Goodreads: Anne of Green Gables
Series: Anne of Green Gables #1
Summary: Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert meant to adopt a boy to help on their farm. But when Matthew gets to the train station, he finds a girl waiting—a girl who talks all the way home about scope for the imagination and names the trees and gushes about how she has always wanted a real family. Matthew likes the girl, but he will need to convince the practical Marilla that their house needs a girl to brighten it up more than it needs a boy to plow the fields.
Review: Anne of Green Gables is a heartwarming book that bears numerous rereadings. Anne’s spunkiness, vivid imagination, and desire to simply be loved make her a fresh and likeable character each time readers meet her—and every time they will want to adopt her themselves as their bosom friend. Her knack for naming things and her fierce loyalty make her the perfect companion for any situation.
The other characters are equally as wonderful, starting with the shy Matthew Cuthbert who always seems to know what Anne needs and likes to listen to her talk. He and Anne match perfectly through all their differences. And Marilla, though seemingly stern and always taking pains to be practical and proper, has an equally warm heart that cannot help but shine through. They form an unusual but perfect family.
And Anne’s antics and their reactions are absolutely hilarious. The fun starts on the ride home from the train station, with Anne asking ridiculous questions and Matthew completely perplexed and giving strangely straightforward answers. When Anne stops saying funny things, she starts doing them. Almost every chapter seems to have Anne in a new scrape. Watching her grow up into an elegant young lady will make readers just as proud as Matthew and Marilla, but it is good to know that no matter how old Anne gets through the following books, crazy things tend to happen to her.
L. M. Montgomery is a naturally charming writer with her wonderful characters and beautiful descriptions of Prince Edward Island, and Anne of Green Gables is one of her most charming books. It is no wonder that generations readers have fallen in love with the book and the girl (and often with the handsome Gilbert Blythe!).
Published: 1908
Pages Unbound | Book Reviews & Discussions 
I think this book ties for first in the “what’s your favorite Anne book?” competition (the other being Rilla of Ingleside). Starting out, Anne is such a new, fresh character and you can’t help loving her, and then about halfway through you realize how attached you are.
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I have to agree. No matter how charming the other Anne books are, the one that introduces her has a special place in my heart. I’m rather fond of Rilla, too, though, and I think it has an advantage over the other books partially because it isn’t focused on Anne. I sometimes just read Rilla or Rilla and Rainbow Valley together. However, if I want to read a later Anne book, I feel obliged to start from the beginning of the series, and it’s much harder for me to dedicate time to about six books than it is for me to dedicate time to one or two–so the later Anne books and I haven’t seen much of each other, unfortunately. Also, I just really like Walter. 😀
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That’s pretty unique. Usually people pick Anne of the Island as one of their favorites! I do love Rilla of Ingleside, though.. Like Krysta, I’m a huge fan of Walter.
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Oh I love your review! Anne has been such a huge part of my life, first from the movie and later the book. You’re spot on about wanting to adopt her as my bosom friend.
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Thanks! This was one of those difficult reviews to write precisely because it is one of my favorite books and I love Anne herself so much. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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I know I’ve read this book, and I think I’ve read more of the series, but I only know that I’ve read this one for sure. But I remember really enjoying it, and I know I loved the show Avonlea! I’ve got so many books I’m reading right now so I wasn’t able to join you guys on your readalong, but I’d like to read this one again someday!
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Anne of the Island is definitely awesome if you like romance! I do happen to like the later books, too, though, including Rilla of Ingleside.
No worries about not joining! Enjoying Montgomery is the main point!
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I loved your review Krysta !! 🙂 My exams have just gotten over and I picked up an Anne book today and found that same rush of happiness I usually get.. Reading her books defined most of my teenage years and thanks to her I think I’ll always see the good in people. Thank you for putting up this review. It made my heart ache, but in a good way as Anne says looking at the White way of delight. Personally I loved Walter and I cried for ages after I read that chapter in Rilla Of Ingleside. That was the only time I felt LM Montgomery hadn’t done justice.
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