"When I was young I used to imagine it was Geraldine, but I like Cordelia better now. But if you call me Anne, please call me Anne spelled with an E."

Of all the classic novels I have read so far, Anne of Green Gables continues to remain my favourite. It revolves around the ups and downs in the life of a skinny, red- haired orphan who is "mistakenly" adopted by the lonesome Cuthberts siblings, Mathew and Marilla of Avonlea. Fate deprives this orphan of so many bounties of life, nevertheless she refuses to feel miserable and faces the world with courage and pursues her dreams. Anne has a wonderful gift of imagination which she uses to compensate for the bounties of life she never had a chance to cherish. Her wild imagination, coupled with a superb ability of expression, readily catches the attention of the entire town of Avonlea and soon she becomes the much loved "Anne of Green Gables".

One witnesses the delightful nonstop chatter of the young blood gradually bringing back joy into the dull and boring life of the Cuthberts and thus begins Anne's brought up. She is taught to gain control over her sharp tongue and be respectful towards elders. The poor child who has never attended Sunday school before doesn't like it a bit on her first day. She finds the prayer awfully long and boring, so she makes up a "little" prayer herself. Her first day at school is quite an interesting one which results in a rivalry between her and her classmate, Gilbert Blithe which lasts till the very end of the novel.

After reading this book I realised that so many things that we take for granted can be a source of immense pleasure and excitement for an orphan. For example: being invited to a tea party for the first time, having a true friend, sleeping in a guest bedroom, attending a concert, hosting tea for a friend, a sleepover and having a new dress with puffed sleeves…something Anne longed for so badly.

Although her imagination is a blessing for her, but there are many hilarious instances when she gets carried away and ends up in trouble. Her chatter, replete with loud words, never fails to amuse the reader. Her life at Green Gables opens a new door of opportunities. Being a bright girl she soon becomes one of the top students in her class and is able to get into Queens where she wins a scholarship for higher studies making Marilla and Mathew even prouder. And then comes a bend in the road. Does she succeed in making her dream come true or has future something else in store for her… that's for you to find out.

Anne's optimistic attitude towards life as she puts it: "Every morning is new with no mistakes in it!" has always inspired me to treat every morning as a new beginning.

Anne of Green Gables was an immediate hit and brought worldwide fame to its author prompting him to write a number of sequels. A movie based on this story is also available.