Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

This seemed like the perfect book for summer.  A light, happy read, but with undoubted substance.  I hope you all read it and enjoy.

There is also a version with digital images of each page of the 1st edition which had illustrations.  Here are links to those illustrations:
Matthew brings Anne Home
Anne has words for Rachel Lynde
Anne's First Day at School
Anne breaks the slate over Gilbert's Head
Anne Walks the Ridge-pole
Gilbert Rescues "Elaine"

Anne and Diana
Gilbert walks Anne home (where she finally forgives him)

I'm sure I'd heard of it before, but my real introduction to Anne was in the Spring of 1999.  My mother had discovered she had cancer and as she was recuperating after her first surgery and getting ready to start chemotherapy a friend recommended she read Anne of Green Gables.  Mommy LOVED them all.  She even dreamt once that she was having tea with Anne.  They kept her hopeful and positive and we all honestly believe she lived longer out of sheer will.  With the books came the movies and we all watched those together as we peeled and processed apples (bumper crop that summer John and I lived there!).
John and I finally read them aloud together in the summer of 2007.  We, too, loved them all.  The last one is our favorite, but for different reasons.  He loves glimpse into the Canadian experience in World War I (which was fascinating) and  I loved it because it's about Anne's youngest daughter, Rilla. Being a youngest child I could identify with many of her concerns.  It is naturally a more serious book than the others and despite Rilla's happy ending it has plenty of heartbreak.
For those who have read the rest of the books, this is no surprise.  There is heartbreak in the them all which is part of what makes these books so good.  When tragedy strikes Anne puts it into words and somehow managed to cope and be hopeful.  

If you don't have a copy of the book you can read it online here.

There is a Lucy Maud Montgomery Institute at the University of Prince Edward Island.
Here are some links to interesting pages there. . .

The Life of Lucy Maud Montgomery and a Time Line of her life

The Works of L.M. Montgomery (it's a lengthy list)

Teacher's Corner which looks well-worth exploring.

Heading up to PEI?  Here's some tourist information.

A brilliant sentiment from L.M. Montgomery!

The Official Movie Website.  They claim to have some lost footage in their video section!

For any who have not yet seen the movies the 1st two are a MUST.
The 3rd is a must NOT.  Geez what a mess!

What the what? What's wrong with this picture?