Overbooked -- February 6, 2023

        

 

February marks the inaugural meeting of the Bremen Public Library's newly formed book club, Overbooked. This book club was created for individuals who have always wanted to read those "classic" books everyone talks about, but just have never gotten around to reading them. With that mission in mind, the group's very first discussion was for the children's classic, Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery.

The first in a series, Anne of Green Gables centers around eleven year old orphan, Anne Shirley, who accidentally ends up in the care of brother and sister, Matthew and Mirella Cuthbert, on their farm set in the fictional town of Avonlea. The book is episodic in nature, with each chapter reading like its own short story, as it follows the precocious Anne through her everyday life, usually with an unfortunate accident or conflict that has either befallen her or one of several secondary characters.

Standout aspects of the book for members were the humorous writing and the comical situations  that Anne often seemed to find herself in, either by her own design or unfortunate luck. Members were surprised by how entertaining her exploits were, while also becoming invested in Anne's character growth as the book progressed her into her older teen years. Anne's penchant for overly descriptive and dramatic dialogue also gave members a chuckle.

Members also touched on the importance the author placed on showing the evolution of Anne's relationships with several characters throughout this short period of her life. As an orphan, Anne is often lamenting that "no one ever wants her" and this is best illustrated through her relationship with Mirella. As one member pointed out, contrary as their personalities may be, Anne and Mirella bring out the best in one another.

For most members, this was their first foray into the world of Avonlea and Green Gables. As a result, some were apprehensive going into the book, as they would normally not consider picking it up. A few, however, have read it with one member stating that it is her favorite book and series of all time. So, it was a great relief that the book was overwhelmingly well-received with members and we were glad to have finally read this beloved children's classic. The Overbooked discussion club gives this book a strong 4.3 out of 5 stars.