Group Read: Anne of Green Gables

I thought I'd start a thread for Anne of Green Gables, though I'm not certain that anyone but Zoe and myself are planning to read it in January.

I've noticed, though, that there are several people who have, as I do, a Lucy Maud Montgomery category for 2010. If there is any interest in discussing other books, we can perhaps expand...

Anne of Green Gables is about 300 pages, but it is a fairly quick read, so I'm not sure whether we should set up any kind of schedule for it. What do you think?

I always appreciate a notation of Chapter completed at the beginning of a comment, so that I don't accidentally read a spoiler...

I've never set up a group read, so am not sure what I should be doing -- all suggestions are appreciated!

But to begin with, I think it would be interesting to know what everyone's previous experience has been with Anne of Green Gables.

Anne of Green Gables was my favorite book from the ages of 9-12. It was also my mother's favorite childhood book, and it was she who suggested it to me.

I know I read it 3 times, and perhaps more, during that time, along with the sequels that my library had. I recently purchased an 8 volume set of Anne books, and I'm fairly certain that the library didn't have, and I haven't read, the last 2 books included in that set.

Since childhood, the only time I re-read Anne of Green Gables was about 20 years ago, when I bought it for my older daughter. I remember thinking it still had all its charm, but didn't then read the rest of the series (though she did).

I have a Montgomery category in my challenge, but I am planning to read books of hers that are new to me. Anne of Green Gables is my favourite book of all time - it's not that I think it is the best book ever, but I have so many childhood memories attached to it. There is a pioneer village near to where I live, and they had an Anne festival every year. They have buildings that were part of the set for the Anne of Green Gables movie with Megan Follows, which you could tour. Plus, I loved the Road to Avonlea TV series, which was inspired by Montgomery's works. I actually met some of the child actors from the show, and still have their autographs somewhere.

I love the entire Anne series, and I reread them basically every year. Recently I reread the Emily series, and I came across a bunch of hard-to-find Montgomery novels at a used bookstore. One of my favourite possessions is a 1934 copy of Anne of the Island, which is one of my top three favourite "Anne" books, along with the original and Rilla of Ingleside.

I am currently reading The Blythes are Quoted, which was just published for the first time a few months ago. It is being billed as the ninth Anne novel, and while I am not sure I agree, it is still another Montgomery gem.

Oh, I'm sure other people will join in as well. As you said, it's a quick read.

I don't have any particular preference about when you start the thread. Personally, I'm not planning to look at it until I've actually finished the book, since even without spoilers I don't want other people's views tainting my impressions of the story. But I am willing to start the book before January actually comes around, especially since I recently got rid of the Children's/YA category in my 101010 but still have room in my 999....

I've set up a separate Group to discuss Anne of Green Gables and other books by or about L.M. Montgomery:

Group Read: Anne of Green Gables and L.M. Montgomery
http://www.librarything.com/groups/groupreadanneofgreen

I hope others will join us in the discussion, whether or not the books are read this year!