|
I just read irish princess's Anne article and really enjoyed it! Thanks, ingrid and adrienne for forwarding it to me. I feel that this article really articulates why Anne has appealed to so many generations.
One thing irish princess brought to my attention that really ticked me off was the fact that AoGG has not been included on the Top Books for Girls list because Anne sacrifices her education at the end of the story to stay home and help Marilla after Matthew dies. I understand that it is possible for readers to take that the wrong way and say, "Oh, she stayed home instead of going away to school, we don't want other girls to see that and do that," but only a person who was really, really unfamiliar with the Anne story would think that way. It is so apparent throughout the books how much Anne loves learning -- and I think the lesson of helping family is even more important than the one of furthering your schooling. And in Anne of the Island, Anne even gets her BA! It's just out of pure ignorance and misunderstanding that the book is not included on those lists. I think it's one of the most inspiring books a girl can read. When I have a daughter, I plan on making this her Bible.
The whole situation reminds me of the people who say that Emily of New Moon is an evil book because of all of the premonitions and witchcraft. The Emily books -- along with the Pat books, and Rainbow Valley and RoI -- have actually been banned some places because of the fact that Emily and Walter see visions and Pat and Jingle believe in witches! Those people are missing the point, I think. LMM considered herself a Christian writer and was married to a minister!
Here's the link to one such admonition of LMM and her books. It's interesting: http://www.balaams-ass.com/journal/homemake/lmmont.htm
One thing irish princess brought to my attention that really ticked me off was the fact that AoGG has not been included on the Top Books for Girls list because Anne sacrifices her education at the end of the story to stay home and help Marilla after Matthew dies. I understand that it is possible for readers to take that the wrong way and say, "Oh, she stayed home instead of going away to school, we don't want other girls to see that and do that," but only a person who was really, really unfamiliar with the Anne story would think that way. It is so apparent throughout the books how much Anne loves learning -- and I think the lesson of helping family is even more important than the one of furthering your schooling. And in Anne of the Island, Anne even gets her BA! It's just out of pure ignorance and misunderstanding that the book is not included on those lists. I think it's one of the most inspiring books a girl can read. When I have a daughter, I plan on making this her Bible.
The whole situation reminds me of the people who say that Emily of New Moon is an evil book because of all of the premonitions and witchcraft. The Emily books -- along with the Pat books, and Rainbow Valley and RoI -- have actually been banned some places because of the fact that Emily and Walter see visions and Pat and Jingle believe in witches! Those people are missing the point, I think. LMM considered herself a Christian writer and was married to a minister!
Here's the link to one such admonition of LMM and her books. It's interesting: http://www.balaams-ass.com/journal/homemake/lmmont.htm
Okay, I have to put my two cents in now that I've read what I could of the article before going into complete coniptions!
First of all, the authur of this article reminds me a great deal of some very narrow-minded people in my home town who believe that the only true Word in the King James Version Bible. That in itself is ridiculous because Jesus spoke Aramaic, the Old Testament was written mostly in Hebrew, the New Testament in Greek and Latin. I wrote a paper on this in my "History of the English Language" class. Unfortunatley , I no longer have a copy of it. If you notice, the author uses the KLV rather than NIV or NKJB. She is so very much like the people who would put articles in the town newspaper that basically comdemned those of us who attended out prom to Hell.
Secondly, "Anne of Green Gables" was first published in serial form for a Sunday School pape, if this person had ever bothered to read the brief bio of L.M. Montgomery in any of her books. It was considered religious. Not many people have grown up in a more conservative and religious family as myself. My mother loves that I love "Anne of Green Gables!" I believe in premonitions as do many, many Christian people.
Like someone said, Daniel had visions, Joseph interpreted dreams, the entire book of Revelation was a vision revealed to John when he was a prisoner on Patmos.
I often compare fanatics like the person who wrote that article to the Pharisees of the New Testament. They are so worried about the religion that they don't understand or know the faith. The are unable to see the Word of God and works of God even when it is right before their faces.
I like Montgomery's works because they are filled with good, God-fearing people. Anne is a far better role model than Brittney, Christina, Paris, or whomever else is the centerfold of the week. People like this author are the ones who give (and I don't like to push my beliefs especially after that cooment this weekend)Christians like myself a bad name. This person is the kind who believes that it is okay to blow up a clinic, and say that it is God's work, which it isn't.
I believe that I've blown off enough steam now.