Anne of Green Gables - Chapter One

So, I thought I'd shake things up by reading another book about an orphan at the same time as I'm reading Oliver Twist. Anne of Green Gables was first published in 1908, so it's only 102 (103? The new year is so confusing) years old, and therefore will hopefully be easier to read!

Mrs Rachel Lynde is Surprised

In this chapter we meet Rachel, who sounds a bit like an obsessive-compulsive stalker:

"Rachel Lynde was one of those capable creatures who can manage their own concerns and those of other folks into the bargain."

Mmm, no thanks.

Maybe Anne will loosen up Rachel and get her away from knitting and running the Sunday school? We also meet Rachel's husband who is "meek" hahaha. It sounds like he would have to be. 

I just read through the chapter list and I cannot wait for Chapter 9, 'Mrs Rachel Lynde is Properly Horrified'. It sounds great.

Rachel stalking leads her to investigate Matthew Cuthbert, who is shy and unrevealing, as she sees him riding off in his best clothes.

"Mrs Rachel, ponder as she might, could make nothing of it, and her afternoon's enjoyment was spoiled."

So she's only happy when she knows exactly what everyone around her is doing. She sounds like a fab control freak.

We now meet Marilla, Matthew's sister/wife(?) when Rachel decides to do a bit of snooping to find out what Matthew is up to. I have to say, Rachel IS observant. I suspect that Matthew has gone to pick up Anne, as Green Gables is the name of their house.

I was right:

"'Yes, of course,' said Maria, as if getting boys from orphan asylums in Nova Scotia were part of the usual spring work on any well-regulated Avonlea farm instead of being an unheard-of innovation."

Lol.

Rachel tells Marilla not to get an orphan, citing various cases in which orphans were unruly/murderous. Marilla then has a (slightly sexist?) mini-rant about how they're not getting a girl.

Oh Marilla, don't you understand that as a book character things will never happen the way you want them to?