A is for Anne of Green Gables #AtoZChallenge #PandemicAlphabet

I could not for the life of me figure out what to write about for this year’s Blogging from A to Z Challenge, though I got some very good suggestions from friends (bucket list, books, pop culture, things you would want on a deserted island). I didn’t want to rehash topics I have done before, but I also couldn’t think of new topics either–or enough things to fill the topic suggestions. Everything just seemed so overwhelming, and I realized that all I wanted to do was NOT and just sit on the couch and watch TV or something and then *boom* my topic was so obvious: comfort watches and reads for these here pandemic times. This topic also seemed like a good fit because last year I did devote one of my blog posts to book recommendations, so this seems like the perfect time to do a blend of books and visual media as well as a deep dive into why I would recommend the things I do.

One of the other struggles I had with the suggested topics was that I couldn’t come up with anything for A. When I was doing some light journaling to figure out what I might write about for comfort watches/reads that would start with A–because SERIOUSLY WHAT ON EARTH STARTS WITH A–my brain literally went “Anne of Green Gables, duh,” and honestly, if it could pull the perfection that is Anne of Green Gables out of the ether, then the rest of the challenge is going to have to be easy breezy, right?

I like to think so.

“Akilah,” you may be thinking, “when you say Anne of Green Gables, are you talking about the fantastic book by L. M. Montgomery or the fantastic movie starring Megan Follows?”

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And the answer to that question is yes.

Yes, I am talking about BOTH the book and the movie. Of course, I am talking about both the book and the movie. How could I not be talking about both?

Here’s the thing: I saw the movie first and was COMPLETELY charmed by the acting and the storyline. In fact, if I’m remembering correctly, my parents and I came across the movie by accident and were completely sucked in–so much so that we watched the sequel because it was all just so perfect.

If you are unfamiliar with this literary and cinematic classic, it starts with a girl (Anne, naturally) who is booted from a(nother) foster home and then assigned to a family who was expecting a boy BUT because she is a delightful soul, they keep her anyway. She has red-orange hair and hates being called “Carrots,” and you best not ever leave the e off the end of her name if you know what’s good for you.

Do I love a heroine who talks nonstop? Yes. Do I love a heroine who is the smartest girl in school and knows it? Yes. Do I love a heroine who also self-sabotages a relationship with a boy who is completely smitten with her because, though she is a total marshmallow, she has built up a hard shell of an exterior that says she will not give him the satisfaction of knowing that she also likes him? Of course. Do I love a heroine who is super ambitious and will not give up until she gets what she wants? Also yes. Do I relate to Anne on a spiritual level? Maybe.

Also, all she wants in life (besides a family) is a BOSOM FRIEND and this is a friendship love story and these are the things that make my heart sing.

The writing is beautiful, the characters are amazing and all super memorable (you will NOT forget Marilla or Matthew or Rachel Lynde or Diana or Gilbert or…) and even though there is some sadness, it is only sad because YOU LOVE THESE CHARACTERS SO MUCH. But everything else about it will make your heart sing with joy, even the tough times that Anne faces because she is just the best.

And is there a greater love story than the one between Anne and Marilla Cuthbert? I THINK NOT.

Oh, and as a person who read the book second, I was so so so so so so pleased by just how faithful the adaptation is to the original story.

P.S. I own the movie on VHS. Yes, still.

Oh, and the audiobook does not disappoint.

So, basically, you can’t go wrong with Anne of Green Gables. Let it soothe your soul during these here COVID times.

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For this year’s A to Z Challenge, I have decided that I’m going to focus on comfort reads/watches as we enter our second (!) April in the pandemic. Tune in tomorrow to see what I choose for B!