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Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1)

L.M. Montgomery

Start date: April 1, 2018

Finish date: April 30, 2018

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Why we're reading this: Anne of Green Gables, a classic that is loved by many. Hope you'll join in even if it's a reread. ♥…more
[close] Anne of Green Gables, a classic that is loved by many. Hope you'll join in even if it's a reread. ♥

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What Members Thought

Jun 20, 2018 Candi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: book-i-own, classics-shelf, middle-school, favorites, future-grandkids

"Excitement hung around Anne like a garment, shone in her eyes, kindled in every feature."

Oh, what sheer pleasure it was to spend just a moment in time with Anne and her delightful companions in this little classic. What pure joy to catch a glimpse of the beauty of Prince Edward Island. I am likely one of the last persons on earth… well, on Goodreads at least… to read this novel. What in the world was I waiting for?! As a child and adolescent, I wrongly assumed that this book would be of no inte "Excitement hung around Anne like a garment, shone in her eyes, kindled in every feature."

Oh, what sheer pleasure it was to spend just a moment in time with Anne and her delightful companions in this little classic. What pure joy to catch a glimpse of the beauty of Prince Edward Island. I am likely one of the last persons on earth… well, on Goodreads at least… to read this novel. What in the world was I waiting for?! As a child and adolescent, I wrongly assumed that this book would be of no interest to me. I wasn’t a ‘girly girl’ and surely this was written for ‘that sort’ of reader, right? Wrong! By the time I was old enough to know better, I thought I had grown too mature in years to pick this one up. Wrong again. The ‘sort’ of reader that this does appeal to however: one who appreciates exquisite writing and vibrant characters, one who relishes being steeped in another time and place, and one who enjoys an all-out fantastic story. In short, this book should satisfy nearly everyone!

You can’t help but fall in love with Anne. She is the friend you have always longed for, the daughter that will bring that much-needed light in your life, that student that any teacher would be proud to instruct. She is funny, imaginative, bright, and a regular chatterbox. She laments about her red hair, apologizes for being a ‘great trial’ to Marilla, and always manages to see the positive in most everything. However, she does maintain a long-standing rivalry with her peer, Gilbert Blythe. "She was as intense in her hatreds as in her loves." Nothing is ever lukewarm when it comes to Anne’s feelings.

There were moments I wanted to laugh with her and moments when I wanted to cry. When she first arrived at Green Gables, Anne learned that it had all been a mistake. For, Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert meant to adopt a young boy to help with the chores. A little girl was not needed. It nearly crushed me when Anne fell in love with Green Gables only to find that she must surely be turned away and carted straight back to the orphanage. "Have you ever noticed what cheerful things brooks are? They’re always laughing… I shall always like to remember that there is a brook at Green Gables even if I never see it again." What transpires after this will melt even the most hardened hearts.

Some might say this book is too wholesome, too charming, and perhaps too unrealistic. I have to say that I don’t believe those are good enough reasons to skip reading this enchanting novel! It didn’t take place just yesterday so I didn’t expect the trials and tribulations of today’s day and age. The events do occur on an idyllic island, so I felt the beautiful scenery I was immersed in was wholly believable. Anne is not a perfect little girl and each character has their share of flaws. Not every story has to be full of doom and gloom to get all the stars! Sometimes one just needs to sit back, relax, and just surrender to the small pleasures in life. We could all use a lesson from Anne’s book of optimism here and there!

"Dear old world, you are lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you." ...more

244 likes · Like · see review

Apr 30, 2018 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, unhauled, own

Reread 2022 - I got the first book in this beautiful cover and I hope I can actually like the rest of the series now so I can collect them!

What a lovely little book! There were a million excerpts I wanted to add but maybe at a later date.

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

198 likes · Like · see review

Apr 05, 2014 Celia rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, voracious, well-read-world-lit, great-american-reads, ten-year-challenge, canada, 2018-caz, 100-must-read, fictitious-dishes, 2018-read

Read this book as a child and knew I needed to re-visit it. Who remembers what a book is about when it was read 62 years ago.

Anne Shirley is an orphan serendipitously adopted by a brother and sister, Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. Anne is a personality like no other: gregarious AND smart. Matthew is the shiest of the shy, and Anne's greatest adult champion. Marilla loves Anne but does not know how to show it.

I enjoyed getting re-acquainted with Anne and refreshing my memory of her adventures.

4 st ...more

24 likes · Like · see review

Jul 23, 2014 Kris (My Novelesque Life) rated it it was amazing

5 STARS

"When Anne Shirley "erupts" into the Cuthberts's lives, they don't realize how fond they will become of the red-haired orphan. Both entertained and exasperated by her constant chatter and imaginings, they soon find it hard to remember what Green Gables was like without its adopted daughter." (From Amazon)

I have loved this book and series since I first picked it up as a kid. I have reread it many times including this year (2014). Anne Shirley is one of my favourite characters ever and I lo ...more

13 likes · Like · see review

Dec 13, 2010 Book Concierge rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 1001-books-you-must-read-before-you, series, canada, library, concierge, orphans

Though this is but the first in a series of books about Anne, it stands alone quite nicely.
When Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert decide to adopt an orphan to help them on the farm in their old age it’s a surprise to their neighbors. But they, themselves, are surprised to find that the orphan they get is not the strong boy they requested but a skinny, red-haired, highly imaginative 10-year-old girl. Anne quickly becomes enamored of Green Gables, and the Cuthberts are just as quickly enamored of Anne ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Apr 24, 2022 Kristin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-stars, anglo-american, late-modern-1850topresent, rcc_springchallenge2022

Always a favorite. Loved the 80s films before I realized they were part of a series. Very lighthearted and kind to the soul. Will always be on my TBR pile, especially in the spring!

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