Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1) in Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

Feb 17, 2009 Shannon rated it it was amazing

Shelves: youngadult, classic, my_favorites

I don't often give books five stars and as I neared the end of this book, I gave some thought to how many stars this book deserved. I've read the Anne of Green Gables series once before - over twenty years ago. In spite of the amount of time that has elapsed, I clearly recall reading the last book in the series very slowly and thinking to myself, "I will be so sad to not be able to read about Anne anymore." When I picked up this book a few days ago to re-read it, I found within a few chapters th I don't often give books five stars and as I neared the end of this book, I gave some thought to how many stars this book deserved. I've read the Anne of Green Gables series once before - over twenty years ago. In spite of the amount of time that has elapsed, I clearly recall reading the last book in the series very slowly and thinking to myself, "I will be so sad to not be able to read about Anne anymore." When I picked up this book a few days ago to re-read it, I found within a few chapters that it was like seeing an old friend. Anne was even more delightful than I recalled, since I now have daughters who share her "scope for imagination," her penchant for large words and her zest for life. Reading about Anne's appreciation for life's loveliness made me appreciate my daughters and long to live more in-the-moment myself. So, I decided that a book that feels like an old friend after twenty years deserves five stars.

Anne Shirley must be one of the most delightful characters ever written, largely because she is far from perfect. She makes mistakes, as we all do, but her mistakes are much funnier than my own feel and she makes me see the value in learning from each of them, laughing at them and moving on. Like my middle daughter, there is no lukewarm with Anne. I love that she approaches life enthusiastically, despite have spent a decade belonging to no one.

I also like that Anne talks straightforwardly about wanting, seeking and building friendships. Even now, I am hesitant, awkward and scattershot at building relationships. I may meet someone who seems a kindred spirit, but lack the time or, let's be honest, sheer boldness to approach them and seek to build a friendship. We see Anne seek and build relationships not only upon her arrival in Avonlea, but during her time at Queens.

One reasons I re-read this book was because two friends recommended it for it's fluency in writing dialogue. Unlike Little Women, which I attempted to read for the writing, this book did not disappoint. The dialogue sounds exactly like each character would sound and it flows smoothly from narration to dialogue and back. In fact, I'm baffled that Little Women routinely makes top 100 lists while Anne of Green Gables is nowhere to be found on the lists of must-read classics. Unlike the Little Women characters who are archetypes rather than three dimensional characters, Anne is a bold a female character who refuses to be categorized. That's exactly why I love her and love this book. ...more

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Jul 31, 2015 Mary rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: re-reads, format-audio, format-ebook, favorites, format-paper, 2015-favorites, summer-bingo-2015-2, bookclub-novelpairings, 2023-shelf, 2023-favorites

Bingo - Re-read. What a delight! ...and what a relief - this is one childhood favorite I would've been disappointed not to love as an adult. I'm sure it's been 40 years since I first read it and it's just as wonderful. I think I might even love it more now that I've had the pleasure and joy of raising two daughters and I can empathasize with the adults as much as with Anne and her friends.

April 2023 - re-read again ... this time with the Novel Pairings patreon bookclub and it was a treat to add ...more

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May 12, 2014 Danielle rated it it was amazing

A re-read but one I desperately needed right now. I just love LMM’s descriptions of Green Gables and Avonlea. It makes me pine for a simpler life in nature. I didn’t spend a lot of time in nature growing up and when I do now it really feeds my soul. I wish I had known it my whole life but I am grateful to enjoy it now and hope I can cultivate it in my boys now.

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