Maddie had a great idea a couple months ago to start a family book club (well, it's really just Maddie, Emma and me) and she created the book list from a list that she found at school. It's basically classics, which I thought was great, because there are many that I've never read. So, we started and I have just finished Little Women. I thought it started out slow, but I absolutely loved it by the end. There were so many times when I thought Louisa May Alcott's wording was just so simply clever. It made me kinda long for that distant time when people were more refined and romantic, courtesy and respect were commonplace, and prudence was always important. Of course, I probably loved it all the more because I couldn't help comparing the characters to my own set of little women. Ellie has been fascinated with the idea that there is a story about another family like ours and took to calling herself Amy for awhile.
There were many times when I wanted to frame a quote from the book, but this one just made me laugh every time I read it. (I really don't know why ;) )
"Amy's lecture did Laurie good, though, of course, he did not own it till long afterward; men seldom do, for when women are the advisers, the lords of creation don't take the advice till they have persuaded themselves that it is just what they intended to do; then they act upon it, and, if it succceeds, they give the weaker vessel half the credit; if it fails, they generously give her the whole."
A women who clearly sees life the same way I do will certainly write a very enjoyable book. I'm so glad I read it. Thanks Maddie.
2 comments:
I adore Little Women. It is the perfect book for a mom of four girls. How fun that you read it with your daughters. I remember my mom reading it aloud to us when we were little. I'll have to remember to do that with mine when they're older. We're working our way through the Little House on the Prairie series, but our 3-year-old isn't completely on-board, so progress is slooooow.
Enjoy your extended Christmas vacation! We're back at school, but you wouldn't know it by the looks of my house. Not only are the outdoor lights still up, but they're still on (darn timer). We're bringing tacky back.
What a good idea. I think I like Jane Austin for the same reason. I love how Elizabeth(?) is totaly cussing out Mr. Darcy and it sounds so refined and romantic. I had to read it a couple of times to get just how cruel she was being. I wish we all had such a grasp on language.
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