Across the Miles

LM Montgomery is best known for her novels, especially the Anne and Emily series, and I also really like The Blue Castle. But fewer people know that she was also a prolofic and competent short story writer to magazines, and she knew how to pen really interesting characters in her short fiction as well. A few of her stories are brilliant, some are more medicore, but all of them are enjoyable to read. This collection and Chronicles of Avonlea are my favorites.

I have read two other collection of LMM's short stories and find this one my favorite. First of all, I like the idea of how the writing of a journal, a letter or an invitation could change a person's life. I don't know if this is still possible in today's world anymore. But it all seems so true to me when I read stories that took place nearly a hundred years ago. I just wish I could live in those times when letter-writing was so much more common and treasured than now. Reading this book let me realize some of the important values that people nowadays have sometimes forgotten, for instance, the importance of a promise. Besides, what makes this book so neat is that all the stories in this collection are heart-warming and have good endings.

As with all of L.M. Montgomery's poignant short stories, many of these left me teary. Even though the endings may be predictable, Montgomery's words give depth to her characters and bring each story about love and loss a richness of feeling that sometimes -- in this age of irony-- we forget that each important event in a person's life deserves.

If you have read a book my L.M. Montgomery, you'll really like this book. The stories all go along with the idea of recieving a letter or note. I couldn't put the book down! If you have never read L.M. Montgomery's books read the Anne of Green Gables series first.