Anne of Green Gables series pt.1

Title : No specific title.. I'm talking about the series here :-p
Author: Lucy Maud Montgomery a.k.a L.M. Montgomery

I was introduced to this carrot-haired lass a few years back during the Dunhill Double on TV2.. remember? Yup, I got to know her from the TV FIRST, before getting to know her in literature. And, hey, don't tell me I'm the only one here hehe..

Fast forward a few years later, I was in the school library when I stumbled upon the series and after that, I kept going back to borrow the books until I finished all 8. Sadly, I didn't get to read them in order as it was more to availability. Being the blabbering girl who loves to talk about books, I told my classmates about my find and well, everyone just wanted a piece of it that I had to 'chup' the books from my friends in order to read them.

Well, back to the present time, around last year when I was doing my usual book hunting (one thing about Popular, you never KNOW when you'd find a GEM.. I found Quidditch Through The Ages on one of these trips and I doubt that most of you even have SEEN it haha.. Baizurah, tolong la jeles kat saya!!!) when I came across Anne of Green Gables. Remebering the childhood fun of reading it, I quickly paid for it and savoured every minute reading it.

A few days later, at KBJ, must be jodoh haha, I found other the books in this series but since I bought just a handful of money then, I just managed to buy 2 but that just started my hunt to complete the whole series from the well known Anne of Green Gables right up to Rilla of Ingleside which by the way narrates the accounts of Annes youngest daughter, Rilla, named after Marilla Cuthbert, the woman who took care and loved Anne as her own child.

So now, people, I'm the proud owner of the whole set!!

The series kick-starts with Anne of Green Gables which all of us know is about the 9 year old orphan who was sent to the Cuthberts by mistake, but managed to steal the hearts of everyone in Avonlea, including the Gilbert Blythe, who somehow seems to remind me Raja Nazrin.. in the movie la but don't ask me why! Baizurah, we can relate to her, you know.. she too, is a day dreamer like us haha.. She and her 'bosom friend' Diana get into a lot of scrapes, with Anne as the mastermind of it, of course. The both of them (kindred spirits, as Anne describes them) create all these stories for every place in Avonlea and even venture to change the name of nearly all these places.

Anne (spelt with an 'e' haha..) is described as a smart but hot-headed girl, proven by her infamous action of slamming her slate on top of poor Gilbert's head, then refusing to speak to him ever, even when he saved her from the river one day. Her pride just won't let her befriend him, though, at the end of the book, she finally asks him for forgiveness for her stubborness.

The second book is Anne of Avonlea which tells of Anne abandoning her dreams to further her studies just so she could look after Marilla after Matthew's death. She becomes a teacher at her dear old school in Avonlea, courtesy of Gilbert who handed her the post given to him earlier. Full with expectations, she starts her job but soon realizes that what she dreamt of and what student REALLY are made of, are not the same. But cheery Anne still maintains her trust in her students and she wins their adoration. She further becomes close to one student of hers named Paul (I think..) who lost his mother since he was small. Somehow, Anne's intrusion in his life helped him find a new mother who's just perfect for him.

Back at home, Marilla adopts twins who are somehow her kin. I don't remember what happened to the twin's family, though. Dora and Dave are as different as day and night. Dora, the sensible, prim and proper but boring twin contrasts with her mischievous and cheeky twin, Davy. Davy soon grows attached to Anne and is jelous of the bond between Anne and Paul. Gilbert also starts his advances to Anne, which, as readers, we understand Anne's feeling's more than she herself does. *sigh*

Here we learn that, once upon a time ago, Marilla and gilbert's father were once a couple but because of Marilla's stubborness, they broke up. Mariila never forgot that and she was afraid that Anne might make the same mistake.

Another thing, Ms Rachel moved in with them after the death of her husband and together, the old ladies took care of the twins and the farm, enabling Anne to go to college the next fall.

Then there's Anne of the Island. In this book, she finally pursues her dream of going to college, Redmond College to be exact. And guess who's also there.. Gilbert Blythe! Together they compete with each other in college, with Gilbert always a small step ahead of Anne.

Anne befriends this cheeky but very sweet childish flirt with the name of Phillipa and together with her old friend Prissy, they rent this cute cottage together and learn not only lessons in class, but also lessons in life. It is here that Anne starts feeling confused with her feelings for Gilbert. Gilbert on the other hand, hurt by Anne's rejection, befriend another girl, Christine but only at the end do we know that he was just taking care of Christine.

Anne gets her first proposal, in such a ridiculous way that she can't help laughing about it! She also befriends this other guy, whom I can't remember his name (nmpk sangat pro-Gilbert!) but doesn't end up with him in the end for obvious reasons haha..

She misses Green Gables, Marilla, Mrs Rachel whom she once despised, Dora and Davy but somehow manages. Even her dreamy Paul has grown up, living with his father and new mother. He no longer has day dreams like he once had but he still corresponds with Anne and still writes his poetry.

Towards the end, Gilbert fall sick and is feared to be dying. This somehow is the turning twist of Anne and Gilbert's life when they finally admit what they've been feeling for so long *double sigh*.

The fourth book is Anne of Windy Poplars about her life after college. She has finally graduated and about to begin a new life as a teacher in Summerside. Howver, her cheery composition is darkened by the Pringles, a clan considered 'royalty' of Summerside.

Here, she rents a room at Windy Poplars with two widows, Aunt Kate and Aunt Chatty, together with their housekeeper, Rebecca Dew (Anne could never call Rebecca with her first name, it was always accompanied by her surname). These are her friends who help her uncover the secret of the Pringles and at the same time, win their trust and heart too.

Apart from the Pringles (I'm imagining the potato chips right now..), Anne's meddlesome nature urges her to help little Elizabeth, a dreamy girl version of Paul. She was abandoned by her hurt father after her mother died while giving birth to her and looked after by her grandmother who controls her too much. Anne however managed to persuade Elizabeth's father to come and just take a look at his daughter, but the father took a step farther by taking Elizabeth with him instead, making the little girl happy.

Anne also helps change this hard hearted teacher, Catherine. Anne's warmth and cheerfulness was so infectious that she finally thawed this Ice Queen who finally became her friend after so much differances they displayed against each other. Don't forget, Anne is stubborn too!

Here, Anne also manages to learn about her real parents and suddenly feels so complete after having the chance to keep sweet momentos of her parents.

This book is punctuated with letters from Anne to Gilbert and vice versa.. sweet² letters too! BTW, Gilbert was still finishing his studies in medicine here, that's why they aren't married yet.

Wow!! Look at the time, I still haven't finished the preview for the other 4 books of this series, but I guess I'd continue next time.. later, guys!