Every month, we release a discussion guide to accompany our latest travel book club pick (our May pick is Anne Of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery).
This month, I wanted to pick a book that feels like late spring and early summer, a book that describes Prince Edward Island in bloom, that transports you to orchards and meadows and woods with wild plums and wild cherry trees.
L.M. Montgomery does just that in Anne Of Green Gables. She describes all the colors and textures of Avonlea, the fleeting moments, and tiny details that Anne Shirley delights in. Every time I read this classic (it’s one of my favorites), I want to book a flight to Charlottetown and road trip through the Canadian countryside.
Here’s our travel book club reading guide for Anne Of Green Gables.
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L.M. Montgomery
Anne Of Green Gables
When a chatty, young orphan arrives in Prince Edward Island (“the prettiest place in the world,” in her own words), she finds a new home with the Cuthbert family and turns ordinary moments into adventures. Anne Shirley is the type of character who takes life by its wings, soars (with hope and ambition), and sees beauty in all things (cherry trees, Mayflowers, bright red drinks). She has the spirit of a daydreamer, is imaginative and optimistic (and more than a bit dramatic).
Anne Of Green Gables Discussion Questions
- Have you ever visited the countryside? If yes, what did you like most (and least) about your visit?
- In what ways does Anne romanticize Prince Edward Island? What are the benefits (and drawbacks) of her romanticization?
- How do you feel about Anne’s outlook on life? What was your favorite life lesson (or takeaway) from Anne Of Green Gables?
- Which of Anne’s traits stood out to you the most? Why?
- How did you feel about the idea of yapping before reading Anne Of Green Gables? Did your mindset on yapping shift in any way after reading Anne Of Green Gables? Why do you think Anne is so talkative?
- Would you want to be friends with Anne? How does Anne view friendship? How do you view friendship?
- Anne forgives many characters throughout the book. Why do you think Anne holds onto her dislike of Gilbert Blythe?
- To what extent does Anne Shirley mature over the course of Anne Of Green Gables?
- Have you watched any of the Anne Of Green Gables adaptations? Which one(s), and who would you recommend the adaptation to?
Read Next: 22 Anne Of Green Gables Quotes To Inspire You
About Eden Travel Book Club
Eden Travel Book Club is a monthly book club for travel and book lovers. Here, you’ll find unique travel book recommendations, reading lists that spotlight memoirs and essays and stories in translation, and of course our monthly travel book club pick. At the start of each month, we release a discussion guide (straight to your inbox) to accompany our latest book club selection. Feel free to use these discussion questions as journal prompts for your next cozy solo cafe journal date or as an outline for a book club night with friends. Welcome to our bookish travel community.
My favorite moments in the book:
1) Diana and the cordial 🙂
2) When Anne apologizes to Rachel Lynde. The apology itself is hilarious and I often reread it.
3) Matthew trying to buy a puffed sleeve dress
4) Gilbert “rescuing” Anne (this is one of the turning points in the book)
5) When Anne says “My life is a perfect graveyard of buried hopes. That’s a sentence I read in a book once” because that is about as Anne Shirley as you can get
These are all lovely moments from the book! I loved how each of the anecdotes revealed so much about the characters’ hearts and personalities. 🙂
Have you ever loved a character so much? Oh, what a joy it was to read about Anne and her friends and newfound family. Oh, what a joy it was to visit Prince Edward Island. I realized I was too late to this classic. Oh, how I wish I read it earlier because it is such a lovely story. Thank you for the recommendation!
Thank you for reading the book and commenting! There are few characters I love as much as Anne. Her outlook on life is one of the most joyous, uplifting things about this book. 🙂
This is one of the most special books I’ve ever read. Each of Anne’s adventures is a mini story and the cute moments are what I enjoyed the most. Anne is a talkative character and I think the tipping point is when she starts imagining more quietly. I wouldn’t say she learns to hold her tongue but by holding back what she says becomes more powerful and resonant in the latter chapters of the book. With Mrs. Lynde, Anne’s apology, which is one of my favorite parts because it was accurate yet dramatic, unintentionally mocking yet sincere, was instigated by the Cuthberts. With Gilbert, they didn’t continously encourage Anne to apologize so it was easier for her to hold onto her anger.
Oh, that’s an interesting tipping point! When I was reading the book, I saw it as the boat scene. But I like the idea you presented of Anne imagining more quietly. It’s a subtler transformation, something slow and not too in-your-face. At taht point, Anne definitely acts older, more “grown-up”. She is still outspoken, outgoing, and has a youthful imagination, but her actions come across as more mature. 🙂