Customer Reviews

Anne of Green Gables (Sterling Classics)

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I love Anne of Green Gables but found myself being pulled out of this book by all the editing mistakes (misspelled words, etc.). I definitely recommend the story, but not this edition of it.

In 1985 when I stumbled upon Kevin Sullivan's wonderful production of "Anne of Green Gables" with Megan Follows as Anne, Colleen Dewhurst as Marilla, and Richard Farnsworth as Mathew, it was my introduction to the Lucy Maud Montgomery's red-headed orphan. Like millions of others, I fell in love with the production and then proceeded to read this novel, the other seven books in the Anne Series, and then "The Chronicles of Avonlea," "The Story Girl," the "Jane of Lantern Hill" books, and every other thing written by Montgomery that I could get my hands on (and this was before all of those paperback collections of Montgomery's short stories were published).

In 1904 Montgomery had written down an idea for a story in her notebook: "Elderly couple apply to orphan asylum for a boy. By mistake a girl is sent them." In what must be heartening for many would be authors, Montgomery's manuscript for "Anne of Green Gables" was rejected repeated by publishers before it was finally accepted. The book was a bestseller from the moment it was published in June 1908 (I have a 19th impression printed in September 1910), although a critic in "The New York Times" complained that, "there is no real difference between the girl at the end of the story and the one at the beginning of it." Readers of the book would quite happy with that fact, because the reason we love this story is not that the talkative, red-haired orphan girl with her big green-grey eyes changes during the story, but that Marilla and Mathew Cuthbert, the elderly sister and brother who wanted to adopt a boy and got a girl instead, have changed profoundly.

Mark Twain described Anne Shirley as "The dearest and most moving and delightful child since the immortal Alice," and nobody has been able to top that statement. Supposedly Montgomery's description of her famous literary creation was based on a photography of Evelyn Nesbit, the notorious American beauty who was the mistress whose husband, Harry K. Thaw, shot and killed her love, Stanford White, in the first scandalous murder trial of the 20th century. I suppose there is something archetypal about stories about orphans, that allows young readers to identify with such characters and explains why generations of children have responded to such stories. But what sets Montgomery's creation apart is her ability to provide of laughter and tears, what with her vivid imagination and her great desire to be loved. You laugh over Anne's over wrought apology to Mrs. Rachel Lynde and how her introduction to Gilbert Blythe ends with her breaking a slate over his head. But then there are the wonderfully touching scenes when Marilla apologizes for refusing to believe Anne about her broach, when Mathew goes to town to get Anne a dress with puffed sleeves, and when the Reaper whose name is Death comes to visit Green Gables. There are just so many wonderful moments in this novel, which is the best in the series. When you read the rest of the books in the series, this is the one you will keep coming back to again and again to read once more your favorite parts (I just did).

I have two daughters and despite my best intentions I have never been able to persuade them to read "Anne of Green Gables." But given how long it took me to get around to them they still have at least a decade to beat me to the punch in relative terms, and I have the Sullivan productions on DVD so that I can use the same hook that worked so well one me. Once they do I am sure they will be just as captivated by all of the others who love the Anne-Girl and who have traveled to Prince Edward Island to see all of the sites that Montgomery translated into the world of Anne Shirley.

My favorite memory is when we went to "Green Gables." You go in through the front door and follow the way around the first floor and then up the stairs to the second floor. As I was at the bottom of those stairs the young woman watching the door had momentarily stopped the line entering the site. In this case that person who had to wait was a young Japanese girl, who looked to be about eight years old, and who was shivering in delight at the fact that she was standing on the threshold of Anne Shirley's Green Gables. That is how beloved Lucy Maud Montgomery's creation is almost a century after she was first set down on paper.

My 7 year old daughter is just getting into chapter books; hearing the buzz about the centenary anniversary of _Anne of Green Gables_, I had to give it a read before I pass it on to her. Anne is tremendously endearing and sweet character, although some of the book shows its age.

Anne is an orphan who has been adopted by an elderly brother and sister who had originally sought a young boy; meeting the irrepressible Anne, they decide to keep her on in any event. I found the constant moralizing by Anne's adoptive mother Marilla tedious, with her constant recriminations that the exuberant and imaginitive Anne be "nice", "good", "respectful", "reverant", "polite and well-behaved." Certainly these are lessons all children need learn, but I thought Marilla a bit heavy-handed, and is one example of the story showing its age.

Anne, for her part is a sensative spirit who literally overflows with energy and chatter - Montgomery, in writing Anne's dialogue certainly captured her ebullience. As she writes late in the book, "pleasures and pains of life came to her [Anne] in trebled intensity." While it has been a long, long time since I was 11, I do well remember the burning intensity of youth, which is elegantly captured in Anne. The wonder and urgency of living that the young share is the real gem of the story, I found.

I did like the book, in spite of my misgivings about the relations between Marilla and Anne. It certainly reflects the attitudes and values of the early 20th century, especially as Marilla grows to love Anne, but cannot articulate her feelings. This was reminiscent of my Grandparents and Great-Grandparents who similarly could not (or would not) openly show their emotions. Maybe it is my parenting style or my personality, but I am much more permissive than Marilla in raising my child, and much more willing to share my thoughts and feelings with her (if I am no less strict.)

Will I share it with my daughter? Certainly - perhaps in a year or two.

Are you the kind of person who likes excitement? If so, you'll love this book.
This story takes place in Prince Edward Island, Canada around 1908. The main character, Anne Shirley, a red-headed, orphaned girl, is an exciting and imaginative 11-year-old who is adopted by two farmers, Matthew Cuthbert and his sister Marilla. But Anne has a little problem: Marilla and Matthew had wanted a boy to help around the farm.
Now, Matthew likes Anne at once. He says that he wants Anne to stay to keep his sister company and that he would go back to the asylum and get a boy himself.
Marilla tells Matthew she isn't suffering from loneliness. You see, Marilla doesn't like Anne and doesn't trust her.
For example, one morning, Marilla asked Anne is she had seen her amethyst brooch, and Anne said, "Yes." Then Marilla asked if she had touched it, and again

Anne said, "Yes." Then Anne asked why she was being asked these questions.
Marilla said the brooch wasn't on the pin cushion any more, and accused Anne of taking it. Anne didn't take the brooch. She told this to Marilla, but Marilla called Anne a liar and told Anne that she couldn't go to the picnic until she confessed.
Anne really wanted to go to the picnic, so she made up a "reasonable" confession, saying it slipped out of her hand and fell into the Lake of Shining Waters.
Since she had told "the truth," Anne asked if she could go to the picnic, but the answer was no. Marilla went downstairs angrily and said she was going to go tell Mrs. Peter Blewett to take Anne away to her house first thing Wednesday morning, the day of the picnic.
Marilla had a big surprise when she put on her shawl. Matthew saw the brooch on it and told Marilla. She had to tell Anne that she could go to the picnic after all.
This book was so good that I cried at the end. Fortunately, there are other books in this series about exciting, imaginative Anne. They include Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne's House of Dreams, Anne of Ingleside, Rainbow Valley, Rilla of Ingleside, and Christmas with Anne. As an older, adopted child myself, I am looking forward to reading them all.

" Oh, please, Miss Cuthbert, won't you tell me if you are going to send me away
or not? I've tried to be patient all the morning, but I really feel that I cannot
bear not knowing any longer. It's a dreadful feeling. Please tell me."

Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery

Anne of Green Gables is a silver star in the firmament of historical fiction. It is the tale of an orphan girl, mistakenly adopted by the Cuthberts. Anne Shirley, age eleven, is bright, talkative, imaginative, sometimes hot-tempered, and always optimistic. She instantly loves the farmhouse called Green Gables and all of Avonlea, Prince Edward Island. But will the Cuthberts send her back to the asylum? They wanted a boy.
Anne of Green Gables is a heartwarming, funny novel. Montgomery uses Anne to inform the reader that one should always look at the bright side of things, through thick and thin. Anne adjusts to life and makes new friends in an unfamiliar place, and eventually grows into an intelligent young woman with many friends. I highly recommend Anne of Green Gables to anyone looking for a captivating book!

first read Anne of Green Gables when I was 8... I loved it then and still love it now (some years later). It's an all time classic, heartwarming story, with everlasting appeal for age 8s to adults. First published in 1908, it's every bit as readable now as I'm sure it was 100 years ago.

Naughty, dreamy, emotional Anne is a wonderful role model - with her fiery temperament and endless chatter, she can sometimes be a nuisance, but her adoptive parents, Marilla and Matthew, wouldn't have her any other way. She's bright, hard-working, caring and sociable and they soon find it hard to remember ever being without her.

Marilla and Matthew originally applied for a "boy" from the orphanage to help with work on their farm in idyllic Avonlea (Canada), but when Anne turns up lost and lonely, and immediately falls in love with Green Gables, they find they haven't the heart to send her away. Follow Anne's story from her arrival, age 11, to when she's 17 and leaving college, and then be sure to follow on with the rest of the "Anne" books - they're all delightful, and I can't recommend them enough!

I have read this book many times. Anne is such a captivating girl! You will enjoy this book. The characters are so real. I just can't say enough about this book...It's one of my favorite books of all time--and I have read a lot of books! I recommend it to anyone, especially preteen and teenage girls.

As of late I have been so disappointed by new young adult novels that I decided to return to the "old" books. This book was beautiful. The descriptions of Prince Edward Island left me longing to visit. The character development was done with perfection, and I really felt a bond to Anne. The sad parts set me to tears and the happy parts made my heart leap with joy. I love the romance that builds between Anne and Gilbert. I am disgusted by the sex in modern YA novels. To me it's not necessary. Touching on the beauty of romance is more rewarding to me as a reader. I watched the movie after reading the book, which was very good too. I am now reading the second Anne novel.

Having just reread A Tree Grows in Brooklyn it got me to thinking about my favorite young adult novel Anne of Green Gables. I love Anne like a bosom friend, a kindred spirit. The whole series is just wonderful and in my opinion a must read for every girl but this first is my absolute favorite.

Summary: "She'll have to go back."

Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert had decided to adopt an orphan. They wanted a nice sturdy boy to help Matthew with the farm chores. The orphanage sent a girl instead - a mischievous, talkative redhead who the Cuthberts thought would be no use at all. But as soon as Anne arrived at the snug, white farmhouse called Green Gables, she knew she wanted to stay forever. And the longer Anne stayed, the harder it was for anyone to imagine Green Gables without her.

Delightful, unpredictable Anne Shirley has been charming readers of all ages, in every part of the world, for over three-quarters of a century. Bestsellers from the moment they were published, the Anne Of Green Gables novels have allowed generations of children to grow up right along with Anne.
- Random House

Anne (with an E, as it's "so much more distinguished") is a remarkable girl with an imagination and love of life that can't be crushed. Along with her bosom friend and kindred spirit Diana Berry she rushes head strong into adventure. But Anne isn't simply a Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm kind of girl - she's had a hard life before she came to Green Gables. Her sunny attitude and her use of her imagination to see the world around her as wondrous and dramatic comes from her longing for a happier life. The love and security she finally finds with Marilla and Mathew is all the more touching because you know how much it is what she desperately needs.

Anne is my car book - the book I keep in the glove compartment of my car because I can pick it up anytime and start reading and know exactly whats going on. I laugh out loud when while trying to dye her hateful red hair a black it turns a horrible shade of green. I cringe when she mistakes liniment for vanilla baking a cake. And I know that her hatred of Gilbert Blythe for having called her carrots will not last for ever and knowing that makes me happy.

There so much for girls to get out of this book. Anne is loving and brave, reckless and headstrong, she is a loyal friend and with her in their lives Marilla and Mathew will never have a dull moment. Anne isn't perfect but her heart is always in the right place. She can be mean but she's always sees the error of her ways. The lessons Anne learns are lessons we could all use to learn. If you have a little girl in your life or if you haven't read them yourself, do her or yourself a favor and read this series. If you can't read them all be sure to read Anne of Green Gables. You'll be happy you did.

Anne of Green Gables is such a cute story. I loved her spunky personaility and endearing character. Cannot wait to see the DVD series. The book is written with such description that you can imagine sitting on the bridge overlooking the stream and watching Anne's life unfold. The story truly made me smile.