Books. We love them. We love the stale old glue smells, the creases in the worn paperback covers, and the tickle of the pages on our thumbs as we search for our favorite lines and chapters. We stockpile them in every room of the house and frequent the library to fill in the gaps. At 32, 8, 6, 4, and not quite 4 months, our tastes vary widely, but when you’ve got a house full of book lovers, there’s always going to be a lot of overlap. This past week, Esme talked me back into one of my old childhood favorites.
Esme (8) has a friend at school who shares her passion for the written word, so of their own volition they formed a two person book club. As far as I can tell, they are choosing books to read based on whether or not they both have a copy on their shelves at home. First up was Anne of Green Gables.
Normally Esme will sprint through a book, especially a book she is loving, like there’s a gold medal waiting for her at the end. Then, if she really liked the book, she’ll go back and read it again (which is why Harry Potter is getting a THIRD reading these days). Anne of Green Gables was different though. Her book club buddy made a few rules, and by nature Esme is a stickler for a good rule, so I kept finding her moaning and flouncing about the house because she’d reached the end of a chapter and the club rules were preventing her from reading ahead. It was torture. But good torture.
It took longer than normal, but still only a few days. Her final analysis: love and adoration for Anne, of course. Could it have been anything else? Her favorite part: Anne’s apology to Mrs. Lynde.
When Esme was describing Anne’s apology to me (hilarious, she says) and grinning because silly Mrs. Lynde “not being overburdened with perception” didn’t realize that it wasn’t in fact a very humble apology, I realized it had been a very, very long time since I had read the book myself. After hearing Esme read a few of her favorite parts and describe scenes deemed hilarious and unforgettable, I was itching to get my hands on it.
I don’t think I have read Anne since I was probably 12 or so. I was nervous to read it again because I remember it so fondly. I’ve been disappointed by more than one book that I loved as a kid but couldn’t find even a trace of the magic when I re-read them as an adult (The Narnia series and a Tree Grows in Brooklyn come to mind). I bravely picked it up again a few days ago though and was relieved right away to discover that it is just as wonderful as I remember it.
Even as an adult, I still love Anne (with the e of course), though for different reasons than I did two decades ago. Right now, I love Anne because she dreams up the best versions of everything, even knowing that reality hardly ever has a chance to live up to the dreams. Too often I become a worst case scenario victim, especially when it involves my kids. But Anne, turning ponds into Shining Waters, makes me feel hopeful all over again.
Because when you are imagining, you might as well imagine something worthwhile. - L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
My favorite parts, however, are the same now as they were then. Drunken Diana, still makes me laugh. And I adore the unfortunate Lily Maid scene as much as I ever did. When Gilbert comes to poor sodden Anne's rescue, he makes his tender speech, and she turns around and gives him the whatfor. Oh yes yes yes. So good.
I’m ready to move on to Avonlea now, but Esme can’t. Her book club partner doesn’t have book two in the Anne series, and since rules are rules, they are moving on to The Island of the Blue Dolphins. So be it.
Also off the bookshelf this week:
Fudg-a-mania, which I’m reading aloud to all the kids. Consensus is two hearty thumbs up from everyone. It’s wonderful, and very ordinary, which is why it’s wonderful of course.
Jenny Goes to Sea is on the bookshelf, then off, then back on again. Eila is trying to read it, but Jenny and the Cat Club was so good that it has kind of spoiled her to all other books right now, or so she says. I know that feeling – I had a hard time reading anything for a while after I read The Tiger’s Wife because it was just too good.
Ada’s book of the week was The Jolly Postman, which is such a lovable book. It’s witty and rhyming and full of little notes and postcards tucked into envelopes throughout the book. We love it.
For Rory Moo Moo Brown Cow is where it’s at.
And, if you are an Anne fan like me, then you must check out Aimee’s trip to Prince Edward Island. Ahh-maa-zing!
Have you revisited any childhood favorites lately? What did you think?
Lyndsey says
How wonderfully mature of Esme to start her own book club and stick to the rules! I'm sure this will be a growing experience. Anne sounds delightful, but I never read it. Maybe I should pick it up now to get back a little bit of the childhood feeling. I've actually been looking forward to finishing the Ken Follett Century Trilogy -book 3 comes out this week!
somethewiser@gmail.com says
What? You've never read Anne? You do remember watching the movie like a million times, right? Remember, we taped during one of those PBS fundraiser things and then watched it over and over. Get that book girl and read it!
And the Century Trilogy - totally pre-ordered the audiobook months ago so I'll be ready. Can't wait!
Erik Dryden says
I love everything about this post, except that the featured book is so girly. Oh, and Canadiany.
somethewiser@gmail.com says
What? You don't like girls? Or Canada?
Erik Dryden says
Research published in the most recent edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association has proven conclusively that girls do, in fact, have cooties.
somethewiser@gmail.com says
Of course they do. But boys like cooties, right? Boys eat cooties for lunch, right? You know you want to read Anne of Green Gables whilst vacationing on PEI.
Erik Dryden says
I don't know...Canadian cooties are the worst kind of cooties, because they're metric. If I were ever to read a book whilst sitting on PEI, it most definitely would not be Anne of Green Gables. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe L.M. Montgomery was Canadian, which is, of all nationalities, the most Canadian.
somethewiser@gmail.com says
Of course they do. But boys like cooties, right? Boys eat cooties for lunch, right? You know you want to read Anne of Green Gables whilst vacationing on PEI.
Andrea says
I'm re reading all the Anne books right now for the....4th time? When I first got a kindle the first thing I did was find all the good classics that were free or virtually free. 99c for a book, you can't really go wrong. I can't wait to take my kids to PEI, or for my 3 year old girl to be old enough to appreciate Anne.
somethewiser@gmail.com says
I know what you mean! I was anxious for my first daughter to read all of my favorite books long before she even learned how to read. I'm so thankful she likes reading as much as I do now! And a trip with my kids to PEI is definitely on my bucket list - what a dream come true that would be!
Robin says
Hello Friend,
Our family loves going to our monthly "kid" book club. It's fun to read the books together and hear what's discussed with other kids. It's so great that Esme has found one of her own.
I, sadly, have to admit that I have never read Anne of Green Gables. I will put it on my list.....it's on my daughter's shelf so I have no excuse:0) We are just about finished with the 3rd of the Doll People books, so maybe we'll get to read it as our next family reading book.
somethewiser@gmail.com says
We recently found that we have an extra copy of the first Anne book, so if you'd like it then it's yours! We've added the Doll People books to our list too.
Bethany Bassett says
Anne and I go way back. 🙂 When I found out 10 years ago that I was having a girl, there was no question in my mind what her middle name would be. Conveniently, her grandmothers' middle names are "Anne" and "Ann," so "Natalie Anne" seems as respectable a family name as any. You better believe that Anne Shirley was a factor though!
(P.S. - I'm so glad you're going to be sharing book posts! Now that both of my girls are readers--and we have a digital library account that works overseas--I'm all for book suggestions.)
somethewiser@gmail.com says
I didn't know that about Natalie - how perfect! Esme is named from a literary character too.
Your book post the other day is in large part what inspired me to start a weekend book blog. I loved loved loved reading about your connections to those books and thinking about our connections to books. Books make the world a smaller place, don't you think? Thanks, as always, for the bit of inspiration. I admire you so much Bethany, really.