Reviews with content warning for Medical content - Anna no "Zaļajiem jumtiem"

I’m not sure what I can say about this book that hasn’t been said at one time or other over the many years. It’s a classic for a reason.

But as someone who likes very few classics, there really is something special about this one. Lucy Maud Montgomery created a wonderfully eccentric and fascinating cast of characters in the Avonlea gang, with an extremely compelling, relatable, and unique protagonist in Anne.

For the time this book was written, especially, Anne is such a wonderfully complex and rich character. She was so ahead of her time in so many ways– definitely neurodivergent coded, undoubtedly a sufferer of maladaptive daydreaming, no doubt a direct result of her trauma, and a girl who wasn’t afraid to question things that everyone else blindly accepts even when it seems a little radical. For when this book was written, that’s INCREDIBLE, and it’s a real testament to the author that she was able to write a character so realistically and make her so relatable even in a time where a lot of the language we’d use to describe her now didn’t exist.

I love the philosophies Anne comes up with throughout the book, and I love her perspective on religion and how personal and emotional it is compared to how rigid, formal, and unfeeling the other characters’ are. I love how she thinks so deeply about everything, a true overthinker just like all of us in 2024. She’s just so unique in everything and yet so relatable. This was a favorite book (& the movie too) of mine as a child and rereading it now I can really see how formative Anne was to my personality. So much of what I grew up to be is just her, and I’m grateful for her influence.

This book also contains one of the most scrumptious and satisfying slow burn enemies to rivals to lovers arcs of all time. Well, I say this book, but it’s SO slow burn that you don’t even get into the lovers part until the sequels, but so many hints of it are already there even in this book. Seriously, Anne and Gilbert are the BLUEPRINT. I’m obsessed with them, truly. If you’re an enemies to lovers girlie and wanting to get into classics but don’t know where to start, start here. They will change your life.

There are certain aspects of this book that didn’t age well. Very brief moments of casual racism & fatphobia that I found very uncomfortable to read, as well as bits about the politics and culture of the time period that are a little confusing if you’re not a historian. Both of these things are very minor and hardly mentioned in the book but they are present, so it’s good to be aware going in. I think with classics it’s so important to love them for what they are but also to acknowledge their flaws.

This book is such a classic, though, and I’ve had such a fun time revisiting it. It always feels like coming home when returning to Avonlea 💚

Content Warnings

jadehusdanhicks's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

My first classic since childhood, this was creative, well written and imaginative. There was a LOT of dialogue which was a bit too much at times but it was overall enjoyable.

Anne Shirley is such a loveable character and her and Manilas growth together is adorable. Definitely a great entry way classic if you can handle the excessive amount of dialogue.

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risten's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

sir_ren's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

read this book as an adult because of Ruby Granger on Yt. it was enjoyable for sure but probably would have been a better experience as a kid.

the description of Avonlea is beautiful. the ambiance, the vibes - immaculate
speaking of which, lots of Christian or whatever kinda old-timey moralism in the book, some of it is treated irreverently and refuted but still, something to be aware of before diving in

the character Anne Shirley is fantastic. i didn't find her rambles boring but your mileage may vary. and it's not like that for the whole book

also, it is written for children so it feels a little simplistic and implausible when you read it as a grown-up, especially toward the end
but it was alright

and there are old and conservative attitudes about pretty much everything, but the book did come out over a 100 years ago so please be wary of that

the book manages to convey really well how everything that seems silly later on feels of vital importance when you were a child. the farewell scene between Anne and Diana is pretty funny to read

"... God made my hair red on purpose, and I've never cared about Him since." Iconic.

also, Anne acts pretty stone-cold towards Gilbert in the beginning which was fun to read.

the feeling and tone of the book shift pretty quickly towards the end and Anne grows up a lot in very few chapters. so the pacing is a bit off there.
the 'it's wonderful to be alive in a beautiful world' vibe shifts to ' no matter what happens, we will forge a path or alternate ones in our lives- there is nothing end all be all in life'
i feel like these ideas could've been better conveyed as 2 separate books- the first for the naïve child and one for a slightly older kid.

Content Warnings