At the turning of the season, there are always hundreds of pingbacks to the famous L. M. Montgomery quote, “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” While I am one of those stereotypical women who love autumn, something emotional crops up with the annual postings of this quote.
Perhaps it’s nostalgia, but I find myself aching to return to the days when I first read Anne of Green Gables.
I don’t think I am alone when I say I found a heroine in Anne Shirley. When I first read Anne of Green Gables, I felt like I was Anne Shirley. She was spunky, imaginative, hopeful, clumsy, intellectually competitive, unsure of herself, and always trying to learn from her mistakes. It felt like L. M. Montgomery had somehow reached into my self-deprecating shell and extracted a heroine who was just like me (albeit a little more extroverted). Although my life has diverged from Anne in adulthood, I still feel her shadows around me.
The Beginning
Anne of Green Gables was inspired by a newspaper story, and Montgomery incorporated the book with her own girlhood experiences. Amazingly, it was initially rejected by several publishers, but the novel was a huge success upon publication. Mark Twain called Anne “the most lovable child in fiction.” Montgomery wrote several sequels that traced Anne’s life from girlhood to motherhood. However, they were less popular than the original novel.
L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables series is a literary treasure that transcends generations. Through her exquisite writing style, Montgomery captures the essence of this transformative period in a young person’s life, drawing readers into Anne Shirley’s world with unparalleled depth and charm.
Timeless Beauty of the Ordinary
Montgomery’s ability to encapsulate a wealth of descriptions in short, evocative phrases is nothing short of remarkable. She paints vivid pictures of Anne’s surroundings, making Prince Edward Island come alive with its rolling hills, picturesque landscapes, and the famous Green Gables farmhouse. The simplicity of her prose belies its richness; every word is carefully chosen to convey the beauty and wonder that Anne sees in her world.
The opening lines of the novel introduce us to Anne and her unique perspective:
“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.”
In this single sentence, Montgomery paints a vivid image of Avonlea’s natural beauty and sets the stage for Anne’s enchanting adventures.
As we follow Anne through her journey from a fiery, imaginative orphan to a beloved member of the Cuthbert family, Montgomery’s writing remains consistently captivating. Her ability to convey Anne’s emotional depth and growth is unparalleled. We witness Anne’s trials and tribulations, her friendships and rivalries, and her blossoming love for Green Gables and its inhabitants.
Revisiting Anne as an Adult
Revisiting “Anne of Green Gables” as an adult is a bittersweet experience that underscores the perfect passage of time. The novel, like life itself, is a journey filled with moments of joy and sorrow, growth and reflection. Anne’s experiences and emotions resonate with readers of all ages, but they take on a new dimension when seen through the lens of adulthood.
The character of Anne Shirley embodies the essence of adolescence—a period marked by curiosity, imagination, and the desire to find one’s place in the world. Anne’s youthful exuberance, combined with her vivid imagination, allows her to see beauty and potential in the most unexpected places. Her tendency to use her imagination to escape from the ordinary and mundane serves as a reminder that there is magic in everyday life, even for adults.
Anne’s journey in love is a central theme in the series. Her early infatuation with the idea of a romantic hero serves as a relatable portrayal of youthful idealism. Through these experiences, Anne learns that genuine love goes beyond appearances and superficial charm. It’s a lesson that resonates with adults who have navigated the complexities of relationships and come to appreciate the depth and authenticity of true love and friendship.
Anne’s evolution in her understanding of love—from her fascination with dreamy, unattainable figures to her realization that a loving relationship is built on mutual respect and communication—serves as a poignant reminder that growth and maturity often come with a shift in priorities and a deeper understanding of what truly matters in life.
Anne’s Enduring Legacy
As a child, I was told I had an “overactive imagination”. Anne showed me that while imagination could get you into trouble, you can also channel it for creativity and empathy. Anne uses her imagination not only to create captivating stories but also to put herself in other people’s shoes and work out how to make them feel better. Her radical altruism is a source of inspiration, reminding us that imagination can change the world, one act of kindness at a time.
Anne is deeply peculiar, and she’s not embarrassed about it. She’s forever curious about other oddballs, eccentrics, and outsiders, and in finding her own way to live, beyond the straitjackets of convention. In a world that often values conformity over uniqueness, Anne’s unapologetic embrace of her peculiarities encourages readers to embrace their own quirks and idiosyncrasies. Her story reminds us that it’s okay to be odd, to defy expectations, and to chart our own path in life.
Capturing the Beauty of the Ordinary
One of the most enchanting aspects of L. M. Montgomery’s writing is her ability to romanticize the ordinary without distorting its reality. Through her prose, she elevates the everyday experiences of life in Prince Edward Island, highlighting their intrinsic beauty. Montgomery’s lyrical descriptions of the island’s landscapes, from rolling hills to picturesque farmhouses, remind us that there is an enchantment to be found in the simplest moments.
Montgomery romanticized the ordinary, not by distorting its reality, but by highlighting it’s beauty. For someone who didn’t particularly like myself, Anne was my role model. I watched her grow up from Anne of Green Gables to Rilla of Ingleside and I loved her all the way. I think that’s why this novel is always in my peripheral vision this time of year. Maybe fall is the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, much like the ever-changing seasons of Anne.
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