Book 1 of 2024
Summary
Within the pages of this book the reader meets Anne Shirley for the first time and they are enveloped into the seemingly magical world of Avonlea. From a tumultuous beginning to the most satisfying of hopeful endings Anne Shirley enters the heart of any reader. The story follows the hopes, dreams, and absolutely startling mistakes made as Anne navigates her newfound life from orphan to a loved child. She discovers who she is while blooming into who she was always meant to be. From a hot-tempered child to a wonderful young woman a picture of inspiration is created. Anne reminds all of us that we can all make mistakes and yet we can all begin again. We are truly fascinating and magical in our own way. Through our own adversity met and conquered we can also prove to ourselves that we are perfectly capable to rise to any challenge.
With any good story the beginning is rife with a series of perfect mistakes. Anne Shirley is adopted by Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert (by happy accident) who were seeking to adopt a boy to help out on the farm. Through a series of events the reader gets the privilege of watching Anne grow up. From her fanciful day dreams to her hopes, dreams, and responsibilities. Anne of Green Gables is a coming of age story worthy of readers of all ages. The hope, laughter, tears, and heart found within the pages will remain with the reader long after the story concludes.
There are not many stories that are truly timeless and can stand the passage of time as well. This is one of those stories. Whether you read it when it was published in 1908, or in 1978, or in 2028 every reader can discover Avonlea existing in a beautiful returnable world. This is a story that you can read first as a young person and then again (and again) when you are older returning to your favourite parts and finding new things to love.
Thoughts and Review
The first time I had read this book I was a lonely child and Anne Shirley became one of my best friends. Now twenty-five years later our friendship was renewed. Rereading her story Anne once again found her way right into my heart. With my own adversity faced I found her fierce determination, stubbornness, (insistence of Ann with an E,) and imagination just what I needed to calm my own anxieties and worries. Life is what you make it and with a renewed friendship with Anne I feel as if I can start the conquering stage.
The parts that struck my interest as a child still had the same captivation this time around. However, this time those same scenes struck me in a different way than they did previously. This time scenes that were just taken in now had all all new meanings. The heart of the characters and their quiet determination in their roles captured my fascination in admiration of the author that she was inspiring me to resist the urge to be stubborn to a fault that I could merely exist in life and not actually live while life passes me by.
Marilla was a background character to me as a child but as an adult she came out of the background. Her heart, motivations, and life perspective really came out from the pages. She became a figure that I will remember for her steadfast capability to love and as a warning not to slip into familiar habits or roles to the expense of living my life. It is so easy to fall into the well worn treads on our path and then get to a point where we look around and realize just how much time as passed without us. She reminded me that I could find the courage to seize a challenge or new experience and that there will be value in it regardless of how it may turn out in the end.
Recommendation
I think this book is an important book for any young person to read at different stages but also to return to later in life so they can be reminded of the importance of mistakes and learning from them. Anne Shirley’s optimism and imagination can inspire you to find your own no matter what stage of life you may be in. Throughout her life Anne faces different levels of adversity and finds a way to persevere above and beyond them while maintaining a level of self that most of us would be jealous of. She reminds any reader that you may not have any say whatsoever of your circumstances but you can control what is going on in your mind and your actions. Take the sentiment of Anne creating friends when her life was at its bleakest or finding the beauty and wonder when she first arrived in Avonlea and apply it to your own life. Find the beauty and wonder in your location to let your mind bloom and explore. Anne Shirley will quickly become your bosom friend. Happy Reading!