Good StoryNovember 28, 2008 1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I read this book for a university course, and I was surprised by the book. I did not expect to enjoy it but ended up enjoying it quite a bit. I actually found that I could not put it down. There are so many themes and issues covered in the book. Like Matthew in the book, I found I fell in love with Anne and as Anne grew I was challenged to growth.
The themes in the book that grabbed me most were:
Importance of Trees Importance of Naming Death of hope Prayers Tears of healing Belonging Dreams Alice in Wonderland References (Moral Duchess) Looking Glass Friend Sacred Memories Self Naming "Anne of GG" Desire to Fit In Friendship Time Kindred Spirits Anne being "All Spirit, Fire and Dew." Etiquette
This book was so good that even though I only needed to read it for the course I ended up reading a few of the other books in the series.
Sheer brilliance - THE childrens' classic.November 20, 2008 I read and reread all of the Anne books many times as a child. The books are just as captivating today as then - some 30 years ago. They still make me laugh out loud and bring a lump to your throat and a tear to your eye.
In my opinion the Anne books are THE childrens' classics. Highly recommended.
Leaves you with a warm glow!November 16, 2008 4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is one of those classics that passed my by when I was young. But as soon as I began to read it I could understand how countless young (and not so young) girls over the decades have come to love Anne of Green Gables. Anne Shirley is an eleven year old orphan who is mistakenly sent to live with Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert after they had requested a boy to help on the farm. Their initial reluctance to keep her soon fades away as they become entranced by the bright but odd little girl. Her imagination continually lets rip and she chatters constantly veering rapidly from one idea to the next. (Today we would say she has verbal diarrhoea!) Her "homely" looks, red hair, freckles and skinny body are a continual worry to her but she nonetheless soon makes lots of friends including her "bosom" friend Diana.
The story moves gently through the years as Anne grows up in Avonlea. She is bright and hardworking and eager to please Marilla and Matthew but her imagination and day-dreaming get her into continual scrapes. And lurking in the background is the handsome Gilbert Blythe. He had teased her when she first arrived at school and she refused to have anything else to do with him. But, of course, we know she will relent in the end!
It's a delightful book. I didn't expect it to be so funny - for example when Anne complains that she is sure the teacher is saying her name without an `e' at the end! And I didn't expect to be able to say that Anne could be a role model for young girls of today. She is interested in fashion and hairstyles (nothing wrong with that) but she is also ambitious and really keen to work at school and achieve. And in the end she is willing to put the needs of Marilla before her own. It leaves you with a warm glow!
Absolutely brilliantJune 27, 2008 I first read Anne of Green Gables at the age of 19, and within two weeks had bought the rest of the books in the series and read them all. I still re-read them at frequent intervals and I am now 38! I would recommend this and the other books to any child or adult.
A ClassicMay 12, 2008 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Yes, I agree with just about everyone else reviewing this. A very special book, even a great book in a very special series - funny, warm, sad, it has everything and is as fresh as the day it was written.
