A Sad True Story

I just finished reading a short biography of Lucy Maud Montgomery, written by Jane Urquhart, as part of the "Extraordinary Canadians" series. When I turned the final page I was heartbroken. This woman who possessed such an amazing imagination and talent as to be able to create such fascinating characters and stories was miserable most of her life. She spent her childhood as an orphan starved for love. Her professional career was overtaken by law suits against her publisher (which, after many agonizing years, she won in the end). She married a mentally ill man whom she did not love, and gave birth to two sons whose adolescent and young adult behaviour provided her with nothing but heartache. How did someone whose life was characterized by such misery invent the luminescent Anne Shirley? How did she dream up all her happy endings, when they consistently eluded her in her own life?

As an 11-year-old girl living in PEI, I considered myself quite an authority on all things Anne Shirley. I read all the books in a span of a couple of years. I lived for visits to Cavendish, where I could visit her home and play in her "Rainbow Valley". When Anne cried, I cried. When she rejoiced, I rejoiced. When I was lonely, she became my kindred spirit. In all the hundreds (thousands?) of books I've read, I can't think of a character whom I've loved more than Anne. To this day, there has never been a theatre production that I have loved more than "Anne of Green Gables: The Musical". I could watch it a thousand times! I can't wait until the day when I take my own children to see it. I watched the premier of the "Anne of Green Gables Miniseries" in awe, loving every minute. And I picked out all the "editorial changes" in the sequels, and declared them "not really Anne stories". I knew Anne thoroughly. But it seems I did not know Maud at all.

As an avid fan and amateur writer, I think I've always believed that Montgomery's crowning achievement was to write a book, to create a character, who is so loved around the world that people flock by the thousands to see "Avonlea" every year. And such success must lead to endless happiness, right? Not true. I'm sure that Maud rejoiced when she held in her hands each precious published work, but they did not make up for what was lacking in her personal life. Anne must be a part of Maud, to a certain extent, but she must have been the very happiest part of her. I think Anne was the hope in Maud. Anne and Emily and Sarah and Pat and Kilmeny and all her other much loved characters. It would seem that she left us with the very best part of her life. And I am grateful.

And I'm adding all the L. M. Montgomery books that I haven't read to my reading list for this fall. So I can learn a little bit more about the very best parts of my favourite author.

In Defense of Robert Munsch

I am a bit of a book addict. I am happy to admit it; I think there are far worse things I could be. One of the more serious aspects of the addiction is the need to fill my house, nearly every corner of it, with children's books. I think it stems from the statement made by a literacy professor back when I was doing my B.Ed., that "You must begin building your children's book library now. Add to it everything you can get your hands on." I'm afraid I may have taken her literally. Oh, well, at least now I actually have children to read my hundreds of children's books to.

One of my favourite authors is Robert Munsch. I began collecting his work long before I had children of my own, and I am happy to say that we have just about every one of his books. I even saw him in concert once in Saint John, and would LOVE to take my children to see him again, especially now that we live about an hour away from him. He is a tremendously talented storyteller. His books are funny and smart and tender, and often very silly. My kids love them. I think all kids love them! The Paper Bag Princess might as well be considered a literary classic! I love the way the princess rescues the prince, realizes he is a jerk, tells him off and skips happily off into the sunset. It is such a fresh take on the fairy tale, and it really very empowering to little girls.

My husband called me yesterday and told me about a news item he heard on CBC about Robert Munsch admitting to struggling with alcohol and cocaine addictions, related to suffering from bipolar disorder. I was so saddened to hear that a man who has brought such joy to children (and parents, I might add) has battled with his own demons for so long. This morning I read a story in the National Post that reported that most parents are sympathetic to Mr. Munsch and will continue to support him, but did reference one dissenting voice, an influential mother who refuses to read his stories to her children anymore, and encourages other parents to do the same.

I'll admit, I have been guilty of sitting in judgement of public figures who make bad choices. I was angry with Brad when he left Jennifer for Angelina. I did plenty of ranting about Jon and Kate and their childish behaviour. I've had nothing good to say about Tiger. I'm sure I've commented on countless other stars who've been in and out of rehab. But the fact is, Tiger is still a great golfer. Brad still makes pretty good movies. (I'm not sure why Jon and Kate are still a global fascination, but oh well...) And The Paper Bag Princess is still a great story. I would happily read it to my children today, and I will surely run out and buy the next book Mr. Munsch publishes so we can enjoy it together. His addictions do not affect the quality of the books he has written, and they don't need to enter my children's sphere of reference, either. People who write children's books are just people, and I'm sure many of the best authors have skeletons in their closets. I don't need to know what they are, and neither do my kids. All we care about is being entertained, and enjoying some snuggle time with really good books.

The fact is, people who have suffered from addictions of all kinds, or who've just made stupid choices, don't need us to judge them. They need us to continue to support them as they try to do better. Robert Munsch has been alcohol and drug free for four months. I pray he continues to claim victory over his addictions. And since I don't feel the need to do battle with my addiction, I can't wait for his next book to come out. Maybe he could come read it in London. He's welcome to stay at my house!