The questions are inevitable, but so are the answers. And even before I wrote The Heroine's Bookshelf, I knew Anne of Green Gables would have a place in my book.

Here's why:

1. It has withstood the test of time. I loved it when I was a girl, but the book has held up to multiple rereadings and the addition of my life experience as an adult. For me, that's one definition of a classic.

2. It's beautiful. The Snow Queen. The heartbreak of loving someone you're supposed to hate. The slow process of coming into one's own, red hair and all. Anne of Green Gables is a beautiful book.

3. It's funny. I'm always surprised at how much I laugh at this book. What's not to love about Anne's many scrapes and embarrassments?

4. It's home. I've never been to Prince Edward Island, but Green Gables will always be a part of my childhood literary awakening and my adult sense of self. The world Maud Montgomery created for me has become one of my literary homes. And it doesn't get much better than that.


Many thanks to Erin for her guest blog spots this week! The Heroine's Bookshelf is now out in paperback from Harper Perennial.

For a chance to win the book, check out the Anne of Green Gables Facebook page for a final trivia question this afternoon.