Anne of Green Gables
From the back of the book...
"Anne Shirley has never belonged to anybody before - not really... So she can't contain her excitement when she goes to live with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert at Green Gables. But they're in for a big surprise! They are expecting an orphan boy to help on the farm - but a skinny, red-haired girl turns up instead. Feisty and full of spirit, Anne charms her way into the Cuthberts' affections with her vivid imagination and constant chatter. It's not long before Anne's escapades lead her into trouble - but it's impossible to imagine life without her."
Well, I have loved Anne of Green Gables to pieces. However, it is very difficult to point out what is so great about this story, because even the backcover summary sounds trite and saccharine sweet. I think it is because L.M. Montgomery had awesome skills at creating believable characters and a wonderful way with words, so no matter which plot she'd chosen, it would have turned out a highly enjoyable book. The descriptions of Prince Edward Island were luxurious and not at all superfluous - one was really in Avonlea. But the best part was feeling I could have been friends with (or at least, would have liked to meet) most characters. Of course, my favorite one was Anne, as I could recognize some of her traits (faults and virtues alike) in myself, but I also intensely liked Marilla and Matthew. We follow Anne from her childhood to the start of her adulthood, and watch her fail and get up and achieve her dreams. We accompany her during her happiest, saddest and most embarrassing moments, and I openly laughed and cried while reading this book. Anne does charm her way into the readers' affection.
This has become an instant favorite. I will be coming back to it as a comfort book, it's full of small nuggets of wisdom. I would quote the whole book!
“Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?"
“When I left Queen's my future seemed to stretch out before me like a straight road. I thought I could see along it for many a milestone. Now there is a bend in it. I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does.”
“But really, Marilla, one can't stay sad very long in such an interesting world, can one?”
"Anne Shirley has never belonged to anybody before - not really... So she can't contain her excitement when she goes to live with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert at Green Gables. But they're in for a big surprise! They are expecting an orphan boy to help on the farm - but a skinny, red-haired girl turns up instead. Feisty and full of spirit, Anne charms her way into the Cuthberts' affections with her vivid imagination and constant chatter. It's not long before Anne's escapades lead her into trouble - but it's impossible to imagine life without her."
Well, I have loved Anne of Green Gables to pieces. However, it is very difficult to point out what is so great about this story, because even the backcover summary sounds trite and saccharine sweet. I think it is because L.M. Montgomery had awesome skills at creating believable characters and a wonderful way with words, so no matter which plot she'd chosen, it would have turned out a highly enjoyable book. The descriptions of Prince Edward Island were luxurious and not at all superfluous - one was really in Avonlea. But the best part was feeling I could have been friends with (or at least, would have liked to meet) most characters. Of course, my favorite one was Anne, as I could recognize some of her traits (faults and virtues alike) in myself, but I also intensely liked Marilla and Matthew. We follow Anne from her childhood to the start of her adulthood, and watch her fail and get up and achieve her dreams. We accompany her during her happiest, saddest and most embarrassing moments, and I openly laughed and cried while reading this book. Anne does charm her way into the readers' affection.
This has become an instant favorite. I will be coming back to it as a comfort book, it's full of small nuggets of wisdom. I would quote the whole book!
“Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?"
“When I left Queen's my future seemed to stretch out before me like a straight road. I thought I could see along it for many a milestone. Now there is a bend in it. I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does.”
“But really, Marilla, one can't stay sad very long in such an interesting world, can one?”