Book Review: Anne of Green Gables (2018 publication)

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As a child I must have read Anne of Green Gables dozens of times. My Nana (grandmother) on my Dad's side (who I never really knew) was from Prince Edward Island (where Green Gables is) and so she sent me the full series when I was quite young. As an avid reader by the time I was in Grade 4 I had already read through most of them once. There was also a show on TV (here in Canada) that was very popular about Anne called "Road to Avonlea". As Anne was in my life so much as a child she was, of course, very important to me.

When I re-read my favourite passages, skimmed through, and tried to get back into Anne's world I realized how naive I was as a child. I was also was reminded that, even in the late 1980's, the world was a simpler place than it is now. And while Anne will always have a special place in my heart from my childhood; I'm not sure it's the gem today that it was then. While the local gossip is much like social media; and boys remain intimidating and best friends are hard to find today, just as they were then; I still think it's too innocent in so many ways. There are no murders, stolen children, terrorists, major natural disasters, etc. that happen on the island. Having been to PEI a few years ago I can tell you that it is one of the sole places in Canada that might still be relatively untouched by the 21st century. PEI is just so quaint and lovely. Yet the internet has made it so that you can't hide anywhere and so once my cell phone vibrated or I checked my email I was reminded that vacation does not stop the world from turning or being awful outside of tiny island gems.

It's because I believe that L.M. Montgomery's classic is a bit too dated that I struggle to give it five stars today. This new publication of Anne of Green Gables is still as well written as it once was and there doesn't appear to be any major changes to the text (which is nice). but I just can't imagine it changing a child's life today as it once might have. While Anne didn't change my life as a kid; Avonlea was always a nice place to escape to. So perhaps it can be that place for some of today's children.

Although the one thing I am always reminded of by Anne is how mad I was at my Mom when I was about five and learned that my middle name (Ann) was spelled with an 'e'. I was so offended that I had this family tree that extended to PEI and yet didn't get the 'real' Anne spelling. At the time it seemed like a big deal (of course) and I wish I could go back to the days of having my name missing an 'e' being the end of the world. Although, some days I think I still might not be over this oversight by my parents (lol).

I will still encourage the children in my life (boy or girl) to read Anne at least once; but I'd be remiss to say that it's the first thing I would give them at the right age. I think Little Women is more relevant and easier to connect with as it has realistic, harsh situations. I also believe that more modern books like Harry Potter, Lemony Snicket, The Giver, and others, set children up for the major flaws in life sooner than Anne every could. It's sad to say that telling our children about the harshness of life is important; but I do believe it is. There is point in pretending that bosom buddies are perfect or that gentlemen who bring flowers and kiss hands exist anymore. We are only fooling ourselves if we think Anne has a place in today's world as anything other than nostalgia and a way to show children how much simpler the world was at one time. And perhaps so the kids that come to my house will recognize my porcelain Anne doll on the shelf and know that I too was once a child.

While I own half a dozen copies of Anne of Green Gables in a variety of forms; this version was provided to me via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased opinion.

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