Childhood memories: #2


Wise words from Anne of Green Gables

Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?


 "You'd find it easier to be bad than good if you had red hair," said Anne reproachfully. "People who haven't red hair don't know what trouble is".


 Next to trying and winning, the best thing is trying and failing.


Look at that sea, girls--all silver and shadow and vision of things not seen. We couldn't enjoy its loveliness any more if we had millions of dollars and ropes of diamonds.


Life is worth living as long as there's a laugh in it.


I have lost count of the number of times I have read the "Anne" books and only recently I read book one again and loved it as much as I did as a girl.  I wonder if Lucy Maud Montgomery ever realised how popular they would be a hundred years later. 

Is this one of your favourite book series?

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Comments

  1. I love the Anne books now but I didn't as a girl. They were a bit slow for me & I was heavily into fantasy. Now I think they are lovely & I love the descriptions of the scenery. Makes me feel like I can see it right in front of me.

    One of my bloggity friends used to live on PEI & I rather envied her but she said the tourism thing wasn't much fun & I can believe that!

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  2. I have some of her quotes also....just great!

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  3. I just LOVE Anne of Green Gables Jo!

    I actually only discovered her when my daughter was younger... we enjoyed the movie as well.

    Have a lovely weekend! (Nearly there lol).

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  4. Hi Amanda - I also enjoyed the movies (there are 3 in the series) but they don't really follow the books as well as I would have hoped. The last one has nothing to do with the books at all - it is about WWI. The books are so good, why not recreate them. That is the problem with so many books made into movies (Jane Eyre is one they often ruin).

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  5. oh yes, I love Anne... she tries so hard to be happy despite everything - that is admirable! She is dramatic, but not in a sickening way... A very charming character! :)

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  6. Dearest Jo- You have touched my heart with this post - I LOVE this series. When we toured Prince Edward Island last fall - we visited the Green Gables home - I was in love with the series all over again. AND - I learned that that were so many more companion series books that I did not know about! I recently bought the whole Lucy Maude Montgomery collection of books (over 50 of them) for my Kindle - the entire set was like $3.00 - I plan to read everyone!

    Vicki

    ps - have you missed me - I have been working day and night on those silly nests!

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  7. Jo,

    I have personally never read the "Anne of Green Gables" book set. However, I did see the "Anne of Green Gables" television series many, many years ago. I thought the television series was lovely! I wish that I could see it again.

    Blessings,

    -Lady Rose

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  8. I didn't read Anne until one day in college when I was looking for some comfort reading, as I call it. Now I am completely in lovem with her. I think that #5 is my favorite, because in that book she's at my current stage of life. They are so, so heartwarming.

    My favorite childhood series was easily Trixie Belden. Did you have those in Australia? They originated in teh 1950s, I think, and the series was ended in the late 70s early 80s. They are a slightly younger, warmer version of Nancy Drew. I highly recommend them, if you have even a mild love for mysteries.

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  9. Jo,
    My mother started buying Anne books for me before I could read them! I have read them all (all the ones L M Montgomery wrote or close to) so many times, including the new one out last year!
    In 2003 I went to PEI, and we spent a day there - it was so hot, but we had so much fun! Can't imagine living in a house with those hideous wallpapered walls though - ugh!
    Stephen & I saw Anne of Green Gables on youtube, and he couldn't stand her! SO funny!
    love,
    Bets

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  10. Bets - I remember your mother buying them for you! Tell Stephen that Anne of my imagination was nothing like the "Anne" they had in the movie. That was probably the case with you too.


    Val - they warm your heart type of books, you are quite right "comfort books". No I haven't heard of Trixie Belden but I did read a few of Nancy Drew.


    Lady Rose - the movies aren't as good as the books and don't follow the books that well either. They are worth reading, as Val says that are comfort books that warm the heart.


    Vicki - I keep popping into your blog but you haven't been there!! Yes, missed:). Wow you will be busy reading them all.


    Clara - Anne did try so hard but she was human and made mistakes, perhaps that's why we all relate to her.

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  11. Val, I LOVED Trixie Beldon books when I was in upper Primary School. I also enjoyed Nancy Drew.

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  12. OH I absolutely loved the TV series and read the book later, haven't read all of them yet but yes, the first book which i read was much better than the tv series though the series was great too:)

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  13. I was also a late bloomer and didn't discover Anne until my own girls started reading her!
    Comfort books is a great way to think of those old girly favourites we all so love!

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  14. Being a guy, I never read the Anne books growing up. In fact, I have still not read them. However, on a long road trip once, we listened to Anne of Green Gables on tape -- a full reading. I thought L.M. Montgomery's writing and perceptions of human nature were second to none. I really enjoyed Sullivan's mini-series with Megan Follows and Colleen Dewhurst. I suppose, as an adult, hearing the stories for the first time, my mental picture of the characters were not so strongly formed.

    Nick

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  15. Anne is my very favorite fictional character! I just love her spirit and fire. And, I just happen to be reading Anne of Green Gables for the, well, I don't know how many times I've read it but I enjoy it each and every time. I, too, was sadly disappointed when the last Anne movie came out. The books are so good that they didn't need to mess with them.

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  16. Nick, I am disappointment to discover you never read the Anne books - I read Swallows and Amazon!!!

    Montgomery was very clever with words and even though the books were written 100years ago I don't think they have dated much at all. A sign of an excellent writer.

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  17. Well it's definitely one of my favorite movies I own. I only had the books as a young girl but I don't know what happened to them.

    Many blessings to you Jo!

    Rosemi

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  18. You really read Swallows and Amazons? I did not know that! How many of them? I did read Laura Ingalls Wilder -- perhaps that's why I live in the USA now! BTW, one point about the Anne, mini-series. As with so many, the first was really good, but then they digress so significantly from the books, that they cease to be the same story.

    Nick

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  19. Nick - I think I read the first 2, it is where I learnt about zig-zaging so they could sail the boat to shore. I thought books were great!!

    I do wish they made the mini-series based on the Anne books, no idea why they would change the story, but it happens all the time.

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