and happy, even when I know it’s really not in my control. Fortunately, in this case, Anne’s meddling works! Anne does all she can to ensure a happy life for little Elizabeth before she must leave her behind. Elizabeth’s story is closed with a neat little bow. Just before Anne leaves her, Elizabeth is found by her father thanks to the letter written by Anne. Another happy ending for one of the many characters whose path is crossed by Anne Shirley.
The book ends with Anne’s final letter to Gilbert. It is the last letter in likely a long time because they are to be reunited by the end of the week, and married within the month. I am so looking forward to returning to Green Gables, watching our dear Anne finally marry Gilbert, and to discover where her journey will lead her next.
This Friday I will send out our reading plan for June. Thank you all for continuing this reading journey with me. Next month we will be reading Anne’s House of Dreams.
Thank you for reading
Thank you for reading and joining me on this read-along of Anne of Green Gables!
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Your bosom friend,
Bri
This wasn’t my favorite installment in the series. The letter structure didn’t really work for me, though I would have liked to see Gilbert’s responses. It will be interesting to get his perspective in the next book. I wonder if we’ll find out what he’s been up to the last three years. Looking forward to the wedding.
"This is what it is to be human." - I think that's so true. I'm reminded of a couple of years that I spent teaching languages to adults. As a teacher, it's easy to get very invested in your students, but to them the lessons are only a couple of hours in their week and may be something they treat very casually. I think in this book LM Montgomery's teaching experience really shows!
Btw, IIRC the Tomgallon house episode was one in which some of the more ghoulish stuff was cut out of the North American version but left in the British one - I still have no idea why. 😂 I will look for the link to the extra text again today, but if anyone wants it urgently, you can find it in my comment on week 1/The First Year of this book.