audemax-gessler

Having never read the series, I didn’t realize how much had been changed in the movie versions. For example, Anne’s jersey cow gets in the fields of their new neighbor, Mr. J.A. Harrison, and he’s the one who shouts at Anne, not Rachel Lynde. Anne defends herself admirably, winning his respect, and they become great friends. Mr. Harrison lives alone on the farm next to Green Gables, with only a foul-mouthed parrot for company. Anne also finds fellow dreamers in her student Paul Irving, and eccentric “old maid” Miss Lavender. Throughout the first two books, Anne’s spirit and friendliness make allies of people who have withdrawn from others, usually middle-aged or older people who are bitter, lonely, or isolated. Anne always succeeds in making a friend of characters everyone else has written off, and while it would be unrealistic to expect in real life, it’s lovely to read about. It makes me wonder if Eleanor Porter’s Pollyanna (1912) was modeled after Anne of Green Gables (1908). Anne has matured a great deal, though she’s still prone to flights of fancy and wide-eyed idealism. She is teaching at the Avonlea school, co-founds the Avonlea Village Improvement Society (AVIS) and helping Marilla with the care of Davy and Dora, orphaned 5 year old twins. Dora is meek and obedient, but Davy is a little terror who still manages to win their affections. I wasn’t very impressed with Anne and Marilla’s handling of Dora: they commented that she was perfectly meek and never misbehaved, but she rarely spoke and had zero personality, which they seemed to think that was fine. It was written in 1909 but still! Anne has tons of personality, so why is it acceptable for Dora to be so nondescript? The only thing I found really problematic was that the book was a series of daily occurrences and adventures, and didn’t really have a central plot to bring it all together. I like reading about Anne’s life and the people of Avonlea, and while there was a lot going on with the various side characters, the book lacked a central focus, which made it feel longer than 304 pages.

2023-06-20 04:34