Audiobook Blog Tour | “Anne of Avonlea” by L.M. Montgomery (narrated by Colleen Winton) published by Post Hypnotic Press!

Posted Sunday, 13 August, 2017 by jorielov , , , 2 Comments

Audiobook Review Badge made by Jorie in Canva.

Acquired Digital Audiobook by: I am a new blog tour hostess with Audiobookworm Promotions wherein I have the opportunity to receive audiobooks for review or adoption (reviews outside of organised blog tours) and host guest features on behalf of authors and narrators alike. When I saw the blog tour for ‘Anne of Green Gables’ I was wicked excited – as I have been wanting to re-read the series for a bit over a year and a half when I first saw a collection of the paperbacks at a thrift store! Mum surprised me with them but for the life of me, I never felt it was the ‘right time’ to read Anne. Seeing the blog tour was featuring the narrations by Post Hypnotic Press – the same publisher of the Betty MacDonald memoirs, I knew I wanted to take part as I love their quality and dedication to how audiobooks are produced!

I received a complimentary audiobook copy of “Anne of Avonlea” via the publisher Post Hypnotic Press (of whom was working directly Audiobookworm Promotions) in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

Where we left Anne:

Anne and Marilla had to walk through a period of heart-wrenching grief and anguish the moment they realised dear Matthew had gone to Heaven ahead of them both – leaving them wretched for the ache in their soul and the emptiness in their hearts to fill in the gaps by which his absence placed in their lives. His was a gentle spirit – a kindly man who was sensitive about Anne – he wanted only the best for his ‘girl’ and he took a liking to her ever since he first laid eyes upon her at the train station – all wide-eyed and curiously eager to see where she was going to ‘call home’ now that he had come to fetch her for Green Gables.

My, how much had changed from those formative years – Anne was nearly seventeen, fully matured past some of her growing wrinkles of angst and a considerably different minded young woman than the one who fought the urge to forgive Gilbert Blythe all those moons ago. She is still fiercely attached to Diana and to the pursuit of knowledge but inside her, was a kind spirit bursting to right the world with her compassion and to endeavour to give back a selfless act of kindness to Marilla of whom saved her from a life of feeling unwanted and unloved. This truly is a story and a series which champions adoption and the non-conventional ways in which children, guardians and parents enter each others’ lives.

There is a quiet sincerity about Anne – she recognises her short-comings and has endeared us all by her ability to see the larger picture without focusing solely on her own intentions and dreams. She feels with all her might a responsible to Marilla (and to Matthew, had he lived) to repay the older woman somehow, someway if only to return a small provision of what Marilla had always bestowed to Anne.

It is here – as she leaves Queens (a bit of a pre-University or Community College segue past lower grades) and enters the workforce as a teacher at Avonlea (courtesy of Gilbert giving up his own teaching position to give Anne the chance to stay local; something which reminded me of how Laura received the teaching fellowship in Little House (the tv series) as I am forgetting if it followed true in the books; you can see everyone in Avonlea has changed their strong opinions against her – even Mrs Rachel Lynde has softened a great deal since she first met Anne and had judged her to a degree in which no one deserves.

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Audiobook Blog Tour | “Anne of Avonlea” by L.M. Montgomery (narrated by Colleen Winton) published by Post Hypnotic Press!Anne of Avonlea

Following Anne of Green Gables (1908), this book covers the second chapter in the life of Anne Shirley. We learn of Anne's doings from the age of 16 to 18, during the two years that she teaches at Avonlea school. It includes many of the characters from Anne of Green Gables, as well as new ones: Mr. Harrison and his foul-mouthed parrot, Miss Lavendar Lewis, Paul Irving, and the twins Dora (sweet and well behaved) and Davy (mischievous and in constant trouble).

Anne matures, slightly, but she gets into a number of her familiar pickles, as only Anne can: She accidentally sells her neighbor's cow (having mistaken it for her own), gets stuck in a broken duck house roof while peeping into a pantry window, and more.


Places to find the book:

ISBN: 978-1-927817-09-4

on 2014

Length: 9 Hours, 25 Minutes (Unabridged)

Published By: Post Hypnotic Press (@Post_Hypnotic)

The Anne of Green Gables series by Post Hypnotic Press:

Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery, narrated by Colleen Winton produced by Post Hypnotic Press.Anne of Avonlea by LM Montgomery, narrated by Colleen Winton produced by Post Hypnotic Press.Anne of the Island by LM Montgomery, narrated by Colleen Winton produced by Post Hypnotic Press.

The publisher is considering adapting the rest of the series and is looking for feedback on behalf of these adaptations by both the bloggers who are listening to them for the blog tour and the readers who are finding them along the tour route itself – to gauge if the rest of the series would have a readership who would appreciate hearing them. I, for one, am hoping they do produce the rest of the series as these adaptions are great addition for all of us who grew up knowing Anne.

Likewise, if you haven’t yet seen the publisher’s announcement about how their offering a coupon this month on their audiobook catalogue, I encourage you to visit my review of Anne of Green Gables (linked below this review) where I first found out this lovely news myself!

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my review of Anne of avonlea:

As right as rain, we find Anne, Marilla, Mrs Rachel Lynde and Diana carrying on with their lives as if not wink nor grief had ever affected them in equaling measure – Anne is even conspiring with Gilbert Blythe on making ‘improvements’ to their charmed towne of Avonlea – which is more readily accepted by their neighbours as the ‘bettering’ committee; although to what extent their efforts will entail is not readily known. We found Anne defending the cow of whom had escaped into a new neighbour’s yard (and stolen a bit of food!) and her determination to not only make it as a teacher but to be a willing contributor towards Avonlea’s future.

I love how Anne’s sentiments towards the old spirit of an older home can still feel dearly lost for it’s abandoned past. It speaks to how she intuits her life and how connected we are to the places and things we occupy whilst we’re alive.

I truly love the conversation Anne was having with Jane and Gilbert – about approaches in teaching in regards to discipline. Of how Anne took a stance against corporal punishment and instead wanted to follow through with mediation and redirection with a healthy understanding to communicate problems first and foremost with the person in question was one of the best ways to diffusing the situation. Except to say, Anne is as human as you and I; she back-tracks a bit on this stance, when pushed past her daily tolerances for what can be acceptable as schoolyard antics and pranks. When she becomes involved in a fit of morals and ethics after punishing a boy whose mind was set against her from the onset, Anne walks the fine line between faith, self-forgiveness and the acceptance of sometimes one has to look outside one’s one opines in order to accept situations which arise out of the blue. There was a lovely back-and-forth about this incident between Anne and Marilla as much as Anne with Mrs Rachel Lynde – of whom in my mind, felt more like a proper elder Aunt than a mere neigbhour.

The smells of nature & the observations of the natural world run concurrently through this installment – as does the small nuances of how ordinary lives are intersected by a person’s faith, moral code and the curious questions which percolate inside our hearts as we leave behind our childhood and start to enter into the world on our own merit outside of the buffering of our families. I personally adored how alive and resplendent Ms Montgomery could attractively denote nature was living next to Anne and her chums. She must have shared a mutual passion for observing nature as I do myself – for those passages are as true for us today as they were for her in the early years of the 20th Century. There is something quite tangible about this somehow – of how time can pass forward but there are certain things in our lives which remain steadfast and true.

As Anne started talking about how writing doesn’t necessarily come easily if your mind & heart have a fullness about them to where the words will not spilt organically out of one’s pen – where there is a blockage between thought, feeling and muse; dear hearts, I must confess, I could fully understand her confliction! It is quite remarkably insightful how Ms Montgomery lent her own thoughts and feelings on particular instances of Anne’s life – I felt her voice as strongly as I did Anne and Marilla – even if Diana was coming through a bit more in this chapter as was Gilbert Blythe! It was the author’s incantations of how she personally felt about this or that which implored me to listen more intuitively to what I heard gently under the narrative.

When Anne & Gilbert discuss the everyday woes of being community teachers – of how everyone feels they need to criticise how they are approaching their classes and if they were to instead give them notes of gratitude, both might faint straight-off as they were only accustomed to the negative remarks; something which perplexed Anne; as if there were only reasons to seek out teachers to offer criticism rather than praise – I must say, I was jolly happy for this to be inclusive to the story-line! It is such a perceptive observation on human nature and the curiosities of how disclosures tend to warrant the drawing of lines round the negatives in life rather than lift up the positives – of painting things quite bleak rather than round out the joys to give others a burst of happiness if only for a brief moment where a kind word was shared rather than a stern one!

Gilbert has such an eloquent way of looking at how leaving behind legacies of knowledge is a way of renewing the gifts of what is bestowed per each new generation by the scholars who came ahead of them. Anne would rather focus on the beauty & the joys – encouraging others to find the happiness she finds each day as she observes something inside her hours which lends a pause and a muse about how lovingly graceful a day can give the observer an infinite number of wonderments. I can personally relate to them both in equal measure here – as writers are breathing legacies out of their hearts each time they set time and mind to laying down the foundation of a story – yet, in regards to Anne’s critically observant philosophy, if we never take the time to root ourselves to where our feet tread in this world, we truly miss half of the reasons why we’re here.

Anne was cautiously concerned about Marilla – about her eyes and how the effects of diminished sight might take away parts of Marilla’s joys; of finding new ways to relate to the world and for the world to feel as close to her as it once had when her eyes were fully in focus. When this sequence came along, I must admit, I knew right then and there, I hadn’t read this series as a young girl – I might have (as previously suspected) read the initial book at some point, but somewhere along the way, I had opted for the adaptation(s). I cannot draw to mind my reasons – only that I knew as I listened to this particular passage how it felt as if it were the first time my ears ever drank in the anguish of Anne’s heart and the slight fragility to Marilla’s resolve. It was quite curious then, on the flipside of tedious health concerns (of which reminded me of my Dad’s health concerns over the past two years; especially as sight and eyes are one of his afflictions) it was a unique segue for Anne to make the case to taking in extended cousins – twins (a boy and girl) of whom are in desperate need of a new home. Except to say, life waits for no man – and if situations shift and alter right as your living through your own trial, it is always best to embrace the unexpected for life is full of tanglements of strife, but it is how we choose to embrace the joys and walk round the ruts of a winding path which speak volumes to our character.

Mrs Rachel Lynde has such a way with expressions – especially how she mentions the only time in one’s life where surprises are null and void are after one has died! The woman can be vexing in most moments but she has rarer moments where her humour laced observations make you smile and give you a bit of a giggle! The truth in the simplicity of her expression felt sweetened by how openly honest it truly was to have been expressed. In this, we get to see pieces of how Ms Montgomery must have felt about her life and the fuller lines of how life is meant to impress us as we live our lives.

The improvement committee learns a strong lesson in how plans can become muddled but it doesn’t mean the effort put in behind the project attempted to improve the lives of their neighbours was in vain – as sometimes, even the worse outcomes have a bit of a hope in how they accomplish ‘something’ despite the long way round of achieving it.

Anne turns quite philosophical about how she’s noticing being a woman of seventeen (or nearly so) is such a difference from being a young girl who had no home and no family. She likes to reflect on her adventurous spirit and the experiences she’s encountered whilst walking forward and not finding regrets as she muses about her past – or of the things in the future she may or may not be able to place on her path. Anne has a maturity about her – of seeing what is most important in life but also, of how when unexpected adversity (such as Marilla’s eyesight & Matthew’s death) arises, it is truly important how you set your attitude to transition through them which is most important of all. This is what struck Marilla so strongly when Anne initially disclosed she would teach rather than attend University; once she sets her mind, she carries through – even if others question her reversed opinions. It’s not so much Anne switches her mind but she endures to see things for what they are and then, makes a bold choice in finding a compromise where she can move forward but at the same time, stay in place to help Marilla. This is what gives her such a warm heart and a rounding personality full of empathy.

Marilla truly bit off a bit more than she could chew – taking in twins: Dora and Davy – finding them hard to understand as they sought to make mischief more than behaving kindly. Dora was a sweet young girl (the twins are six when they arrive at Green Gables) but she was too influenced by her brother, Davy. What struck me odd is how we learn much more about Davy than we do Dora; as apparently Dora had the sort of personality which didn’t lend well for a spirit to seek out experiences but simply was of the kind to bump through childhood doing as what was expected and never sharing their own thoughts about anything as they simply towed along with everyone else. Davy on the other hand reminded me so strongly of Anne when she first arrived at Green Gables! My, how he pulled as many strings of patience out of Marilla and Anne’s individual tolerances as he could manage! Yet, behind his antics there was a soul inside him dying to understand his own curiosities about living and life; of seeking answers to his curiously questioning mind and for finding acceptance in being himself – a trait he shared with his ‘Auntie Anne’.

I thought it was quite inventive of Anne to have her charges write her letters – they could be more like themselves without the anxieties of feeling as if they were wholly exposed in front of their peers. Each letter reflected each child’s personality in such a startling realistic way, you felt as if you could fully see each child for the first time just as they would have been to Anne. Their tender sweet reflections and musings warmed my own heart as I mused it must have affected Anne herself – finding how much she had influenced her children to find ways to communicate without the fear of being judged.

Anne had to learn the hard lesson of how sometimes we act in both spite and haste without realising we’ve lost our ability to look at something from a distance when we’re fully consumed by those moments whilst we’re living through them. Her instant regrets are tempered by the heart-knowledge Marilla passed along to her about how each new day is not just a renewal of kindness but a renewing day where all mistakes are not yet disclosed and where rights can still be restored.

A day out walking on natural paths each lane turning into a new wonderland of greens and hues of Spring. The story shared during their outing was not truly bittersweet but uplifting where one woman’s dearest prayer not only was answered but given such a flowery exit. If a human soul were a flower, Anne and her friends came to find how each individual’s spirit was soon reflected in chosen flowers which fit each girl as if they (the flowers) had personally bloomed for the girls’ to recognise their hidden messages and worth.

When Anne unearths an immoral negotiation of alliances on a walk – she turns her cheek to not mention what she overheard but she was saddened by the actions of some men to choose to put profit over morality. There is something here which I think each generation of finds Anne will appreciate is cross-related to all current events taking place in one’s lifetime. It speaks to how cross-relatable the series is to everyone who finds Anne and Avonlea – there is a quiet reflectiveness to Anne – of how she interprets her life and how life shapes her thoughts and feelings. We can ebb out something new through each Season we arrive inside Anne’s heart and shoes – as a young girl we’ll latch onto her wild-eyed curiosities and zest for living the most out of each day which is gifted to us to adventure inside. As adults, re-visiting with Anne, we pull out small measures of our lives now – through Anne, Marilla and the supporting cast of neighbours new and old, who round out life in Avonlea.

It was through this passage – where an ordinary walk turnt into an extraordinary discovery for Anne where the woman whose grave touched Anne’s soul left such a strong impression on Anne – her grave grew in flowers and an unspoken kinship was felt by Anne. This even carried throughout the story – as Anne returnt to visit Hester as oft as time could allow her too – giving her reason to find a new appreciation for the woman’s garden and to help her posthumously find joy in someone acknowledging her tedious work to encourage the flowers to wink and kiss all who found them.

When Anne wanted to create a special dinner – I loved finding out about how Marilla, Diana & she in haste, all had spoilt the peas with sugar! The meal was sour in mind, however, as the guest of honour had not shown. This grieved Anne the most – as she was so very inspired by having such a guest to host, but as Anne knew all quite well, not everything which is planned is realised and not everything which is cancelled last minute is the worst of what can happen.

We also start to see how motherhood through raising Davy agrees with Anne. For she was used to raising others’ peoples’ children through her years as an orphan prior to Green Gables, but in Davy, it was her turn to be the mothering influence on a child outside of any other obligation to be interactive with them. It was here, we see how she differs a bit from the approaches of Marilla but also, how much she has learnt from Marilla, too. Marilla takes a bit of a backseat in Avonlea this go-round as we’re starting to see Anne emerge on her own laurels and to make her own impression on the small community which has become her loving home.

This is also when Anne starts to notice Gilbert in a way which surprised her – as he no longer seemed boyish and immature nor did he seem to be anyone other than a pleasantly kind young gentleman who was on equal footing as she being they were both teachers. I was quite curiously surprised their courtship (or rather the hint of such) was such a long drawn out affair – not that I minded, as I find these to be most enjoyable to observe when writ well – but it was how my memory of Anne and Gilbert differ greatly from the Anne and Gilbert I find left behind in the stories. I fear this is part of the leftover lost memories of my youth – where I no recollection I only me them in adaptive mediums rather than Montgomery’s canon! I was so wickedly delighted by the very last chapter and of course, the very last few paragraphs therein! I felt as light and full of things yet to come as Anne and Gilbert!

Ms Lavender’s house – from where it was set tucked inside the greens and wilds of the land, to how Ms Lavender was choosing to live her life without the regrets of the past stepping too far afield into her present which touched my heart the most. There is something to be said for living so closely hugged to the natural world – it washes over your spirit and it renews you in a way that cannot be felt nor appreciated if your constantly on the go in a city. The pacing also is a balm to worried spirits but it is how the natural world encourages your curiosities and etches out it’s own heart-print of memory which endures it’s presence to be one of our special gifts. I found myself most attached to the story behind Ms Lavender and felt it a wicked joy finding how Ms Montgomery wanted to share her story – as a full anchour which threads through the entire tale of this section of Avonlea life.

The horrible hail storm had me fully cringing how fiercely strong nature can be and how destructive a storm can wreck lives. At the same time, it is how the human spirit can band together through such adverse conditions which speak to the heart of the communities which are nearly all but blighted out by the storms which take not just lives nor homes or livelihoods but at times, can take more than a person can give – they can break spirits and damage hearts. It was lovely to see how all of Avonlea did not feel the hail deserved anything but their respect for they did not let it take more than that, as they chose to see past the disaster and held each other together with a conjoined strength of solidarity.

As Marilla approached Anne about Mrs Rachel Lynde – my heart truly soared – as I felt it was such a fitting ‘ending’ to this chapter of Anne’s last steps as a girl before entering into the blossoming years of her womanhood. In many ways, you could see the foundation was already in place for this transition for Mrs Rachel Lynde and Marilla – they each gave each other something quite unexpected in a life being lived where there were few unknowns – they had friendship yes, but they had more of a sisterhood of bond between them which was outside of time and the hurts of living. They were each half of a whole where together they could not just shine a light for their neighbours but they could endure to continue to etch out life lessons for the youth of Avonlea whilst sharing their hearts with all who would find their companionship an unexpected joy.

I had such strong feelings throughout Anne of Avonlea – as I felt very connected to this part of the story – as it was a full step outside my memories (and thereby no conflictions!) to where I could simply alight inside this portion of Anne’s story as if I had greeted it for the first time! I loved feeling as though I had this hidden portal of insight into Anne – of finding a renewed interest in her life and how she voiced her cares and concerns. Last week, I felt much more attached to Marilla – this week, I felt equal love and affection for both Anne and Ms Lavender! Isn’t that interesting!? One thing is for certain – I cannot wait for the next installments to be produced! For me, it would be a true spoiling on my connection to Avonlea if I were to listen to anyone else narrate this series – as the narrator not only owns the world in which Anne exists but she has found a way to make it feel as if we could all step through her voice and find ourselves suddenly standing in Avonlea!

on l.m. Montgomery’s life lessons:

As I listened to this story, I started to notice how Ms Montgomery was including certain lessons of living we can all relate to at different intervals of our lives. I tried to write down as many as I detected whilst listening, however, I fear I might have to save this idea for when I am re-listening to the series as I knit. I was only able to listen once per each installment and this is definitely a series I aim to listen to multiple times if only to draw out each sentiment and small capturing of how Anne’s life affected everyone round her as much as to denote the presence of the author in small inclusions of her own reflections. Here is what I found during this listening:

Finding ways to ‘let go’ of guilt and regret.

Walk confidently into the future without the remorse of the present if things went differently than planned.

To embrace the natural world & the randomness of how it’s beauty affects our moods with a jolt of positivity.

To give all of ourselves to each other and to hope to endear a bit more goodness not only on others but for the goodness of mankind.

To seek out friendship and to give it freely.

Filling the spirit of your soul into your name through the kindnesses you share with others; so that your name and the feeling of joy washes over those who speak your name.

Sometimes the unexpectedness of life has it’s own predestination and loveliness not yet seen in the foreground of life but becomes known & understood down the road.

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specifically in regards to the audiobook:

As I am relatively new to reviewing audiobooks and listening to them with a greater frequency than of the past, I am appreciative of Ms Jess providing a cursory outline of how best to articulate my listening hours on behalf of this audiobook and the others I shall be blogging about or reviewing in future. I’ve modified the suggestions to what I felt were pertinent to respond too on my own behalf as well as keeping to the questions I felt were relevant to share.

About Colleen Winton

Colleen Winton

Colleen is a Vancouver actor, singer, dancer, director and choreographer...and now a narrator. Her career has taken her all over the country and includes the Stratford, Shaw and Charlottetown Festivals, the original Canadian companies of CATS and Show Boat, extensive film/TV credits, and numerous directing/choreographing credits. Her stage work has been honoured with numerous nominations and a Jessie and Ovation award and she received a cultural award given by her local Chamber of Commerce. She was especially pleased to have recorded the works of L.M. Montgomery for Post Hypnotic Press just before she embarked on a production of the musical Anne of Green Gables at Theatre Calgary in which she plays Marilla Cuthbert.

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Listening Habit:

I coloured within the pages of the following colouring books whilst I listened to Anne of Avonlea: A Giving Heart: A Colouring Book celebrating Motherhood by Stephanie Corfee and Joyful Inspirations Colouring Book by Robin Mead. As I looked back over the pages I was inspired in the moment to colour, I saw Anne was encouraging my artistic inclinations as the colours were so full of life and the natural world – brilliant swirls of hues which populated my pages where flowers and sentiments of life filled the books with such a compliment of joy to the audiobook I was listening too – my heart felt full somehow after the narration concluded.

Number of Narrators:

One with the wonderful illusion of many! As forementioned, Ms Winton has given such a performance as to encourage you to feel you’ve listened to a fully staged adaptation! Her voices are aptly shared per each character who has a strong presence in the story at hand – her voice lens well to give depth to the story but also, to the curious personalities she must embrace whilst giving us a full view of where we are alighting in the pacing of Avonlea!

Number of Times I’ve heard the Narrator(s):

This is my second audiobook featuring Ms Winton and I simply ADORE her style! I honestly trust how she moves through the story-line and the series – there is a strong presence of continuity in her narration. Not only produced into place by Ms Montomgery (how she speaks to her readers out of sight but in full presence of mind: especially in regards to passages not inclusive of this installment but of which can be found in others; I smiled hearing those bits!) but of how she has the presence of mind to keep her narration steady and fluid.

Regards to the Narrator’s Individual Character performances:

Mr Harrison: I was quite taken by Mr Harrison – he was one of those characters who you feel finds himself begrudged about living and life yet he has so much to share with Avonlea, but he’s the kind of bloke who has reached that point in his life where he doesn’t want to disclose anything no one wants to hear about; thus giving him the air of mystery until a moment comes along where his hidden truths are let out into the open air! He also proves to be an unthinkable ally and friend to Anne!

Ginger (the Parrot): It wasn’t so much Ginger had a speaking presence but it was how Ms Winton inflected the presence of the parrot through her narration which made me feel as if I had heart the parrot all the same! This particular bird had such a presence which could not be dismissed!

Davy & Dora: the twins: Davy is such a strong voice – he’s the kind of lad you sit up and notice because his presence begs for your attention! I was quite charmed by him – his personality was equal match to Anne’s when she was younger full of inquisitiveness and curiosity! How Ms Winton tapped into his youthfulness is unknown, as she changed her voice somehow to accommodate Davy and I thought it was rather champion! Dora’s presence was kinder and softer – she nearly faded into the background, her personality was not as strong as her brothers but in the quiet moments she spoke, Ms Winton honoured her presence by how she conveyed her voice.

Paul: I truly loved the passages with Paul – he was similar to Anne in how he saw life and how he observed everything in childhood but he had his own imaginations and led with his heart which I loved most about him. He was such a curious child – and again, I noticed how well Ms Winton voiced him. She gave him gravity of presence and etched him out so very lovely!

Ms Lavender: It was Ms Lavender who took me by pleasant surprise because I had no recollection of her in the series at all – thus, the entire time she was coming to life before my ears, I listened a bit harder with the purpose of sensing all I could about her – I was not disappointed! She was truly one of my favourite characters Ms Winton brought to life in this installment!

Charlotta the 4th: Talk about the voice of spunk and sass with the kind undertones of a charitable heart underneath it all! This is how I will remember Charlotta the 4th and how Ms Winton voiced her all the same! She’s truly one of those supporting characters you cannot help but love!

How the Novel sounded to me as it was being Read: (theatrical or narrative)

A million times theatrical! I love this about Ms Winton – truly, she gives you such a full performance of Avonlea – from rounding out minor characters to the overtures of Ms Montgomery’s presence in her own narrative to how Anne continues to mature and find a comfortablility in her own skin. Her voice is best for this series – as you can fully see yourself in Avonlea, whilst each time you listen to one of the installments you can readily recognise whose speaking – yes, dear hearts, whose speaking is readily known to you simply by how their words are being stated and how their personality is coming through your headphones! Ms Winton has made everyone so very individual it doesn’t matter how long you stray from each new story in this lovely series – you will know them as readily again as you had previously! It is a feast of the stage through audio narration – something I personally feel blessed to have alighted in my life!

Regards to Articulation & Performance of different sections of the novel:

My favourite bits truly are seeing how Ms Winton tackles the different places of the novel where she’s moving in and out of characters, narration and those omnipresent moments where Ms Montgomery’s own heart shines forth. I am quite taken by how she approached this series and I love how she performed highlighting everything she could bring to a reader’s heart simply through how she chose to voice everything and knit the story together through her performance!

Preference after listening to re-Listen or pick up the book in Print?

I know at some point I shall pick up my print copies of Green Gables (the series) and re-listen to this lovely narration collection (as I truly look forward to the rest of the series soon produced by Post Hypnotic Press) however, until then, I am simply spoilt on Ms Winton’s spin on Avonlea! She has truly become my ‘narrator’ for the series – as I am certain I should not feel nearly as attached inside Anne’s shoes as I do now having heard Ms Winton bring her to life! Likewise, although I know I want to knit and listen to these stories again – when I will opt for print with listening and when I shall knit and listen are left open to when Anne speaks to me to be re-heard.

In closing, would I seek out another (narrator) audiobook?

I have one lovely installment left of this series to curl up inside and it is truly a blessing as I feel so very attached to this series right now, it is lovely to know I do not have to ‘let go’ of either Ms Winton’s narration nor the joys of Ms Montgomery’s story-line! Soon, though, I shall have the full regret all readers do who find a world and character so wholly etched into their hearts – where a parting is as sorrowful as the passage of a life into the next.

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 This blog tour is courtesy of Audiobookworm Promotions:

Audiobookworm Promotions Event Host badge provided by Audiobookworm Promotions

Whilst participating on:

Anne of Green Gables audiobook tour via Audiobookworm PromotionsMy Reviews are forthcoming on:

5th August | Anne of Green Gables (see also Review)

13th August | Anne of Avonlea

A Note of Apology to the Publisher & Audiobookworm Promotions: due to the high frequency of lightning storms in my region over the past week I started to experience technical issues (which extended out of other issues of storms proceeding this recent batch) with my connectivity and with my computer – ontop of which, my Dad had new issues arising out of his BP medicine to where Mum & I were equally concerned about how to circumvent this in future; to where we are in the process of switching him back to his original medicine (despite the nagging cough) as it appeared to agree with him better than this new one. I regret due to everything – I was either blinked offline due to lightning or purposely offline taking care of my Dad and family. I had to forestall finishing my review until things resolved – most especially as some of the technical issues were a bit complicated!

17th August | Anne of the Island (see also review)

18th August | Interview w/ Post Hypnotic Press (see also interview)

+ Two of my bookish friends are also taking part in this audio tour:

Maggie @ Macarons & Paperbacks | Read her Review

Anne of Green Gables @ The Lit Bitch <— this is being featured off-tour! #sohappy

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{SOURCES: Cover art of “Anne of Green Gables”, “Anne of Avonlea” and “Anne of the Island”, book synopsis, author biography, author photo, Audiobookworm Promotions badge and the audiobook tour badge were all provided by Audiobookworm Promotions and used with permission. Post dividers by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination. Tweets embedded by codes provided by Twitter. Blog graphics created by Jorie via Canva: Audiobook Review Banner and the Comment Box Banner.}

Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2017.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

  • 2017 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

About jorielov

I am self-educated through local libraries and alternative education opportunities. I am a writer by trade and I cured a ten-year writer’s block by the discovery of Nanowrimo in November 2008. The event changed my life by re-establishing my muse and solidifying my path. Five years later whilst exploring the bookish blogosphere I decided to become a book blogger. I am a champion of wordsmiths who evoke a visceral experience in narrative. I write comprehensive book showcases electing to get into the heart of my reading observations. I dance through genres seeking literary enlightenment and enchantment. Starting in Autumn 2013 I became a blog book tour hostess featuring books and authors. I joined The Classics Club in January 2014 to seek out appreciators of the timeless works of literature whose breadth of scope and voice resonate with us all.

"I write my heart out and own my writing after it has spilt out of the pen." - self quote (Jorie of Jorie Loves A Story)

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Posted Sunday, 13 August, 2017 by jorielov in 20th Century, Audiobook, Audiobookworm Promotions, Blog Tour Host, Canada, Canadian Literature, Childhood Friendship, Children's Classics, Children's Literature, Classical Literature, Indie Author, Juvenile Fiction, School Life & Situations, Teacher & Student Relationships, the Nineteen Hundreds




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2 responses to “Audiobook Blog Tour | “Anne of Avonlea” by L.M. Montgomery (narrated by Colleen Winton) published by Post Hypnotic Press!

  1. The Anne books are a great favourite of mine from childhood and listening to old favourites is a new hobby that I have gotten very involved in. I will have to look into these. Audiobooks are my greatest addiction these days. I love them most at the gym or when walking. I will walk for hours and listen to a book.

    • Hallo, Hallo Melissa Ann!

      They were for me as well! :) I have a lot of fond memories of reading the first novel in the series – except as I moved through the audiobooks I truly realised one interesting bit of trivia – I hadn’t read all the books themselves as I had forethought! I must have gone from the first novel and entered into the mini-series and then the tv serial (from Canada) Avonlea ! Who knew!? I had originally thought I had read the novels – which is why when you revisit stories you love from childhood as an adult, you start to notice little wrinkles of unconnected memories where what you think is what happened could be a bit altered from how you remember the events! lol

      I don’t like to do too much whilst I’m listening to an audiobook – knitting and colouring are about the speed of task I would enjoy doing as I listen, as other things might pull me too much out of the audiobook itself. I do know it’s a favourite practice of those I interact with online who listen to audibooks regularly to walk or exercise. I’d rather listen to music if I were doing something active like that or just focus on the sport itself – unless your power walking and then, it’s best to have a walking partner to chat with beside you! :) However, we find ourselves in touch with an audio world I think is something to celebrate as they are oft-times overlooked by readers. I personally am glad I finally took the plunge last year and have found a consistent passion for them!

      This series for Green Gables became the highlight of Summer – it was a hard push to get through them all (per the lightning storms) but ooh! The joy I received spending all those hours wrapped up inside Avonlea and following Anne! I do hope you’ll have the chance to one day get to listen to Ms Winton!

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