Why I love the Anne books

One of the reasons I read aloud to my children is that it gives me an excuse to enjoy all the books I loved as a child over again.  Plus, it is interesting to view the same books from an adult perspective.  Now, I will admit, that some books just do not hold up and I am left wondering why I loved it so as a child, but others do.  The Anne of Green Gables books certainly fit in the latter category.  I love them as much as an adult as I did when I was a child.  Not only are children portrayed as real children, but LM Montgomery captures motherhood so vividly as well.  For instance,

"But Anne was feeling conscience-stricken.  'I should have found out what was troubling her [in reference to her daughter, Nan].  But I've been too much taken up with other things this week... things that really mattered nothing compared to a child's unhappiness.  Think of what the poor darling has suffered.'

She stooped repentantly, gloatingly over them.  They were still hers... wholly hers, to mother and love and protect.  They still came to her with every love and grief of their little hearts.  For a few years longer they would be hers... and then?  Anne shivered.  Motherhood was very sweet... but very terrible."
    -from Anne of Ingleside

Comments

Alison Agnew said…
a.dore. the anne books...and pretty much all of l.m. montgomery's stories...the emily books, the story girl books...the short stories...in fact, the title of my blog comes from the very first anne book.

blessings,

alison
stuff and nonsense (said marilla)
2/18/2011 9:22 AM
Julia said…
Ahh...I love the Anne books! I can't wait till my girls are a little older, so that I can read them aloud to them. L.M. Montgomery writes with such poetry that captures the feeling perfectly.
2/18/2011 9:40 AM
LawMommy said…
I've been re-reading these and am almost finished with Anne of the Island. At the end of the day, especially the last few days that have been completely insane, I am so enjoying my time with Anne. :0)
2/18/2011 10:39 AM
Lucy said…
LMM's "The Blue Castle" may very well be my all-time favorite book. I can't count how many times I've read it. Love Anne! Didn't care very much for the Story Girl books though.
2/18/2011 11:03 AM
thecurryseven said…
Lucy--

I'm embarrased to admit that I'd never heard of The Blue Castle, so I looked it up and am about to reserve it at the library. I'm so excited. Just last night I was complaining to J. that I had started more than a few books that I just couldn't finish for one reason or another and just wanted a book I could sit down and enjoy. I think this will fit the bill nicely. Thank you!

e
2/18/2011 12:03 PM
Erica said…
I LOVE the Anne books. My girls are still too young to enjoy them, but I will confess that I go through the series about once a year on my own. I just recently read Mistress Pat and The Blue Castle. I bought them at a second-hand store (10 cents each!) and am so glad that I did.
2/18/2011 9:11 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Making bias tape... otherwise known as the Sew, Mama, Sew! Giveaway

Image
( Sorry, the contest is now closed .... though you're welcome to leave a comment if you like.) [This picture has absolutely nothing to do with this post, but is here solely to give Blogger a different photo to post in the thumbnail.] It's Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway time again.  I love bias tape.  It is so useful and so easy to use... finishing edges ... finishing seams ...  And while the pre-packaged stuff has it's place and I use it often, I really like to have patterned bias tape as well.  Enter one of my favorite little tools: the bias tape maker.  This one make 3/4 inch bias tape and I will be giving one away at the end of this post.  But first, I thought some of you might like to see what it does if you've never used one before. I don't have a rotary cutter, nice cutting mats, or even a proper cutting table (I cut-out things on my floor), so if I can do this, so can you.  Here is my admittedly quirky method. Step 1:  Lay out the fabric and fold a corner ove
Read more

An uncomfortable post

I hope it comes as no surprise to my readers that when I vote early next week I will be casting my ballot for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. Being in a blue state this feels as though it is a very little thing in the effort to bring our country back past the brink of no return . I'll be honest and say that I am feeling such stress and fear about this election that I can't listen to any news or look at social media for very long. The radio is pretty firmly set on our classical music station even though they are in the middle of a pledge drive. The pledge drive is preferable.  But for those of you who are supporting the other side, if there are any of you left who continue to visit my blog, here is what I need to say. When I drive around and see signs in people's yards supporting that man, I treat it as an early warning system. The people who live in this house are not safe for my family to be around. This is far more than a difference of opinion. That worked for all the preside
Read more

Sew, Mama, Sew! Giveaway

Image
Sew, Mama, Sew! is hosting another giveaway day , the day where many bloggers giveaway things they have made or supplies to make things or both.  It is great fun to visit a lot of blogs and try to win cool stuff.  So fun that I thought I would participate this year. I had great hopes of making a set of coordinating mother/daughter aprons.  But reality reared its ugly head and I came to terms with the fact that my time is not limitless.Instead of aprons,  I must continue to spend quality time with yards and yards of red plaid flannel.  What am I making?  Well, as I tell my children, it is the season not to ask questions... I will be able to let you know sometime after the 25th. Instead of making something, I went to my favorite thrift store and found some supplies in the form of sheets and pillowcases (some of my favorite raw material).  I'm giving away three pillowcases and one twin flat sheet. I decided to go with bright, springy colors, because if you are anything like
Read more