Discussions
Anne of Green Gables
Posted by timethief • 9/23/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: books, childhood, creativity, depression, loneliness, Mental Illness, writing
Lucy Maud Montgomery, called Maud by her friends, wrote more than twenty books for young adults, the most famous of which are Anne of Green Gables and its sequels. She designed the Anne series for teen-age girls, and she drew many of Anne Shirley's experiences from her own life.
Montgomery was a native of Prince Edward Island, Canada, born in Clifton on November 30, 1874, to Hugh John and Clara Woolner Macneill Montgomery. A few months before Montgomery's second birthday, her mother died, and she was sent to live with her maternal grandparents on a farm much like Green Gables. After her father moved to Saskatchewan, Montgomery experienced the kind of extreme loneliness Anne describes having felt in early childhood.
This year marks 100th anniversary of the publication of Anne of Green Gables and Kate Macdonald Butler, daughter of Montgomery's youngest son Stuart Macdonald, made the long-kept family secret public in an article for Canada's Globe and Mail. She has revealed that her grandmother killed herself with a drugs overdose at the age of 67 in 1942.
Kate Macdonald Butler: "I have come to feel very strongly that the stigma surrounding mental illness will be forever upon us as a society until we sweep away the misconception that depression happens to other people, not us – and most certainly not to our heroes and icons," she wrote.
www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/sep/23/booksforchildrenandteenagers?gusrc=rss...
Discussion questions
In some ways Anne and her friends seem very much like eleven-year-olds today, but there are major differences in attitudes, experiences, and pastimes.
(1) Did you read these books? And if, so did you enjoy them?
(2) What makes Anne such an enduring character of world fiction? In what ways does Anne conform? In what ways does she remain fiercely independent?
(3) In what way is the author's own depression and loneliness reflected in the Anne books?
User Comments
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I read "Anne of Green Gables" a few years ago, but you've got me feeling I should go back and reread it, as I don't feel competent to speak to the questions you've asked. (And would like to! )
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I haven't read the series for years but when I did I loved it. Discovering the author suffered from depression and suicide at first surprised me. However, the more I recalled the books the more I recognized the threads of depression and loneliness and how they were expressed in the books.
What's remarkable to me is that so many fine writers were depressed people. Depression is an immobilizer but our literary history is rich with the writings of people who suffered from this mental illness. And, some authors have written such compelling books that we can find 3 and mores successive generations in families who appreciated the same books.
This news about Lucy Maude Montgomery's suicide has caused me to place Anne of Green Gables on my winter re-reading list. I wondered if anyone else would be likewise affected. -
As I recall, I considered Anne's separateness from others as reminiscent of the genre, though. Like the characters in "The Secret Garden" or "A Little Princess (both by Frances Hodgeson Burnett, I believe), the children of Roald Dahl's stories (like Matilda- very left to her own devices) or even Harry Potter.
Kids who are well-loved and nurtured don't get the opportunity to have adventures, because they have no need to.
So while in retrospect, I can see the author of a book in this genre might have been depressed or felt alone herself, it was also very much a part of the style and type of story to have those elements. -
@romantic
Your observations re: the genre are very astute. I wonder how the facts that the majority of children today live in high density urban environments, and that many are depressed and lonely, is reflected in the children'ss (young teen) books that are popular these days. Have adventures in space replaced adventures in the countryside in books that are popular with girls these days? -
I'm honestly not familiar with what sorts of childrens' (and young adult) books have become popular recently-- and how many of them deal with countryside journeying. (I know the more recent "Lemony Snicket" series is very much in the Roald Dahl genre of neglected but smart, heroic children. And there's a heckuva a lot of traveling from place to place.)
Other than that, I don't know how much the use of nature as an important setting is currently being used.
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Anne of Green Gables is my mom's most favorite series of stories. I liked Anne because of her feisty nature in a world where women were expected to be subservient and quiet.
I think that is why my mom loves it too, because she has never been the kind of person that can sit back and let the world go by without getting involved somehow..
These stories have lasting value because of the valuable emotions and life happenings written by the author that other's can identify with in one way or another. So it would seem fitting that this tragedy of mental illness would hopefully help someone.-
Anne of Green Gables is my mom's most favorite series of stories. I liked Anne because of her feisty nature in a world where women were expected to be subservient and quiet.
My grandma, mom and I all loved these books for the same reason you cite. It's remarkable that even in these days and times there are those who still believe that women ought to be subservient and quiet. That sure doesn't describe a single woman in my family. Every one of us is "feisty".
Are you aware of any books for preteen girls that have 'feisty" heroines? If so please share the titles and publication information. I have a couple of young girls that I would like to purchase books for. -
What about the Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden series? I was a rabid Trixie Belden fan when I was a preteen. She was smart, spunky, and clever...I liked that in a girl, especially considering this was the 1950s and girls were supposed to be little ladies, never speak up, and prepare for careers in the kitchen and nursery. -
Oh I am just getting back to this discussion.. I agree sweet violet... Trixie Beldon was one of my favorite books series, and so was Nancy Drew..
@tt
I really don't know of any good ones nowadays..except maybe the Outsiders, and the Secret Garden, but the secret garden is older too. Trixie Beldon and Nancy Drew mystery stories were my favorites when I was young and that was eons ago... It would be interesting to know tho since I have a couple of granddaughters.
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Not sure if I can answer any of the questions either
but Anne was a go-getter. She excelled as the underdog.
She wasn't particularly rich or extremely beautiful but the girl made up for it in brains and determination.
She showed that she can be a fierce competitor even to Gilbert in a world where men were always expected to be the smartest and excel in academics, she could hold her own.
She loved her Grandmother, who was another strong willed woman herself.
Her Grandmother also represented lost love where her love relationship failed
showing a longing in the matters of the heart and lost love.
Sacrifice, strong will, determination, competitive spirit and a little naive thrown in made for a funny and amusing story that seemed to engage young girls and women.
I heard that the place still gets lot's of visitors or tourist
and that newlyweds go there to experience the romance of that place.-
@Jeunelle
What a great summary. Thanks for posting it.
She wasn't particularly rich or extremely beautiful but the girl made up for it in brains and determination. She showed that she can be a fierce competitor even to Gilbert in a world where men were always expected to be the smartest and excel in academics, she could hold her own.
If you know of any books that feature preteen heroines with the qualities that Anne had then will you please share the titles and publication information with me? -
Certainly here are a few that came to mind quickly.
Nancy Drew...Nancy Drew Mysteries
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Drew
www.nancydrewsleuth.com/
Little Ophan Annie
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Orphan_Annie
www.liss.olm.net/loahp/
Little House On The Prairie
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_House_on_the_Prairie_(TV_series)
www.littlehouseontheprairie.com/
Pipi Longstockings
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pippi_Longstocking
www.answers.com/topic/pippi-longstocking
For a list of more modern heroines look here
www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,986288,00.html
For a list of best selling heroine books look here
www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/14Z6WAHR1LJOV -
Jane Austen
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Austen
www.austen.com/
Jane Eyre
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Eyre
www.imdb.com/title/tt0036969/
www.imdb.com/title/tt0036969/synopsis
The Avengers...Emma Peel...Played by Diana Rigg of Masterpiece Theatre
One of my personal favorites.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Peel
theavengers.tv/forever/peel.htm
www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8z95ZrsHI0
Even Scarlet Ohara made the grade
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarlett_O\'Hara
www.scarlettonline.com/
I'm sure there's more but this is what I remember for now. -
@Jeunelle,
Oh may. You are listing all the ones that I love too. What I'm really looking for is NEW books that are of the quality of the ones you have listed. I'm stymied because the ones I've checked out don't meet the muster. -
Yeah I know what you mean...seems the focus shifted
Today it seems more of our heroines are violent or into kicking butt.
Such as "Buffy the Vampire" slayer and such.
I mean where's the love and romance..."Gone with the wind" I suppose.
What I listed above were also books, which I had quite a few of the Nancy Drew Mysteries, Jane Eyre, Gone with the wind, Pride and Prejustice by Jane Austen Books, they must be somewhere in my attic.
However here is a list of books that I haven't heard of.
www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/14Z6WAHR1LJOV
www.commonsensemedia.org/book-lists/Gift-List-Books-for.html
www.jamestownri.com/school/classes/library/Best%20Books%202006.htm -
I'm considering donating all of mine to a small, local library run by a charity group. I haven't been able to do it yet due to "attachment" but I'm working towards letting them go after one last read.
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Hold up now...before you decide to let them go.
Do a Abebook search and find out how much those suckers cost now.
You may make a nice size bankroll as today some of them are quite old and hard to find.
Two of my "Dick and Jane See Spot Run" books sold for $300 each on Ebay.
www.tagnwag.com/
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Every Canadian has heard of them, but I think the Anne of Green Gables books are more popular with girls - at least they were when I was a kid. I hear they were on the school reading list in Japan for a number of years - they still may be - and that the site in PEI still gets Japanese visitors thanks to that.-
That's absolutely true. But their trip is is partially ruined when they learn that Anne was not real !
O well ! :o) -
@lettershome
I know you have a preteen daughter so I'm wondering if she has read the Anne series. I'm also wondering if you would share with me the titles of books with preteen heroines that your daughter likes. -
@Jaffer
I have heard about the Japanese tourists and even about the Japanese couples who come to PEI to have old country North American style weddings. However, I didn't know that they thought that Anne was a real person.
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Re: Discussion questions
BTW I find composing discussion questions to be a really difficult task. If anyone would like to address a relevant aspect that isn't included in the questions I posted in the OP then please do. -
I read and loved the Anne of Green Gables series, but like others, I now think I need to go back and re-read them. When I think back on them, what I'm most struck by is the sense of place. I feel like I have been to Green Gables (though I've never been to PEI), I have memories of the place and memories of Anne growing up there, though clearly they're not my own memories. It's strange, I don't have the same memories from many other books. I think it's a rare and wonderful thing to have such a strong voice that a woman who read the books more than 2 decades ago can still have such strong feelings of remembrance about them.
It is interesting to know more about the loneliness and depression that Montgomery faced. I think it is brave of her granddaughter to come forth with this information, and I applaud the effort to show people that mental illnesses like depression can happen to anyone, even those that have been so successful (did her books find success while she was alive? I could look that up, and maybe I will) and brought so much joy to others.-
@annz
Like you I applaud Kate Macdonald Butler decision to reveal the family secret. I think it's extremely important in the times we live in to know that mental illnesses like depression can happen to anyone, and despite the disease many writers have created inspiring books that feature heroes and heroines with indomitable spirits, books that stand the test of time.
Did you know that depression is rampant? It's estimated 5.3% adults (USSG); 17 million people; approximately 4% of adolescents get seriously depressed (NIMH); annually 12% of women ; 7% of men; lifetime risk of an episode for women 20% (3-4 million men USA). Depression stats by country www.wrongdiagnosis.com/d/depression/stats-country.htm
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many years ago, as my daughters favorite books were these, we bought her an Anne of Green Gables doll and even at 20 years of age, it is still her favorite stuffed-y-
@witchwoman
I always wanted an Anne of Green Gables doll. I'm so glad your daughter got one from you. It will be interesting to see if she passes it on her love of the books and the doll to her own daughter(s).
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(1) Did you read these books? And if, so did you enjoy them?
Oh, I LOVE Ann of Green Gables.
(2) What makes Anne such an enduring character of world fiction? In what ways does Anne conform? In what ways does she remain fiercely independent?
She is realistic, in the sense that any girl could relate to her. Her hopes, dreams, fears - battles with boys OK, maybe that was just me, but still..
I think she conformed most in the sense tat she finally accepted her traditional role as a young woman (wearing dresses, going to parties, dancing with boys instead of kicking them) but she kept her fierce independence of thought and spirit. Essentially, she wouldn't let society's rules, her gender, or tradition keep her down - in any regard - while still maintaining some modicum of lady like behavior.
Quite the role model for me!
(3) In what way is the author's own depression and loneliness reflected in the Anne books?
I hadn't realized the author was lonely or depressed - so I obviously didn't get too much of that from the book either. If anything, I'd say that desire to fit in, the overly confident confidence that Ann displayed early on - those are traits of people who are over compensating or are depressed, unsure, or lonely.
On the other hand, those are common feelings for young adults, too.
Great topic, TT.-
@Anok
Essentially, she wouldn't let society's rules, her gender, or tradition keep her down - in any regard - while still maintaining some modicum of lady like behavior.
Thanks for posting and for sharing your opinion that the topic is a great one. I loved the books too. I read them over and over as a young girl and I'm about to read them again this winter.
Although it was a well kept family secret that Lucy Maud Montgomery was a depressive who committed suicide, when that was revealed I began to reflect on the books and how her own depression was expressed through the character of Anne and the events in the books.
Previously I thought the character that Lucy gave Anne ie. an overly self-confident young woman was rooted in over compensation for adolescent angst. Now I understand that it was also Lucy's separation from her own father at age 12, and her life long bouts with depression and loneliness that were also reflected in the Anne books.
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I'm ashamed to admit I've never read the book - but I was an avid watcher of the television series on PBS (public broadcast). So my opinions are obviously based on the television show, as opposed to the book - and may be completely wrong.
But the thing that always struck me as fascinating and endearing about Anne is that no matter the "pickle" she got herself into, she always stepped up and faced the issue. And it was never in an over done - heroic - way. It was always with mixed emotions, hesitations, self doubts, fears exposed - and then when everything worked out fine in the end - she never tried to turn it into a "life lesson" like a Hallmark movie - she just smiled, and went off on her way... quite like it was no big thing at all. LOL I loved that!
But - the book may depict the character entirely differently???-
@annaswan
I did like the TV shows which I caught from time to time but like any movie or TV show they were substandard when compared to the experience derived from reading the books. If you are so inclined I recommend reading at least the first one so you see what I mean.
You have said something that I do think remained pretty true to the books:
But the thing that always struck me as fascinating and endearing about Anne is that no matter the "pickle" she got herself into, she always stepped up and faced the issue. And it was never in an over done - heroic - way.
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I never read Anne of Green Gables and now I will check it out. I am all in favour of anything that draws attention to the stigmas surrounding mental illness and depression or any other condition that affects the mind in the hope that wider society will achieve a better understanding and not just tolerance but acceptance of those who have mental illness or who are just different from what others expect.-
@myriadlife
You really should read the Anne books. IMO they are delightful.
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I LOVED this series but not from reading the books. I loved them on television and loved Colleen Duhurst. I should read the books now. Thanks for making me even think about this.-
@canubapartofmylife
If you loved the TV shows then I bet you'll love the books even more.
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i read the series when i was in highscool. it all started when my english teacher lent me his own copy.-
@supermanwife
Will you get the Anne books for your daughters?
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I've read, and own, all of them. They are among some of my favorite books ever. This series, the Little House books and Thursday's Child (by Noel Streatfeild: www.whitegauntlet.com.au/noelstreatfeild/ ) are my most-loved books.
Each series deals with a girl who is a seeming underdog (or by circumstance should be), but with an inner strength that outshines not only each hardship they faced, but each person they come up against. The stories all have an advocate for the girl, a 'villain' they face (whether a person, place, thing or circumstance) and they all emerge triumphant!
My older girls and I all cried reading the first "Anne of Green Gables" book - we're all Matthew fans -
@anniepooh
I also loved the Little House books. I wasn't keen on the tv programs though. I've never heard of Thursday's Child but now I'll look for it. Thanks. -
I had to get my copy from ebay - it's no longer in print. I could still recall what the cover looked like and found the exact edition that I'd read in elementary school!
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Haven't read them myself, nor has my almost 10 yr old daughter ever thought to. She loves animal stories and stories where the main character is a girl- but has never even been interested in the AOGG movie at the video store. She's a bit of an odd duck though when it comes to her interests. She's more of a tomboy and her favorite book series right now are Animorphs and Warrior Cats. She says that none of her friends like Animorphs but many of them like Warrior Cats - which have no human main characters.
The AOGG series sounds great though, and I would like to figure out a way to get her interested. I may offer to read a chapter of one TO HER at night for us time or something.-
@inmyredhead
Well reading to her is worth a try but if she's into Warrior Cats then there may not be a connection point for her.
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Watched the shows when I was younger.
Good shows, if I do say so myself. -
@dukepro
I'm glad you liked them too. I read the Anne books out loud to my younger siblings and I only have one sister but the boys liked the books too. -
My sister would always watch them when she babysat, so...yah!
I got to watch them - whether I wanted to or not. lol
J/K
Yah, I liked em.
Reminded me of Little House On The Prairie, but...without the Prairie.
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I read Anne of Green Gables, soooo long ago, it's nuts, I can't remember much of it, but I do know it made an impact on me, as most books too. I'm a closet bookworm. -
Hi chica,
Well, maybe you will be joining me in reading them again this winter. -
This topic reminded me of another book I remember fondly, and that was the Secret Garden. One of my ultimate favorites growing up. I actually just googled it, and found that I can read it online. I think I'm going to be printing it out for my collection.
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Can I have that link please? I loved The Secret Garden too.
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@chica
Thanks for the link.
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timethief: i love the children/young adult genre. here are some titles you might be interested to give a go (they aren't recently released, though):
Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson
When Jeff Comes Home - Catherine Atkins
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
Ella Enchanted - Gail Carson Levine
The Outsiders - S. E. Hinton
I Am David - Anne Holm
The Cay - Theodore Taylor-
@sulz
w00t! I ♥ you. Thanks so much.
Have you reviewed them?
If so please post links here or email me the links, okay? -
i've only reviewed some of the titles i recommended in my book blog:
nylusmilk.wordpress.com/2007/02/20/when-jeff-comes-home-%E2%80%93-catherine...
nylusmilk.wordpress.com/2008/06/06/the-cay-timothy-of-the-cay-theodore-tayl...
nylusmilk.wordpress.com/2008/01/20/ella-enchanted-gail-carson-levine/
ella enchanted is really a remake of the classic cinderella story, but i believe this version is more modern, better and female-positive than the classic fairy tale. there's also another cinderella remake by another author:
nylusmilk.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/just-ella-margaret-peterson-haddix/
you should read the mark haddon one. it's very popular so should be easily available at your library. and it's good!
and love ya back too, my old friend! -
Thank you so much sulz. I'll be visiting as soon as I have the time to.
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When I read these books (or tried to) as a young girl, I did NOT like them. I was completely bored. But I read them again the summer after graduating from college, and LOVED them. I have read them several times since and often glance at them longingly wondering when it will be long enough between reads to read again.
I don't know what it is about the character that resonates, but I can say I also tried to re-read the Nancy Drew series (my absolute favorite as a young girl) as an adult, and thought they were terrible.-
@whatweneed33
Re: The Anne series, what an interesting reversal. I liked Nancy Drew when I was young but I suspect that if I read any of the series now I would think they were terrible too. They couldn't possibly compare with Agatha Christie.
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I haven't read them. My wife loved the Anne of Green Gables series. Actually, she has portions of different books memorized. It's amazing. Now, my 15 year old daughter has read all of them and does the same thing as her mother.
I have to say that Anne gets two thumbs up from me simply because my wife and daughter both love the books so much. -
@TimMc
I'm glad to hear your wife and daughter love the Anne books as much as I do. Ermm .... great minds
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I read Anne-books... Over 20 years ago so I can't remember them much. We even had a TV series of Anne, but I can't remember them much either. I read the authors other book series Emily of New Moon a lot earlier though, and I can still remember them really well. I identified strongly with Emily in the 80's when I read them, but Anne I did not for some reason. -
The Emily of New Moon series was less romanticized and more realistic than the Anne novels. Montgomery considered Emily to be a character much closer to her own personality than Anne, and some of the events which occur in the Emily series happened to Montgomery herself. I read both series but preferred the Anne series.
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I've never read the books, but did see the mini-series (Anne of Green Gables).
Many people believe that only great madness (so to speak) can create great art.
F.Scott Fitzgerald, Hemingway...so many of them
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