This year marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of L.M. Montgomery’s classic novel, Anne of Green Gables.
I remember when my mom first read this book aloud to me. I was not interested in “old-fashioned things” at the time and was really quite bored. I’m not sure we got much farther than the first or second chapter, to tell the truth.
Somehow, as the years went by, I changed. By the time I was halfway through high school, my opinion on “old-fashioned things” had taken a 180-degree turn, and I read not only Anne of Green Gables but all of the “Anne” books, as well as many others by L.M. Montgomery, who quickly became my all-time favorite author. She remains so to this day.
In honor of this 100th anniversary, I’m thinking of re-reading the book. I have heard that the special 100th anniversary edition (pictured above) is loaded with all the publisher’s original typos and editing errors that must have set poor Maud’s teeth on edge when she read through it for the first time. So I think if I do read it again, I’ll opt for my old paperback copy—the one with Megan Follows on the cover. (Remember the Canadian-produced Anne series she starred in? Wonderful, even if the second was a bit far off the mark from the books—and the third even more so, to the point of being barely recognizable as having anything to do with the books at all. I did not like that one.)
I don’t know if I’ll ever get there, but someday I would like to visit Prince Edward Island and see the historical sites dedicated to L.M. Montgomery. Probably nothing looks as it did in her day. But still, it would be neat to go.
Times like these, I wish I had a daughter. How nice it would be to share these treasured old books with her. With boys, I just don’t think it would go over as well, you know? Then again, if I had a daughter, she might be just like I was—bored to tears by “old-fashioned things.” I guess I will have to commemorate Anne all by myself…..for now, anyway. 
Posted by ladonnamobile on July 18, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Oh thank you, thank you! I was just whining about not having anything to read, and now I know exactly what I’m going to read now! I mean, I knew about this book, of course, but whenever I want to pick a new title, nothing comes to mind! (kind of like when you get to the video store and can’t think of a single movie to rent!)
You saved me!
Posted by Lisa on July 22, 2008 at 6:45 pm
My daughter Kathryn really dislikes “old-fashioned” things. I’m all into that kind of stuff. We have a few restaurants out here where the scenery is real rustic. She’ll say “I don’t want to eat there, it’s too old-fashioned looking!” We just ignore that and tell her she better get used to it. She can’t hide from it! I think for her next book read this summer, I’ll have her read Anne of Green Gables! HeeHeeHee!
Posted by Kimberly at Echowood on July 23, 2008 at 7:28 am
Lisa, don’t be surprised if Kathryn really doesn’t enjoy “Anne.” And don’t take it personally. I remember hating the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, too. “Mary churned the butter…..Ma hung up the clothes….Pa went hunting,” blah blah blah! I was so totally bored. Just my opinion/advice (feel free to ignore!), but if Kathryn really doesn’t care for “Anne of Green Gables,” I’d say don’t make her read it. My mom didn’t make ME read it, when I was unimpressed. It was something I had to come to on my own (and I did!). If she gives it a try and hates it, just let her go back to reading her “modern girl” stories. At least she’ll be reading. If she’s her mother’s daughter, she’ll eventually become an old-fashioned girl anyway. And if she doesn’t….well, that’s okay, too.