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- Addison Horsell
A Review of "Kindred Verse" by Julie A. Sellers
Updated: Jun 6, 2022
I recently had the privilege of reading Kindred Verse, a collection of poems by Julie A. Sellers. Her poetry is greatly inspired by the Anne of Green Gables series, and it gave me such a thrill to read through the many pages of wonderful writing.
Sellers is a real kindred spirit, in the truest sense of the word, to all in the world who hold Anne in a very special place in their hearts. She has demonstrated in these writings her deep connection with the books as well as an understanding of the world of Lucy Maud Montgomery and her inspirations.
The poems in this book vary in length, style, and subject, but all come together to create a wonderful mosaic that transports the reader marvelously into Avonlea itself. Those who pore over the Anne series know the feeling you get when you read Montgomery’s vivid, graceful, flowing descriptions of nature and the world in general. This same ethereal style is found here in Seller’s poems, mirroring perfectly the genius of Maud’s writing.
The author’s heartfelt sentiments of nostalgic longing, woodland adventures, and sunny fantasies manage to feel both unique and endlessly relatable and touching to anyone who knows the source material. It is a wonderful feeling to be connected with so many people across time and space by a beloved piece of literature.
Seller’s way of painting such real and thoughtful pictures with words, many of which seem like they could be found in the journal of Anne herself, is proof of her undying love for the books. For someone like myself who has been so deeply impacted by Anne of Green Gables and sees it as a part of me, it's splendid to peer into the mind of another whose heart has been likewise touched by that fantastic world.
The poetic form and careful use of words in the collection are breathtaking. It seems to me that the author matches Montgomery herself in poetic ability and natural flair. She understands, like Maud, like Anne, that the sky can be a poem. She knows that moonlight and sunlight can collide in a garden. Seller often references certain chapters or paragraphs from the books and turns the ideas into such lovely, captivating lines.
In short, Kindred Verse is not only a literary work of art and ode to the beauty and wonder of the world; it is also a testament to the power of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s works in that, after over a century, people still cling to her stories and have made them so real, so life-like, in their hearts. I feel sure they will last forever.
Those impacted by Anne’s story and other works by Montgomery often then inherit this gift of inspiring others as they carry on the legacy and discover kindred spirits wherever they go. After all, they are not so scarce as we used to think.
Click here to purchase Kindred Verse by Julie A. Sellers.