Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
First book in the Anne of Green Gables series
5 stars
Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert were hoping that the boy from the orphanage would be a big help around Green Gables, but they are in for a big surprise when Matthew finds Anne Shirley. A red-headed girl with a pension for speaking in flowery prose, dreaming big, and talking whenever she feels like it. Matthew is taken aback because he isn’t comfortable around the opposite sex and Marilla is a strict and stern woman who adheres to rules and reason. Anne slowly melts their hearts and finds her home in Green Gables all the while causing trouble, making friends, and experiencing new adventures. I remember when I first started listening to this audiobook. I wasn’t expecting much or exactly sure what to expect for the story of Anne of Green Gables. I had seen it mentioned every now and then around the blogosphere as a childhood favorite among readers, but I had never personally heard of Anne until I was sixteen and I expected that because I’m older it would be hard to read about such a young girl. That isn’t the case. This story is transcendent. Anne is character not like any other and the interesting thing about this novel is that it is told in third person and there is broad cast of characters to give outlook onto Anne.
The writing in this novel is beautiful. The way Montgomery writes is carefree, light, and fun. She makes Green Gables feel real and the characters feel like real people that I could’ve had tea with. I loved the time hops that were involved in the pacing. It paved Anne’s story out nicely and didn’t go through continuous everyday things.
Whimsical Writing Scale: 5
The main female character of this novel is Anne. Anne is an enduring character. She has a lot of deep thoughts for girl who is such a “kindred spirit”. I truly adore her narration and feel that she is a character that is just easy to instantly love. If I knew Anne personally she would probably be one of my favorite people because there is never a dull moment with her around. Anne is also a bit a trouble maker, but not intentional. She’s always getting into shenanigans in the oddest little ways, but I think that’s what makes Anne so much fun. She is a kid, but also she has the heart of a growing young adult and it can get Anne caught up in situations that she wouldn’t have expected to be in. Anne as a young adult is also one of my favorite things because it’s so amazing to see the metamorphosis from gangly, awkward girl with knobby knees and a loud mouth who takes no BS to a woman who fights for her goals and aspirations with confidence.
Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 5
The main male character is Gilbert. Gilbert and Anne do not get off to a good start. In fact, she absolutely hates him while it’s obvious that Gilbert has a crush on her. It’s just so cute. As they grow older and experience life’s hardships, their interaction becomes difference and once they reached a truce and become friends my heart soared and I was ready to plan a wedding. Seriously, I just adore the development of this relationship and it brings a smile to my face.
Swoon Worthy Scale: 5
The Family Dynamic- Marilla and Matthew have a good sibling bond and as they begin to raise Anne, it becomes obvious who has the upper hand. Marilla is a stern woman, but she is an amazing mother figure to Anne and by the end of this novel I absolutely adored her. Matthew is awkward and clumsy at times, but he has a sweet connection with Anne and it’s obvious that she has stolen his heart. While Anne and Matthew aren’t Anne’s parents the dynamic that they bring into her life fill any holes she didn’t have growing up.
Character Scale: 5
The ending to this novel slowly ripped my hearts to pieces. When I listened to emotional scenes on audiobooks I become a blubbering mess. I definitely became a mess, but I also felt hopeful about where Anne’s life could go. There is no question that I’m going to continue on with this series. Mainly because I NEED to know how Anne and Gilbert get together. They are just so cute and I love them. I have since bought a box set of this series on my Kindle and will be rereading Anne of Green Gables this year because I LOVE it and want to feel happy innocent joy again.
Plotastic Scale: 5
Cover Thoughts: My cover of Anne doesn’t do justice, but I love the simplicity of it. I’m also planning to buy pretty editions for my book shelves because I need them in my life.
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Popular Highlights in this book
It’s been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.Highlighted by 1,936 Kindle readers- For we pay a price for everything we get or take in this world; and although ambitions are well worth having, they are not to be cheaply won, but exact their dues of work and self-denial, anxiety and discouragement.Highlighted by 1,279 Kindle readers
- It almost seemed to her that those secret, unuttered, critical thoughts had suddenly taken visible and accusing shape and form in the person of this outspoken morsel of neglected humanity.Highlighted by 950 Kindle readers
Reviews with images
Great recording from an awesome bunch!
This is a great reading of a great book. It's completely unabridged, so the whole story of Anne and Marilla's beginning is there. The CDs came in a litte mini binder case - the case had small binder rings that held the pages with the CDs in place and in order. Overall, I highly HIGHLY recommend this version of the Anne of Green Gables audiobook over any other.Flo Gibson, the woman who leant her voice to this audiobook, is a lady more of us should know about! She recorded over 1,100 books in her lifetime for the love of reading, can you believe that? And she didn't record just anything - she chose books that she herself liked to read. (And mostly books that were in the public domain, as they came with no royalties to record!)Her love for reading and desire to share it led to her starting the company that this audiobook is sold by - Audio Book Contractors. She recorded for them up until she passed in 2011.I learned all this by having a conversation with the current owner of the company. This isn't a paid endorsement or anything, not at all. Rather, I bought this audiobook and then reached out to Audio Book Contractors about the other Anne books - in that email exchange the owner, he told me about his work with Ms. Gibson.That being said, I do recommend buying from Audio Book Contractors! They are a super tiny company and have a great deal many audiobooks for sale. Aaaaand if you order direct from their website (just google "Audio Book Contractors") you get free shipping over $25 and they send it out to ship faster than Amazon. So yeah. Do the thing - support the small guys!
Top reviews from other countries
Art Jaszczyk
Used this book in my teaching in mainland China.
Reviewed in Canada on April 13, 2024
Sonia
A book to take you to a world of time gone by
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 8, 2024