Anne of Green Gables

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ive read the entire series.
Anne of Windy Poplars
Anne of Ingleside
I don't remember the rest

Anne of Avonlea
Anne of the Island
Anne’s House of Dreams

[Anonymous]

An interesting look at the transition era is Dear Enemy and Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster, which are both about an orphan asylum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An interesting look at the transition era is Dear Enemy and Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster, which are both about an orphan asylum.

Daddy Long Legs always creeped me out a little. The whole power imbalance thing. Even if you don't like Anne of Green Gables, you have to admit that Gilbert and Anne were equals (as much as they could have been back then, anyway.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An interesting look at the transition era is Dear Enemy and Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster, which are both about an orphan asylum.

Daddy Long Legs always creeped me out a little. The whole power imbalance thing. Even if you don't like Anne of Green Gables, you have to admit that Gilbert and Anne were equals (as much as they could have been back then, anyway.)

That’s very fair! When I first read them as a teen I loved Daddy Long Legs but rereading as an adult was a bit more squicky. Dear Enemy I liked better as adult in terms of the relationship — much more equal — but the way eugenics is all mixed up in the child abuse is bad and kids have rights too thinking was really jarring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's a threat in the relationship forum about adopting a child to inherit your assets.

Isn't this exactly what happened in Anne of Green Gables? What happened to all those orphanages?

That's not what happened in Anne of Green Gables at all!
Marilla wanted a boy to help out at Green Gables. But there was a mixup and Matthew was a softie and didn't say no.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in PEI. I think I know Anne of Green Gables by heart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An interesting look at the transition era is Dear Enemy and Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster, which are both about an orphan asylum.

Daddy Long Legs always creeped me out a little. The whole power imbalance thing. Even if you don't like Anne of Green Gables, you have to admit that Gilbert and Anne were equals (as much as they could have been back then, anyway.)

That’s very fair! When I first read them as a teen I loved Daddy Long Legs but rereading as an adult was a bit more squicky. Dear Enemy I liked better as adult in terms of the relationship — much more equal — but the way eugenics is all mixed up in the child abuse is bad and kids have rights too thinking was really jarring.

Thanks for the reading suggestions. I had never heard of either of these books. They look really interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An interesting look at the transition era is Dear Enemy and Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster, which are both about an orphan asylum.

Daddy Long Legs always creeped me out a little. The whole power imbalance thing. Even if you don't like Anne of Green Gables, you have to admit that Gilbert and Anne were equals (as much as they could have been back then, anyway.)

The series was written by a woman who sent her character off to college and spent some years as a school principal. Sounds pretty advanced and independent for a woman of the time! I remember Diana was told by her parents it wasn't necessary for her go to high school so she never left Avonlea.

The books seemed honest and true to their times. And it also wasn't judgmental, which is also the reality of the time too. Many if not most women were happy with the social orders of the day. They didn't go around moaning about being oppressed and victims. The concept of "girlbosses" kicking ass would have been weird and unpleasant. The changes they saw and supported were slow and gradual.

[Anonymous]

My mother's parents paid for her brother to go to college but not for her, because they thought it was a waste on a girl.
Her brother never used the degree or held a normal job, but my mother worked as a dentist for decades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP is correct; orphanages were mostly transitioned to foster care placements in hopes that it would be better for the children (less abuse but also individualized care and family structure). This happened around the 1930s I think.

Honestly kids coming out of orphanages seem to have led more normal lives than kids today coming out of foster care.

How could you possibly be in a position to judge this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ive read the entire series.
Anne of Windy Poplars
Anne of Ingleside
I don't remember the rest

Anne of Avonlea
Anne of the Island
Anne’s House of Dreams

Also the books about Gilbert and Anne’s family:

Rainbow Valley
Rilla of Ingleside

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anne with an E- because it’s more elegant! I always loved that.

My name is Anne and I've always said "Anne with an E" and people used to always get the reference but not as much anymore. I've never liked my name (mostly because it's monosyllabic, because people spell it wrong, because sometimes people call my Annie, which is a nickname only a few people very close to me use, and because it sounds like so many other words that I constantly hear my name), but Anne of Green Gables helped me not hate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I need to re-read the book. I recall enjoying it very much. My uncle gave this book to me for my birthday when I was a tween.

Also give Emily of New Moon a chance. Emily is a more flawed character, not so sugar sweet, and more career driven. It’s a trilogy.

Yes, I loved the Emily of New Moon books!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in PEI. I think I know Anne of Green Gables by heart.

I'm so jealous! PEI always seemed like such a magical place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mother's parents paid for her brother to go to college but not for her, because they thought it was a waste on a girl.
Her brother never used the degree or held a normal job, but my mother worked as a dentist for decades.

Wow, same here! My mom was born in 1946. Not sure if yours is the same age.

My mom paid her way through college, got a masters in social work, did that for a few years and found it too emotionally draining, went back and got a masters in accounting, started her own company, and had a wonderful career. Her brother did end up as a successful electrical engineer, so the money wasn't wasted on him, but I thought it was shocking that her parents didn't think she needed to be educated.