In honor of Valentine’s Day eve, this week’s quote is in celebration of my favorite literary couple of all time: Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe. It’s from the third book in the extraordinarily lovely Anne series, Anne of the Island. Unlike a Jane Austen novel or a Shakespeare comedy, L.M. Montgomery didn’t end the story at their wedding. She gives them a lifetime of happiness together, including one of my favorite books in the series: Anne’s House of Dreams.
Who’s your favorite literary couple?
Just wanted to repay the visit to my blog. I LOVE the Anne books and I’ve always loved Anne & Gilbert. I don’t understand why so many heroines want the bad boy when it’s obvious that Gilbert is the best romantic hero of all.
Also, in a nod to the name of your blog, I wanted to mention that 42 is my favorite number. :-)
Exactly! Bad boys in literature completely pale by comparison to Gilbert – he’s simply the best of all time.
And I’m always pleased to meet a fellow fan of 42. :)
Anne and Gilbert are my fave literary couple too. My favourite book in the series, though, is Rainbow Valley. I was completely immersed in the kids’ lives and Anne’s and Gilbert’s steady love for each other. I yearned for that kind of love in my future partner. I went beyond reading Anne, however. Have you read the Emily series? What about The Blue Castle or Magic for Marigold or Chronicles (and Further Chronicles) of Avonlea? Sigh….she is a magical author.
I also went another step further. Lucy Maude Montgomery’s personal journals were found and published in 5 enormous volumes – and I have read 3/5 of them. They begin when she was a teenager and carry on through to shortly before her death. She moved from Prince Edward Island to Southern Ontario with her minister husband shortly after they were married and many of the towns she lived in or near were where my own Father spent time as a boy and where many of my Graham relatives still live. You have to order the books, and one is a B-I-G read, so I put some space between them for variety. They are a fascinating read!
I’m definitely looking forward to reading more LM Montgomery! I own a copy of The Blue Castle, but I think I might start the Emily of New Moon series next.
I also have the first volume of her journals, but I haven’t gotten very far in it yet. I keep it by my nightstand to dabble in, but like all books there I never seem to pick them up – I only focus on whatever I’m reading at the time. I need to pick it up and read it cover to cover soon. I have really enjoyed the parts I’ve read so far though – you can tell that Anne is a close kindred spirit to Maud – her journals are so full of the delight for life that Anne has.
Making a pilgrimage to Prince Edward Island is high on my list of future travel plans. My best friend from college and I really want to go together soon!