Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Happy Birthday, Anne with an E

Mrs. Rachel Lynde lived just where the Avonlea main road dipped down into a little hollow, fringed with alders and ladies' eardrops and traversed by a brook that had its source away back in the woods of the old Cuthbert place...
And so begins, and continues for 13 more meticulously punctuated lines, the first sentence of L. M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables. The book turned 100 last month so in honor I am re-reading the girlish treasure, thrilled to rediscover my old friend and co-conspirator. I began last night, and through the first chapter realized it must have been much longer than I thought since I last read it. While the story line was of course familiar, the descriptions read as if for the first time.

I do remember the time Anne accidentally got Diana drunk, and when she bought black hair dye from a peddler that turned her tresses green. Also the precious slate shattered over Gilbert's head in school. But what other delectable details await my rediscovery? What an indulgent treat this is going to be.

Since everything written or said in the book is purely and perfectly Anne, and therefore worth quoting, I'm going to keep a quote box on the sidebar, updated as often as I read. There's nothing better for quotes than a romantic orphan girl-who-was-supposed-to-be-a-boy that can't stop talking.

3 comments:

Kelsey Carreon said...

Heather and I love Anne of Green Gables. I can't wait until Christina is old enough to enjoy them as much as we did. You have inspired me once again Kari! I think we will start reading out loud tonight.... she is never to young to listen to the stories

The Finck Five said...

I am one of the few guys who know a few things about Anne. As you know Prince Edward Island was in my mission and I spent some time there and visited all the Anna of Green gables stuff, including Montegomery's home. They are Anne crazy there, I loved seeing Japanesse tourists wearing straw hats with red pigtails.

Lindsay said...

Isn't Anne delightful? I just finished the second book and am working my way through the series. Judging by the fact that I'm loving every second of them, I think my second try at the Anne books will be more successful than my first. :)

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