Reviews with content warning for Grief - Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables is about a young girl named Anne (spelled with an E), who is selected from an orphan asylum to live with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert at Green Gables. However, once she arrives, it seems that the Cuthbert's had wished for a boy to help with their farm, and not a small little girl after all. This book follows the next few years of Anne's life as she slowly falls into place in Avonlea and within the hearts of Matthew and Marilla.

I have read this book once before, but could not remember any of it, and so had the wonderful experience of feeling like I was reading it for the first time. These characters and this small corner of the world have wrapped me up in a big autumn-like hug. There are none of the characters that I felt I disliked (except perhaps that male teacher), and I felt truly sorry for Anne as she learnt some painful mistakes while growing up. LMM's writing style is incredible. I know there are many other authors who can make you feel 'as if you were there' but she truly makes me feel that I am living it. That I can reach out and touch the Lake of Shining Waters and even Green Gables itself.

At the end, when Matthew dies, I felt Anne's hollow grief with her. No one could argue that he was the kindest and truest of those in Avonlea, and LMM is really toying with us for killing him off in only the first book of the series!

This book reminds us that we could all stand to stop, look at nature, and imagine up something wonderful from time to time, while the busy world moves all around us.

Content Warnings

rini's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

sapphic_reader's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

genny's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I'm an Anne Shirley stan now. She's extremely dramatic and frank and is the peak example of someone who romanticizes everything in their life, and I love her. My feelings about her character are exactly like Marilla Cuthbert's - Anne should be annoying to me, but instead she's endearing and I feel almost motherly towards her. Every time Marilla admits to herself that she loves Anne, my heart flips. 🥺 I loved the descriptions of nature, I wish I could actually visit Green Gables. Oh, and Gilbert's obvious crush on Anne was so cute! I can't wait to start Anne of Avonlea, but I'm also dreading the eventual end of this series. I want to lie in the grass and listen to Karen Savage's narration forever. 😆 I thought she read too quickly at first, but I got used to it and now her voices for Anne and the rest of the cast are cemented in my mind.

Content Warnings

creepypiespice's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Content Warnings

sideral_reader's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Content Warnings

lunep's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Content Warnings

stwriter92's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I have loved Anne of Green Gables since I picked it up in middle school. It's such a beautiful story and I always find myself wanting to fall through the pages of the book into beautiful Avonlea. This is definitely a reread, but it's the first time I tried the audiobook version and it was even more immersive! The only reason it took so long to finish is because I did not want it to end!

As a character, I have always admired Anne. Her optimism and true love of life has inspired me to find the small joys in my own life. It has given me the courage to give every person a chance because you never know where you'll find a "kindred spirit", as Anne lovingly calls all of her friends. Every time I pick this book up, I find myself falling in love with the story and all the characters all over again.

I know this isn't much of a review. Maybe I'll come back and write more at some point, but all I can really think about is how much I absolutely adore Anne and every person in Avonlea (yes, even Rachel Lynde).

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