Group Read: Anne of Green Gables SPOILER-FREE THREAD

Welcome to the Hogwarts Express Anne of Green Gables group read! All are welcome to participate. This is the Spoiler-Free Thread, so save your discussion of major plot points for the other thread.

A few questions to get us started:

- Have you read this book before? Seen a movie based off of it? Read other books in the series, or other books by the author?

- If you have read this before, how old were you when you first read it? Do you remember what your reaction was at the time? Did someone recommend it to you, or did you discover it on your own?

- Have you started the book yet? If so, what are your first impressions?

- I've read this book many times (as well as most of the rest of the series). I also own the CBC versions of Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Green Gables ~ The Sequel. (I watched The Continuing Story once and that was more than enough.)

- I think I first read this when I was 8 or 9. I know it was a gift from a relative, but I'll have to go home and look inside the book to find out exactly when and from whom.

ETA: It was a gift from my paternal grandparents on my 9th birthday.

I have this book somewhere. Who knows where....I think I read the series when I was about 12. I have seen some version of the movies, but I don't know which.

I'm working on downloading the Nook app for the iPad, and will then download the book on both apps. I'm wanting to test the same book out on both apps to compare.

i gave my copy to Missie, so I had to go to the library and borrow a copy but its a Great Illustrated Classics copy which means the wording has been simplified somewhat. but its good enough for this since I do know the story so well

ETA Hah! I just found it for free on kindle, the original story! YAY!

I guess I should answer my own questions:

- I have to admit that I've read this book (and the rest of the series, and just about anything by L.M. Montgomery) more times than I have bothered to count. I actually reread the Anne series last summer. This time I'm listening to an audio book version, which could be good or bad, depending on how I like the narrator. I've also seen at least the first movie and maybe the second; I can't quite remember. I know that I haven't seen the third, because everyone I know who saw it said it was terrible.

- I don't remember how old I was when I first read this -- probably 9 or 10. I remember getting other books by Montgomery from my grandmother, so maybe she gave me this one as well. I know I really loved it, because I managed to wear out my original copy at some point. In fact, I think I have replaced it twice now.

- I haven't started listening yet, but I'll be sure to post what I think of the version and the narrator when I do!

I first read it at about ten years old when I got it as a birthday present. I devoured it and found that there were more, I got them and read them cover to cover and again and again. Just last summer I actually found Rilla of Ingleside which completed the Anne series, that I had been searching for for years like the holy grail

I'm completely new to this book, series, and author. I've never seen a movie based off of it, either. I do recall one of my sisters watching a children's tv series based on it and saw tiny bits of it here and there. I can't recall anything of what I saw from it, though.

I'm probably going to start reading Anne of Green Gables on my Kobo within the hour. I just finished the book I was reading a few minutes ago.

#7: You're probably thinking of the show Avonlea which took place in the same fictional town and might have shared a couple of peripheral characters, but really wasn't based on the books; so even if you did remember anything from it I doubt it would be very spoilery.

I've never read it. (And now I'm glad not to be the only one to admit that also!) The weird part isn't that I haven't read it since I'm sure plenty of adults have not, but what's odd is that I loved to read as a kid and I loved to read historical fiction and I loved books with girls for main characters. The shocking part about me never reading it is that my mom (a teacher), my aunt (a librarian), my older sisters (both avid readers and lovers of the movies), nor any of my school teachers or librarians ever sat me down and said, "Hey! You should read this! You'll enjoy it!"

Anyone else come across situations like that with this or other books?

Anyways, I have seen the movies more times than I can count (and probably every episode of the show Avonlea, too). I already love the setting and characters so I think reading the original text will be interesting but the challenge will probably be to try to divorce my preconceived notions from what the author is actually presenting.

I'll start reading it this evening!

#9 -- I had a slight contrary streak as a child (probably still do), and often if too many people were recommending something to me, it would have the effect of making me not want to read it. This didn't happen to me with Montgomery books, but it did with The Scarlet Pimpernel, one of my mom's favorites, which I later read and enjoyed very much.

My grandmother was the impetus behind my love of reading, especially the older books such as Anne of GG, Little Women, Understood Betsy, Tess of the D'ubervilles

#8 bib:
Thanks. I think you're right!

I'm not surprised that I didn't read this book as a child simply because I struggled so much with reading then. I had to battle with and overcome a learning disability. I find there are quite a few good books that I missed. For instance, I had adored the movie The Secret Garden but never read it until about three years ago.

I never read it before, either. Three chapters in it's a little vanilla, maybe that's why. I was more into Roald Dahl and Harriet the Spy and subversive kid lit like that. Didn't much like the Little House books, which this resembles to me.

L.M.M is my longest standing favorite author! I have read and re-read the entire series so many times that many of my books are literally falling apart! I have if not all, close to all of her books that are still in print, and continue to search for those not in print. I also own many Anne related items.

I'm not sure exactly when I discovered Anne, I would guess I was about 9 or 10.

I own all three movies (the ones produced by Kevin Sullivan), and I would agree with those who don't care for the third movie. It strays too much from the books for my taste. I have seen several other versions but it has been so long that I'm not sure which ones.

Parts of the first book are quite "Vanilla" as LG says and I must admit that it isn't one of my absolute favorites of the series, but I do adore it none-the-less.

I've read it before, when I was a kid and maybe again as a teenager. I've also seen the movies but it has been years.
I plan on finding the copy of it I know Missie has somewhere. Maybe I shall see if she wants to read it, too.
The thing I remember best was that I thought Anne had a horrible taste in names and I really wanted to learn words that hardly anyone else understood. 8)

I think I read the series when I was 11 or 12 and then again in High School or College so this will be a reread for me.

I have seen the Canadian series based on the books and I enjoyed it immensely.

Strangely I have just been reading A Girl of the Limberlost and it reminds me very much of Anne of Green Gables but in America. For those of you who are fans you might want to add it to your list.

I have been reading the first few chapters on the iPad, and needed to recharge the battery. However, the battery won't recharge (that's my bit of BN; I'm trying to figure that one out). The GN is that yesterday mom and I ventured out (we've been stuck in the house for 2 days because of snow & ice), and took some things to the local Salvation Army. Low and behold, I saw the book on the shelf for 25 cents! So back to reading for me.

Okay, I have a bit of driving to do today, so will start listening as I drive!

When are we going to start discussing it?

#20 -- That's what these two threads are for! I'll try to find some discussion questions in the next few days, or if anybody else has any, feel free to post them on the spoiler thread.

I'm just about done. I'll jump over and leave some comments in the spoiler thread!

I'm joining! I just started tonight. I've never read the book before, though I have watched the movies, Anne of Green Gables & Anne of Avonlea.

I'm a good ... 4 pages in. And enjoying it! I'm excited to read this with everyone.

I read this a while ago but as an adult; at a guess I'd say anything from ten to twenty years ago. Saw and very much enjoyed the series.

Need to start this--found it online so will probably read it there, as if I have a copy, I have no idea where!