Let's Read Classics

Tuesdays Quote

2009-04-28T07:24:00.000-07:00

Books are delightful society. If you go into a room and find it full of books - even without taking them from the shelves they seem to speak to you, to bid you welcome. ~William Ewart Gladstone

Tuesdays Quote

2009-04-21T07:19:00.000-07:00

Books support us in our solitude and keep us from being a burden to ourselves. ~Jeremy Collier

Tuesdays Quote

2009-04-14T06:47:00.000-07:00

Many people, other than the authors, contribute to the making of a book, from the first person who had the bright idea of alphabetic writing through the inventor of movable type to the lumberjacks who felled the trees that were pulped for its printing. It is not customary to acknowledge the trees themselves, though their commitment is total.

~Forsyth and Rada, Machine Learning

Tuesdays Quote

2009-04-07T06:49:00.000-07:00

Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

~P.J. O'Rourke

The Bend in the Road (ch 38)

2009-03-31T19:55:00.000-07:00

"When I left Queen's my future seemed to stretch out before me like straight road. I thought I could see along it for many a milestone. Now there is a bend in it. I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does. It has a fascination of its own, that bend, Marilla."

Don't you wish everyone had this kind of outlook on bends in the road?

Lastly, "nothing could rob her of her birthright of fancy or her ideal world of dreams. And there was always the bend in the road!"

The Reaper Whose Name Is Death (ch 37)

2009-03-31T19:39:00.000-07:00

Matthew is gone.

"Anne looked at the still face and there beheld the seal of the Great Presence."

"She felt something like shame and remorse when she discovered that the sunrises behind the firs and the pale pink buds opening in the garden gave her the old inrush of gladness when she saw them - that Diana's visits were pleasant to her and that Diana's merry words and ways moved her to laughter and love and friendship had lost none of its power to please her fancy and thrill her heart, that life still called her with many insistent voices."

"Today Diana said something funny and I found myself laughing. I thought when it happened I could never laugh again. And it somehow seems as if I oughtn't to."

The Glory and the Dream (ch 36)

2009-03-31T19:18:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Anne! You've won the Avery. How wonderful. Now it's back to Avonlea and the apple blossoms.

But apple blossoms don't last forever. "Anne always remembered the silvery, peaceful beauty and fragrant calm of that night. It was the last night before sorrow touched her life; and no life is ever quite the same again when once that cold, sanctifying touch has been laid upon it."

The Winter and Queen's (ch 35)

2009-03-31T18:49:00.000-07:00

Her thoughts are often turning to Gilbert. HMMM........

I didn't think I was ever going to find a picture of blooming chestnut trees. This is a painting done by Pierre Auguste Renoir’s (1841 – 1919).

Purple violets. I have several of these in my flower bed. I love them too, Anne.

The Hotel Concert (ch 33)

2009-03-31T17:56:00.000-07:00

My how Anne has grown up. Her room must seem pulchritudinous to her. I couldn't wait to use that word. Just don't ask me to pronounce it.

I had forgotten that Anne was older than Diana. Will Diana ever make it through school with out Anne?

Does Lucy Maud Montgomery know how to end a chapter or what? "Well, I don't want to be any one but myself, even if I go uncomforted by diamonds all my life," declared Anne. "I'm quite content to be Anne of Green Gables, with my string of pearl beads. I know Matthew gave me as much love with them as ever went with Madam the Pin Lady's jewels."

elocutionist - a person who studies and practices oral delivery, including the control of both voice and gesture (I knew what this word meant, but i wanted to include it anyway)

unpropitious - Unfavorable

The Pass List is Out (ch 32)

2009-03-31T15:43:00.000-07:00

Will she pass or fail?

"if you can't be cheerful, be as cheerful as you can."

and

"the sun will go on rising and setting even if I fail geometry"

And pass she did. With flying colors at the top of the list.

fortnight - the space of fourteen nights and days; two weeks

A Queen's Girl (ch 34)

2009-03-31T15:27:00.000-07:00

Ahh, how lonely to be in a narrow room with no green or bookcase. And to think that Marilla was looking down the lane for Matthew. And then that Josie Pye. Maybe loneliness is better than Josie's companionship.

I can see that my post are getting shorter. I wonder if that is because Anne is all grown up. Or am I just tired of writing and want to get this chapter over with?

garret - an attic, usually a small, wretched one

Tuesdays Quote

2009-03-31T01:30:00.000-07:00

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.

~Groucho Marx

Where the Brook and River Meet (ch 31)

2009-03-30T08:25:00.000-07:00

I'm wondering how much our clothing affects our attitude. I know of course that I feel better when I'm dressed nice. But how does it affect our children? Does it make a difference?

Well, Marilla, crying over Anne not being a little girl anymore. I don't even want to think about that thought.

unregenerate - not renewed in heart and mind or reborn in spirit; unrepentant

flounce - a strip of material gathered or pleated and attached at one edge, with the other edge left loose or hanging: used for trimming, as on the edge of a skirt or sleeve or on a curtain, slipcover, etc.

The Queen's Class is Organized (ch. 30)

2009-03-29T14:41:00.000-07:00

Finally!!!! She has forgiven Gilbert and didn't even realize it. Oh Anne, I'm so happy that you don't carry that bitterness around anymore.

I can't blame her for wanting to put those books under lock and key. I would want to do the same thing. Thanks goodness I don't have to teach geometry yet.

Quotes I want to remember....always

2009-03-28T14:29:00.000-07:00

I've decided to make a list of quotes that I want to remember. And since my memory isn't so good lately I thought I had better write them down. They will be listed under "quotes I want to remember."

Oh it was a never to be forgotten day, Marilla.

An Epoch in Anne's Life (ch. 29)

2009-03-28T13:56:00.000-07:00

I do love this chapter but so far my favorite is this. "It's always wrong to do anything you can't tell the ministers wife." It's as good as an extra conscience to have a minister's wife for your friend."

It brought tears to my eyes to read the words, "But the best of it all was coming home."

I can't imagine what Anne's life would have been like if she had not gone to live with Marilla and Matthew. What love has grown up between Marilla, Matthew and Anne. It makes my heart swell and my eyes water.....again.

epoch - a point of time distinguished by a particular event or state of affairs; a memorable date

prima donna - a first or principal female singer of an opera company

prosaic - commonplace or dull; matter-of-fact or unimaginative

An Unfortunate Lily Maid (ch 28)

2009-03-22T19:25:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting for this chapter. I can't wait to read what I saw on the movie. I had forgotten exactly what happened. But I could remember the pond and a boat and something dreadful.

Gilbert, Gilbert, Gilbert. He came to her rescue and still she hates him.

Again, Matthew saves the day and tells Anne to keep at least some of her romance.

parsed - to analyze (a sentence) in terms of grammatical constituents, identifying the parts of speech, syntactic relations, etc

presentiment - a feeling or impression that something is about to happen, esp. something evil; foreboding

Vanity and Vexation of Spirit (ch 27)

2009-03-22T18:56:00.000-07:00

Gasp! Anne has green hair. Oh the poor girl. She tries so hard and then it just blows up in her face. At least she is trying to be a more forgiving. And in the end Marilla says that her talking isn't making her headache worse.

coruscation - a sudden gleam or flash of light

snood - the pendulous skin over the beak of a turkey or a headband for the hair(I'm quite sure Anne wasn't talking about the turkey snood)

The Story Club is Formed. (ch 26)

2009-03-22T18:24:00.000-07:00

So, what is your besetting sin? First I have to know what besetting means. Ah, judging from dictionary.com it must be a church word. See below. Hmmm, it is going to take some thinking to come up with my besetting sin.

Oh my gosh, my daughter just turned 12. According to Anne, when she turns 13 she will know so much more. I'm not sure I'll be able to stand that. LOL!

Oh my, doesn't Anne have an imagination. Can you believe that Bertram jumped in to save Geraldine but forgetting he couldn't swim they both drowned. I actually laughed out loud when I read that. She is quite entertaining.

besetting - constantly assailing or obsessing, as with temptation: a besetting sin.

Matthew Insists on Puffed Sleeves (ch 25)

2009-03-22T14:09:00.000-07:00

Finally, a nice new dress for Anne. With puffed sleeves, however, the dress in the book is brown. Oh my, what poor Matthew had to go through to get it for her.

And I do believe Marilla is coming around.

cogitation - concerted thought or reflection

deprecatory - apologetic; making apology

contemptuously - scornfully

ingratiatingly - charming; agreeable; pleasing (i like this word)

Miss Stacy and Her Pupils Get Up a Concert (ch 24)

2009-03-22T13:46:00.001-07:00

My daughters piano teacher calls her students pupils. Interesting.....

Isn't it remarkable how Anne's life has changed since she came to Avonlea. She has many friends and family. And, maybe most importantly, someone to "spoil"her.

A student is a person attending an educational institution or someone who has devoted much attention to a particular problem.

A pupil is one under the close supervision of a teacher, either because of youth or of specialization in some branch of study.

gadding - to move restlessly or aimlessly from one place to another (my kids gad about all the time, don't yours?)

Anne Comes to Griefin an Affair of Honor (ch 23)

2009-03-22T13:29:00.000-07:00

Daring was the fashionable amusement among the Avonlea small fry just then. It has begun among the boys, but soon spread to the girls, and all the silly things that were done in Avonlea that summer because the doers thereof were "dared" to do them would fill a book by themselves. I love that line.

"Anne tossed her red braids." Oh no, here comes trouble.

"No, Diana, I am not killed, but I think I am rendered unconscious." THAT is too funny.

I would have fainted too if I would have had to explain how I broken my ankle to Marilla.

"Oh, I'm an afflicted mortal."

I too, know some some people that surely couldn't have ever been children.

And to end the chapter. " There's one thing plain to be seen, Anne," said Marilla, "and that is that your fall off the Barry roof hasn't injured your tongue at all."

oft - short of often

Anne is invited out to tea (ch. 21)

2009-03-22T13:16:00.000-07:00

Anne is always so caught up in doing what is right and proper. Oh how I wish my children would think like that. At least to some degree. Then Marilla gives her the best advice of all. "You should just think of Mrs. Allan and what would be nicest and most agreeable for her,"

The Family Herald - according to wikipedia - The Family Herald: A Domestic Magazine of Useful Information & Amusement (1843-1940) was a weekly story paper established by James Elishama Smith in 1843

manse - the house and land occupied by a minister or parson

pithy - full of vigor, substance, or meaning (hmmmm)

I'm way behind.

2009-03-22T12:03:00.001-07:00

Yes I know. I am way behind. But I'm going to try and get finished by the end of March. The reading part isn't what's keeping me from finishing. Well, maybe that is part of it, because I have read about 5 books since I started Anne of Green Gables. It takes a while to read and look up words and type and look up words and post and look up words. You get the drift. Anyway, I'm back on track now. Thanks for sticking with me.

Tuesdays Quote

2009-03-09T20:05:00.000-07:00

My test of a good novel is dreading to begin the last chapter. ~Thomas Helm

A New Departure in Flavorings (ch 21)

2009-03-01T17:29:00.000-08:00

LOL!!! This is too funny. "Many a thing Mrs. Lynde had lent, sometimes never expecting to see it again, came home that night in charge of borrowers thereof." Ha! They needed a good reason to gossip.

Funny how much emphasis there was on housecleaning and feminine duties. "....sound doctrine in the man and good housekeeping in the woman make an ideal combination for a minister's family." And poor Anne used anondyne liniment for vanilla. That must have been awful.

presentiment - a feeling or impression that something is about to happen, esp. something evil; foreboding

sojourn - a temporary stay (didn't know that)

dyspeptic - suffering from dyspepsia (indigestion) (is that where pepto bismol gets its name?)

anodyne liniment - find a recipe here

A Good Imagination Gone Wrong (ch.20)

2009-02-27T17:56:00.001-08:00

Judging from the title it doesn't sound good for Anne does it? How about a lovely picture of Mayflowers? Aren't they sweet?

Well, Anne didn't get into any mischief after all. She just had the dickens scared out of her by her imagination. Ha ha ha ha.

capricious - changeable

A Concert, a Catastrophe, and a Confession (ch.19)

2009-02-27T16:02:00.000-08:00

You can read "Curfew Must Not Ring Tonight" and "Bingen on the Rhine" here and here respectively.

My goodness! They are both long poems. I can't imagine memorizing either of them.

I had to laugh when I read this. "I make so many mistakes. But then just think of all the mistakes I don't make, although I might."

"Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world."

pung sleigh - a sleigh with a box like appearance
sated with dissipation - sated (satisfied fully) dissipate (to spend or use wastefully) I still have no clue????
furtive - shifty
arduous - requiring great exertion

Anne to the Rescue (ch. 18, part 2)

2009-02-27T15:31:00.000-08:00

I think this chapter deserves two post. I do believe that this is my favorite chapter so far.

I have to admit that tears came to my eyes when Marilla told Anne she and Diana could be friends again. I do have to agree that dishwashing is terribly unromantic. I'm not sure that being grown up is really so lovely either. Isn't that just like God. To prepare Anne with the lifesaving techniques by having her survive 3 sets of twins.

"Anne came dancing home in the purple winter twilight across the snowy places. Afar in the southwest was the great shimmering, pearl-like sparkle of an evening star in a sky that was pale golden and ethereal rose over gleaming white space and dark glens of spruce. The tinkles of sleigh bells among the snowy hills came like elfin chimes through the frosty air, but their music was not sweeter than the song in Anne's heart and on her lips."

I really want to end with this quote.

"..I feel like praying tonight and I'm going to think out a apecial brand new prayer in honor of the occasion."

I've go to make a list of all the vocab words so I can use them on a regular basis.

pulchritudinous - having qualities that delight the eye ( I know, this word didn't come from the book but I was looking up something else and ran across it. I thought it sounded like something Anne would say) You can listen to the pronunciation here.

Anne to the Rescue (ch. 18)

2009-02-27T14:39:00.000-08:00

"All things great are wound up with all things little." Isn't that the truth?

and

"It's all very well to say resist temptation, but it's ever so much easier to resist it if you can't get the key."

and

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are white frost, aren't you?"

I was curious about blue plums. You can see pictures and read about them here.

Canada's Premier - In Canada, a premier is the head of government of a province or territory. There are currently ten provincial premiers and three territorial premiers in Canada.

Women's right to vote in Canada - Women in what is now known as Canada could vote before Canadian Confederation if they owned property, but after Confederation in 1867 they were legally barred from voting. In 1917, women were allowed to vote if they met an exception for military personnel stationed abroad. "Bluebirds", nurses caring for wounded soldiers in Europe in World War I, were the first women to vote legally in a Canadian federal election. In 1918, women had the same voting rights as men in federal elections.

Read about ipecac syrup here.

A New Interest in Life (ch.17)

2009-02-27T13:57:00.000-08:00

I just got the greatest chuckle out of this quote. "I don't think there is much fear of your dying of grief as long as you can talk, Anne," said Marilla unsympathetically."

What a sweet little poem.

To Anne

When twilight drops her curtain down
And pins it with a star
Remember that you have a friend
Though she may wander far

trice - a very short time (well, duh!)
muse - to think or meditate in silence
effusion - pouring forth (mmmmmm)

Diana Is Invited to Tea with Tragic Results (ch. 16)

2009-02-19T18:55:00.000-08:00

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." Oh, Anne, I do agree.

Well I wonder why Marilla's Raspberry Cordial is so much better than Ms. Lynde's? I guess we will find out soon enough. LOL.

A few quotes,

"Oh, Marilla, I'm just overcome with woe." Love it!

"Marilla, I do not think she is a well-bred woman. There is nothing more to do except to pray and I haven't much hope that that'll do much good because, Marilla, I do not believe that God Himself can do very much with such an obstinate person as Mrs. Barry."

"Then she bent down and kissed the flushed cheek on the pillow."

indignant - expressing strong displeasure at something considered unjust

A Tempest in the School Teapot (ch 15)

2009-02-19T12:06:00.000-08:00

A few quotes .........

"maples are such sociable trees, said Anne; they are always rustling and whispering to you,"
This is the second time she has mentioned the trees whispering.

"excruciatingly" Not a good idea to hurt Anne's feelings excruciatingly.

"It is possible the matter might have blown over without more excruciation if nothing else had happened. But when things begin to happen they are apt to keep on." How true.

"You harrow up my very soul." What?

"tremenjusly" There it is again.

All I can say is. Poor Gilbert Blythe.

ebullition - the act or process of boiling up

ostentatiously - intended to attract notice

harrow - to disturb keenly or painfully

Anne's Confession (ch 14)

2009-02-19T11:38:00.000-08:00

"I didn't think about its being wrong to go in and try on the brooch; but I see now that it was and I'll never do it again. That's one good thing aboutme. I never do the same naughty thing twice."

Oh how I wish I could say the same thing. That I never do the same naughty thing twice.

"I believe you are telling me a falsehood, Anne" Why is it we say lie and she says falsehood? Doesn't falsehood sound much less condemning?

Sooooooo, Marilla finds the brooch. And Anne gets to go to the picnic and return home "completely tired out and in a state of beatification impossible to describe."

And the ice crea, was sublime.

The Delights of Anticipation (ch 13)

2009-02-19T11:20:00.000-08:00

I can't imagine having never had ice cream or a childs kiss.

"...Anne cast herself into Marilla's arms and raptuously kissed her sallw cheek. It was the first time in her whole life that childish lips had volunatily touched Marilla's face. Again that sudden sensation of startling sweetness thrilled her. She was secretly vastly pleased at Anne's impulsive caress, which was probably the reason why she said brusquely:"

brusquely - abrupt in manner
sallow - a sickly yellowish color (really??)

A Solemn Vow and Promise (ch,12)

2009-02-19T10:54:00.000-08:00

Bouncing Bets (from the Barry Garden)

According to http://home.howstuffworks.com/ Soapwort, or bouncing bet, is a European immigrant that has now naturalized over much of North America. Soapwort was brought over by the colonists to be used as a soap substitute. When bruised or boiled in water, the leaves produce a lather with detergent properties that even removes grease. The genus name refers to the Latin word sapo, meaning "soap."

Anne finally gets to meet Diana.

"Oh, Marilla, I'm frightened-now that it has come I'm actually frightened. What if she sholdn't like me! It would be the most tragical disappointment of my life."

And then Marilla..

"Now, don't get into a fluster. And I do wish you wouldn't use such long words. It sounds so funny in a little girl."

Don't we all wish out children could use long words and understand their meaning?

Vocab for this chapter:

consumption - progressive wasting of the body

tremenjusly - not a real word (I thought as much)

dryad - a divinity presiding over forest and trees

deprecatory - apologetic

Anne's Impressions of Sunday-School (ch.11)

2009-02-11T11:36:00.000-08:00

Oh, the poor girl.

"But I'd rather look ridiculous when everybody else does than plain and sensible all by my self," persisted Anne mournfully.
I have to agree with her. Don't you?

And then...

Marilla felt helplessly that all this should be sternly reproved, but she was hampered by the undeniable fact that some of the things Anne had said, especially about the minister's sermons and Mr. Bell's prayers, were what she herself had really thought deep down in her heart for years, but had never given expression to. It almost seemed to her that those secret, unuttered, critical thoughts had suddenly taken visible and accusing shape and form in the person of this outspoken morsel of neglected humanity.

All that to say that she agreed with Anne but just hadn't said so out loud.

dudgeon - a feeling of offense or resentment; anger

Anne's Apology (ch. 10)

2009-02-11T11:13:00.000-08:00

I have to say what fun it is to read this book. Lucy Maud Montgomery isreally tickling my funny bone. Half the time I don't even know what the words mean but they make me chuckle. Like this line.

"It's a good thing Rachel Lynde got a calling down; she's a meddlesome old gossip," was Matthew's consolatory rejoinder. What is the world does consolatory rejoinder mean? I have now clue but is made me giggle. Didn't you giggle when you read that?

And later on the same page the word obdurate. Where does she find these words? Twit. I love that word too!

"That wouldn't be so hard if people wouldn't twit me about my looks, said Anne with a sigh.

Alright enough of that, here are the definitions for this chapter.

refractory-stubbornly disobedient (LOL, had no clue)
obdurate-unmoved by persuasion, pity, or tender feelings; stubborn; unyielding (hmmmm)
gable-the portion of the front or side of a building enclosed by the end of a pitched roof (knew houses had gables, but thought it was more part of the roof)
consolatory- giving comfort (obvious)
rejoinder- an answer to a reply; response (oh, duh)

I love these words!!!

Mrs. Rachel Lynde is Properly Horrified (ch. 9)

2009-02-11T10:45:00.000-08:00

Poor Anne. To know you are skinny and ugly is one thing. But to hear it said to your face is quite another. Mrs. Lynde was mean and uncaring. Of course, she didn't think so. Orphan's must not be human and must have no feelings. I think Marilla handled things quite nicely.

I love this sentence.

Leaving this Parthian shaft to rankle in Anne's stormy bosom, Marilla descended to the kitchen, grievously troubled in mind and vexed in soul.

I have several words for this chapter. Again, I know what a few of them mean but couldn't give you a definition.

Parthian- Parthian arrow, an arrow discharged at an enemy when retreating from him, as was the custom of the ancient Parthians; hence, a parting shot. (had no idea)
vexed-tossed about(okay?)
grippe- the flu(thought is was something like that)
consternation-a sudden, alarming amazement or dread that results in utter confusion; dismay
twitted-to taunt, tease, ridicule (didn't know that, wish I could find this word again)

Anne's Bringing-up Is Begun (ch. 8)

2009-02-11T10:35:00.000-08:00

Anne went and attended to the dishcloth. Then she returned to Marilla and fastened imploring eyes on the latter's face. I love the use of "latter's face" here. I don't think I've ever heard that before. It seems so much more interesting that saying "Marilla's face."

I do wish that Marilla had let her call her Aunt Marilla. However, I do agree with Marilla on one point. "When the Lord puts us in certain circumstances He doesn't mean for us ti imagine them away."

I loved the paragraph about the picture of Jesus and the children. What did you think?

fortnight - fourteen nights and days (didn't know that)

Tuesdays Quote

2009-02-08T14:32:00.002-08:00

Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new after all. ~Abraham Lincoln

Tuesdays Quote

2009-02-08T14:32:00.001-08:00

It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it. ~Oscar Wilde

Tuesdays Quote

2009-02-08T14:30:00.001-08:00

A book is like a garden carried in the pocket. ~Chinese Proverb

Anne says her prayers (Ch. 7)

2009-02-07T19:55:00.000-08:00

"You'd find it easier to be bad than good if you had red hair, said Anne reproachfully. People who haven't red hair don't know what trouble is. Mrs. Thomas told me God made my hair red on purpose, and I've never cared about Him since." I love it!!!! LOL

heathen - an unconverted individual of a people that do not acknowledge the God of the Bible; a person who is neither a Jew, Christian, nor Muslim; pagan

I thought I knew what this word meant, but I just wanted to be sure.

reproach - to find fault with

Marilla makes up her mind (Ch. 6)

2009-02-07T19:34:00.000-08:00

Well, she sort of makes up her mind. She didn't say they would keep Anne.

Nancy is the person responsible for Anne being at Green Gables. Did Nancy have an ulterior motive? Did she want a playmate? Or was she just being flighty? I'm so glad that Marilla decided not to send Anne with Mrs. Peter Bluett. Of course, Marilla didn't want the memory of a helpless little creature who found herself in yet another inescapable trap to haunt her until her dying day.

fractious - readily angered; peevish; irritable; quarrelsome:
benevolent - characterized by or expressing goodwill or kindly feelings
blight - the rapid and extensive discoloration, wilting, and death of plant tissues
superfluous - being more than is sufficient or required; excessive
gimlet - a small tool for boring holes (so Mrs. Bluett could bore holes right through a person)

Anne's History (Ch. 5)

2009-02-06T08:25:00.000-08:00

So, just how nice and kind were Anne's caretakers? On page 41 (lol..in my book anyway) Marilla felt pity for the starved, unloved life Anne had had - a life of drudgery and poverty and neglect; for Marilla was shrewd enough to read between the lines of Anne's history and divine the truth. No wonder she had been so delighted at the prospect of a real home. I concur.

I did come across a word from chapter 4 but forgot about it. So I'll include it here.

abstracted - lost in thought
inculcate - teach persistently and earnestly
asylum - an institution for the maintenance and care of the mentally ill, orphans, or other persons requiring specialized assistance.

I wanted to look up the official definition for asylum because I had always thought it was only for the mentally ill.

Brook vs. Creek vs. Stream vs. River

2009-02-04T19:27:00.000-08:00

As I was reading today I wondered what the difference is between a brook and a creek. Then I got to wondering about the stream and the river.

Dictionary.com defines them as...

Brook - a small, natural stream of fresh water

Creek - (in the U.S., Canada, and Australia.) a stream smaller than a river

Stream - a body of water flowing in a channel or watercourse, as a river, rivulet, or brook

River - a natural stream of water of fairly large size flowing in a definite course or channel or series of diverging and converging channels

So a brook is smaller than a creek which is smaller than a steam which is smaller than a river. I'm just trying to decide if my grandpa's farm has a creek or a stream or a brook that runs along one side. It must be a creek considering it doesn't look nearly as lovely as the description sounds of the brook that streams by Green Gables.

Morning at Green Gables (Ch 4)

2009-02-04T15:32:00.000-08:00

Okay, I'm caught up. How about you, keeping up? I am really enjoying this book. I have to share a quote from my dd. "I'm already tired of listening to Anne talk! She just goes on and on!" LOL

Finally the first chapter without any obscure words. I know obscure probably isn't the word I'm looking for, but I have a limited vocabulary. (I did go back and look up obscure and it means exactly what I wanted it to. Not easily understood)

Another favorite quote:

I had my quote almost typed out and decided to see if you can guess what it is. I will tell you that it is early in the chapter. What beautiful words they are.

Dictionary.com defines beautiful as having qualities that delight the eye. So beautiful isn't the word I'm looking for either. Honeyed is more how they sound to me. They almost made my mouth water and it didn't have anything to do with food. Can you find it?

Marilla Cuthbert is Surprised (Ch 3)

2009-02-04T11:13:00.000-08:00

I can't imagine how broken hearted Anne must have felt. She was so set on having a "home" and felt as if someone finally "wanted" her.

My favorite line:

"Well this is a pretty kettle of fish, she said wrathfully."

I love that and intend to start using it!

I did have a few more words to define this time:

deprecatingly - to express earnest disapproval of: belittle
raiment - clothing; apparel; attire
perturbation - mental disquiet, disturbance, or agitation
predilection - a tendency to think favorably of something in particular

I'll end this post with this quote:

And upstairs in the east gable, a lonely, heart-hungry, friendless child cried herself to sleep.

Matthew Cuthbert is Surprised (Ch 2)

2009-02-04T10:05:00.000-08:00

Poor Matthew couldn't get a word in! Thankfully he didn't mind.

I'd like to share my favorite line.

"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive - it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we knew all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?"

My what an imagination she has! I love the name "White Way of Delight" and "Lake of Shining Waters." Don't they sound beautiful?

I kept wondering where they actually were. Finally their location was divulged (I had to consult the dictionary to spell this one.)

Here is what I found when I searched for pictures of Prince Edward Island.

Avonlea is a unique village in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island where tourists can venture to and relate to the world of Anne of Green Gables.

Avonlea is a fictional village that is set around the famous novel, Anne of Green Gables that was written by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Her childhood revolved around the farming communities of Prince Edward Island and Avonlea was inspired by her life while growing up here.

While visiting Prince Edward Island, be sure to take the family to the village of Anne of Green Gables, a day of excitement taking you back a hundred years to 1908 to the life that Lucy Maud Montgomery led.

I had to define :

sundry - everybody
wincey - a plain or twilled fabric of wool and cotton used especially for warm shirts or skirts and pajamas
witch - Archaic. to affect as if by witchcraft; bewitch; charm

Now, I know what most people think of when we read the word witch. I was just curious to see the definition as it pertained here. I think Anne had bewitched him. Or, in other words, she had charmed him. What are your thoughts?

Mrs. Rachel Lynde is Surprised (Ch 1)

2009-02-04T07:41:00.000-08:00

Well, I finally have chapter one under my belt. I know that I am behind but I'll get caught up. My dd has decided to read with us also. She has a friend in Lubbock, Tx. that is going to read also. What a beautiful picture is painted of Green Gables.

"the big, rambling, orchard-embowered house....as far away as he possibly could from his fellow men without actually retreating into the woods....built at the furthest edge of his cleared land ...barely visible from the main road"

Sounds great to me.

I did have to look up the words embowered and betokened.

embowered - cover or surround with foliage
betokened - to give evidence of

So what is up with naming the houses? I love the names but where and why did that tradition start?

Tuesdays Quote

2009-01-30T09:35:00.000-08:00

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers. ~Charles W. Eliot

You've got to be kidding me!

2009-01-30T08:53:00.000-08:00

The first paragraph is the exact reason that classics scare me. It is one long sentence. It consist of 148 words,6 commas, and 2 semi colons. It is no wonder I have no idea what she just said. I guess I'll have to read that again. To do this properly I should be taking my time and looking up words I don't understand. The first one is decorum.

Let's start with Anne of Green Gables

2009-01-28T15:07:00.001-08:00

We are going to start with Anne of Green Gables written by Lucy Maud Montgomery. You can listen online at http://librivox.org/. Although I don't know if listening is the same as actually reading. What do you think?

I think we should start on February 1. What do you think about a chapter a day? According to my table of contents there are 38 chapters. That would get us done in a little over a month. How does that sound?

Let's meet back here for comments and discussion.

How could I forget?

2009-01-28T14:11:00.000-08:00

My apologies. I completely forgot the most important classic of all. My Bible. My dh and I decided to read through the Bible this year. Then we found out just how much reading that would be and decided to do the 3 year plan. So we are reading a chapter a day. This will be the first time we have done any bible studying together. Its been great.

Tuesdays Quote

2009-01-27T10:32:00.000-08:00

A good book on your shelf is a friend that turns its back on you and remains a friend. ~Author Unknown

Classics I have in my bookcase

2009-01-26T09:52:00.000-08:00

I thought I would list the classics I have at home. I would like to keep our first classic limited to one of these.

Black Beauty Anna Sewell
Anne of Greene Gables Lucy Maud Montgomery
Eight Cousins Louisa May Alcott
Little Women Louisa May Alcott
Little Men Louisa May Alcott
Charlotte's Web EB White
Heidi Johanna Spyri
Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen

I would like to start February 1. So which one should we start with?

What is a classic?

2009-01-20T19:38:00.000-08:00

Black Beauty
The Secret Garden
Oliver Twist
Pride and Prejudice
Treasure Island
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Trumpet and the Swan
Anne of Green Gables
Little Women

When traditional literary scholars refer to classical literature, they usually mean that this literature is widely acknowledged as having outstanding or enduring qualities.

I think of thick books with a lot of words I won't understand or be able to pronounce. I tried to read Treasure Island and sure enough I couldn't pronounce half of the words. Maybe I should try a different one. Do you have a favorite?