katie who can read

Anne of Green Gables Challenge, day 20 (belated)

Post something Anne-related of your own choice.

I’m going to be very cheeky and link to the #Anne tagged posts on my book blog. There’s a fair few of them - reviews of each book and two different film adaptations, a question-and-answer post and a piece on Anne and Gilbert’s relationship in a post on literary lovers.

*clicky*

Anne of Green Gables challenge, day 19

Do you prefer the books or movie?

Books. Obviously! I do love the (first 1980s) movie, but it’s someone else’s vision. When I read the book, I live my own understanding of the story, and it is truer because it is the real thing. The film is a good imitation, but it is still an imitation.

Anne of Green Gables Challenge, day 18

least favourite male character?

Paul Irving, I’m afraid. I liked him well enough when I was a kid, but now I find him rather twee and sickening. He’s very much like Anne, but while her fairy fancies and imaginings are sweet and endearing, I find his just rather nauseating. Perhaps gender expectations have something to do with it, I don’t know. 

imnotthatgirl asked: yeah, you know those John green books in the library? I put them there :D I work there now and a few weeks ago we got some money to buy new books and a load of teenagers went to waterstones to buy new books :D

Wow, small world! Nice one! :) 

Anne of Green Gables Challenge, day 17

Least favourite female character?

Mary Vance (Rainbow Valley and Rilla of Ingleside) although she is interesting to read in contrast to Anne. Both were orphan girls brought up by reluctant friendsandrelations in abusive families before being adopted by people who loved them - but where Anne’s sweet nature and imagination kept her optimistic and innocent, Mary is hard-edged, course and often unkind. An interesting study of how similar backgrounds can produce two different natures - but even so, I just don’t like Mary.

Anne of Green Gables Challenge, day 16

Matthew or Marilla Cuthbert? Or both?

Although Matthew is wonderful, I think I’ll go with Marilla because she has more depth as a character. While Matthew is a shy, kind old man on the surface, and a shy, kind old man all the way through, Marilla has layers: strict and religious and a bit prickly on the outside, while beneath the surface she has a softer side, a sense of humour, a bit of mischief and I think a lot of repressed sadness that she’s carried around with her for fiftymumble years, only to be healed when Anne came along.