Book Cover

"Dear old world," she murmured, "you are very lovely and I am glad to be alive in you."

# Review

Growing up, I had multiple opportunities to read this book but I kept dismissing it as I felt I didn't fit the demographic (young girls). I recently came across a copy of this book in my basement and I read it in one sitting. Wow, have I been missing out!

The story follows the (mis)adventures of Anne Shirley a skinny girl with fiery red hair who arrives in a small town in Prince Edward Island. While I am clearly not an orphaned girl growing up in the Maritimes during the early 20th century, Anne is still surprisingly relatable.

Anne is frank and honest, with an endless curiosity and an overactive imagination. Anne's experiences feel nostalgic because they are synonymous with childhood. Like a zen master, Anne lives in the moment and lives each moment with exploration and enjoyment. Perhaps when we grow older, we become arrogant and believe that we understand the world; the world thus becomes mundane and we miss the excitement of just being. Reading this book served as a reminder to me to be more like Anne, to appreciate the moment and be more zen.

This book is also beautifully written with vivid descriptions of the beautiful scenescapes of the Maritimes.

# Conclusion

Better late than never; this book is an uplifting read.

# Overall rating: 8.9

What does the rating mean?