On a whim this week, I read Anne of Green Gables on my Kindle.
I realized that the last time that I read this book, I was probably about Anne's age - 12. I might have laughed at all the right parts and enjoyed her eccentricities. I certainly remember some of the episodes. But this week as I read it, I saw the story from the perspective of a parent, and the story was sweet and touching and new. Here is Anne at the tender age of fifteen:
And when I put on longer skirts I shall feel that I have to live up to them and be very dignified. It wont even do to believe in fairies then, I'm afraid; so I'm going to believe in them with all my whole heart this summer.Ah, that tipping point between belief and growing up! It's a little heartbreaking to watch as they become aware of it.
Anne's wise adoptive mother Marilla echos the sentiments of every mother;
I just couldn't help thinking of the little girl you used to be, Anne. And I was wishing you could have stayed a little girl, even with all your queer ways. You've grown up now and you're going away; and you look so tall and stylish and so-so-different altogether in that dress -- as if you didn't belong in Avonlea at all -- and I just got lonesome thinking it all over.To which Anne, wiser than her years, replies;
I'm not a bit changed -- not really. I'm only just pruned down and branched out. The real ME -- back here -- is just the same. It won't make a bit of difference where I go or how much I change outwardly; at heart I shall always be your little Anne, who will love you and Matthew and dear Green Gables more and better every day of her life.*sniff* Hand me a tissue!
Have you ever gone back to re-read a favorite book from childhood? Sometimes a sweet simple story really hits the spot.
What have you been up to this week? Link up and let us see. Thanks for joining in and have a great weekend!
I adore Anne...it has been awhile since I've reread Anne or watched the show (my husband banned us from it when my girls started acting too much like Anne ;=) ) But there are so many lovely little moments in it.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember reading it as a child but I had heard of it and finally read it and some of the sequels a few years ago. My favorite bit is when she wants a dress with mutton chop sleeves: I liked it so much I bought and made a doll pattern because of the dress' mutton chop sleeves! :)
ReplyDeleteLove love love Anne Shirley... one of my favorite college papers was a little 3 page one for children's lit that was a compare/contrast of Anne Shirley and Meg from Little Women. (Like them too, obviously!)
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading the Anne series on my Nook - I had to grab a hanky more than once!
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