Dearest reader,
Approximately four years ago I watched the series "Anne with en E" on Netflix and ever since I have been utterly mesmeried by the story of Anne. And now, I have finally read the first book "Anne of Green Gables" (the book the Netflix series is based on) from the seven book series by a Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery.
THE STORYLINE
Basically, the first book "Anne of Green Gables" is about Anne Shirley, a red headed orphan girl, who is accidentally adopted by the Cuthbert siblings, Marilla and Mathew, whose intetions were to get a boy to help Matthew with farm work at Green Gables where the Cuthberts live. However, after a river of tears and melodramatic behaviour on Anne's part Marilla and Matthew decide to keep Anne and raise her to be a "sensiable young woman". Althought, it is a task Marilla struggless to fullfil since Anne proves to have a wild imagination, sharp toung, bad temper as well as inconvenient tendency to get into trouble. Luckily, besides Anne's numerous falts her good side is ever the sweeter. Being a passionate person through and through with a taste for intense romance Anne ends up becoming a popular figure among the Avonlea youth and more mature folk.
Through the book readers get to participate in Anne's adventures (usually caused by daydreaming and her strong hatred of red hair) and experience the wonderful and ever so beautiful town of Avonlea enhanced by Anne's blossoming imagination, not forgetting her amusing sayings, of course. With a bosom friendship with Diana Barry, love from the Cuthberts, rivalry against Gilberth Blythe, heart breaks of all kind, determination to become good, admiration for Mrs Stacy, disappointments in different shape and sizes as well as hope for splendid things to come Anne's life transforms over night as she learns what a real home means.
IS IT LIKE THE NETFLIX SERIES?
Shortly, the book "Anne of Green Gables" is very similar to the series "Anne with an E" on Netflix in a sense that they feel the same. It is also clear that the series have been extremely skilfully and tastefully created around the characters, places and happenings of the book. However, there is a lot of differences in the series in terms of character storylines. Moreover, the book focuses much more on Anne and the Cuthberts and their immediate inner circle, so fairly little is said about the other residents of Avonlea, whereas in the series we get to witness lifes of other characters much intimately.
For example, Gilberth Blythe's storyline in the series differs a lot from the book. Namely, his farther doesn't die, Gilberth doesn't dream of a career in medicine (at least not yet) and he will never meet Bash which means that the storyline of Bash is complitely made up for the series. Same goes for Cole Mackenzie, the artistic queer new boy, whom Anne becomes great friends with in the series. Then there are also a number of other characters who have notable roles in the series but are mentioned only few times in the book such as Minnie May, Billy Andrews (who, by the way, is shy and awkward in the book), Aunt Josephine, Jerry, Mr Phillips, Prissy Andrews and Josie Pye to name a few.
Furthermore, the series is much more dramatic when it comes to relationships between the characters. Don't get me wrong, Anne and everything about her life is generally as dramatic as in the book but there is a lot more depth to the town of Avonlea in the series. What is more, Anne is much more politically aware in the series, therefore, making further trouble (but for a good reason). You will also notice that the series display a whole lot more problems and prejudices which were apparent in the society during 1800s (some even today) and a lot of the storylines are created around those problems which originally are not discoursed in the book.
To conclude, expect the book to feel like the series and the other way around but don't think of them as perfect copies of each other. Generally, the series has been altered to fit the taste of modern viewers and therefore the story has been further dramatised.
MY THOUGHTS
I can officially say that I am a huge fan of the book "Anne of Green Gables" and express my reliefe in saying that, in my opinion, both the series and the book are fantastic. But when it comes comes to the other books about Anne, I cannot say, since I haven't read them, however, I have high hopes they will be wonderful as ever.
Obviously, the book is a bit milder in terms of what goes on in Avonlea but you don't really notice it because there is always an interesing conversation going on between Anne and the rest of the world. Also Anne's romantics, passions and hilarious adventures seem to fade ever so slightly as she reaches puberty which is understandable, however, that is not the case in the Netflix series which I keep refering to since I love it so much. This development in Anne towards the end of the book is not particularly disturbing but I fear she will become too serious and sensiable in the other books. I have a horrible feeling that I may like the child Anne better than the grown up version if I decide to read the remaining six books.
In general, "Anne of Green Gables" is beautifully written. It is full of funny, cheerful scenes that balances out the romantic and almost poetic depictions of nature and life. For the most part, I read it with a smile on my face because it really was such an optimistic, happy, splendid, scrumptious and magical reading experience. I feel as though, I can see the beauty of the world clearer now that I have visited Green Gables. And of course, I need to try out those praised puffed sleeves!
Have you read any of the Anne books?
Have you watched the Anne series on Netflix?
Which do you prefer, the series or the book?
Are you an Anne fan?
Yours truly,