tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post4966652546129120428..comments2024-03-22T17:51:15.887-04:00Comments on The Edge of the Precipice: Little Women Read-Along: Playing Pilgrims (Ch. 1)Hamlette (Rachel)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-90705448925478964872015-03-06T13:42:42.312-05:002015-03-06T13:42:42.312-05:00Understand that I am a Shatner fan. I find him ch...Understand that I am a Shatner fan. I find him charming and entertaining, and I've never seen him turn in a performance I didn't enjoy. Including this one! He was sweet, a little hesitant and shy, yet very Germanically strong-minded, and I even thought his accent was rather good.Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-58413497751486660762015-03-06T13:11:45.374-05:002015-03-06T13:11:45.374-05:00Oh, my. I can't imagine Shatner as Professor ...Oh, my. I can't imagine Shatner as Professor Bhaer. Nimoy (RIP), maybe. But not Shatner. How was he?Janet Lingel Aldrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05633969913976791146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-43911598343131838282015-03-06T08:39:03.344-05:002015-03-06T08:39:03.344-05:00And I didn't even realize there were two parts...And I didn't even realize there were two parts to it until a couple years ago when someone referred to "Good Wives" and I was like, "WHAT?! There's another sequel I didn't know about??" And so I got a copy of "Good Wives" out of the library and discovered that my book had all of it too, it just called it "book 2" instead.<br /><br />And yes, a very educational book. I'll be touching on that in my post on chapter 4 some more. Alcott isn't shy about trying to impart lessons, is she?Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-79177527965057993122015-03-05T17:54:57.559-05:002015-03-05T17:54:57.559-05:00Hmm…you're right, that is strange. They'r...Hmm…you're right, that is strange. They're probably just New Testaments, I suppose. I guess we'll never know for sure;DOliviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03546655886492251059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-13236998345747779582015-03-05T16:32:40.506-05:002015-03-05T16:32:40.506-05:00I can't even count the times I've read thi...I can't even count the times I've read this book (part 1, that is. I never knew there was a sequel until i watched the 1994 movie, and it just continued past the ending I thought I knew).<br /><br />I love the first chapter, with its quiet introduction of characters and qucik establishment of themes. <br />When I read it now it strikes me how much of a educational book it must have been for young women, with its many lessons. But back when I read it the first time, I just thought this was how grown-up books were.<br /><br />And a favourite character?.... I really like Jo, but I don't have a definite favourite, for I love tham all in different ways.Rose https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675286577484698201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-39445785154855445112015-03-05T08:25:01.697-05:002015-03-05T08:25:01.697-05:00That was my assumption too, but I found it a littl...That was my assumption too, but I found it a little odd that Alcott didn't come right out and say they were Bibles. Maybe they're just New Testaments? Because the Bible as a whole is about a lot more than one life.Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-83097760445174322562015-03-04T15:34:49.613-05:002015-03-04T15:34:49.613-05:00I'm pretty sure it is--it says that it's t...I'm pretty sure it is--it says that it's the story of "the best life ever lived," and the girls' general reactions to the books seemed to indicate they were Bibles, to me at least:D<br /><br />Yes. Beth. She will always and forever be my favorite, I think:)Oliviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03546655886492251059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-86290734122336571812015-03-04T15:28:39.543-05:002015-03-04T15:28:39.543-05:00Yes, it's neat that Mr. March is still doing h...Yes, it's neat that Mr. March is still doing his best to be a good parent from a distance, isn't it? And how they're affected by his fatherly concern, even from afar.Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-49310945570683229532015-03-04T15:27:53.659-05:002015-03-04T15:27:53.659-05:00Really? That's amusing. Well, I hope you enj...Really? That's amusing. Well, I hope you enjoy reading the whole thing, then!<br /><br />Thanks for joining :-)Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-15237388919106634702015-03-04T15:27:17.104-05:002015-03-04T15:27:17.104-05:00Hee! That's excited indeed :-)Hee! That's excited indeed :-) Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-75147983294819339042015-03-04T15:26:52.750-05:002015-03-04T15:26:52.750-05:00Glad to have you along for the ride, Lory! I'...Glad to have you along for the ride, Lory! I'll be interested to hear if you pick up anything new by rereading to so soon after your last reading.Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-27966215962409266522015-03-04T06:56:56.198-05:002015-03-04T06:56:56.198-05:00Something else I thought I would add to this chapt...Something else I thought I would add to this chapter's discussion...<br />I loved how their father, although away and fighting the war, encouraged his girls through the Christmas letter he sent to work diligently so that the years wouldn't be wasted... And then of course how the sisters went to work straight away with their knitting:). Oh! I do so love to read this touching story!<br />Kelly-Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14439145629751304862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-78371949803551275252015-03-03T23:48:10.207-05:002015-03-03T23:48:10.207-05:00So, reader confession time: I've never actuall...So, reader confession time: I've never actually read this book through consecutively. I've always skimmed my favorite parts. I've started this book so many times that I actually have the first page almost memorized! It's weird to think the Meg is the same age as me...<br />I probably like Jo the best because I can sometimes relate to her, and I love her in Little Men! This will be fun! Thanks!Ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12335689970676214959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-70924036770390633522015-03-03T20:53:50.773-05:002015-03-03T20:53:50.773-05:00I got so excited about this that I started the boo...I got so excited about this that I started the book a week early! It's only been about six years since I've read it, but I'd completely forgotten how good it is! And Jo is still my favorite character too. (-:Lizzyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00402269932600706940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-89420772826740196922015-03-03T12:57:51.338-05:002015-03-03T12:57:51.338-05:00I remember "libel/label" making an impre...I remember "libel/label" making an impression on me in my childhood reading. It took me a really long time to understand what "libel" actually meant, so I sympathize with Amy's confusion.<br /><br />I did a reread and post back in December (http://www.emeraldcitybookreview.com/2014/12/the-immortality-of-love-little-women.html) but am happy to read along again. : )Loryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08519976394732029323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-42062702337082825482015-03-03T08:57:59.960-05:002015-03-03T08:57:59.960-05:00Aha! Okay, thanks for clarifying. Wouldn't y...Aha! Okay, thanks for clarifying. Wouldn't you know it, my library has the Hepburn one instead. I may have to find a used copy of the other one on Amazon...Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-12440544840163460332015-03-03T08:11:12.223-05:002015-03-03T08:11:12.223-05:00Actually Margaret O'Brien plays Beth in the 19...Actually Margaret O'Brien plays Beth in the 1949 version starring June Allyson.Elisabeth Grace Foleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02073159989691222645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-31357055694745923602015-03-03T08:05:25.090-05:002015-03-03T08:05:25.090-05:00Ooooh, your favorite book ever! How exciting! Gl...Ooooh, your favorite book ever! How exciting! Glad to have you aboard :-)Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-6465803055890077492015-03-03T05:23:28.502-05:002015-03-03T05:23:28.502-05:00Oh! My favourite, favourite book ever! Louisa Ma...Oh! My favourite, favourite book ever! Louisa May Alcott writes with such motherly wisdom and gentleness that one can apply her lovely lessons to their lives... And I honestly don't know how many times I've read it...I don't know If it is even possible to tire of reading it... Each tike I am captured by something new and wonderful!<br />Meg has to be my favourite character...I am much like her in many ways, not just because I too am the eldest sister...<br />And I have seen the 1994 version of the book and truly loved it, even though it was quite a bit different to the book...<br />Thank you for hosting a read-along - such a delightful way to discuss a book in the land of blogging!<br />Much love!Kelly-Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14439145629751304862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-76917492405758548302015-03-02T19:11:58.139-05:002015-03-02T19:11:58.139-05:00I'm sorry you've been unwell! Please feel...I'm sorry you've been unwell! Please feel free to join us when you finish your other two books-in-progress. These are short chapters and I'm pretty sure it would not take long to catch up.<br /><br />I hadn't watched the 1994 adaptation in probably ten years, and when I watched it with my kids a week or so ago, I kept crying. Not so much over what was happening in the movie as just over how much I had missed these characters, I think. <br /><br />Someone referred to Good Wives a while ago in the blogosphere, and I got all freaked out thinking there was another sequel I had never read! Took me days to discover that no, not so, my copies just didn't list Book 1 and Book 2 as "Little Women" and "Little Wives." Hee!<br /><br />I still have a crush on Christian Bale's Laurie. For years, this was the only thing I'd see him in, and I was a fan of his based solely on it.<br /><br />I think, looking back, that I was rather grown up as a kid -- when I was a teen, I preferred hanging out with the adults at a gathering and just listening to their conversation rather than playing with kids (especially kids I didn't know well). So to me, the idea of becoming even more grown up was pretty ghastly, when the truth was I wasn't going to get much more "grown up" than I already was for a really long time.Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-60893115146428593502015-03-02T18:34:59.612-05:002015-03-02T18:34:59.612-05:00Hi! I haven't been very well over the past cou...Hi! I haven't been very well over the past couple of weeks so I haven't been online much. I'd love to do this read-along but I still need to finish off Persuasion and the other book that I'm reading before I start. That other book I'm reading? Louisa May Alcott's An Old-Fashioned Girl :) I'm really enjoying it so far!<br /><br />Little Women is a childhood favourite. I love that book and the 1994 adaptation very, very much. They give me all sorts of feels. The 1994 movie is the only adaptation of the book that I've seen all the way through. It captures the spirit of the book beautifully and the cast is wonderful. It's funny because I saw that film before I got to read Good Wives. I know most editions of Little Women also include Good Wives but my first copy of the book didn't. So when I watched the 94 movie on TV for the first time I was shocked when the story didn't end with Meg getting engaged!<br /><br />Jo is probably my favourite character in the book too although I also really love Laurie. Christian Bale's Laurie was one of my earliest crushes and apparently his character is an INFJ :)<br /><br />I'm not sure which sister I best relate to. I can definitely relate to Jo but I can also see aspects of Meg and Beth's personalities in myself. Amy... no. I don't think I'm anything like Amy at all but I could be biased there because Amy really annoys me at times. With Jo I really connected with her passion, her love of reading and her hatred of chores. I *did* really want to grow up though. I was pretty unhappy during a lot of my school years and I couldn't wait to leave the place. I was also quite mature for my age and I much preferred talking to adults because their conversations were more interesting.Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08112080523452829647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-39616156835421349082015-03-02T16:11:22.695-05:002015-03-02T16:11:22.695-05:00I remember back when the '94 movie came out, a...I remember back when the '94 movie came out, a Christian magazine for kids that we got had a whole article about the transcendentalism that's in the movie, and how it made the article's author reread the book and notice how much it incorporates that philosophy. At the time, being 14 and fully convinced I knew everything, I was like, "Nuh-UH!" But now, yeah, I can see it all over the place.<br /><br />I really want to see the Katherine Hepburn version because it has Margaret O'Brien in it, and I adore her.Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-55301594451409481442015-03-02T16:07:33.313-05:002015-03-02T16:07:33.313-05:00They're young, yes! Between twelve and sixtee...They're young, yes! Between twelve and sixteen, the lot of them. Of course, they grow up and age a lot over the course of the book.<br /><br />I used to wake up my brother by singing "Good Morning" from <i>Singin' in the Rain</i> to him. He was generally not amused.<br /><br />Beth is wonderful. I feel very protective toward her, if that makes sense.Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-29974291687493951202015-03-02T16:05:47.634-05:002015-03-02T16:05:47.634-05:00You're probably thinking of the ending, where ...You're probably thinking of the ending, where Jo runs to Professor Bhaer as he's leaving, and then it rains while they're talking to each other.<br /><br />(Amy sometimes annoys me too. I think maybe because she's a little sister and I'm a big sister?)Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-19461804777853564612015-03-02T16:02:34.096-05:002015-03-02T16:02:34.096-05:00YES! It is very, very simple! That might be beca...YES! It is very, very simple! That might be because, according to the introduction in my copy, Alcott wrote this in 10 weeks and sent it off to be published without ever fully revising it! Can you imagine? Ten weeks! That's just the first half, really -- the second half she wrote in a very short period too, after the first half was a smashing success. But still. Wow. <br /><br />Actually, I have felt that disconnect with reading things on my phone too (I have the Kindle app on it, not an actual Kindle). I'm okay reading new-to-me things there, but stuff I've read in a "real" book just seems... off. Huh. Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.com