Anne with an E

I've spend large amounts of time this weekend watching Netflix's new take on Anne of Green Gables.

I'm not sure how I feel about it yet...

In the original book, Anne was imaginative, and clever.  She didn't exactly fit in, but (if I remember correctly) wasn't ostracized by her classmates and the rest of the town.  I hadn't made it over far on my re-read.. I must admit.

Here are my thoughts:

• This Anne CLEARLY has PTSD.
• She's also like dialed to 11 on the not-fitting-in scale
• I've seen 4 episodes, and there's MUCH that isn't in the book.
• And I'm a little unhappy that Diana isn't yet her Bosom Friend!  *harrumph* 

I wonder if they didn't take the book, research what it was like for orphans back then.  Then add challenges and feelings from today's youth (which were probably the same back then)

The result is a show that is edgier.  It adds realism to the fairy-tale world that the original existed in.  

This book was one of my favorites growing up.  I was the red head with too much imagination, too much temper and didn't quite fit in.

I think to properly appreciate this take, I need to think of it as something different.  She's not the Anne of my youth.  She's an Anne of a different, and harder time.

EDITED TO ADD:
I've seen the entire first season now... and here are my thoughts:

• they added a lot of plot to the show, but kept in the highlights from the book.  (Getting Diana drunk, Matthew's heart trouble and all)
• There are themes (like menstruation) that are explored, that wouldn't have been written about during L.M. Montgomery's time.
• I really do think they went back to the book and read between the lines.  How would Anne have acted coming from that environment?  how would other people treat her (remember how harshly Rachel Lynde talked about orphans?)

In all, I can't wait to see season 2!