Thursday, September 23, 2010

REVIEW: Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery


From Amazon: "When Marilla Cuthbert's brother, Matthew, returns home to Green Gables with a chatty redheaded orphan girl, Marilla exclaims, "But we asked for a boy. We have no use for a girl." It's not long, though, before the Cuthberts can't imagine how they could ever do without young Anne of Green Gables--but not for the original reasons they sought an orphan. Somewhere between the time Anne "confesses" to losing Marilla's amethyst pin (which she never took) in hopes of being allowed to go to a picnic, and when Anne accidentally dyes her hated carrot-red hair green, Marilla says to Matthew, "One thing's for certain, no house that Anne's in will ever be dull."

Marilla had it right. The entire story of Anne's first four years at Green Gables did not contain one dull moment. At first she was the orphan no one wanted but with her wild imagination and free spirit Anne grew on everyone in Avonlea from Marilla and Matthew to the town busy-body Ms. Lynde to her classmates. Anne has many adventures throughout the book along with her best friend Diana Barry whom she meets shortly after coming to Avonlea. It seems Anne cannot go anywhere or do anything without something disastrous occurring. Some of the adventures which would seem mundane if they were had by other children are brought to life by plucky Anne. As I was reading I couldn't help but thinking what a wonderful imagination the author had to create such a character. This book was first published in 1908 but it is so well written the story would still appeal to kids today. I am glad that I finally picked up this book after having not read it when I was younger. I plan to read the entire series now. I love it when I have the preconceived notion that I will not like a book for one reason or another (with this one I thought I'm too old to be reading it) and then I am pleasantly surprised. I really can't say much more other than give Anne a try if you haven't. You may be surprised at how much you like her too :)


This book is from my own personal library

4 comments:

  1. I only read this book for the first time a few years ago and can't understand how I missed it as a child! My Canadian online girlfriends all told me I had to read it and sent me all the books! I loved them, the first being my favorite! I'm going to have to read this one over again soon - such pure comfort reading, Anne (with an E) is a joy!

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  2. I'm so glad you liked it! I did find Anne when I was young. I tried it once and thought it was boring, but then I tried again a couple of years later and fell in love. At this point I think I own all of L. M. Montgomery's fiction. Anne is my favorite character, but I recommend all of Montgomery's work!

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  3. I just recently read and enjoyed L. M. Montgomery's The Blue Castle which is her novel for adults -- highly recommend it!

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  4. Found you on The Hop. I dearly loved reading the Anne of Green Gables series with my daughter when she was growing up. Thanks for your post - it brought back some very fond memories!

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