Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery was published in 1908. Popular since its publication, Anne of Green Gables continues to be an enduring favourite with readers all over the world.
Anne (spelled with an ‘e’, as she insists) is an orphan girl who gets ‘mistakenly’ adopted by an elderly brother-sister duo. Soon Anne finds acceptance at her new home and wins over most of her new acquaintances. Anne of Green Gables tells the story of Anne as she transforms from an awkward adolescent girl to an elegant young woman ready for college and the larger world.
I see very clearly why Anne of Green Gables would appeal to young readers. The everyday tit bits of an ordinary childhood, the trials and tribulations of a young life, going to school, making friends, playing games, trying not to get in trouble with the elders, it’s all so familiar! Also, the ugly duckling to swan part must appeal to readers of all ages.
I wish I had read Anne of Green Gables when I was younger. I am sure I would have enjoyed it much better. Not that I didn’t enjoy the book. I did but as a non-judgmental, wide eyed, young reader I would have had much more fun with it.
I didn’t really take to the protagonist Anne like everyone else seems to. Anne got on my nerves as a young girl. Her non-stop chatter, her over the top imagination and above all her flowery language irritated me. As an adult I am afraid I am becoming a Mrs. Lynde type character! But I did enjoy Anne’s antics. They reminded me of how barely a decade ago I myself was up to a lot of mischief and probably getting on a lot of people’s nerves myself!
I enjoyed Anne’s school days and also when she goes out with Diana and co. on various occasions. I didn’t like all of Anne’s misadventures but some of them, like the ‘green’ hair dye situation, were funny.
I liked most of the book’s characters. Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert were lovable. Mrs. Rachel Lynde although a bit bossy is really a good person at heart.
The children are the interesting part of the book. All of them behave most naturally. Diana Barry as the pretty, slightly duller but loyal friend is a perfect foil to Anne. Everyone knew a Josie Pye in school and I am pretty sure most girls have had their own Gilbert Blythes!
Mrs. Allan and Miss Stacy love Anne and teach her to be better at her social skills and her studies respectively. Overall, the book is full of good people, who are kind to Anne and accept her in spite of her faults. Unrealistic but heart-warming nonetheless.
I fairly enjoyed reading Anne of Green Gables. It is a refreshingly youthful tale that has aged well. Pity that I didn’t get to read it as a child. I’m sure I would have enjoyed it much more.
© wutheringwillow and A Paperback Life, 2011-2061. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to wutheringwillow and A Paperback Life with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
A Paperback Life 
I didn’t read Anne until just a decade ago, but I absolutely fell in love with the Canadian tv movies. My wife is a life-long fan, and after she introduced me the the series, we both were so enamoured that we made a trip to PEI our honeymoon. Then we went back 4 years later. We’ll go again as soon as we can afford the trip. We love PEI! And though I’ve not yet got round to the rest of the Anne books, I did read The Story Girl and quite liked it.
Definitely not for everyone, though, and I really like your review! 🙂
Thanks for liking my review! I am kind of scared of giving less than glowing reviews to this kind of ‘all time favourite’ type of books especially if the book happens to be a children’s classic. Makes one seem like a monster of some sort. But one does have to be objective while writing as review. Glad to get a thumbs up from a fan of the book! 🙂