Anne of Green Gables

I just finished re-reading Anne of Green Gables. I simply love Anne. I found the book in my box of books that I last read when I was still schooling.

The Cuthbert brother and sister, Matthew and Marilla wanted to adopt a boy, but after a girl was mistakenly sent instead; they decided to adopt her and grew to love her. Anne (spelled with an e) Shirley was 11, a red-headed girl, extremely talkative (her average conversation sometimes can be a couple pages long) and highly imaginative always getting herself into all kinds of blunder. She hated her red hair, and once accidentally dyed it green after buying a hair dye from a peddler who promised it would turn her hair into a lovely raven black.

The story started with how Anne initially arrived at Green Gables; continuing with her schooling years; the friends she made (Anne accidentally set her best friend, Diana drunk once), her rivalry with a boy, Gilbert at school, (Anne broke her slate on Gilbert’s head after calling her ‘Carrots’, and ignored him ever since) until she completed her studies earning a scholarship to College.

She postponed her College hopes however (and sacrificed her scholarship) when Matthew passed away, to accompany Marilla and to stop Marilla from having to sell of Green Gables. Anne ended up making peace with Gilbert too after Gilbert (who was supposed to teach at the town school) gave it up for Anne’s benefit.

Anne’s story continued in another 7 books of the series, until her children grew up. I loved the story so much that I bought most of the series. The full set of 8 Anne books are listed below;

1. Anne of Green Gables

2. Anne of Avonlea

3. Anne of the Island

4. Anne of Windy Willows

5. Anne’s House of Dreams

6. Anne of Ingleside

7. Rainbow Valley

8. Rilla of Ingleside

Anne of Green Gables e-text is available online at http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/45

Anne was also made into made for tv films with Megan Follows as Anne Shirley. More details on the films at wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_of_Green_Gables_film_series and fan site http://greengables.tripod.com/

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

There was a couple of days gap between my first post (6th Aug) and second post because I was busy reading HPDD or Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (its almost like a tongue twister.. 😉 )

My cousin, D, gave me a copy of the book as a belated birthday present. (Luv u couz) I finished reading it the next day, and am currently re-reading it properly to make sure I didnt’ miss anything.

I love the book, except for the chapter where…(spoiler ahead, skip if you haven’t read it) Harry met Dumbledore after the horcrux that was in Harry’s body was killed by Voldermort. I thought it was weird that, when Harry used the Resurrection stone to summon back his parents and Lupin and Sirius’s ghosts just before surrendering himself to Voldermort, how come Dumbledore’s ghost didn’t come as well.

The last duel between Harry and Voldermort was also a bit too easy I think. What if Harry didn’t meet Malfoy and took his wand before that. Then Harry would have surely died, he wouldn’t have a chance against Voldermort with the Eldar Wand. I had to read back the chapter when Ollivander the wandmaker explained about how the wand chooses the master to really understand it.

But still, after all, Harry is THE HERO, and I don’t think I would have liked it if Harry died, and Voldermort lived on to continue his regime. (and many others around the world wouldn’t as well)

The HP series should be applauded, for managing to cover death and war so realistically and in a way that is not too scary for children to read. Although I think some parents might want to refrain from letting their small children read the last 3 books, at least until they are older. With deaths in almost every chapter in the last book of the series, it might be a bit too gruesome for kids below 15.

After the HP series, what book can the whole world look forward to. What a decade it has been. I hope JK Rowling will come up with another excellent well thought series. Although, Lord of the Rings is still my favourite fantasy series, HP is a very close second. I can’t wait to watch the rest of the movie adaptations. I hope they will do the books justice.