Anne of Green Gables has always held a special place in my heart since my mother first read an abridged version to me about five years ago, when I was six.
At age eight, I borrowed the original from the library and delved into the charming classic, finishing it in a day. The text was rather complicated for me then, but the beautiful prose and living characters kept me turning page after page. I laughed and sighed at Anne’s antics, imagining myself in Avonlea, immersed in this captivating world envisioned by L. M. Montgomery.
I immediately identified with Anne Shirley, despite her being more vivacious and talkative than introverted me, because of her lively imagination and surprising, sudden flashes of insight about the world around her.
At age nine, my parents gave me a set of the Anne of Green Gables series for my birthday. I grabbed the first book, Anne of Green Gables itself, delighted at the prospect of owning it, and reread it over that very day.
Every few months, I reread Anne of Green Gables, and discover something anew. I might chance upon a new paragraph of lovely description I took for granted, or discover a bit of foreshadowing hinting at an event to come, or find a nuance that changes my perception of Anne…
Anne has taught me many things and shaped me in so many ways, and has continued to shape me as I grow and change.
She shows me the beauty and wonder of nature, from her frank delight in mayflowers to her rapture at the Lake of Shining Waters, and helps me see beyond the imperfections and blemishes of a fallen world. I am captivated by L. M. Montgomery’s masterful and flowing descriptions of Prince Edward Island.
Anne grows, not only physically, but also emotionally, from an impulsive eleven-year-old with a flaring temper, to a sixteen-year-old, mature, patient and compassionate. She even sacrificed the Avery Scholarship, which she had long dreamed of, and worked hard for, to take care of Marilla, whose eyesight was getting worse and was resigned to selling her beloved Green Gables.
Anne shows me how my heart can grow and flourish as I grow older, with kindness, an eye for beauty, tears and laughter. Anne and I are “kindred spirits”, and maybe some of you are also friends with this thoughtful red-headed lass with and a big heart and penchant for getting into scrapes. Read and reread this beautiful book and let your imagination soar as you are gently shaped by the wholesome story of Anne Shirley.
- Anne of Green Gables— Shaping Me - March 17, 2025
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