Should have read classics discussion

This is the children's read for January.

Great book. I am sure everyone will love it. I read it in 2010.

It is a charming story - read it when I was little.

I really love this story and read it last year, so this month I'm going to read the sequel (which I've been wanting to do).

I also enjoyed this book after being pestered by Kerri to read it. I need to finish the series, maybe that will be on my New Year's book resolutions! Has anyone seen the TV series that was based on the books? I have them, but need to watch them.

I am in with my daughter :D

I'm half way through the book and loving it.

What do you think of Anne? Does she remind you of yourself or anyone that you knew growing up?

I wish I had Anne's imagination. I am probably more like Diana and would have LOVED to have a friend like Anne.

Lisa wrote: "What do you think of Anne? Does she remind you of yourself or anyone that you knew growing up?"

When I was a child I loved reading adventure books and I often imagined to be a heroine of the story. But I never was as lively as Anne and I also never got into so much trouble as Anne did. ;-)

I admire Anne for being so lively, cheerful and optimistic after all she lived through until being 11.

EDIT: I finished the book today and I (view spoiler)[ cried through the last two chapters. (hide spoiler)]

Lisa wrote: "What do you think of Anne? Does she remind you of yourself or anyone that you knew growing up?"

I do have Anne's red hair, freckles and blue eyes, albeit not as fiery red. I love her imagination and I have been known to add the wrong ingredients to my cooking!:)

Because I've read the book before, this time as I read, I'm marking all the allusions that I can find. I've already noticed allusions to the Bible, Mark Antony's speech, several poems, etc. It would be kind of fun to try to look some of these up after I'm finished the book to get a little more of a taste of "Anne's World". :-)

I'm listening to the Radio Theatre version right now. I loved the Avonlea series when I was younger, but listening to Anne's constant talking now is exhausting. I feel sorry for Marilla. haha. Loving Matthew once again.

I would love to have had Anne's imagination and liveliness.

Lisa wrote: "Lisa wrote: "What do you think of Anne? Does she remind you of yourself or anyone that you knew growing up?"

I love Anne's character and tend to be a dreamer myself. I also once memorized part of "The Highwayman" as Anne did. I can't remember why I memorized that...
I think it is funny that Niq said she is exhausted listening to Anne go on and on. My sons said the same thing at first but then found her antics to be so endearing that they were riveted to discovering what would happen next.

I'm loving this so far. I watched the mini series a ton of times as a kid, so it's great to read the first book finally! The TV movies were amazing, by the way.

Why do you think Matthew wanted to keep Anne so much?

I look forward to reading this one and hope to get to it before the end of January... =)

Kerri wrote: "Why do you think Matthew wanted to keep Anne so much?"

I think Matthew was feeling a bit lonely and old. Anne's youth, friendliness and chatter must have felt like a breath of fresh air.

I'm still listening to the Radio Theatre version but it makes me want to read it as well!

I had just passed the part about the Haunted Woods. Listening to Anne's story made me feel creeped out and sorry for her. hehe. She has quite an imagination.

I feel bad for Gilbert. Anne definitely can carry a grudge. lol.

Kerri wrote: "Why do you think Matthew wanted to keep Anne so much?"

Perhaps because she was the one person, besides Marilla, whom he could feel comfortable with. Because of his extremely introverted nature, having a conversation with anyone was almost painful to Matthew and it probably would have made it very uncomfortable for the person who was trying to converse with him. Anne, being Anne, feels no awkwardness in speaking with him, accepts him for exactly who he is, and he doesn't feel like he has to live up to an expectation. I think this initially bonds him to her. I also think that her vibrant personality is an attraction to most who meet her; that may have played into it as well. Another reason might also have been responsibility; she is placed into their care, albeit mistakenly, so he feels he has to 'do right' by her and the best thing that they could give her is themselves and Green Gables.

In comparing the book with the movie, I like in the book how Anne is not "put on trial," and when Marilla allows her to stay, she is there for keeps, so to speak. I think it works much better this way.

I also think the book is about the potential that people have if we put them in the right environment to grow. The version I read is the annotated version and there is a discussion of how all of Lucy Maud Montgomery's books feature an orphan and I think she must have had sympathy for children without homes and wanted to convey that if they were placed in a loving home they could have the potential to be as successful, and even more successful, than their peers who grew up with one or both parents. I'm not sure as to the political climate or the attitude towards orphans at the time (although calling the orphanage an asylum definitely sets a certain impression with the modern reader), but based on the fact that the Cuthberts could have someone else just go pick up an orphan for them whose purpose would be to be a helper on their farm, it makes me think that there weren't the same rights and protections for children as we see today. And before coming to Green Gables, Anne was essentially an unpaid nanny to her guardian's biological children. So, I have to think that Montgomery was trying to make a social commentary about encouraging adoption and giving these kids a chance to flourish in the world. I wouldn't be surprised if many people who chose to adopt in their adult life had read the book and been affected by it in childhood.

For those who were trying to picture what Prince Edward Island (PEI) looks like while reading, the website How Stuff Works (a Discovery channel website) has a video podcast called "the coolest stuff on the planet" that does 5 - 10 minute videos of different places in the world and they have once on PEI that shows aerial shots of what the island looks like today and a house that will give you some idea of what Green Gables would look like. You can just type "Anneland" in the search bar on the website and it will pull up the video, which is about 9 minutes. I thought it was a very cool way to see the island, and I'm told the TV series was also filmed on the island.

Generally when I think about my childhood it's such a wistful experience, but reading this book made it all come alive again. Being a boy, my versions of Anne's imaginative outlets weren't quite as sweet; a comic book club, western plays, a charging horde of mongols. Still, we had our fun.

I'm hardly an adult now, but I've become much more a Matthew than an Anne. Their friendship meant the most to me in the story for that reason; making the ending so sad. I just love the part where Matthew goes to town in search of a dress. Of all the crazy stunts Anne pulled, I think Matthew's failure edged them out in honesty.

Anne is the center though, and her coming of age was a beautiful tale to read; even the the things she went through before coming to Green Gables added so much depth to her character. It's so sweet how she ends up following in her parent's footsteps.

I have read this book before, and, frankly, never found much enjoyment in it. And, while reading it this time, I initially had the same reaction. It has only been since I finished the book that I realized I miss little Anne of Green Gables. Maybe this is simply a measure of a good book.

Ben wrote: "I just love the part where Matthew goes to town in search of a dress. Of all the crazy stunts Anne pulled, I think Matthew's failure edged them out in honesty."

I loved that scene too! Matthew was such a sweetheart. I don't understand your second sentence though.

Anne can sure carry a grudge! I felt so bad for Gilbert. Still, I admired him for continuing to try to make it up to Anne. :D I liked him a lot too.

I listened to the Radio Theatre version this read, and I really wish that there was a Radio Theatre version for the rest of the books. I was listening to samples of the audiobooks on Audible.com but didn't like any of them enough to buy them. I'm currently listening to the Librivox version by Annie Coleman (I had liked her Pride and Prejudice one that she had done before she joined Librivox).

This is quite possibly my favorite children's series. I love her optimism and all of the beautiful imagery that comes out of her imagination. As you read through the series and Anne grows up the subject material becomes increasingly more serious. I had mixed feelings about some of the later novels which Montgomery wrote with an intention of making social commentary about war. I always was disappointed because I wanted e wry thing to be perfect for our red headed heroine.

Brooke wrote: "I also think the book is about the potential that people have if we put them in the right environment to grow. The version I read is the annotated version and there is a discussion of how all of L..."

I just started the book this evening and am already hooked! I can't believe I've never read it before.

Brooke, I think your comments are spot on! Although I've just started,Ii can already see Anne's potential.

Imagine just being able to send for a child from an orphanage! I just adopted two dogs and was on pins and needles waiting for the veterinary referral and home visit check to come through. We had to wait nearly a week to rescue dogs! Times were different then, I guess!

Brooke, what's the edition for the annotated version? I would love to read one. I found one on Amazon.com but it's pretty pricy ($50 hardcover, no paperback). Could it be the same one?

I got it on my Kindle for $7.16 and it was called: "The Annotated Anne of Green Gables." In non-Kindle edition it's around $46, which is a bit much. If you don't have a Kindle or Ipad, then you can download the Kindle software to your PC and buy it for $7 and just read it on your PC too.

Mo wrote: "Brooke wrote: "I also think the book is about the potential that people have if we put them in the right environment to grow. The version I read is the annotated version and there is a discussion ..."

I completely agree. I think by the time we adopted our dogs we had spent much more than we would have by adopting from a breeder, and we filled out out an application that was at least 5 pages long. But back in Anne's time, then you just ask someone else to pick up a child for you on their way home from town!

I created a board on Pinterest called Anne of Avonlea and Ingleside, if you want to check it out.

@Brooke: It looks like it's the same one I was looking at. I tried the sample of the Kindle version, and didn't like it that much. I might shell out the money to buy the hard copy in the future. Thanks.

Niq wrote: "I created a board on Pinterest called Anne of Avonlea and Ingleside, if you want to check it out.

@Brooke: It looks like it's the same one I was looking at. I tried the sample of the Kindle versio..."

I love your board! That took some time and wonderful creativity! It is fun to see automobiles and airplanes from that time period.
On a side note, I enjoy Pinterest, but I had to tone it down since it became a huge time sucker!

Thanks, Lisa. It was fun putting it together. I wouldn't mind help with it though, especially if someone is more inclined to be historically accurate. :D

I just joined Pinterest a couple of days ago so the thrill of adding and browsing stuff still is a major attraction for me. :)

I've really enjoyed reading everyone's comments about Matthew and Anne. I think they both needed each other and their personalities actually complemented one another. I also agree that the part when Matthew is trying to get the dress with the puffed shelves is hilarious and yet precious.

What is your favorite Anne antic? Did you laugh out loud at one part over another? If you saw the TV series before you read the book, did you enjoy it as much as the Meghan Follows rendition of Anne on screen?

Niq wrote: "I loved the Avonlea series when I was younger, but listening to Anne's constant talking now is exhausting. I feel sorry for Marilla. haha. Lovi..."

I loved the Avonlea series when I was younger too! It made me want to find it and re-watch.

I was stunned by Anne's constant chatter at first too. I didnt' rememember that being as apparrent in the movies. I really enjoyed it, though. The way she jumped from one subject to the next and the way Marilla dealt with it cracked me up. It was almost sad later in the story when Marilla noticed Anne wasn't so chatty. I wanted her to always stay that way.

I love the relationship between Anne and Matthew, and loved the scene when he goes to buy the dress too! That was great when he bought the wrong kind of sugar.

My favorite Anne antic... there are so many to choose from, but I think the funniest were when she forgot about the rat drowning in the sauce for dessert and when she dies her hair green. I think what made her accidents so funny is how dramatic she always was over them. Everything was the end of the world for her, and it was just fun to see the way Marilla talked her out of staying in hiding forever.

I loved the part where Anne floats out in the boat as the Lady of Shalott and Gilbert has to rescue her. My kids love the part where Dianna gets drunk on too much "Raspberry Cordial".

I love this book! Anne is so wonderfully imaginative, and her wit is great.