Are you familiar with Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery, either the novel or the television show? I wasn’t, but one of my writing gurus mentioned it in a blog post so I decided to read it. Reading novels is a great way to learn about writing them. Anne of Green Gables was first published in 1908 and is considered a classic novel. I enjoyed the story, and it is an especially good book for children.
The story is set in the fictitious Canadian town of Avonlea in the 1800s. The protagonist Anne Shirley is adopted by sister and brother, Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert by accident. They requested a boy from the orphanage to help with their farm, Green Gables, but a miscommunication results in Anne coming to them when she’s eleven years old. Matthew instantly establishes a deep affectionate bond with Anne while Marilla avoids expressing her growing love for Anne throughout the story.
Anne’s emotional, exuberant, and imaginative nature is a striking contrast to the demeanor of Matthew and Marilla. Most neighbors view Anne as an odd red-headed little girl who the Cuthberts will regret adopting. At first, Anne has many disasters, but gradually there are many more triumphs.
The story has no narrative drive, and I got tired of one thing happening after another with no relationship to each other than Anne being at the center of every event. So I took several breaks from the book to read other things. When I returned to the story, I enjoyed the expressive and imaginative language of L. M. Montgomery and the story has a satisfying conclusion. Montgomery wrote seven other novels about Anne Shirley.
God is rarely mentioned, but God’s providence is evident throughout. The Cuthberts wanted a boy, but they needed Anne Shirley. Anne suffered before her adoption, but her experience as an orphan taught her skills that later make her a heroine. The story teaches some great lessons on prejudice, friendship, forgiveness, and the cost of unforgiveness. Check out the Anne of Green Gables boxset here.