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In the town of Avonlea, Matthew Cuthbert arrives at the train station to find a girl orphan instead of the boy orphan he had requested. Not knowing what to do, he brings the girl, Anna Shirley, to their farm, Green Gables. His sister Marilla wants the girl sent back, but Anne Shirley’s talkativeness and bright spirit wins them over, and Marilla lets the girl to stay. Anne is spontaneous, impulsive, and has a rich fantasy life; thus she doesn’t always have proper manners. Still, she becomes best friends with Diana Barry, a neighbor’s daughter in Avonlea.

When by mistake, Anne gives Diana an alcoholic drink instead of juice and Diana arrives home drunk, Diana’s mother forbids the friendship between the two girls. At school a boy named Gilbert Blythe teases Anne for her red hair. Anne breaks a slate over his head and doesn’t forgive him for many years to come. This incident causes a rivalry between Anne and Gilbert as the two brightest students, with them succeeding equally in academics. As a result, Gilbert and Anne both win attendance to Queen’s academy. There, Anne wins the Avery Scholarship that makes it possible for her to attend a four-year college free.

Before Anne can leave for college, however, Matthew has a heart attack and dies. At the same time, Anne finds out that Marilla is losing her eyesight. In order not to leave her alone, she decides to stay at Green Gables. Hearing Anne’s decision, Gilbert gives up his post as a teacher at Avonlea School to let Anne pick up the position. This results in a close friendship between the two.

Although I had read this book, while in my teens, reading it again made me appreciate it more since I recognized the author’s skill in creating different characters, each with their own vocabulary, speech patterns, and personalities, and in describing different settings and situations. Of all the Anne Shirley books, this first one is still my favorite, even if it can be deemed fit for children and teens.

enjoyment of the novel and appreciating the author's craft.

everything

is Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942), was a Canadian author. Her books are: Anne of Green Gables; Anne of Avonlea; Anne of the Island; Anne's House of Dreams; Chronicles of Avonlea; Further Chronicles of Avonlea; Kilmeny of the Orchard; Rainbow Valley; Rilla of Ingleside; Short Stories 1896 – 1901; Short Stories 1902 – 1903; Short Stories 1904; Short Stories 1905 – 1906; Short Stories 1907 – 1908; Short Stories 1909 – 1922; The Golden Road; The Story Girl; The Alpine Path- The Story Of My Career

It is good reading regardless of in which age group the reader is. Also, I found the book to be quite literary. No wonder it has succeeded the test of time...

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Created Oct 26, 2014 at 5:23pm • Submit your own review...