Anne of Green Gables was a mainstay of my literary dreamlife as a girl, and even a teen (we’re talking the 50’s and 60’s.) Anne was that wonderful combination of spunk and need and imagination, and her relationships on PEI were real to me. So real, and so lovely that my own four kids were raised on it as well.

One favorite family vacation was to PEI, a place where Anne really lives on - a good trick for a fictional character.

Thanks for bringing it to the radio morning. She still makes me smile!

I grew up watching the Anne of Green Gables movies and reading the entire series. When I was young, I loved how Anne was so spunky and fun, and when I was older I admired how she matured and became successful.

On our honeymoon last year, my husband and I spent each morning watching a bit of the movies on PBS and I can’t wait to show it to our children some day.

I have the worn-out VHS tapes, but is it available on DVD?

Was Anne the first female orphan heroine in “orphan” literature?

Was her spunkiness prescient of the growing women’s suffragette movement?

I LOVE ANNE! I read her when I was 8 and just fell in love with the story and Prince Edward Island. I am now 44, and over the years I have read her again, and again, and again. I have also read every L.M.Montgomery book including the Emily of New Moon series.

I give these books as gifts to young girls at every opportunity. I also own all the movies on DVD, and I am looking forward to the prequel.

If you want to do something truly special for you daughter, granddaughter, niece, or special little lady in your life, introduce her to Anne of Green Gables via the book first, then the movie. She will love you forever.

To answer Alison’s question: yes, the movies are available on DVD. you can find them in any Sam’s Club or Walmart, etc.

Thank you so much for doing this show! I first was introduced to Anne as a 10-year-old–and hated it! Thankfully, I soon realized I was reading an abridged version, and promptly got the full version. I fell in love with Anne, and with anything L.M. Montgomery wrote.

20 years later, I consider my Anne (and Emily) books my go-to “comfort books” when life gets hard — I always feel better after another read-through.

The Sullivan movies are also fantastic–true to the tone and message of the books.

As a new mother, I hope my six-month-old daughter grows to love these books as much as I still do!
(I also hope to take her to PEI to fulfill a life-long dream of going to “Anne’s home”!)

I am in whole-hearted agreement with Pamela about the book and movie gifts with you–but does anyone know what the second sequel is? I grew up watching Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea each year on PBS–what is the next one?

Thanks!

I loved Anne since she was a redhead — I thought if funny that Tom seemed surprised that redheads were teased or singled out — they still are! They are different, and everyone different is a target for teasing, since it’s an easy.
see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_hair#Prejudice.2FDiscrimination_towards_redheads

And there’s a terrible expression; “beat him like a red headed stepchild”: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_did_the_phrase_%27beat_you_like_a_red-headed_stepchild%27_come_from_and_what_does_it_mean

But I loved that she was a redhead that was smart and not Annie or Pippi Longstocking (whom I HATED). And she read and she daydreamed.

Anyway, a lovely show today — thanks! I’ll have to dig out my copy and read it to my (nearly) 8 year old.

I LOVE the first two Anne series, but the third one, during the war years, was absolutely terrible. We’ve rewatched (with our daughters) Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea numerous times, but won’t spend time on the third one. It was such a disappointment (Megan Followes did the best she could, but the storyline/script were too bad to save.)

How wonderful to hear from all of these “kindred spirits!” My sister and I just got back from our literary pilgrimage to PEI last week. We grew up with Anne and always dreamed of driving up to PEI ourselves when we were grown-up. The scenery in PEI is amazing, and visiting Green Gables, LMM’s childhood home, and the Anne of Green Gables Museum was really neat. No wonder LMM/Anne loved PEI so much! I agree with many of you that the first two Anne movies are great adaptations of the books, but the third was terrible, even with Megan Follows and Jonathan Crombie in it and a few others. I have to say I await the prequel with trepidation. But I would definitely recommend visiting PEI for all those who love Anne. I look forward to re-reading all the Anne books again now with my recent trip playing in my mind. I missed this morning’s broadcast; I’ll tune in after it’s posted!

The scene of Diana and Anne standing on the PEI cliffs overlooking the sea and watching a gorgeous sunset and Anne proclaiming to her friend that “we are rich, we have 16 years to our credit and we both have wonderful imaginations. We should be as happy as queens,” has always inspired me to remember that true wealth is what we carry inside ourselves not what we earn materially.

The Anne of Green Gable mini-series led us to visit PEI, and we loved it so that we found ourselves buying a seasonal home there four years ago. I was so happy to hear Dr. Rubio speak because I am reading the journals. I encourage everyone interested in the writings of LM Montgomery to visit the island and experience its peaceful beauty, and to read the journals. Dr. Rubio’s biography coming out in November is now on my Christmas list!

Thanks so much for doing this show! I found it fascinating to hear about the Scottish oral story telling heritage. How much we must have lost!
And I was pleasantly surprised to hear how well L Montgomery was thought of in her own time. And by Mark Twain too! (Didn’t he have a reported disdain for Jane Austen?)
These books are part of my life fabric. Thanks again!

I caught the Anne of Green Gables On Point, and was swept by homesickness for Avonlea and PEI, which I inhabited imaginatively from the age of 10. Thank you for helping me get back there for the 100th birthday of the book.

In the mid 1960’s it was hard to track down all of the books in the Anne series, much less all the rest of L.M. Montgomery’s work. It was the first and most delightful book search I have done. The difference in tone from the books written before World War 1 and the ones written after corresponds to the disillusion and loss of a world that many artists felt.

As a girl I was wild to find out more about the author, who spoke so directly to me, although I am glad that her diaries were not available until I could accept that this gifted woman had difficulty in her personal life.

L.M. Montgomery and J.R.R. Tolkien were powerful influences on me, both flying under the radar of critical approval while reaching so many of us with the truth and life of the imagination.

Lucy Tokheim

I can’t quite pinpoint why … but I am filled with emotion whenever I think of the Anne books. Something about her character –her spunk, her pain, her heart — is just so relate-able for me. Plus, my middle name is Anne (with an “e”!) so I felt Anne and I had a special connection.

I will never forget the times when my mother would lay next to me at night, reading Anne of Green Gables. And growing up, such wonderful memories of watching the videos again & again with my family and little girlfriends. Two summers ago, I had the great pleasure of vacationing in PEI. It was a 12-hour drive and a trip I made by myself, but it was quite possibly the best vacation I have ever had. Again, it’s hard to put into words, but something about that island is absolutely captivating.

I visited every L.M.M. landmark possible, saw the famous play, bought the series on DVD. Like Anne & the people Montgomery gave us, the sights and sounds of the island are absolutely magical.

Thanks so much for the program Tom. “Anne with an E” of Green Gables is a wonderful book. It is a classic book along on the same level as Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. The only reason that it is not required reading along with the other two is because the protaganist is a girl. The same thing occurs with adventure movies with a young boy vs. a young girl.

Required reading “classics” with female characters usually involves sexual decisions leading to the eventual downfall of the woman (Scarlet letter, Anna Karenina, etc.)

To that end, I think Dr. Mary Henley Rubio doesn’t quite understand why Anne was initially and is (still)popular. Anne is spunky, intelligent, loud, and says outrageous things that most people who like to say. In order words she is a rebel that both boys and girls can relate to. It is an excellent story.

Finding out that Lucy Maud Montgomery was depressed with a harsh childhood should not be used as evidence that she was a great writer. The book itself is proof that she is an excellent writer. Male writers are not given greater stature just because of their sad or happy personal lives.

Knowing that Stephen King is a very happy person and fun person with a great childhood doesn’t mean that he should be viewed as an even better writer. Both writers and readers seek books that help them to escape their current situations.

I am happy that more Anne movies are coming out soon.

For Anne fans the following NPR audio reader’s review goes over more of Ms. Lucy Maud Montgomery’s life and times:
http://wamu.org/programs/dr/08/07/23.php#21635

Thanks again for the topic Tom!

I so enjoy NPR and this is only one of the reasons: you always bring refreshment to a tired spirit–mine. This is wonderful–thank you so much for bringing Anne to me again.

I love Anne for so many reasons. There are many adjectives I could apply to her, but the one that most fits is “genuine.” I never try to analyze her or L.M. Montgomery. There are those who insist upon delving into these books for psychological significance, author intent, deeper meaning, criticism and all that. I just think we were meant to simply enjoy Anne and her kindred, and some not-so-kindred, spirits. I wouldn’t presume to wander around the psyche of L.M. Montgomery, nor do I ever read those who do.

The fellowship of her followers is amazing and is testament to Anne’s, and Ms. Montgomery’s, character. Just start a conversation about these books and see where it goes. People remember when and where they first learned about Anne and what she means to them.

My husband and I went to P.E.I. and walked all over the Green Gables site. When leaving the museum, I saw a young Japanese couple and I was so touched at that moment realizing, again, just how much Anne means to so many. Thank you for reminding me that it’s past time we return to Cavendish!

What always struck me when reading the Anne of Green Gables books was how real Anne was. I could identify with her and her frustration of not having the “right” hair, when her best friend seemed so blessed. What young girl doesn’t feel inadequate in some way at one point or another? Whether it’s 1908, 1975 (when I was reading the books) or 2008, she speaks to young and older girls and makes us say, “I feel exactly that way too!”

I love Anne so much, too.
Anne is very famous in Japan & Korea.
Thank you, Tom!

My father read all of the Anne books aloud to my sister and I when we were kids. We loved it. I can remember listening at home, and at the cottage on Cape Cod where we vacationed as kids. Most of all, though, I can remember the whole family gathered around the table, fully sobbing, when my dad read to us the chapter in which Matthew dies. We were heartbroken, but what a wonderful memory, and what a great gift my Dad gave us by reading us those stories. I think that was when I learned to love books.

A related resource that is endlessly fascinating is the Living Archives project (http://www.livingarchives.ca/). Beginning as a conversation about what local PEI middle school students could do that might be interesting to commemorate the anniversary of Anne of Green Gables, the project blossomed into beyond impressive and expansive effort that had the local students working collaboratively with the University of Prince Edward Island, historical archives, museums, and countless historians and storytellers to produce a stunning realization of the novel’s context - PEI in the 19th century. The middle schoolers essentially produced a multimedia “textbook” that got funding from the Canadian Culture Online Partnership Fund and looks as professional as anything you’ll ever see. I would encourage anyone to have a look at the introduction (http://www.livingarchives.ca/Livingarchives_press) and then browse around. It truly is an impressive, inspiring achievement. Check it out.

Anne was my best friend for so many years and, at age 34, I just revisited her.
As an English teacher studying Fahrenheit 451 with my freshmen, I always end the unit by asking students which book they would “become” if they were in Guy Montag’s place. They always try to pick books they feel are very serious and weighty. They are surprised when I tell them my choice is Anne of Green Gables. No other book captures the beauty and importance of childhood innocence and imagination. Additionally, it has a darker side. Even young readers can pick up on the harsh realities of Anne’s life, and how her happiness hinged on Marilla’s decision now to pass her along to Mrs. Blewett because she “was not a boy.”
Last, the growth and depth of Marilla’s love for Anne is incredibly touching and a beautiful testament to what it means to be a mom.

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