Because you’re probably referring to a style of writing that those who like it would call “descriptive” or “romantic,” not purple.

I love that review site! ❤️ And yes, this was meant as a lightheaded poke at one of my childhood favorites. 😁

I never said he was a “child molester,” either. I said I find it “squicky” how much he rhapsodizes about how ignorant, innocent, unspoiled, and childlike Kilmeny is. No one is advocating for rewriting this book so they are ages 46 and 45.

And even if they did this book would still have the major flaw that the main characters are both too perfect in every way, which is boring.

Lots of LM Montgomery’s books age amazingly well. It’s why she’s still wildly popular. This is one of her rare Ls.

Good point. I was having a hard time understanding how sexily (???) he’s described with other words she calls him.

One weird thing was that I can’t quite figure out how old the >!murderous!< Italian boy is supposed to be. He’s unambiguously called “boy” but he’s described almost physically like an adult.

I didn’t say he was a “sleazy abuser,” though. I said the story as a whole was “borderline yikes.”

And the reasons Kilmeny was kept sheltered/innocent are disturbing and not at all admirable. The major family theory for her inability to speak and be in the world is >!that she had to suffer for the sin of her mother being stubborn and refusing to forgive someone!<

I just read that article but it’s a bit baffling what they consider to be shared plot points and similar phrasing.

Eg “Jeremiah and Matthew are both plain and practical-minded.” Those aren’t even Matthew’s defining character traits!! Kindness and shyness are! He’s the one who does encourage Anne in her romance and impracticality.

Right, that’s like saying if someone wrote a story with a wizard in it, all other stories with wizards are rip-offs of it.

The problem isn’t the “age gap.” Their age gap is only 6 years or so. What I think is creepy is how the main character explicitly refers to Kilmeny as a child repeatedly, doesn’t want her to learn/experience the world before they marry, loves her total lack of knowledge etc. His kiss is what makes her a woman and so forth. It is true that “childlike wonderment” was prized in women but that doesn’t make it less of a creepy story to me.

Yeah, it is super hit and miss. I enjoy Redwall & the Narnia series generally as much but my Madeline L’Engle re-reads as an adult have been disappointing.

It’s one of those books that I’m happy I read, but it didn’t have that same magic to it as when I was a kid.

Haven’t re-read those since I was a kid! I remember them as more gothic.

Apparently??? He surely goes on about how wonderful and unspoiled and unsullied Kilmeny is, though!

I just started that one and got the warning as well! Cringey! Like wtf, why was using that word necessary?

Her best book was The Blue Castle, which is probably the best and most perfect romance I’ve ever read. I have also read Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and didn’t find it as beautifully written or special as Anne of Green Gables.

It feels like a regurgitation of every article ever written about how to develop a reading habit.

But somebody is having fun with ChatGPT

Because humans don’t usually write Reddit posts like generic Wikipedia listicles.

Ok ChatGPT

You might like it! I think I was just annoyed by the grandiose claims it made & didn’t think the author backed them up well.

These are some of my lowest-rated but yeah, you can search by either lowest-rated on GRs or your own personal lowest-rated books.

🤣I felt like it wasted a dynamite premise!

My now-10 year old reads a lot so 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

If you read, your kid probably will want to, too.