My Collected Notes

Do opposites attract? In this case, they very much do.

Anne is such a force of nature and a breath of fresh air to Matthew. An introvert who prefers to listen rather than talk, he really does fit her needs and she fits his. Anne has finally found someone who allows her the space, without repercussion, to freely speak her mind. Matthew’s natural patience and genuine interest in her thoughts come through so clearly in Montgomery’s words. Who knew how much this little girl would bring such joy to Matthew’s quiet life? And who knew how much his quiet presence and love would give Anne the grounding comfort she needs to thrive?

We also get a glimpse into the brother-and-sister dynamic between Matthew and Marilla. Maybe even a little good cop, bad cop. There’s a deference to Marilla when it comes to decision-making, but we know later that when Matthew will speak up, and when he does, the impact is taken very seriously.

I can hear Anne’s stream of consciousness so loudly and clearly as I read. It’s so natural that I sometimes want to tell her to pause and take a breath.

“Which would you rather be if you had the choice — divinely beautiful or dazzlingly clever or angelically good?” I’ve never thought of that question before, but I guess I’d choose to be dazzlingly clever. How about you?

I love Anne’s idea and habit of naming things she finds beautiful, imaginative names. It’s such a simple yet powerful idea. Why not give a beautiful name to something that resonates with us? At the very least, it makes it easier to remember in the future. And it's not boring!

Avonlea is just as I remembered it, a small rural community, but the description this time really hit home how isolated it was: “A little triangular peninsula… with water on two sides of it.” I was comforted by the coziness of it when I was a child. Reading it now, I notice something I never thought about back then. It feels both comforting and equally claustrophobic, the kind of place where everyone knows everyone. I can imagine that in a small community, that is both a comfort because you may want the attention and care, and a weight for the exact same reasons.

Mrs. Rachel Lynde is the first person we meet, and even though I think she’s definitely nosy, I never got the sense she was mean-spirited. She just notices things and has an excellent memory, like a walking news bulletin.

What struck me this time around was how Matthew and Marilla seemed to stay at the edges of Avonlea's community. Matthew is shy and keeps to himself, and while Marilla is friends with the locals, she does her own thing and keeps them at arm’s length. She’s not interested in gossip and has her own mind.

It’s been years since I last read the books, and I’m curious how Anne, her friends, and Avonlea will feel to me now that I’m reading with adult eyes.

Inspired by @bystarlightread, I'm set to begin my journey all over again. Time to step back into Green Gables and see what I notice this time around.