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Friday, September 04, 2009

Carrie's Favorites, Part 1 of 2 Giveaways

Now, there are certain books that I just really, really love. If you are a regular follower of this site, then you know, more or less, what they are. (If you don't - just take a peek at the Challenges I host which are listed on the sidebar here...)

My all-time, completely favorite series in all the world is the The Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery. I don't remember when I first met Anne. I do remember when I first watched the movies (the first two). I feel in love with Anne. I fell in love with Prince Edward Island. If I try to think of the primary reason I adore this little freckle faced, red haired girl, I'm hard pressed to come up with an answer. I think I would have to say that my top two reasons for loving Anne are as follows:

I love Anne because of her young, sweet innocence. She gazes at the world wide-eyed, wondering what each day is going to bring to her and she is enthusiastic about the prospects. Even though she has sad moments, they aren't really sad. What I mean by that is that she takes such delight in being morosely sorrowful, that she encourages herself in the midst of being in 'the depths of despair' by seeing how positively dramatic she can be. There is gleeful delight in her forced humility and that makes even the most dark situation seem bright somehow. You always feel like the giggles are lurking just underneath the surface and so anything good truly is a possibility.

Her attitude reminds me of this verse:


For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
The second thing I love about the Anne books is the focus on the beauty of creation. You cannot step foot onto Prince Edward Island, physically or mentally, without being conscious of the beauty. You can feel the ocean breezes. You can hear the wind whipping through the trees. You can be almost positively sure that there really are fairies in the forest. The sunsets are brilliant. The snow makes everything serene. It is gorgeous.


The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Ps. 19:1
About 10 years ago I had the opportunity to visit Prince Edward Island. My friend laughed at me because I refused to get out of the car and set foot on the Island until she had run around the car with her camera to catch the moment. (Mildly reminiscent of Armstrong setting foot on the moon.) I cried when we arrived on the Island. (She thought that was funny also.) Why did I cry? Because the beauty was OVERWHELMING. I couldn't bear it. It was so much all at once.


Best moment: Waking up at the West Point Lighthouse Inn in time to see the sun rise and walking on the "Fairie Path" all alone. Quiet and peaceful, this little Texas girl, familiar with dried and scorched lands, breathed in GREEN and lingered in the cool morning, underneath the trees. I will never forget that. Ever.

Naturally, I was horrified to discover through blogging that not many people had read the Anne of Green Gables stories. Or, if they had read that, they hadn't read much else by Montgomery (and it's all good) so I started hosting the Lucy Maud Montgomery Reading Challenge. I will be hosting it again this coming January and so I figured I'd best get a few of you going with your Anne collection.

IF you do not own the Anne series and have never read it, I am giving away the first three books in the series:





Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Avonlea

Anne of the Island


Would you like to win? I would like to give them to you! =) Just leave a comment below (U.S. Residents only, please) and I will use random.org to select a winner. If you've never read Anne, you really must give her a chance. They are perfect fall and winter fare and then I'd invite you back in January to share what you learned of Anne and her Island.

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED!!!

The winner is Jen from
Happy Little Homemaker (who hasn't ever read these books before). (However, she has read Emily so I'm mildly appeased and am happy to ship Jen the first three Anne books so that she can correct the situation as quickly as possible!)
Congrats, Jen!

35 comments:

Becky said...

I love, love, love this series. No need to enter me in the contest--I've managed to get almost all of Montgomery's books, though some are in tatters at this point--I just wanted to say how much I loved and adored Anne both as a child and an adult :)

Anonymous said...

I have read the first book, but not the second two. Also, I do not own any, and would love to share these books with my daughters who have not read any yet...does that count for the giveaway?? :-)
Thanks!
Jen

artandjen at juno dot com

ibeeeg said...

Wow Carrie! This is generous giveaway.
Ducking my head, I must admit, I have not read one Anne book let along any books by Montgomery. However, I would love to do so.

Please enter me.

ibeeeg(at)gmail(dot)com

~Brittania~ said...

LMM was a giftd author and had the ability to capture an audience with her unique style. About 10 or 12 years ago, I began reading that series. What a treasure! I love the Anne books and now I am currently reading the first one to my younger sisters at their request. My sisters are enjoying the story so far.

Melissa said...

I've only read the first book. The others are on my list (much like Little House for you).

So, please enter me! You know how to find me.

Christielulu said...

Great favorites to giveaway - I would love to win these books.

Stephanie Kay said...

How is it possible that people haven't met Anne?! I just realized when we planned our trip to Maine this summer that I'm only a day's drive from P.E.I. How could I live here a dozen years and not have known that or made the trip?!

tmu said...

Jer. 29:11 is one of my life verses! I would love these because i also first fell in love with Anne while watching these. I had never even heard of the Anne of Green Gables stories till after i saw these.

Heather VanTimmeren said...

I read the whole series on a car trip when I was 16, and I have enjoyed revisiting the 1st book with my daughter this year. (I hope her dramatic tendencies can be tempered by hope someday!) Unfortunately, my paperback copies were sold in a garage sale when I was in a strangely uncharacteristic phase of purging, so I would love to own these books again.

Linda said...

Anne of Green Gables is my most favorite also. Anne has such a knack with words, and many of them! Plus, she LOVES books! Please enter me. Thank you.
desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Jen Evans said...

Hi Carrie, I read The Blue Castle last month and loved it! I've got the Anne books on my future reading list, they sound like good ones to read with the girls someday. :)

Angela C. said...

I have never read the Ann of Green Gables series but I would love to. I have watched the movies and loved them. When I was a child my mom taped them off of the local PBS station during one of the many telethons. I watched them many times, but for some reason I never read the books. I would love to win. Thanks for the giveaway.

accoupons at gmail dot com

Marie Cloutier said...

I've only read the first book, and thought it was wonderful. What a great giveaway!

Anonymous said...

I never got around to reading this series, but I'd love to -- it sounds wonderful :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
blog[at]theluckyladybug[dot]org

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

I would love to read this! I have the first book in the series, but found I was so allergic to dust I couldn't read the book. I have to buy new books to read. I've started entereing contests to feed my addiction! LOL

dancealert at aol dot com

Unknown said...

These would make a nice Christmas gift

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

OH! I have a 9 year old niece that I need a Christmas present for!! This would be perfect!!

Shawntele said...

I have never read these books, hard to believe I know!! But I have been meaning to get them for my daughters to read, I have heard that they are lovely stories. :) Thanks for the entry, my email is savedbygrace7215(at)yahoo(dot)com

Lisa said...

These are some of the greatest books ever, and I pretty much drop everything to watch the movie versions whenever PBS airs them once or twice a year. My husband doesn't get it.
Please enter me.
iluvchrisnlevi@aol.com

Beth said...

Would love to win these. Thanks for the chance.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Sue said...

This is really hard for me to admit, but I love the movies and have never read the books. I'd love a chance!! Thanks for sharing them.

s.mickelson at gmail dot com

Barbara H. said...

A belated happy birthday to you!

I agree about wanting to save The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe for posterity.

I could probably not say much of anything to C. S. Lewis, either.

Did Montgomery reject Christianity? It's been so long since I read the books -- I remember she had scriptural allusions but I can't remember if I caught an indication of where she was spiritually herself. I'm sure I did but don't remember.

jpetroroy said...

I'd love to enter! Great contest
jpetroroy@gmail.com

Just Mom said...

I have only read the first and would love the others!

Anonymous said...

Thanks!

suew930@yahoo.com

Jill said...

My oldest Daughter would luv these books!

Thanks for an Awesome Giveaway :)

Kathy said...

I am excited to read all these books whether or not I win them from you. Thanks for the enlightenment!

Winning Readings said...

No need to enter me; just a note that I've posted about this at Winning Readings:

http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/09/anne-of-green-gables-books.html

Annette W. said...

I only own Anne of Green Gables (from my tween days!), but have read or listened to all the Anne books. Now I want to read som others of Lucy's too!

Edna said...

I have not read Anne of Green Gables, my daughter has, but please enter me into the contest, I would love to win them.

mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

Mana Laura said...

Hello! I'd love to win a set of these books! Thanks for hosting this giveaway! Lauraleighanderson(at)hotmail(dot)com
Blessings!

Jen @ Happy Little Homemaker said...

count me in. I don't know that I've ever read these -- I loved the Emily books though!

Carolyn said...

Hello, I would like to offer another give-away to go with your 3 Anne books -- a copy of The Anne of Green Gables Treasury Special Commemorative Edition. Either to the Anne books winner or a different winner. My website is www.inglesideimpressions.com if your readers want to know more and email is inglesideimpressions@gmail.com. Sincerely, Carolyn Strom Collins (Author)

Tami @ This Mom's Delight said...

I'd love to win these to read with my kiddos.

Ladytink_534 said...

I would love to win! I've read several Anne books though certainly not all of them and it's been at least a decade since I've done so.

Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com

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