Is there such a thing as an easy to read classic novel?

Sometimes we shy away from classic literature because we are afraid it’s going to be boring with a capital B or be painful to get through due to archaic language and vocabulary. Some classic books take more effort to get through than others, but some are true page turners that you will not only be glad you read but you will truly enjoy the reading experience.

Now, I can’t say for sure what you will like or what you won’t like. We’re all different, and what worked for me may not work for you. And that’s okay.

On this list, I am only including books I have personal experience with. All of these books met two criteria that I think make them easy-to-read classics:

• The language itself isn’t difficult to navigate. I think this is the part that intimidates us the most when it comes to classic novels. We’re afraid that the language and syntax is going to be so antiquated that we won’t be able to make sense of it. This can definitely be true when you go back as far as Shakespeare or Chaucer, but most books that were written within the last couple of hundred years typically aren’t too bad.
• Compelling plots and characters. I think what makes an old book compelling is the same thing that makes any contemporary novel readable — a powerful plot that drives the story forward and compelling characters that you care deeply about, so you want to know what happens to them.

For me, these were all easy classics to read because, at some point in the reading process, they became unputdownable either because of the plot or because I cared so much about the characters I wasn’t going to stop reading until the book was over.

I think the books on this list are not only some of the easiest classic books to read, but they are also some of the best classic books as well as some of my personal faves.

I really hope you find a book on this great book-reading list that sounds like something you would want to read.

This post is all about easy to read classics you won’t want to put down.

Easy to Read Classics

The Odyssey by Homer (8th or 7th Century B.C.)

I know what you’re thinking . . . . How can a book that is almost 3,000 years old and written in verse be easy to read? Here’s the thing: The Odyssey is like reading a fast-paced adventure novel. When the book opens, Odysseus is being held in captivity by the enchantress Calypso who wants to marry him, and he has been away from home for close to 20 years. But Odysseus has an advocate in the goddess Athena who pleads with Zeus to let Odysseus return home. The Odyssey tells the story of how he makes it back to his home in Ithaca, all while his wife Penelope is back home with their son Telemachus, trying to put off the many suitors who are very impatiently waiting for her hand. You will want to keep turning the pages to find out if he’s able to make it home in time and reclaim his home.

Here is my tip for reading this book: pick a good translation. Here are some translations I recommend:

• Emily Wilson’s Translation (This is a newer translation, which means that it’s going to use more modern language.)
• Richmond Lattimore’s Translation (This is a classic translation that is still popular today.)
• Samuel Butler’s Translation (If you’re intimidated by reading a book in verse, this one is written in prose. This was the first translation I read, and I found it very approachable.)

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where to buy:

Amazon audible

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)

This classic story is one of the few books that I have actually re-read. And I enjoyed it the second time as much as the first, if not more. Pride and Prejudice is one of those books that has enough interesting characters and plot twists that there were things I noticed the second time that I didn’t notice the first. I am also a Jane Austen completist meaning that I’ve read all of her books. In the world of super-fans, I guess you could say I am definitely a Jane Austen super fan. I’m also a huge fan of the BBC TV mini-series production.

If you love audiobooks, I highly recommend this version, which is read by actress Rosamund Pike. It is excellent!

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where to buy:

Amazon Audible

Emma by Jane Austen (1816)

Emma Woodhouse is “handsome, clever, and rich” with a “comfortable home and happy disposition.” And she’s a bit overconfident in her matchmaking skills. The main problem is that her matchmaking endeavors don’t really take into account the desires of her subjects, which leads to a series of misunderstandings and complications. She’s not only oblivious to the thoughts and feelings of others, but also her own feelings she has for the one and only Mr. Knightly. This is such a good book!

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where to buy:

Amazon Audible

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (1838)

I loved this book and the main character, Oliver Twist. Similar to Jane Eyre (below), he’s an orphan that you will want to root for. Oliver was raised under harsh conditions in a workhouse. When he dares to ask for more food, he is sent away to be an assistant to an undertaker. After horrible treatment from the undertaker, he joins a gang of pickpockets. He lives this life of crime until he is caught by a wealthy man, who takes pity on him and shows him kindness. There’s more that happens after that, but I don’t want to give the whole story away. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I felt like it flew by! I think Dickens’ gift is his ability to portray the social and economic inequalities of the time.

Something that has stuck with me from this book is the abject poverty in which the characters live. It makes what we call poverty in the United States seem like a much different thing by comparison.

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where to buy:

Amazon Audible

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (1843)

Ebenezer Scrooge not only hates Christmas, but he thinks it’s a complete waste of a day. He has no love for anything except making money. That all changes when he is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, who is now living in the afterlife in heavy chains because of how poorly he treated people. As Scrooge is shown his past, present, and future, he has an unlikely and very moving transformation. I never read the book until last year, and it quickly became one of my all-time favorite books.

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where to buy:

Amazon Audible

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (1847)

I fell in love with Jane from the first chapter. She is one of those characters that you will be rooting for from beginning to end. Jane was orphaned as a child and raised under hard conditions. She faces cruelty and isolation, shaping her into a strong-willed and principled young woman. When she is sent to a boarding school, she faces further hardship, but she also forms some friendships and gets an education. After school, she gets a job as a governess in the home of Mr. Rochester. Despite their differences in age and class, they form a friendship and fall in love. Unfortunately, on her wedding day she finds out that he is still married to a woman who suffers from severe mental illness that he keeps hidden in the attic. Even though she breaks off the wedding and leaves Rochester’s home, this relationship continues to drive the story.

I recently listened to this interview with Madeleine Kearns about Jane Eyre, in which she makes the case that Jane Eyre is a spiritual autobiography, which I thought was an interesting perspective.

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where to buy:

Amazon Audible

Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe (1852)

Uncle Tom’s Cabin is credited with pulling back the curtain on the harsh realities of slavery in America. Abraham Lincoln famously said when he met Stowe: “So this is the little lady who made this big war.” It follows the life of the main character, Uncle Tom, as he gets bought and sold to different owners and is forced to work and live under a variety of conditions. I think this is one of those books that everyone should read. It had me engaged from start to finish and was a total page-turner for me.

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where to buy:

Amazon Audible

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1868)

Little Women makes you feel like you are one of the March sisters as they navigate their journey from childhood to womanhood against the backdrop of the Civil War. This is a story about family, love, loss, friendship, and personal integrity. Which of the four sisters will you identify with the most — sensible Meg, tomboyish Jo, shy and gentle Beth, or Amy and her naive vanity? Expect to have a serious book hangover when this one is over.

where to buy:

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Amazon Audible

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (1884)

I personally find Tom Sawyer annoying, but I love Huckleberry Finn. Finn is a much more sympathetic character because he has a lot more stacked against him. This American classic begins when Finn fakes his own death to escape his alcoholic and abusive father. Finn travels down the Mississippi River on a raft, seeking freedom, safety, and adventure. Along his journey, Huck meets Jim, a runaway slave seeking his own freedom. The book follows the two as they navigate their way down the river. This might be one of my all-time favorite books.

(This edition contains the original illustrations.)

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where to buy:

Amazon Audible

The Call of the Wild by Jack London (1903)

The Call of the Wild by Jack London follows the life of a dog named Buck, who is a domesticated dog in Northern California. He is stolen from his owner and sold to join a team of dogs that serve those involved in the Klondike Gold Rush in the Yukon Territory in Canada, just East of the Alaska border. The new world he is brought into is completely new to him, and he has to quickly learn how to navigate this world in order to survive. Buck undergoes a complete transformation from a domesticated dog to a dog that not only serves humans but also learns how to survive in the wild. I thought it served as an interesting commentary on human nature as he has to learn how to work with different types of people, some good and some very bad. At just over 100 pages, this book is a short classic book.

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where to buy:

Amazon Audible

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery (1908)

Anne of Green Gables begins when Matthew Cuthbert goes to pick up an orphan boy, whom he and his sister plan to adopt, to assist with farm chores. But unexpectedly, he finds himself bringing home a lively 12-year-old girl instead. Despite initial misgivings, particularly from his sister Marilla, the girl, Anne, gradually endears herself to them and becomes an integral part of their lives at Green Gables, their farm in Avonlea, Prince Edward Island. The story explores themes of unexpected blessings, the richness of found families, and the beauty in embracing imperfection. Anne’s character, with her blend of flaws and charm, embodies the concept of finding “kindred spirits” in unlikely places, making the book a poignant celebration of life’s serendipitous moments and the enduring value of love and acceptance. This is not only one of the best books, it is also an easy read.

If you are interested in the Anne of Green Gables books, check out my complete guide here.

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where to buy:

Amazon Audible

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925)

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” is a classic set in the summer of 1922, capturing the essence of the era through the eyes of Nick Carraway, who becomes fascinated by his enigmatic neighbor Jay Gatsby’s grand parties and mysterious past. The story centers around Gatsby’s undying love for Daisy Buchanan, whom he hopes to win back despite her being married. The novel explores themes of wealth, love, and desire, prompting readers to ponder the true value of these pursuits. At just 180 pages, it’s a compelling, thought-provoking read.

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where to buy:

Amazon Audible

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (1936)

Even if you have seen the movie, don’t let that stop you from reading this book. This book is a tome at more than 1,000 pages, but it is also a page-turner. It is vast in its breadth as it tells the story of the Civil War from just before the war began through to the Reconstruction. After reading this book, you will have a good familiarity with the Civil War, but you won’t feel like you just read a history book. The story is told by following Scarlett O’Hara, who is a young Southern Belle from Georgia when the story begins. The book is interspersed with brief chapters that tell you exactly what is going on with the war as the story unfolds.

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where to buy:

Amazon Audible

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (1938)

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier is a gothic thriller about a young woman who marries a wealthy widower, Maxim de Winter, and moves to his large estate, Manderley, only to find herself living in the shadow of his first wife, Rebecca, whose presence lingers throughout the house and estate. The new Mrs. de Winter’s struggle with her identity and the mysterious circumstances surrounding Rebecca’s death lead to a dramatic revelation and the ultimate destruction of Manderley. This book is more than 400 pages, but it kept my attention from start to finish.

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where to buy:

Amazon Audible

Other Easy to Read Great Books to Consider:

I have not personally read all of the books on the list below, but these are books that other reader friends of mine have told me are easy to read.

• Animal Farm by George Orwell
• Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
• Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
• The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
• The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
• The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
• Any book by Agatha Christie
• Any of books from the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Children’s Classics

I personally think that Children’s classics are a great way to dip your toe into classic literature without getting overwhelmed. I do not believe that good children’s books are only for children, and if you have never read any of these, then I recommend starting here. These books are like comfort food in a book:

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl (seriously, anything by Roald Dahl is fantastic)
• Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White (Stuart Little is fantastic, too!)
• Heidi by Johanna Spyri
• Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie
• The Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder (and the rest of the Little House books — you seriously can’t go wrong with these books)
• The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
• The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Are there any other must-read classics you think would belong on this list? What easy classic book on this list are you excited to read? I would love to hear about it in the comments below.

The post 30 Easy to Read Classics You Won’t Want to Put Down appeared first on Passion of Audiobooks.

When the holiday season comes around, there’s something so special about pulling out one (or more) of those old familiar Classic Christmas books.

While some of these books were written with young children in mind, I think you will find that so many of these stories really have stood the test of time. Not only that, but they are also stories that can be equally enjoyed by adults as much as they are by children.

C. S. Lewis famously said that “a children’s story which is enjoyed only by children is a bad children’s story.”

As I was researching the best classic Christmas books to include in this list, I ran across so many adults saying things like:

“I know this book was written for kids, but this is my favorite Christmas book in the world.”

“I come back to this book every year.”

“The first time I read this book, I almost cried.”

You get the idea. Don’t shy away from any of these Christmas books because you think they are for kids.

PLUS, when you’re in the middle of a busy Christmas season, there’s something nice about being able to sit down with a cup of your favorite tea and read a book in a sitting, whether by yourself or with your family.

One of the things that was so interesting for me while I was putting together this list was to realize how many classic Christmas books have gone on to become some of the best Christmas movies and/or Christmas songs.

We readers know that the book is always better, so maybe this is a year to start diving into some of the books that inspired some of those movies.

This post is all about the best Classic Christmas books. Let’s dive in!

Favorite Classic Christmas Books

There are so many good books in this list of Classic Christmas books. To give some perspective on when these books were written, each book includes the year it was published, and they are arranged chronologically from oldest to newest.

Nutcracker and Mouse King by ETA Hoffmann (1816)

It’s been a long tradition in my house to go see the Nutcracker ballet during the Christmas season. But long before there was a ballet, there was a book or, rather a short story, that was the inspiration for arguably the most famous ballet of all time. On the night before Christmas, Fritz and Marie eagerly anticipate the arrival of their Godfather, Drosselmeier, who always brings them extraordinary gifts. This year, Marie receives a unique Nutcracker doll that leads her into an ancient conflict and eventually into a magical realm filled with candy-coated castles, chocolate monarchs, and true love.

This volume also contains The Tale of the Nutcracker by Alexandre Dumas, which was inspired by Hoffman’s tale.

Amazon Audible

The Night Before Christmas by Nikolai Gogol (1831)

I’ll be honest: at first glance, this one sounded a bit odd to me, but I was intrigued to learn that this story is read aloud to children in Russia and Ukraine on Christmas Eve, and it’s inspired several films and operas through the years. The local blacksmith and the devil fall in love with the same girl, and they start competing with each other to win her heart. It all comes to a head on Christmas Eve. Fans describe this book as “scary and hilarious and jolly” and “darkly comical.” Perfect for those who love a gothic tale.

Amazon Audible

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (1843)

This might be the most familiar Christmas story of them all. Last year, I realized I had never read this book, even though I had seen many TV adaptations. It was sooo good! I love it when I read a classic and finish it thinking to myself, “Now, I know why this book is a classic.” Because this story works so well on the screen, I decided to listen to it. I went with this version on Audible by actor Tim Curry. It is very well done. This year, I plan to read it. (That’s how much I loved it!)

Ebenezer Scrooge is a miserable soul who despises Christmas and the jolly spirit that comes with it. On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his business partner, Jacob Marley, who died seven years ago. He warns Scrooge to change his ways, or he will be headed for a horrible fate.

Amazon Audible

The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen (1845)

Hungry, cold, and penniless, the Little Match Girl is afraid to go home because she hasn’t sold any of her matches, and she has no money to bring home. If she goes home, she knows her father will beat her because she failed to sell anything on this cold and blustery New Year’s Eve. Slowly, she starts lighting one match at a time. Each time she lights a match, she witnesses a vision. Then, she witnesses the most glorious vision of all. There is so much going on in this short little book.

Amazon Audible

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1869)

While Little Women is more than just a Christmas novel, the setting in which it opens in a winter during the American Civil War. One of the most humbling episodes in the book is when the March sisters decide to give up the Christmas breakfast that they’ve been looking forward to and bring it to a local family who is nearly starving. That is just one of the tales that will make you fall in love with this family and warm your heart this Christmas. 

Amazon Audible

Christmas at Thompson Hall by Anthony Trollope (1882)

Do you need some humor this Christmas season? The Browns are traveling to Thompson Hall for Christmas in Victorian England — which is the picture of an English Christmas with decorations of holly and plum pudding and mince pie waiting to be eaten. To get there, they had to go from the south of France to London. But they don’t make it in time due to a mishap at the hotel in Paris. This humorous book is described as a farcical and comical read that would be enjoyed by fans of P.G. Wodehouse. This volume also contains some other short Christmas stories by Trollope. They are all original stories — none of these are excerpts from his longer works.

Amazon Audible

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum (1902)

You probably know of L. Frank Baum as the author of The Wonderful World of Oz. In this volume, we get to know Santa Claus as a child who lived in an enchanted forest, and we learn how he became the generous gift-giver that we know and love. Baum’s Santa is reportedly inspired by Clement Moore’s poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas.”

Amazon Audible

The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry (1906)

This beautiful story of love and sacrifice will bring you to tears. A young couple who doesn’t have much money wants to buy meaningful gifts for each other, which they figure out how to do by sacrificing something meaningful of their own. If you want to know what real sacrificial love looks like, I think this is such a beautiful picture of that. 

“But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. “

Amazon Audible

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams (1922)

The Velveteen Rabbit is a heartwarming tale about a simple, stuffed rabbit who experiences the joy of a child’s love on Christmas morning, only to be forgotten and relegated to a toy closet afterward. Despite feeling left out and mocked by newer mechanical toys, the rabbit finds solace and wisdom in an old Skin Horse who teaches him that being real isn’t about fancy mechanisms or glossy appearances but about the unconditional love of a child. Ultimately, this story is about the significance of love, honesty, and friendship.

Amazon Audible

Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie (1938)

Are you in the mood for a mystery this Christmas? Enjoy this Christmas classic by Agatha Christie. At a family reunion on Christmas Eve, there’s a scream and a crash of furniture, and the tyrant of the family is found dead. Detective Hercule Poirot, who happens to be staying in the area, gets pulled into the investigation. He’s surprised when he doesn’t find typical mourners but a group of family members who are all looking at each other with suspicion because no one in the family really likes the dead father. 

Amazon Audible

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Robert May (1939)

Before the movie and the song, there was a book. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was the creation of Robert May, who was working as a catalog copywriter for Montgomery Ward at the time. Every year, Montgomery Ward put out a Christmas coloring booklet, and in 1939, May was asked to create a new character for the coloring booklet. And that’s how the beloved reindeer was born. May said Rudolph was inspired by the classic ugly duckling story. While you may be familiar with the story from the song and the movie, the book has some differences.

I really enjoyed this rendition, which used the original story and illustrations released by Dartmouth. (And you can listen to the story for free!)

Amazon

The Greatest Gift: A Christmas Tale by Philip Van Doren Stern (1943)

You may not have heard of The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern, but you know the story if you have ever seen the classic Christmas movie by Frank Capra, It’s a Wonderful Life. The Greatest Gift is the short story that the movie is based on. Stern says that the story came to him in a dream. When he first wrote the story, he couldn’t find a publisher to take it. He took matters into his own hands when he decided to make it his Christmas card in 1943. The Greatest Gift tells the story of George Pratt, who is considering taking his own life when he gets to find out what the world would have been like with him in it. I find this to be such a reflective story.

Amazon Audible

Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies (1947)

Author Valentine Davies wrote this novella after he wrote the story that became the movie that we know and love. Davies said the story was inspired when he was standing in line at a department store and he witnessed a woman, her daughter, and a man who believed he was the real Santa Claus. Kris Kringle ends up behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit, causing quite a stir in Philadelphia. Not one to wallow, Kris decides to spread some holiday cheer as a mall Santa at Macy’s on 34th Street. Despite the bustling crowds, Kris finds it tough to keep his faith in miracles alive. But then, everything changes — he helps an elderly lady receive her Christmas gift and meets a young girl who has unwavering faith in him. This experience reignites Kris’s belief in the magic of Christmas and the miracles that can come true when we believe.

Amazon Audible

Christmas Day in the Morning (1955)

Pearl S. Buck is best known for her book The Good Earth, for which she won the Pulitzer Prize. Christmas Day in the Morning is described as illustrating the true meaning of Christmas. It’s Christmas Eve, and Rob wants to buy a Christmas present for his father. He doesn’t just want to get him anything. He wants to get him something that will really show his father the love he has for him. Given that he doesn’t have much money, what can he get for him that will be as special as he wants it to be? This book is about that discovery.

Amazon

A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote (1956)

A Christmas Memory is based on Capote’s childhood experiences growing up in small-town Alabama. Buddy is a young boy who has an elderly cousin. This story is ultimately about an endearing friendship between two unlikely souls and the Christmas traditions and rituals that bind them together, even if one is baking fruitcakes. Fans say this book helped them realize their own Christmas memories they had forgotten about and that “this has to be one of the sweetest, most nostalgic” stories they have ever read.

Amazon

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss (1957)

At first glance, How the Grinch Stole Christmas looks like a silly, playful book. But I think this book has one of the best messages — all the pomp and circumstance, the gift giving, the festive music, the delicious food that we think defines Christmas — those things are all just by-products. We don’t NEED any of them to enjoy Christmas. And that’s what the Grinch learns when he thinks he “stole” Christmas. If it’s been a while since you’ve read this one, definitely pick this one up and enjoy it by yourself or with a child in your life.

Amazon Audible

The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson (1958)

Armand is a homeless man in Paris who likes his life just the way it is. He spends his nights sleeping under a bridge along the Seine River. One day, when he returns to his spot, he finds a widow and her three children who are newly homeless. Even though the last thing he ever wanted was the responsibility of a family, he ends up taking them under his wing and shows them the ropes of homeless life in Paris. The experience is transformative for Armand. This book takes place during the Christmas season, making it a great read for the season. One fan described this as “a truly heartwarming story for all ages.”

Amazon

A Christmas Story by Jean Shepherd (1966)

Most of us know of A Christmas Story from the Christmas classic movie released in 1983. But before there was a movie, there was a book (or two). The movie A Christmas Story was based on stories from two different books by Shepherd. Most of the movie is based on the book In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash (1966), with some stories taken from Wanda Hickey’s Night of Golden Memories and Other Disaster (1971). The stories the movie is based on have now been compiled into this single volume. If you are a fan of the movie, you will definitely want to check out this book. The stories are described as “semi-fictional anecdotes.”

Amazon Audible

Letters from Father Christmas by J. R. R. Tolkien (1976)

The famed author J.R.R. Tolkien wrote letters to his children for years that were responses to the letters they wrote to Father Christmas. Father Christmas tells them stories of the adventurous life he lived at the North Pole with reindeer and polar bears. Even though this book wasn’t published until 1976. The letters were written between 1920 and 1943.

Amazon Audible

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg (1985)

The Polar Express is a story about the magic of Christmas. If you’ve never read this book, which I recommend doing even if you’ve seen this movie, you will walk away wondering how it is that the magic of Christmas fades as we become adults. Or does it? The movie is well done, but I also find it a bit jarring and stressful if you don’t know how it will end. So, definitely read the book first so you have some perspective going into it.

Amazon Audible

The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt (1989)

Three different trees have three different wishes, but they all hope they get cut down and get used for something great — a treasure chest, a ship, and to become “so tall that when people stop to look at me, they will raise their eyes to heaven and think of God.” Their dreams get fulfilled in different parts of Jesus’ life, but not at all what either of them expected. Fans say this book shows the careful purpose that God has for his creation. On the flip side, it also shows the desire for God’s creation to glorify God. There’s a lot of meaning in this book!

Amazon

The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans (1993)

The Christmas Box is considered “the most popular holiday take since Tiny Tim,” according to Newsweek. While Richard Paul Evans has gone on to write many other books, this was his debut. The Christmas Box is the story of a young family who moves in with a widow to be her caretakers. While they are taking care of her, it’s the widow who has an important message to share. You’ll have to read The Christmas Box to find out. 

Amazon Audible

The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola (1993)

Have you ever wondered how the poinsettia became associated with Christmas? In this book, author Tomie dePaola retells the Mexican legend and explains its origin. In Mexico, the poinsettia is called the “flower of the Holy Night.” The Legend of the Poinsettia is about a young girl who, unable to offer a gift to baby Jesus due to her mother’s illness, is advised by a fairy godmother to give anything from the heart. Despite the village’s disbelief, she presents weeds at the church. The village can’t believe that all she would bring is weeds. Miraculously, these weeds bloom into a vibrant red plant — the Poinsettia.

Amazon Audible

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechiwski (1995)

Even though this book was published in 1995, many describe this book as a true Christmas classic and a must-read for the whole family. The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey tells the story of the widower and acclaimed woodcarver Jonathan Toomey. The locals know him as the lonely man who never smiles. A woman and her son show up at his door one day, which leads to an unexpected miracle.

The latest anniversary edition includes a free audio version of the book read by James Earl Jones.

This book was made into a movie in 2007.

Amazon

The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree: An Appalachian Story by Gloria Houston (1996)

The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree is based on a true story that takes place during World War I and has been passed on through the generations. Before Ruthie’s father fights in The Great War, the two pick out the tree that is supposed to be the town’s Christmas tree that year. But her father isn’t back from the war to cut down and put up the tree. Will he be back in time to put up the tree? What about Ruthie’s angel costume for the play, will her mom be able to make it given that they can’t afford the fabric? This story is about how a family finds a way in a great time of need. Fans say this is a book of hope that will stay with you for a long time.

Amazon

Have you read any of these books? Which ones do you hope to read this holiday season?

What are your favorite Christmas books? Are there any others you think deserve to be on this list?

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The post 25 Classic Christmas Books You Will Keep Coming Back To appeared first on Passion of Audiobooks.

My youngest child is in one of my favorite ages for kids when it comes to books. She is seven, going on eight, which makes her the perfect age for reading some of the best children’s classics, and honestly, I might be enjoying it more than she is.

That prompted me to put together this book list because I think a lot of adults may be seriously missing out.

There’s a very good chance you read at least some of these books as a kid in school or on your own, but there’s something about returning to these books as adults that is almost magical.

Why Should Adults Read Children’s Classics?

Here are just some of the reasons I think adults should consider reading children’s classic literature:

• You need a palate cleanser. Let’s say you’ve just finished reading a tome or an intense book, like a thriller, that was amazing, but you feel like you need a palate cleanser in between. These books are the perfect antidote.
• You are in a reading slump. Let’s say no book is doing it for you, and you are in one of those dreaded reading slumps. Grab one of the books below to pull you out.
• You’re trying to get back into reading. If you want to start making reading a regular part of your life again, these books are a perfect place to start. I think it’s because they are easy to read while also having enough depth to make it enjoyable, whetting the appetite and making you want more.
• You need a comfort read. I’ve been dealing with grief this year, and the last thing I want is a super heavy book. I’ve found that these books have been great during this time.
• They are fantastic books! Lastly, and probably the most important, they are really good books. They have great plots, great characters, and there’s almost a magical quality to them.

One of the things that has really stood out to me is just how well-written they are. Because they are written for children, they don’t use a lot of flowery language; instead, they employ very simple language. At the same time, sometimes they are quite poetic.

Here’s an example from Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White. This is from Chapter 15: The Crickets:

The crickets sang in the grasses. They sang the song of summer’s ending, a sad, monotonous song. “Summer is over and gone,” they sang. “Over and gone, over and gone. Summer is dying, dying.”

The crickets felt it was their duty to warn everybody that summertime cannot last forever. Even on the most beautiful days in the whole year—the days when summer is changing into fall—the crickets spread the rumor of sadness and change.

Hopefully, by now, you are convinced that these are books you shouldn’t ignore.

Here are some of my personal favorites.

Children’s Classic Literature for Adults

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Initially, my daughter complained when I first started reading this book to her, but by the time it was over, she was asking for more stories about Laura and Mary. One of the best parts of this book is that it’s not actually fiction. The Little House books are actually narrative non-fiction. They are written by Laura Ingalls Wilder about her childhood. They give such an amazing glimpse into what life was like in America in the late 1800s. This first book in the series tells the story of their lives when they lived in the woods of Wisconsin where they survived living in a small cabin. They face the unfriendly elements and the unfriendly wildlife that is working against them.

• Publish Year: 1932
• Genre: Narrative non-fiction
• Pages: 224 pages

buy the book!

Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White

This might be the most familiar story on this list. A young girl named Fern intervenes on behalf of a runty pig who is about to meet his end. As her reward, she gets to help raise the pig. After the pig, whom she names Wilbur, gets too big to keep in her home, he gets a new home in her Uncle Homer’s barn. There, he makes many new friends, but the most important is with a spider named Charlotte. After Wilbur learns that he will most likely be the Christmas ham, Charlotte promises that she’s going to do everything she can to save his life. What follows is a beautiful story about friendship, life, death, and love. It’s a heartfelt story that is also full of humor. There’s a reason why this book is still so popular today. It’s so good!

• Publish Year: 1952
• Genre: Fantasy/Magical realism
• Pages: 184

buy the book!

Stuart Little by E. B. White

Stuart Little might be one of my favorite literary characters ever written. Just like in Charlotte’s Web, there’s a fair share of magical realism thrown into this story. Stuart lives with his family in New York City. While Stuart is a mouse, his human family doesn’t want him to know that. They treat him like he’s their son, and as a result, Stuart acts more like a human than a rodent. However, the family cat knows the truth. One of the things that impresses me about E. B. White is that he can write a book that takes place in a barn and a book that takes place in NYC.

• Publish Year: 1945
• Genre: Fantasy/Magical Realism
• Pages: 131

buy the book!

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was the first book published in the series, but Lewis published a prequel (The Magician’s Nephew) that he said should be read first. That being said, this is definitely the most popular book in the series. But don’t stop at this book. Please go on and read the rest of the books in the series.

• Publish Year: 1950
• Genre: Fantasy
• Pages: 180

buy the book!

Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne

Winnie the Pooh might be the most endearing book ever written. You will literally laugh out loud at Pooh and his friends as they make very obvious mistakes that get them into a pickle. Pooh will go to great lengths to get his hands on a jar of honey. Winnie the Pooh is like the first Toy Story, except in this story, Christopher Robin knows that they are real and can talk. After reading Winnie the Pooh, make sure you pick up the sequel, The House at Pooh Corner.

• Publish Year: 1926
• Genre: Fantasy
• Pages: 161 pages

buy the book!

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

You have likely heard of the first five books on this list, but this one might be the least well-known. Kate DiCamillo is the Amor Towles of children’s literature. These are two authors who are still living and writing, and I think their books are modern children’s. I highly recommend all of her books. I should do a deep dive on her books because I’ve yet to read one I don’t like. Edward Tulane is a stuffed rabbit who is very loved and cherished by his owner, Abilene, until one day he gets lost. The book tells the story of what happens to Edward and how he is able to make his way back to Abilene. This book is a total tear-jerker.

• Publish Year: 2009
• Genre: Magical Realism
• Pages: 120

buy the book!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

This is another book on this list that needs no introduction. Even if you’ve seen one or both of the movies made about this book, please don’t let that stop you from reading this book. In fact, I promise that if you love the movies, you will love the book even more. (The book is always better, right?) I don’t know another writer who can write about children and the silly adults they live with as well as Roald Dahl.

• Publish Year: 1964
• Genre: Humor and Adventure
• Pages: 192 pages

buy the book!

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Speaking of children and their silly adults. Matilda is another one of those great literary characters. Matilda a brilliant little girl who loves books and has some pretty amazing powers, but unfortunately, her parents are awful and her headmistress is even worse. Despite being surrounded by mean-spirited adults who don’t appreciate her, Matilda finds a true friend in her teacher. It’s a wonderfully funny story about an underdog. Roald Dahl perfectly captures both the humor and heart of childhood, making this one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve finished it! They made a movie based on this book in the late 90s that’s actually quite good.

• Publish Year: 1988
• Genre: Humor
• Pages: 232 pages

buy the book!

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

This one is for the dog lovers! Because of Winn-Dixie follows a young girl named Opal who moves to a new town with her father, who is also a preacher. She feels totally out of place in her new town until she finds a scruffy dog in a grocery store and names him Winn-Dixie, after the grocery store. Opal’s mother is absent, but with Winn-Dixie’s entrance into their lives, her father starts to tell Opal details about her mother, which is why the book is called Because of Winn-Dixie. With her new friend by her side, Opal starts meeting all kinds of people, each with their own story, and slowly starts to feel like she belongs.

• Publish Year: 2000
• Genre: Realistic Fiction
• Pages: 192

buy the book!

The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner

This is another one that is so good! The Boxcar Children tells the story of four siblings who are orphaned after their mother recently died. Out of fear of being separated, they decide to run away. They end up stumbling upon an abandoned boxcar in the woods and decide to make it their home. They get to be quite resourceful. The oldest brother, Henry, finds some work in the local town so that he’s able to pay for some food. In a series of fortuitous events, they end up meeting their long-lost grandfather, who gives them a home. This is a great story about the kindness of strangers and resilience.

There’s actually a really good animated movie based on this book from 2014. I highly recommend it!

• Publish Year: 1924
• Genre: Mystery & Adventure
• Pages: 176 pages

buy the book!

Heidi by Joanna Spyri

I loved this very endearing story! Heidi is an orphan who has been living with her Aunt Dete since she was very young, but her aunt recently took on a new job and can no longer care for her in the same way. Heidi is sent to live with her grandfather, whom I believe she had never even met before, or at least not for a very long time. He lives deep in the Swiss Alps, where he cares for goats, quite a walk from the closest village. The two end up forming a very endearing friendship. While Heidi is happy with her grandfather, her Aunt Dete thinks she needs a more civilized life and sends her to live with a family in Frankfurt. Heidi is homesick for the Alps and her grandfather, but she ends up forming a friendship with wheelchair bound Clara, the daughter of the family she is living with. There are many surprising twists and turns in this book. So good!

• Publish Year: 1880
• Genre: Historical fiction
• Pages: 336 pages

buy the book!

Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie

“All children, except one, grow up.” Here’s an interesting fact about the first line of Peter Pan. In the book, this is a reference to Peter Pan, but in real life, this is a reference to Barrie’s brother, who died when he was 13 years old. I think Peter Pan is super interesting from a philosophical perspective because you can tell that while Peter Pan doesn’t want to grow up, there’s a sadness about him and the lost boys. They aren’t satisfied with forever being children. Read this one and let me know if you see that, too. Of course, this book is also full of lots of adventure and danger.

• Publish Year: 1911
• Genre: Fantasy
• Pages: 256 pages

buy the book!

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

This is another one where even if you have seen and loved the movie, please read the book. There is so much more that is going on in the book, as usual, that we don’t see in the movie. For example, in the movie, it turns out that Oz exists in a dream. In the book, it’s a real place. You know the basic story. Dorothy ends up in the Land of Oz after a Tornado strikes her home in Kansas, and she doesn’t know how to find her way home. On her journey to meet the Wizard, she collects friends along the way who have wishes of their own. I’ve never read the sequels, but there are multiple sequels. My oldest son read through the whole series, which they had at our local library, and loved them.

Note: Something I struggle with about Baum is that he said horrible, racist things about the Native Americans in the 1800s before he wrote this book. I don’t see any of that in this book. While I struggle with that, I still think this is a great book. And since he’s long dead, he can’t benefit from sales of this book. We Americans love this story. Just look at all of the spinoffs that have been done. According to NPR, his family has offered a public apology for this. What do you think?

• Publish Year: 1900
• Genre: Fantasy
• Pages: 256 pages

buy the book!

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

Anne of Green Gables (and the whole Anne series) is an all-time fave! Anne is 12 years old when she arrives at Green Gables, the home of siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert. Since Matthew is getting older, they have decided to adopt a boy to lend a hand. But when Matthew arrives at the train station, he’s surprised to find not a boy, but a scraggly talkative 12-year-old girl.

He brings her back to Green Gables, near the town of Avonlea on Prince Edward Island. By the time they arrive, Matthew is already enchanted by her, though Marilla is determined to send her back. After all, they needed a boy. What follows is the story of how that mistake becomes the greatest blessing of their lives: how Anne Shirley, the orphan who was never supposed to stay, finds her way into their home, their hearts, and their community.

Anne is far from perfect. She’s impulsive, dramatic, and endlessly talkative, but she’s also joyful, imaginative, and utterly lovable. Through her, we meet a whole world of kindred spirits in this found family story.

• Publish Year: 1908
• Genre: Realistic Fiction
• Pages: 464 pages

buy the book!

The post 14 Children’s Classic Books You NEED to Read as an Adult appeared first on Passion of Audiobooks.

If you love Anne of Green Gables and you want to read the rest of the books in this series, you have come to the right place. However, figuring out how to read the Anne of Green Gables books in order can be somewhat confusing. Don’t worry; I’ve got you covered.

Anne of Green Gables is one of my all-time favorite books. (If you haven’t read it, what are you waiting for??)

In 2025, I decided I wanted to read through the entire series, and I finished it in March 2026.

I went into this with some uncertainty. The first book is so good that I just wasn’t sure the rest of the series could live up to it. My conclusion: the whole series is excellent, and I’ve been sad ever since I finished it.

I knew, of course, that I would love reading more about Anne, but the second half of the series explores other characters in the town of Glen St. Mary, where she and Gilbert settle after they get married. I didn’t expect to fall in love with the characters there and the town as much as I did. (I think I might like it more than Avonlea.)

I loved all the books so much, and I know I will return to this series again in the future. I’m confident that if you love the first book, you will also love the rest of the series.

However, it can be a bit confusing figuring out how to approach this series. This is because the order in which the series was published and the order in which they chronologically don’t match up.

I was pretty agnostic about how to approach it, but in my opinion, there’s really only one way to read this series, and that is chronologically. I will explain more below.

Let’s dive in!

Anne of Green Gables Books in Order: How to Read the Series

It isn’t the first time the publication order of a book series doesn’t match the chronological order. You see this with other series, too, such The Chronicles of Narnia. 

But that doesn’t mean you should necessarily read the books in chronological order. There may be reasons why an author may want to write a prequel to help you understand a character better. But is that the case here?

I will go over both options, explain the pros and cons of each, and, at the end, give you my personal recommendation.

The Anne of Green Gables Books in Publication Order

While this is the order in which the Anne books were published, I do not recommend reading them in this order. After reading through the series, I can see how Montgomery recognized gaps in Anne’s story that needed to be filled in.

However, if you want to read the books in publication order, this is the order in which you will read them: 

1. Anne of Green Gables (1908)
2. Anne of Avonlea (1909)
3. Anne of the Island (1915)
4. Anne‘s House of Dreams (1917)
5. Rainbow Valley (1919)
6. Rilla of Ingleside (1921)
7. Anne of Windy Poplars (1936)
8. Anne of Ingleside (1939)

The Anne of Green Gables Books in Chronological Order

The downside to reading them in publication order is that the timeline skips around A LOT. Book six is actually written from the point of view of Anne’s children, and the following two books return to Anne and her marriage. 

Here are the books in chronological order, and the order Montgomery recommended reading them. 

(In both lists, the first three books are the same; the variations come in the last five books. )

These are the books in chronological order:  

1. Anne of Green Gables (1908)
2. Anne of Avonlea (1909)
3. Anne of the Island (1915)
4. Anne of Windy Poplars (1936)
5. Anne’s House of Dreams (1917)
6. Anne of Ingleside (1939)
7. Rainbow Valley (1919)
8. Rilla of Ingleside (1921)

How You Should Read the Anne of Green Gables Books: My Recommendation

I recommend reading the books in chronological order. (As mentioned above, I think this really is the only way to read them.)

Here’s the simple reason: it makes more sense. (And I think this is the reason Montgomery recommended reading the books this way.)

For example, Anne of Windy Poplars takes place after the book where Anne and Gilbert get engaged, but before they are married. (It is essentially the time in between.) This book very nicely fills in that gap, and it would almost seem awkward to come back and read about this after the fact.

Anne of Green Gables Books in Chronological Order

Below, you will find summaries of the Anne of Green Gables books in chronological order. 

01

Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables is the first book in the series. It begins with Matthew Cuthbert going to pick up an orphan that he and his sister have decided they want to adopt. Their understanding is that they are picking up a boy who can help Matthew on the farm since he is getting older. When Matthew goes to pick up the orphan, he is surprised to find a 12-year-old girl, whom he brings back to their farm,

Green Gables, which is near the town of Avonlea on Prince Edward Island. I think it’s safe to say that by the time Matthew arrives home with her, he is smitten, but Marilla wants to send her back because they need a boy to help on the Cuthbert’s farm. The book is the story about how Anne becomes the orphan they decide to keep and how she becomes part of their family and their community.

You know how God sometimes gives us what we need, not what we want, but in the end, we look back and are so grateful that it turned out the way it did. This is that story. I love found family stories, and I think that’s one of the reasons I love this book so much.

Anne is one of those characters who is flawed in so many ways but simultaneously so delightful. In this book, you will find many kindred spirits.

02

Anne of Avonlea

Anne of Avonlea details Anne’s life after Anne of Green Gables ends, when Anne is getting ready to start the job of teacher at her beloved Avonlea school. She goes into the school year with a mix of anticipation and some unrealistic expectations. She finds herself facing the challenging task of earning the trust and admiration of her students.

She is convinced she can educate her students without resorting to the typical corporal punishment that was common in those days. Anne would have gone to college this year, but she didn’t want to leave Marilla home alone after she developed problems with her eyesight that could lead to blindness. Marilla decides to take in two orphan twins, who bring both joy and challenges. Her relationship with her once-rival Gilbert Blythe also starts to blossom into more. There are also several happenings going on in and around the town of Avonlea throughout this novel as we get to see Anne grow into a young woman.

03

Anne of the Island

This might be my second-favorite book in the series after Anne of Green Gables. Anne of the Island is about Anne leaving Avonlea to attend Redmond College, where she has copious adventures and surprises. She receives a marriage proposal (not from Gilbert), she sells her first story, makes new and interesting friends, and she faces a painful tragedy. Anne and her friends find joy in an ornery black cat that lives at the house where they reside.

In the meantime, Anne is also trying to figure out where her heart truly lies. She receives a serious proposal from a suitor, and she isn’t quite ready to admit her true feelings for Gilbert Blythe. Is he just a friend or more? Gilbert is spending a lot of time with another woman, and Anne can’t figure out why this bothers her so much. I loved watching Anne grow in this novel. Beautifully done!

04

Anne of Windy Poplars

Anne gets the job of principal of Summerside High School in Summerside, where she soon finds out she was not the first choice of all of the residents there, especially the Pringles, who are considered “the royal family of Summerside.” While this bothers her, she also does such an amazing job of navigating this challenging situation.

She has some wonderful allies where she lives who help her navigate the town and people there. She slowly starts to win over the hearts of some of her worst critics. Anne and Gilbert Blythe keep their long-distance relationship going through lots of letters while he finishes medical school. Much of the story is told through these letters. It’s fun watching their relationship blossom as they start to dream of their life together. I was also impressed by how well this book was written. I thought it was so good!

05

Anne’s House of Dreams

In the fifth book in the series, Gilbert finishes medical school, and  it finally happens — Anne and Gilbert get married, and they start their life together. They move into a house near Glen St. Mary on Four Winds Harbor, where they have new friends and new neighbors and all the problems and surprises that come with those changes.

This book really surprised me and might be one of my favorites in the series. It is very good! It is full of twists and turns I did not see coming. It’s also fun to watch Anne and Gilbert finally get to be together. They come across like one of those couples who genuinely have fun together. I also love the new characters introduced in this book and the roles they come to play in the lives of Anne and Gilbert.

06

Anne of Ingleside

Anne is a devoted mother, managing a lively home with her five children. Despite the bustling household, her excitement is multiplied as she anticipates the arrival of a new baby. However, her joy is slightly dampened by the presence of her less-than-welcome Aunt Mary Maria, who seems to have overstayed her welcome.

In this book, we begin to get to know her endearing children, other members of the household, and residents of Glen St. Mary.

While Anne loves her life in Ingleside, there is a hint of concern that creeps into her mind as she wonders if her husband, Gilbert, still holds the same affection for her. Determined to rekindle their love, Anne embarks on a journey to make Gilbert fall in love with her all over again, igniting the same passion and devotion they once shared.

07

Rainbow Valley

Anne and Gilbert’s six children are prominently featured in this book; it primarily focuses on another family — the Merediths. The Meredith children are made up of two boys and two girls. It’s called Rainbow Valley because that’s the name of their favorite spot where they like to play. Their father, John Meredith, is the local Presbyterian minister whom locals love for his preaching.

However, Rev. Meredith is a recent widow, and while they have an aunt living with them, the children are pretty feral. That being said, they are also all incredibly endearing, and I was rooting for them throughout the book. They get into a lot of trouble and realize they aren’t really being raised, so they come up with the idea to start disciplining themselves, which leads to a whole set of other problems.

There is also a fun love story developing throughout this book. I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. I am so attached to all of these characters!

08

Rilla of Ingleside

In this official last book in the series, Anne’s children are becoming adults, except Rilla. At nearly fifteen years old, Rilla is pretty self-centered and focused on attending her very first dance at the Four Winds lighthouse and anticipating her first kiss from the dashing Kenneth Ford. However, her life turns upside down when World War 1 breaks out, and she is forced to grow up fast.

As her brothers are called to fight in the war, Rilla finds herself taking on new responsibilities. While the book is told from Rilla’s perspective, it really focuses on the whole family and what they are going through during the war. I love Rilla! In a lot of ways, she reminded me of Anne when she was younger. But grab the tissue box for this one; this book is a tearjerker.

Additional Anne of Green Gables Books

There are also additional books Montgomery wrote about the characters of Avonlea:

• Chronicles of Avonlea (1912). Fun short stories about the quirky community of Avonlea. 
• Further Chronicles of Avonlea (1920). This is a sequel to the Chronicles of Avonlea and follows in the same vein as that book. 
• The Road to Yesterday (1942). Completed before the author died, this book comprises 14 entertaining stories about the small village of Glen St. Mary, where Anne and Gilbert Blythe settle down.
• The Blythes Are Quoted (1942). This book contains the same stories as The Road to Yesterday, but it also includes some poems. Some people say this book is the unofficial ninth book in the series, and I plan to read it soon.

If you have a Kindle, I found a volume that includes both the Chronicles of Avonlea, the Further Chronicles of Avonlea, and Uncollected Short Stories for $2.31 (at the time of this writing).

Who is L.M. Montgomery?

Canadian author L.M. Montgomery, Lucy Maud Montgomery, lived from 1874 to 1942. She was raised in Cavendish on Prince Edward Island, Canada, by her maternal grandparents after her mother died and her father left her in their care. 

Prince Edward Island is located north of Nova Scotia and East of New Brunswick. It’s also where the fictional town of Avonlea is located. Avonlea is reportedly based on the town of Cavendish, and Montgomery’s work draws on her own experiences in many ways.  

There are several parallels between Montgomery’s own life and Anne Shirley’s: she was raised by an older couple, and she learned to use her imagination to keep herself entertained through nature, writing, and reading books. 

She published her first poem in a Prince Edward Island newspaper in 1890 titled “On Cape LeForce.”

Montgomery went into teaching school and taught for a brief time before deciding to do additional coursework in English literature at Dalhousie University from 1895 to 1896. It was very rare at that time for women to pursue higher education. It was also during this time that L. M. Montgomery started getting paid for writing.

In 1898, Montgomery moved back to Cavendish to take care of her grandmother after her grandfather died, where she lived for 13 years. It was also during this time that her writing career began to flourish, as she began to publish poems and stories in magazines in Canada, Great Britain, and the United States. 

She wrote her first novel, Anne of Green Gables, in 1905, but it was rejected by all of the publishers she sent it to. She decided to try submitting it again in 1907, and Page Company of Boston, Massachusetts, decided to publish it. It was published in 1908 and was a bestseller right away. 

Montgomery married Rev. Ewan Macdonald in 1911 and had three boys, one of whom was stillborn. They lived in Ontario, where her husband was a pastor, and Montgomery continued to write.

She died in 1942 in Toronto but was buried on Prince Edward Island. 

[Source: L.M. Montgomery Institute at the University of Prince Edward Island]

How to Buy: Anne of Green Gables Boxed Sets

While you can certainly purchase each volume individually using the links above, several beautiful boxed sets are also worth purchasing if you’re planning to read the entire series or you’re looking for a nice gift for an Anne of Green Gables fan. 

Note: Something to pay attention to is whether or not the set includes all eight volumes because not all sets do. 

Here are some of your options:

8 Volume paperback set by VMC

8-Volume hardcover set by classics editions

8-Volume Paperback set by Tundra bookS

8 Volume paperback set by AMC

6-Volume hardcover set by Arcturus

8-Volume Paperback set by Sweet cherry publishing

8 Volume paperback set by Virago books

6-Volume paperback set by Arcturus

8-Volume set by Starfire (Mass market paperbacks)

Great on Audio!

If you love audiobooks, then you will love this version of Anne of Green Gables read by actress Rachel McAdams.

(For the other books in the series, I recommend those read by Barbara Caruso.)

Get the audiobook!

Anne of Green Gables TV and Film Adaptations

We can’t talk about Anne of Green Gables without also talking about the TV and film adaptations. 

If you love the books, you will also love some of the film adaptations, which I think are very well done. 

When it comes to adaptations, you have a lot to choose from. There are films, radio dramas, television series, miniseries, stage productions, audio dramas, and web adaptations. You can find an exhaustive list here. 

While the first adaptation was created in 1919, and several others were created after that, I’m going to primarily focus on the more recent adaptations. 

Anne of Green Gables TV Mini-Series (1985)

The most popular Anne of Green Gables adaptation is the made-for-television mini-series, which first aired in 1985 on Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), PBS, and The Disney Channel. This rendition stars Megan Follows as Anne Shirley and Jonathan Crombie as Gilbert Blythe.

The adaptations include the following series:

• Anne of Green Gables (1985)
• Anne of Avonlea (1987)
• Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (1998)
• Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning (2009). This film stars Barabara Hershey as Anne Shirley

The same producer (Kevin Sullivan) who created the original TV adaptations also created a spin-off series called Road to Avonlea, which is also based on some of Montgomery’s other books and short stories, including the following:

• The Story Girl
• The Golden Road 
• Chronicles of Avonlea
• Further Chronicles of Avonlea

Anne of Green Gables (2016)

This rendition of the story features Ella Ballentine as Anne Shirley, Martin Sheen as Matthew Cuthbert, and Sara Botsford as Marilla Cuthbert. 

There were also some sequels created: 

• L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables: The Good Stars (2017)
• Anne of Green Gables: Fire & Dew (2017)

Anne With an “E” (2017-2019)

Netflix and CBC released “Anne with an E” in 2017, starring Amybeth McNulty as Anne Shirley and Lucas Jade Zumann as Gilbert Blythe. I think this adaptation offers a bit more of a realistic version of what an orphan would be like in those days while still remaining faithful to the books. 

Three seasons were released before the show was canceled, even though the series was widely popular. 

You can still watch the series on Netflix. 

Anne of Green Gables Merch

One of the things I’ve fallen in love with in recent years is all of the Anne of Green Gables merch that is out there. It’s simply too much fun NOT to share!

Stickers

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T-Shirts

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Art

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Canldes

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Home decor

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totes

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What Anne of Green Gables Book Are You Going to Read Next?

I would love to hear what Anne of Green Gables books you’ve read, and which books you plan to read next!

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The post Anne of Green Gables Books in Order: The Complete Guide appeared first on Passion of Audiobooks.