A funny book with a lot of gossiping and making fun of ministers.
Plot
Gilbert and Anne have moved from their House of Dreams to Ingleside and have five children. With the visit of Gilbert's pessimistic, miserable aunt Mary Maria, the constant antics of the Blythe children, and the prospect of a new addition to the family, Anne's life is kept bright with humor and feeling.
Morality
Gilbert and Anne raise their children to have a good understanding of right and wrong and to be courteous and kind, though Aunt Mary Maria's stay wears on all the members of the family and prompts some unkind words from both Anne and the children.
Some of the playmates that the Blythe children have are not good influences, and Di is persuaded by a friend to disobey her parents. However, she is soon sorry for her actions. Jem gets angry with his parents when they won't let him go to watch a sailor get tattooed, but Gilbert and Anne stick to their decision anyway and don't encourage his behavior.
The women in the town do a great deal of gossiping and also find it fun to backstab people. Especially people who have just recently died. Gilbert and Anne, however, do not join in this pastime, and the Blythe children are not encouraged to either.
Spiritual Content
Nan, Di's twin, goes through a stage where she believes that God can be bribed into doing what she wants Him to, but this idea is corrected by Anne. God and church are both mentioned numerous times, and more than once Methodists are abused by Presbyterians.
Violence
The twins take one of their dolls and, pretending that it is Aunt Mary Maria, "drown" it in a rain bucket.
Drug and Alcohol Content
None.
Sexual Content
Gilbert pays Anne compliments and, once, Anne doubts whether her husband still loves her. Otherwise, none.
Crude or Profane Language or Content
None.
Conclusion
"Anne of Ingleside," though it deals more with her children than with Anne herself, is one of the funniest of its series. The children's antics are either funny or touching, and the morals are very good. Despite her depressing character, the addition of Aunt Mary Maria for part of the tale gave the book an interesting spice of humor. Taking the place of Mrs. Lynde, however, Cornelia Bryant returns to the mission of abusing others, specifically ministers and churchgoers - an activity that children should not be encouraged in.
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