Thoughts on Anne

As part of the L.M. Montgomery Reading Challenge, I decided to start with Anne of Green
Gables since I have never read the book. On January 1, 2011, as I looked lovingly at my collection (well, my mom's collection), I was sure that I would only be able to read one or two books for this challenge. I just wasn't sure that I would like the books that much.

When January 3 came around, the official day to link up to the challenge, I just had to laugh. In three days (really one evening and two days) I had read half of Anne. It was just too good to put down.

And, though I love the movie adaptation, the book is just better. Though the movie with Megan Follows is a great addition, the book expresses Anne's character in a much more well-rounded way. I fell in love with Anne's character all over again. Honestly, if there was a fictional character to look up to, Anne of Green Gables would be it.

I guess I never realized until reading this book what a great person Anne is. Though she struggles to do good in the eyes of her guardians, she learns from her mistakes.

'Ever since I came to Green Gables I've been making mistakes, and each mistake has helped to cure me of some great shortcoming. The affair of the amethyst brooch cured me of meddling with things that didn't belond to me. The Hanuted Wood mistake cured me of letting my imagination run away with me. The liniment cake mistake cured me of carelessness in cooking. Dyeing my hair cured me of vanity.'

You have to admit that Anne has a pretty good head on her shoulders. She thinks, dreams, hopes, and studies.

Studying is one part of Anne that I wish I had more of. Of course, some of her study habits grew because of the unspoken rivalry between her and Gilbert Blythe, but I just love the fact that she groans and groans about geometry, yet, by the time she takes the Queens entrance exam she says that she has studied hard enough to know how to do it, even if she is a "dunce" at it. It gives me hope; perhaps I can accomplish something in calculus this year.

Part of me felt a little "funny" as I read the Anne. At the end of the book, Anne is sixteen and a half. I'm one year older, but, still, I could identify with so many cares and worries of her growing up heart. Reading Anne was like reflecting on my own transformation from childhood to adulthood. Oh, but I love the section when Mrs. Lynde says, "There's a good deal of the child about her yet in some ways." Marilla answers, "There's a good deal more of the woman about her in others." Gasp. I just love that.

Out of all the contemporary fiction I have read, especially about growing up, Anne is by far the best.

On another note, I recently discovered on my bookshelf that I have the first two books of the Emily series, so I think I am going to start Emily of New Moon so that I can begin to compare Anne and Emily. I'm thinking that Anne will always be my favorite, but, since I don't even know a bit about Emily's story, I'll try not to decide before I find out.

Which L. M. Montgomery character are you? Your Result: Anne Shirley You are very intelligent, and dreamy by nature, feeling that imagination is of high importance. You are quick-tempered, however, and sensitive about things that are important to you, such as your hair, or how people see you.
Sarah Stanley
Marilla Cuthbert
Victoria Stuart
Emily Starr
Which L. M. Montgomery character are you? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz