I’ve been really into reading lately. I’m feeling that energy of being burnt out. I’ve accomplished a lot in the past few weeks, business-wise, and I find myself realizing that the well-spring of energy and Dominee-bounciness needs a bit of time to fill up again so I’ve happily been relaxing with a good book.
Today I wanted to give a review of one of my favorite childhood classics, it’s always fun to remember the things that have caused us joy. Anne of Green Gables, by Lucy M. Montgomery. I’m pretty fanatical about this book and I’ve read it a million times.
For those of you that have never read the book (where have you been by the way?) Anne of Green Gables is about a red-haired, orphan, girl and her adventures in Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Anne is an 11-year-old orphan whose parents died when she was a baby. She spends the majority of her childhood being bounced around from home to home, cleaning and looking after children until she eventually lands in an orphanage. Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, siblings who are getting on in years, are looking for help on their farm so they send word to the orphanage that they want a boy. Due to a miscommunication, they get Anne instead.
Talkative, and imaginative, Anne is just the burst of fresh air that Mathew and Marilla never wanted in their quiet lives, however, they decide to keep her and form a wonderful bond of love and family.
My favorite thing about Anne is how she lets her imagination run wild.
She always sees things from a point of view uniquely hers (I totally do that too) and most of the time she is optimistic about it and she learns from her mistakes.
Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:
“Isn’t it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive–it’s such an interesting world. It wouldn’t be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There’d be no scope for imagination then, would there?”
“Marilla, isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?”
“Next to trying and winning, the best thing is trying and failing.”
Anne of Green Gables is a book that encourages you to tap into your imagination. To see things from new and exciting perspectives, and to find the joy and little moments of happiness in your life. When I was young, I’d walk to school and name all of the little places I passed in honor of Anne.
Sparrow Lane was my favorite. Anne of Green Gables encouraged me to stop and notice things in nature and it was one of the things that really helped my anxiety when I was younger.
What’s your favorite book from your childhood? What did it teach you? Did you read Anne of Green Gables?
I was obsessed with Anne of Green Gables when I was younger. I never read the books though, my grandmother had all the movies on VHS. What great memories I have watching that show with my gram!!! My favorites are when they accidentally got drunk off the cordial and they found a mouse in the custard! Thank you for bringing these up, I might see if some of the books are at the library. Would make a great summer read.
This sounds like a book I would love to read! I've put it on my to-read list! Lovely quotes :)
I'll hold hands up and say I'm one who hasn't read Anne of Green Gables. The red haired orphan I read about when I was a girl was Pippy Longstocking. ;)
Thanks for the great review! I'll have to see about checking this out of the library some time when I need something a wee bit lighter to read.
Now there's a book I'd like to see them make into a movie! :) Thank you so much for reminding me/us of this! I know I read it…but can't remember much about it so thanks for the summary :)
My favorite book(s) when I was a child was the Pippi Longstocking series by Astrid Lindgren. Pippi was imaginative, daring, strong, self-assured, loyal, and just all around amazing. I wanted to BE Pippi when I grew up, traveling the world and having outrageous adventures.