Return to Green Gables: Buy the Book / No. 6

Return to Green Gables: Buy the Book / No. 6

• Oct 6, 2015

As Anne Shirley has said, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." While every October holds its own special charm, this one is all the more precious because it holds something I've been looking forward to for ages: Return to Green Gables. Alexa from Alexa Loves Books, Rachel  from Hello, Chelly and I wanted to celebrate this kindred spirit, so we've got some fun things in store for you! Be sure to visit all of our blogs during the next week as we pay tribute to the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery.

For today, we're all giving an Anne-ish twist to features on our blogs! I'm highlighting the Anne series for Buy the Book, a monthly feature where I share a gift guide inspired by something I've read. It's a little play on "by the book" since all of the gifts come directly from quotes or scenes in the book featured and, you know, since it's all stuff you can buy. I'm including a snippet from the book for each item so you'll know why I picked it!

The Anne Series by L.M. Montgomery

Once, when nobody was looking, Gilbert took from his desk a little pink candy heart with a gold motto on it, "You are sweet," and slipped it under the curve of Anne's arm. Whereupon Anne arose, took the pink heart gingerly between the tips of her fingers, dropped it on the floor, ground it to powder beneath her heel, and resumed her position without deigning to bestow a glance at Gilbert. | ANNE OF GREEN GABLES

1. Brach's Conversation Hearts ($15.76) - There are so many items you could pick for Anne of Green Gables, but I decided to go with a "hidden gem" moment. It's not the most memorable scene from the series, but I've always loved Gilbert trying to win Anne's affection (or at least her forgiveness) with a candy heart.

"Marilla, isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?" 

"I'll warrant you'll make plenty in it," said Marilla. "I never saw your beat for making mistakes, Anne." 

"Yes, and well I know it," admitted Anne mournfully. "But have you ever noticed one encouraging thing about me, Marilla? I never make the same mistake twice." | ANNE OF GREEN GABLES

2. Tomorrow is a New Day Anne of Green Gables Print ($16) - Rather than highlight an item specifically mentioned in the first book, I wanted to feature a print of one of my favorite quotes. I love Anne's outlook on life because she's just so optimistic! She gets into a lot of scrapes, but she always learns from her mistakes.

Gilbert had finally made up his mind that he was going to be a doctor. "It's a splendid profession," he said enthusiastically. "A fellow has to fight something all through life . . . didn't somebody once define man as a fighting animal? . . . and I want to fight disease and pain and ignorance . . . which are all members one of another. I want to do my share of honest, real work in the world, Anne . . . add a little to the sum of human knowledge that all the good men have been accumulating since it began. The folks who lived before me have done so much for me that I want to show my gratitude by doing something for the folks who will live after me." | ANNE OF AVONLEA

3. Tuscany Leather Raffaello Doctor's Bag ($269.65) - It took some time to decide what I wanted to choose from Anne of Avonlea before I settled on a doctor's bag. I love when Anne and Gilbert talk about the future - and that they're both ambitious at school. Gilbert's profession is a big decision, so this seemed like the perfect pick.

"We shall be away for two years, perhaps three. We sail in June and we shall send you the key, and leave all in order for you to take possession when you choose. We shall pack away a few things we prize especially, but all the rest will be left." 

"Will you leave the china dogs?" asked Anne timidly. 

"Would you like me to?" 

"Oh, indeed, yes. They are delightful." | ANNE OF THE ISLAND

4. Pair of Staffordshire-Style Dogs ($35) - If you've read Anne of the Island, you know that the china dogs at Patty's Place are beloved members of the household. I loved they had names (Gog and Magog), and they are mentioned again in the series when Anne receives them as a very special wedding gift!

So I'm going to keep this hour sacred to writing to you. Though this won't be a love-letter. I have a scratchy pen and I can't write love-letters with a scratchy pen... or a sharp pen... or a stub pen. So you'll only get that kind of letter from me when I have exactly the right kind of pen. | ANNE OF WINDY POPLARS

5. Vintage Golden Brown Sheaffer Feather Touch Fountain Pen ($45) - My biggest complaint about Anne of Windy Poplars? Anne's letters to Gilbert are edited, and we don't get to read any of the romantic stuff! Either way, I loved the idea that she could only write that kind of letter if she had the right kind of pen.

Gilbert laughed and clasped tighter the girlish hand that wore his ring. Anne's engagement ring was a circlet of pearls. She had refused to wear a diamond...

"I've never really liked diamonds since I found out they weren't the lovely purple I had dreamed. They will always suggest my old disappointment."

"But pearls are for tears, the old legend says," Gilbert had objected. 

"I'm not afraid of that. And tears can be happy as well as sad. My very happiest moments have been when I had tears in my eyes—when Marilla told me I might stay at Green Gables—when Matthew gave me the first pretty dress I ever had—when I heard that you were going to recover from the fever. So give me pearls f or our troth ring, Gilbert, and I'll willingly accept the sorrow of life with its joy." | ANNE'S HOUSE OF DREAMS

6. Victorian Antique Pearl Engagement Ring ($312.21) - It's established in the very first book that Anne is quite disappointed by diamonds, and I love that the sentiment appears again in Anne's House of Dreams. But I particularly adore Anne's comments accepting the sorrow of life with its joy since both occur in their marriage.

"But one evening, when late winter was listening for the word of spring, she came over to the little house for a twilight chat; and when she went away she left a small, white box on the table. Anne found it after she was gone and opened it wonderingly. In it was a tiny white dress of exquisite workmanship—delicate embroidery, wonderful tucking, sheer loveliness. Every stitch in it was handwork; and the little frills of lace at neck and sleeves were of real Valenciennes. Lying on it was a card—"with Leslie's love." | ANNE'S HOUSE OF DREAMS

7. Infant's Two-Piece Christening Gown & Bonnet Set ($225) - I decided to include another item from Anne's House of Dreams because the birth of Anne and Gilbert's first child marks a huge turning point in the series and in their marriage. They go on to have six more children throughout the series, so it's always a full house!

The dawn of the fifteenth anniversary of your wedding day and all your husband could say to you was "Twins." He didn't even remember it was an anniversary... For the first time he did not mention it; for the first time he had no gift for her. Very well, he shouldn't get his gift either. She had had ready for weeks... a silver-handled pocket-knife with the date on one side and his initials on the other. | ANNE OF INGLESIDE

8. Antique Gorham Sterling Silver Pocket Knife ($125) - Since Anne of Ingleside is the last book where you really spend time with Anne and Gilbert together, I decided to pick an item representing their fifteenth anniversary. There is some miscommunication and misunderstanding that day, which seems pretty realistic to me.

"Why didn't you put on your shoes and stockings?" asked Una. 

"Hain't none to put on. All I had was wore out by the time winter was over," said Lida indifferently. 

For a moment Faith stated in horror. This was terrible. Here was a little girl, almost a neighbour, half frozen because she had no shoes or stockings in this cruel spring weather. Impulsive Faith thought of nothing but the dreadfulness of it. In a moment she was pulling off her own shoes and stockings. 

"Here, take these and put them right on," she said, forcing them into the hands of the astonished Lida. | RAINBOW VALLEY

9. Muk Luks Women's Black Cable Knit Over the Knee Socks ($17.99) - This might seem like a random scene from Rainbow Valley, but I thought it captured the spirit of the book. You see the kindness of the Meredith children, but it's also a moment that backfires and brings them under scrutiny. But I won't tell you why!

Rilla got the clothes–the cheap, sleazy garments the poor mother had made ready as best she could. But this did not solve the pressing problem of the baby's transportation. Rilla looked helplessly round. Oh, for mother–or Susan! Her eyes fell on an enormous blue soup tureen at the back of the dresser. 

 "May I have this to–to lay him in?" she asked. | RILLA OF INGLESIDE

10. Johnson Brothers Friendly Village Soup Tureen ($57) - I'm not sure if this soup tureen is large enough to hold a baby, but it was so pretty that I had to use it to represent this pick! When Rilla brings home a baby in Rilla of Ingleside, it's the catalyst for a big change in her character. I loved this part of the book!

Check out Rachel's Book Bags and Alexa's Bookish Style Files!

And come back tomorrow for three Anne-inspired discussion posts.