Anne of Green Gables (Audiobook)

Author: L.M. Montgomery
Genre: Children's Fiction, Canadian, Classic
Type: e-audiobook
Source: Audible.ca (personal copy)
Narrator: Rachel McAdams
Publisher: Page Company of Boston
First Published in Print: 1908
Opening Lines: Mrs. Rachel Lynde lived just where the Avonlea main road dipped down into the little hollow, fringed with alders and ladies' eardrops, and traversed by a brook hat had its source away back in the woods of the old Cuthbert place; it was reputed to be an intricate, headlong brook in its earlier course through those woods, with dark secrets of pool and cascade; but by the time it reached Lynde's Hollow it was a quiet, well-conducted little stream, for not even a brook could run past Mrs. Rachel Lynde's door without due regard for decency and decorum; it probably was conscious that Mrs. Rachel was sitting at her window, keeping a sharp eye on everything that passed, from brooks and children up, and that if she noticed anything odd or out of place she would never rest until she had ferreted out the whys and wherefores thereof.

Book Description from GoodReads: With all of the pluck and charm of its eponymous young hero, Rachel McAdams (The Notebook, Spotlight, Midnight in Paris) delivers a spectacular reading of Montgomery's beloved bildungsroman. In moments both funny and bittersweet, McAdams' voice is imbued with the spark that has made Anne a much-loved symbol of individualism and cheer for over a century. In this story of "kindred spirits," McAdams' touching and heartfelt narration proves she is just that — bonded on a deep level to this shimmering classic.

When aging brother and sister Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert decide to adopt an orphan boy to help with chores around their farm, Green Gables on Prince Edward Island, neither is prepared for the feisty and imaginative redheaded girl who is mistakenly brought to them instead. Nor are they prepared for the way in which she will change their lives. Through a series of hilarious misadventures, Anne's uncompromising spirit makes her a striking presence in the close-knit village, bringing new friendships, first crushes, and, for her foster parents, a love and openness unimaginable before her arrival.Withallofthepluckandcharmofitseponymousyounghero,RachelMcAdams(TheNotebook,Spotlight,MidnightinParis)deliversaspectacularreadingofMontgomery'sbelovedbildungsroman.Inmomentsbothfunnyandbittersweet,McAdams'voiceisimbuedwiththesparkthathasmadeAnneamuch-lovedsymbolofindividualismandcheerforoveracentury.Inthisstoryof"kindredspirits,"McAdams'touchingandheartfeltnarrationprovessheisjustthat—bondedonadeepleveltothisshimmeringclassic.

WhenagingbrotherandsisterMatthewandMarillaCuthbertdecidetoadoptanorphanboytohelpwithchoresaroundtheirfarm,GreenGablesonPrinceEdwardIsland,neitherispreparedforthefeistyandimaginativeredheadedgirlwhoismistakenlybroughttotheminstead.Noraretheypreparedforthewayinwhichshewillchangetheirlives.Throughaseriesofhilariousmisadventures,Anne'suncompromisingspiritmakesherastrikingpresenceintheclose-knitvillage,bringingnewfriendships,firstcrushes,and,forherfosterparents,aloveandopennessunimaginablebeforeherarrival.

My Rating: 5 stars

My Review: Anne of Green Gables is, without a doubt, a beloved and much-read Canadian classic. Anne (with an E) is an iconic character who is known and loved for her spunkiness, penchant for getting herself into scrapes and ability to throw together some fanciful phrases with as many words as possible.

It's not surprising that Anne has become a treasured household name throughout the world. As a child, I watched Megan Follows play Anne in the TV version and she was (and remains) the only Anne for me on screen. So, when I bought the digital audiobook of AoGG through Audible.ca, I was a little nervous to see who would be narrating Anne's story.

In this version, actress and St Thomas, Ontario native, Rachel McAdams (another Canadian sweetheart) has taken on the considerable task of narrating Anne's story. I admit that, in the very beginning, I questioned whether McAdams could give voice to Anne's unique and well-known personality, but my reservations were quickly put to rest. With great intonation, wonderful energy and emotion, McAdams brings readers into the heart of Anne's new life on PEI - her relationships, ups and downs and her fascination and appreciation for the simple things.

Anne and I are clearly kindred spirits and I greatly hope that she continues to charm new generations of readers. Montgomery's way with words and descriptions make it clear why this series of books (as well as L.M. Montgomery's other series, Emily) have been favourites of audiences for over a century. But now I find myself in 'the depths of despair' knowing that currently, it doesn't appear that Audible.ca has McAdams narrate the other books in the series. I hope Audible rectifies this soon.

Note: Fans of Anne may want to read Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson. It's an entertaining read as Wilson imagines what Anne's life was like before she met Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert and moved to PEI.

Favourite Quotes:

“I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”

“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there 

are so many of them in the world.”

“It's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things 

if you make up your mind firmly that you will.”

“My life is a perfect graveyard of buried hopes.”

“There's such a lot of different Annes in me. I sometimes think that is why I'm such a 

troublesome person. If I was just the one Anne it would be ever so much 

more comfortable, but then it wouldn't be half so interesting.”

“Red hair is my life long sorrow.”