Anne of Green Gables is one of my all-time favorite classics: I practically memorize the Megan Follows film versions, and I’ve read and listened to the books many times as well. I’m only listing the first three books, though, because the love story between Anne and Gilbert wraps up at the end of “Anne of the Island.” (After that, the story frankly isn’t all that interesting, and later books in the series aren’t even about Anne anymore–they’re little anecdotes about the scrapes her kids get into.) These are very episodic, but so idyllic. I love the atmosphere of Prince Edward Island at the turn of the 19th century, when life was simpler and everybody knew their neighbors (sometimes too well.) And Anne’s struggle with her “romantic ideal” versus the very real, flesh-and-blood Gilbert who was right there waiting is so compelling.
My rating: *****!
