November 2016, Audible Studios, 9 hours 22 minutes, Audiobook, Review copy from Audible
Summary from Audible
When aging brother and sister Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert decide to
adopt an orphan boy to help with chores around their farm, Green Gables
on Prince Edward Island, neither is prepared for the feisty and
imaginative redheaded girl who is mistakenly brought to them instead.
Nor are they prepared for the way in which she will change their lives.
Through a series of hilarious misadventures, Anne's uncompromising
spirit makes her a striking presence in the close-knit village, bringing
new friendships, first crushes, and, for her foster parents, a love and
openness unimaginable before her arrival.
Nayu's thoughts
I finally read this hilarious and
heartwarming classic tale! It's incredible to think this was written
in 1908, over 100 years ago, and yet it totally touched my heart. I'm
generally not into classical literature. I've tried to like the books
I had to read at school, but mostly I didn't. I love the Little Women
series, the Laura Ingalls series (Little House on the Prairie), A
Little Princess, Heidi, and The Railway Children, but that's it. I
can firmly add Anne of Green Gables to that list!
I couldn't believe
how hilarious Anne was. The narrator's voice reminded me of Anna in
Frozen, as did how much Anne could talk and her fanciful thinking.
Her melodrama did remind me of Amy in Little Women, but overall Anne
is a unique character who I gave up anime time just to listen to her
exploits. I liked her that
much. She is constantly talking, adding drama to non-dramatic events
which does drive her adopted parents a little mad, but while her
adopted mother slash Aunt rarely shows her amusement, Anne's
mannerisms bring lots of love and light to her new home.
I knew that
Anne was firm friends with Diana before I read the book, which made me curious as to how the
two became best friends when an incident split the two up and I
couldn't see how they would get back together. You know the times in
life where accidents happen which aren't the person involved's fault,
yet they get the blame? Those happen to Anne a lot, and were highly
amusing to hear about. Anne's love of melodrama does mean her
sincerity is sometimes not seen by those she is apologising to, at
least not the first time round. Life is never dull with Anne.
I have
to say I preferred the earlier parts of the book when Anne was still
a child and getting into an insane amount of scrapes: the later part
of the book got a bit more serious, and there was less mischief which
I heartily missed. You'll need tissues, that's all I'll say about it,
and Anne has to grow up fast. She was 16 or so by the end, so in our
day still a teen but back then 16 was classed as an adult which is
why Anne has to make a few personal sacrifices when life
circumstances change.
I don't yet know if the sequel is in audiobook
form (I haven't looked), and because of how I viewed the end of the
book it wouldn't get to the top of my wishlist anytime soon, but I do
hope to find out what happens next to Anne. I have a suspicion over
who she may marry (if she marries), and would like to see if I'm
right. I fully recommend giving Anne's tale a go – I promise you
won't regret it if you like humour and adventure!
Suggested read
I've reviewed one of the other classic children's reads I mentioned in this review so check out Alma
Children's Classics: The Railway Children by E. Nesbit and Peter Bailey
(Children's, 9 years +, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review)
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