Book Review: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery with its timeless charm and comforting familiarity, holds a special place in my heart. I remember first receiving the book as a gift at the age of eleven. The difficult vocabulary and endless rows of small text were daunting at first, especially for a young girl. However, as I ventured deeper into the story, I found myself gradually immersed in its content and slowly falling in love with the characters who, though mere ink on a page, transcended their plane of existence, becoming remarkably familiar and alive in my mind. So what began as a daunting challenge soon transformed into an annual tradition; As I revisit the book every year at the start of September, I return to the little town of Avonlea on Prince Edward Island. My home away from home.

Summary of the Book

Anne of Green Gables follows the adventures of Anne Shirley, an imaginative and spirited orphan, who is mistakenly sent to live with Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, a middle-aged brother and sister, at their farm in Avonlea, Prince Edward Island. Despite initial misunderstandings and conflicts, Anne's vibrant personality manages to win over the hearts of the Cuthberts and the residents of Avonlea. Through Anne's adventures, triumphs, and defeats, the novel explores themes of identity, belonging, and the power of imagination and friendship. As Anne navigates the challenges of growing up and experiencing girlhood, she learns valuable lessons about love, forgiveness, and the importance of embracing one's unique qualities.

One of my favourite scenes in the book is when Anne invites her best friend – Diana – over for tea. And instead of serving raspberry cordial, she happened to serve red wine. The two girls were intoxicated by the end of their "tea party" and forbidden to see each other again. Their banishment was short-lived, though, as Anne re-earned the trust of Diana's mother. She did so by saving the life of Diana's little sister, Minnie May, who had an attack of the croup, which Anne was able to cure with a bottle of ipecac and knowledge she had acquired from taking care of young children during her days as an orphan.

One can only feel pity for Anne, who experiences great misfortunes despite her good intentions. However, it is this aspect of her character that adds to the charm of the story.

Analysis of the Book

Although I did not appreciate it then, I particularly enjoyed the writing style of L.M. Montgomery. Her use of descriptive language teleports the reader to another world and her clever way of describing the scenery fosters a deep appreciation for the English language. Who knew that words could conjure such beauty?

It was fringed in all its length with slim young birches, white-stemmed and lissom-boughed; ferns and starflowers and wild lilies of the valley and scarlet tufts of pigeon berries grew thickly along it; and always there was a delightful spiciness in the air and music of bird calls and the murmur and laugh of wood winds in the trees overhead. - Page 147

Though some may find them annoying, I also enjoyed reading Anne's monologues. You see, Anne is a rather talkative girl with a vivid imagination at that. Once she starts talking, she simply never stops unless she's told to. Sometimes her rants can go on for pages and pages; But I find great comfort in listening to what she has to say. It feels like talking to an old friend, which is what made me feel so strongly about this book. Anyone can write a children's book, but to do so from a child's perspective is admirable and a testament to Montgomery's remarkable ability to channel her inner child.

Another thing I would like to bring up, is my favourite character, Marilla Cuthbert. She is a cold and barren woman at first who eventually grows a likeness for Anne. This development is gradual, but enjoyable nonetheless. She softens little by little until she can tell Anne she loves her and can confide in her, opening up about her romantic affairs as a young girl. She becomes able to express emotion more openly and voice her pride in Anne's successes as well. So not only do we see how Anne navigates the difficulties of girlhood, but we also see how Marilla navigates the trials and triumphs of motherhood.

Conclusions

I strongly recommend this book as it is a good introduction to the classics. The language is not hard to understand and is a rather quick read, despite it being over 400 pages. Moreover, the book is so beautifully written that it allows one to appreciate the small and simple things in life, just as Anne does. The way she expresses her gratitude for living in a world with "autumns and white frosts" truly makes one perceive one's surroundings a bit differently. It is really a blessing to be able to see the world through the eyes of a young, impressionable child with a vivid imagination and a good heart.

And to those that are a bit hesitant to read the book, I would strongly recommend the Netflix show: Anne with an E. It is an excellent introduction to the world and characters of Anne of Green Gables. Even if it does stray away from the original plot, it still embodies the essence of the story. Additionally, it is a great pleasure to see the characters come to life in a more tangible way.

I would advise you to savour the book (or show) as much as possible. You only read it for the first time once, and as the wise Anne Shirly once said:

"Looking forward to things is half the pleasure of them."