Not Anne!

This year is the 100^th anniversary of Anne of Green Gables. To commemorate this milestone, a prequel to Anne of Green Gables – Before Green Gables – is being published.

Why?

Apparently the book will focus on Anne’s life before she joins the Cuthberts. Anne, a fiery red head with a wonderful, crazy imagination, is adopted by siblings Marilla and Matthew. Although they originally were expecting a boy, they decide to take Anne in.

Hilarity ensues. Anne gets into the claret by accident, she almost drowns recreating a poem, she ends up with green hair after trying to die hers. Two words – puff sleeves.

Growing up, my mother would tell people that my name was spelled Anne with an e like Anne of Green Gables.

“What difference does it make how it’s spelled?” asked Marilla asked with another rusty smile as she picked up the teapot.

“Oh, it makes such a difference. It looks so much nicer. When you hear a name pronounced can’t you always see it in your mind, just as it was printed out? I can; A-n-n looks dreadful, but A-n-n-e looks so much more distinguished. …”

Why fiddle with a childhood classic? I don’t want to be too judgmental without reading the book but it always sounded like Anne’s life was grim before she was adopted by Marilla and Matthew. I also have a real problem with another author writing an Anne book. It just seems wrong.

Fun fact about Anne of Green Gables: An animated series was made of the novels in Japan, where Anne is very popular.

From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_of_Green_Gables_(anime)

The Japanese PEI club: http://www.lares.dti.ne.jp/~pei-club/english.htm

Grab a hanky!

“Well now, I’d rather have you than a dozen boys, Anne,” said Matthew patting her hand. “Just mind that you – rather than a dozen boys. Well now, I guess it wasn’t a boy that took the Avery scholarship, was it? It was a girl – my girl – my girl that I’m proud of.”

Links:

New Anne of Green Gables book stirs debate,

http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USN1754861220080319

Prince Edward Island, http://www.gov.pe.ca/visitorsguide/index.php3?number=1014602