Before Green Gables

I purchased Before Green Gables as a gift for my niece, and it was a wonderful choice. The story is beautifully written and adds meaningful depth to Anne’s early life before Green Gables. It’s engaging, heartfelt, and easy to follow, making it enjoyable for both younger readers and adults who love the series. The book was well made and presented nicely, making it perfect as a gift. My niece really enjoyed it, and it sparked great conversations about the original Anne of Green Gables story. I would highly recommend it for fans of the series or as a thoughtful gift for a young reader.

I remember being told about this great television series on PBS about this redheaded orphan girl. I checked it out the next time it was on and was immediately and totally captivated by Kevin Sullivan's adaptation of Lucy Maud Montgomery's " Anne of Green Gables ." I watched it every time it was on and read the original novel. Within a year I had read all of the Anne books plus all of the other Montgomery books that were out in paperback and everything I could find on the shelves in local libraries. I tracked down books that were out of print and photocopied them and managed to pick up a 19th impression of " Anne of Green Gables " (from 1910) and a 1st edition of " Rainbow Valley ." When I got remarried we spent three days just driving to Prince Edward Island for our honeymoon, where we stayed at the hotel that shows up at the start of " Anne of Avonlea " and serves as the White Sand Hotel on " Road to Avonlea ." We went to see "Anne of Green Gables: The Musical" in Charlottes town and saw every L.M. Montgomery site there was to see on PEI. On the way home we stopped at several of the places where they filmed the Sullivan adaptations, including the bridge where Anne finally told Gilbert she did not want sunbursts and marble halls, she just wanted him. We have a display case that has a couple of ceramic figures of Anne and Matthew, photographs of Green Gables, and assorted odds and ends including sandstone the peculiar shade of red you find on PEI. So when I found out that the Montgomery estate had authorized Budge Wilson to write a prequel to Montgomery's books, I was pretty excited to read "Before Green Gables." Cranky old Mark Twain declared Anne Shirely to be "the dearest and most lovable child in fiction since the immortal Alice ." But for my two cents Anne has Alice beat across the board. Alice is arguably the least interesting person in Wonderland or through the Looking Glass, while nobody on Prince Edward Island holds a candle to our beloved little red-headed orphan. If you ever thought that Anne grows up a bit too quickly in that first novel, "Before Green Gables" allows you the grand pleasure of reacquainting yourself with the young girl that Matthew Cuthbert discovered waiting for him instead of a boy at the Bright River station Anne's history is laid out in chapter five of "Anne of Green Gables," so the framework of this new novel was essentially laid out by Montgomery herself a hundred years ago. Consequently, Wilson avoids having to come up with major developments in Anne's life, unlike those writers who have tried to come up with sequels to classic novels (e.g., those divergent paths taken by the sequels to "Gone with the Wind"). Wilson was ably assisted in her efforts by an army of knowledgeable Montgomery fans and scholars who were able to provide her with every detail of Anne's past to be gleaned from Montgomery's novels and short stories. Wilson focuses on fleshing out those key chapters in Anne's life. Montgomery's strength was always writing about children, and once Anne became a mother she faded into the background in the final novels. "Before Green Gables" keeps the spotlight on our beloved Anne-girl and is filled with familiar elements from Montgomery's writing, such as the people who thought they would never be married finding happiness, bratty kids getting their comeuppances, and Anne's peculiar ways thawing the hearts of sundry adults. The only parts of Wilson's novel that are a bit discordant are when Anne is confronted with certain facts of life. I still remember failing to pick up the subtle clues in " Anne's House of Dreams ." Anne was suddenly staying at home and then Marilla shows up. Next thing I know there is a baby. Wilson deals more explicitly with such things and while she goes farther than Montgomery ever would have dared, you have to admit that young Anne would be puzzled as to how a baby gets out of a mother's tummy and think that the bellybutton makes perfect sense as an available point of exit. More importantly, Wilson captures the voice of the young Anne Shirley, including her exquisitely elaborate vocabulary. The ending of the Wilson's story was a slight disappointment to me, but only because I had become firmly convinced that Anne's final line in this book would be her first line from Montgomery's novel. However, Wilson picks a different and totally reasonable point to end the prequel, so the dashed expectations were my own fault. Overall I found "Before Green Gables" to be charming and a worthwhile addition to the canon.

This book is a simply "magnificent," "imaginative," and "absolutely overwhelming" book (to use some of Anne's favorite words.) After reading this book, I truly feel like I have been able to get to know Anne so much better then before I read it. First, I must point out one error that I read in "Before Green Gables." At one point, Anne is musing about how Mrs. Hammond must be very good at delivering babies after having done it six times. At that time, Mrs. Hammond had birthed two regular babies and two sets of twins, going on her third set. Arguably, she had only done it four times, but I suppose each baby might be counted individually. Second, I must say that the author, Budge Wilson, missed just one important detail (from what I could tell.) She failed to mention that Mrs. Hammond told Anne that "God made Anne's hair red on purpose." which is why Marilla Cuthbert finds Anne so heathan-ish in the original "Anne of Green Gables." In case some of you are not as familiar with Anne as others, I will explain the story more properly. In "Anne of Green Gables", Anne tells Marilla that the reason she never prays or beleives in God is that Mrs. Hammond once told her that God made Anne's hair red on purpose so she never cared for him since. In "Before Green Gables" Anne simply loses interest in God after several of her prayers seem to go unheeded. Instead, she turns to the stars to pray at the orphan assylum. Thirdly, Budge Wilson merely sped by the fact that the Hammond children all had croup regularly, which, in "Anne of Green Gables" is how Anne can help with Minnie May when she had croup. I was somewhat appeased when Anne helped Noah Thompas through the croup but it was not as effective, in my opinion.

Interesting take on the story behind the story. A little predictable and maybe too much effort to make reference to the original story but good overall.

I actually purchased this book after I found out it about from watching the 'Before Green Gables' anime series. (At the end credits, it had listed Adapted from 'Before Green Gables' by Budge Wilson) So I set about looking into it because I just ADORED the anime series! It was so beautiful, sweet, touching and heartwarming! Really made you cry at times, laugh at times and just love Anne the whole while! A truly wonderful series! (If you can get a chance to watch it, I highly recommend it as it fits in PERFECTLY with the whole Anne aura and persona!) Anyway, I wanted to buy the book it was adapted from, as I own all the Anne books and Miniseries and the Road to Avonlea DVDS, which I loved when it aired on the Disney Channel back in the 90s and still love now! Gus & Felicity forever! ^.~) I found the book on Amazon at an amazing price and promptly bought it. It arrived very quickly and I read it as soon as it came. I was curious to see if it was very close to the incredible anime series that was based on it and if so, I was sure to love it. Well, it has many of the points the anime used, but for me, the anime series was much more touching and beautiful. This book was a nice read but I do agree with some of the other reviewers that some of the language was too modern. Not much or in many instances, but enough that it brought you out of 1900 and into modern day. I believe Anne was captured very well, but the other characters weren't as satisfyingly delved into. In the anime that is based on this book, you really come to love the other characters as well as Anne. You find yourself rooting for 'Uncle Bert' and 'Aunt Joanna,' (In Japan, all older men and women are 'uncle' or 'aunt' to a child.) and cry terribly when Bert is run over by a train! He really loved Anne and the Christmas episode was so beautiful!! A must see! In the book, the Christmas scene occurs, and it's very nice, but so much more so in the anime! You will be weeping when Bert gives Joanna her gift, as they dance together...one last time; and when Noah gets sick. In the book, it's rather just glossed over, but in the anime, it's very deep and you come to love the whole family! Even Horace and the boys come to love Anne, as well as Randolph and Mildred! I was shocked in the book that those two never become Anne's friends as they do in the series. Also, Egg Man and Miss Henderson---in the anime, they are so much more personable, lively and FULL OF CHARACTER. In the book, we hardly know them. The coming of Lochinvar is also more fitting to Anne's story than how it is in the book, where they just get a cat. ^^;; Additionally, the Hammonds' story is so sad in the anime and in the book....there's not much to cry over---poor Mr. Hammond had no depth or soul to his character in it. So much more so in the anime! Miss Haggerty was very well done in the book and almost just like how she was in the anime, and Mr. McDougall was very amusing and kind. ^^ In the orphanage---Edna and Tessa are delved into (Tessa maybe too much) and Miss Carlyle, though strict, you realize she really does care about the orphans. Miss Kale is nice the whole time (though maybe laid back and weak) and at the end, you meet up once more with the Thomas Family and the Johnsons, when Anne receives letters from Joanna and Eliza, hand delivered by Eggman & Miss Henderson. It really wraps up her life with them and you have a wonderful, triumphant feeling. Joanna has survived, Bert's picture and a little hat that she meant to give to Anne but wasn't in time to do so, as her most prized treasures. The boys have become more kind and understanding. Eliza has a little girl and we see the birth and childhood of the daughter through the letters. In Anne's eyes, she can be free of any worry for her loved ones. A really wonderful way to end the story, as she climbs on to the ferry with Mrs. Spencer and Lily, to take her to her beloved Prince Edward Island. The book, while very entertaining and gripping, was just not up to par with the anime series that was based on it. The series had so much more....heart. I still recommend reading it and did enjoy the first part with Walter and Bertha, since that part of the book was NOT in the anime series. (It started when Anne was about 4-5 years old) But the rest....I tried to imagine the characters I had seen, doing what they did in the book, but it was so difficult, as they were all so much more severe and cruel in the book and in the anime, though flawed or with faults, they were somehow 'real' with personality. You FELT for them. In the anime, there were bad times, sad times and cruelty. But overall, a triumph and moral and beauty. Anne was the one who brought light and joy to everyone she met at the end, while also receiving advice and happiness from others. So, overall, the book was a great read, but after being spoiled by its incredible anime series, I couldn't enjoy it as much. I recommend watching the 'Hello Anne! Before Green Gables' anime series and then reading the book. Or vice versa. Either way, you will really come to love these characters and of course, the wonderful and amazing little Anne even more (if that's possible)!

As soon as I heard about this book, I was immediately intrigued of the idea that a prequel had actually been written to the Anne of Green Gables series. And I was not let down. In reading this book, you'll discover what one writer's thoughts of who Anne Shirley was before she arrived at Green Gables. I think Budge Wilson did a Superb job in writing a sound & wholesome story. She included many details that linked to the Anne of Green Gables books. Alert readers will catch on, and have appreciation for what those fine points mean. Of course, the deeply descriptive style of the original L.M. Montgomery has been neglected, but for the sake of the book, it was well worth it. Anne's spunky, hopeful, and in-the-depths-of-despair character still feels the same. The story begins before Anne is even born, so you will get to know her parents first. You'll be taken through the entire journey Anne experiences... through all her difficult work, her playful dreams that leave a smile on your face, and through both the dazzling and the tough times of her young childhood. I would recommend this book to any other readers who have a substantial understanding of Anne's charming ways. I have to say that you cannot fully enjoy this story unless you know who the real Anne Shirley is. It takes Anne eleven long years to arrive at her destination... and what a fantastic eleven years that was.

When I first heard about the upcoming prequel to Anne of Green Gables I was nervous about it. It wasn't too far off the mark for me to worry that the new book would not compare to Anne of Green Gables - which is a very beloved novel of mine. However, I was mightily surprised when I read Before Green Gables as it was miraculously able to capture a lot (not all mind you) of Anne's essence that I was originally certain would be missing from this tale. For the die-hards this may still fall a little flat for them as it is missing a lot of LMM's descriptions and humor but it is still a lovely read. I think most fans of the series will enjoy having a new story to take them back to a simpler time with Anne - even if for Anne it was some of her hardest years. I really liked having some answers to where Anne came from, how she was brought up and what her parents were really like.

I was hesitant to start this book because I adore the Anne of Gables series and didn’t think for a second it could do them justice. However, I was most pleasantly surprised. I found the story to be both probable and enjoyable. Like the original Anne books, I felt completely submersed in the characters. Once I finished I was wanting to start the Anne books all over. I think the author did a fabulous job of creating Anne’s backstory.