tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post6804293748116055877..comments2024-03-09T16:32:09.227-05:00Comments on The Edge of the Precipice: Little Women Read-Along: Burdens (Ch. 4)Hamlette (Rachel)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-23767290139043365802015-03-17T15:36:22.910-04:002015-03-17T15:36:22.910-04:00Yeah, some Mondays are super hard. And if it'...Yeah, some Mondays are super hard. And if it's been a long weekend, or a vacation... uff da. <br /><br />We do learn lessons in life, or we need to, anyway, so I think it's pretty realistic to have the March girls learning things. That's the business of life, after all!Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-80165035014525319922015-03-17T04:50:37.662-04:002015-03-17T04:50:37.662-04:00I really loved this chapter!
I can certainly rela...I really loved this chapter!<br />I can certainly relate to the toughness of starting up again after a vacation (or just a weekend), and the ensuing grumpiness. And yes, I feel sorry for Meg, it must be so hard to have to be surrounded by things you want but know you can't have. <br />My favourite line in the entire chapter was "Poor Meg seldom complained, but a sense of injustice made her feel bitter toward every one sometimes, for she had not yet learned to know how rich she was in the blessings which alone can make life happy." - So relatable and such a lovely morale.<br /><br />It's true that Louisa Alcott isn't excatcly subtle with her lessons, but I like the way they are vowen into the story, and the struggles each of the girls have with themselves, that makes the story/characters much more realistic.<br />Rose https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675286577484698201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-29601226315313286892015-03-12T16:37:56.280-04:002015-03-12T16:37:56.280-04:00I think age plays a big role here. I first read A...I think age plays a big role here. I first read ALP when I was probably 8 or 9, and TSG shortly after. But I was probably more like 13 or 14 when I first read LLF, and already becoming more... maybe not critical, but discerning about what kinds of storytelling pleased me and what was "good" and "bad."<br /><br />Similarly, I was probably only 10 or so when I read the Elsie books, and so I just liked that they were nice stories.Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-39478967905660846062015-03-12T14:38:16.784-04:002015-03-12T14:38:16.784-04:00Sigh. I didn't much like Elsie Dinsmore, but t...Sigh. I didn't much like Elsie Dinsmore, but that was before I'd read a lot of 1800's fiction (particularly some of the less-famous 1800's fiction -- which can tend to have more "perfect" heroines). And I'm definitely not casting stones as I can tell my heroine in <i>Ellen</i> ended up with a lot of similar qualities. ;) Altogether I've just never taken that much time to look ED up again.<br /><br />I love <i>Fauntleroy</i> (it was definitely one of those imagination shapers, though I admit I haven't read it straight through for a while) and I'm not super big on <i>Little Princess</i> (though I love the Shirley Temple film ;)). BUT we're joined on <i>Secret Garden</i> and with one on either side I guess we're even! ;DHeidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17418854988524303306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-59411635827248756062015-03-12T14:20:28.228-04:002015-03-12T14:20:28.228-04:00You know, I actually liked Elsie Dinsmore as a kid...You know, I actually liked Elsie Dinsmore as a kid. I think I read like 6 of the books about her. I haven't tried her as an adult, though.<br /><br />I love <i>A Little Princess</i> and really like <i>The Secret Garden</i>, but <i>Fauntleroy</i>... couldn't handle him. Sorry!Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-73287534990274089842015-03-11T19:14:32.717-04:002015-03-11T19:14:32.717-04:00Alcott's definitely not subtle. Still, I don&#...Alcott's definitely not subtle. Still, I don't mind her <i>so</i> much as--um--Elsie Dinsmore, for instance (no offense intended towards lovers of ED! ;)). <br /><br />But Hamlette, DON'T mention <i>Little Lord Fauntleroy!</i> (No, it's all right, but I've loved LLF for a loooooong time! ;))Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17418854988524303306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-86897854577428070242015-03-09T20:30:29.799-04:002015-03-09T20:30:29.799-04:00Jo is such a smarty, isn't she? I loved that ...Jo is such a smarty, isn't she? I loved that too, how she got Aunt March very interested in her thrilling novel :-) Sneaky and funny!Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-78899308085503773772015-03-09T20:29:55.088-04:002015-03-09T20:29:55.088-04:00I hate that post-fun slump. Like a caffeine low o...I hate that post-fun slump. Like a caffeine low or a sugar low, only a bit longer-lasting.<br /><br />I didn't remember LW being this directly moralizing, and it's been at least 20 years since I read most of her other books, so I don't remember much at all about them. Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-16241323545288444582015-03-09T20:27:32.843-04:002015-03-09T20:27:32.843-04:00And I find it really realistic that Jo and Aunt Ma...And I find it really realistic that Jo and Aunt March don't get along, because it's generally the people I'm the most like that I have the hardest time getting along with.Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-81836326461151046482015-03-09T20:25:39.437-04:002015-03-09T20:25:39.437-04:00My life is like that -- I'll have a couple of ...My life is like that -- I'll have a couple of really awesome days, and then the next one or two will be crummy. And then life cycles back up again. So yes, you're right, I find that very natural.Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-37195952606736980912015-03-09T20:24:47.192-04:002015-03-09T20:24:47.192-04:00That cranky morning reminds me of a lot of my morn...That cranky morning reminds me of a lot of my mornings, I'm afraid. One day I almost poured the coffee grounds into the toaster...Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-54663550279169371952015-03-09T20:24:12.626-04:002015-03-09T20:24:12.626-04:00This is true -- too much of all fiction these days...This is true -- too much of all fiction these days is focused on entertaining, which I believe is only half of the reason for fiction to exist. The other reason is to instruct (according to Horace, and I agree with him), and that gets left behind too often these days.Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-70032595488742394772015-03-09T14:08:11.355-04:002015-03-09T14:08:11.355-04:00I don't think she was too preachy at all…I lov...I don't think she was too preachy at all…I love the morals she weaves into her stories:)<br /><br />I loved when Jo was telling about how she started reading that book to Aunt March and then slyly stopped at a "thrilling part" :DOliviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03546655886492251059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-67959954558865039942015-03-08T15:22:12.584-04:002015-03-08T15:22:12.584-04:00I think it's so interesting how Alcott perfect...I think it's so interesting how Alcott perfectly mirrors that crash that I think most people get post-Christmas and parties and fun (at least, I know I do). Chapter 3 is full of fun and merry making and then, ooof, here comes real life. I really didn't think this was Alcott's worst preachy-ness. In fact, I think her preaching comes out most strongly in An Old Fashioned Girl as opposed to Little Women.CGracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05256456742503046710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-37115448153013796382015-03-08T15:18:42.303-04:002015-03-08T15:18:42.303-04:00This is probably why I'm enjoying Little Women...This is probably why I'm enjoying Little Women so much, because it deals with flawed characters, and teaches lessons in context without being too preachy! I'd have to say I'm most like a mix of Jo and Amy, and so their struggles are most relatable to me. And you are so right! Jo and Aunt March are very much alike whether they realize it or not. XD Lizzyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00402269932600706940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-986396988543740772015-03-08T06:56:54.289-04:002015-03-08T06:56:54.289-04:00Oh, I am really loving this read-along! And I so ...Oh, I am really loving this read-along! And I so enjoy reading your views on each chapter! 'Burdens' is a good chapter which I can personally relate to - after all the merry making the girls felt a bit low that they once again had to pick up their burdens and trudge on! I like the lessons in Little Women - they are true to life! And don't you think there is a sprinkling of each of the March sisters in most of us...?<br />It is quite true that Jo is pretty similar to Aunt March, though I think she overcame her flaws later on in life unlike the old lady...Kelly-Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14439145629751304862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-59926110499508085672015-03-08T06:46:45.574-04:002015-03-08T06:46:45.574-04:00The moralizing might be a wee bit heavy-handed in ...The moralizing might be a wee bit heavy-handed in places... I generally like stories to *show* the lesson, not spell it out for me, as in Mrs. March's tale. But it's not over-the-top, and it helps that, as you say, the characters are realistically flawed. Who hasn't had a cranky morning when everything seems to go wrong, and it's a struggle to feel gratitude for anything? Also, you're right about Little Lord Fauntleroy being too perfect- I think Burnett did a much better job with Mary Lennox in "The Secret Garden." She's a much more believable character.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16985129417564110190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-89012946417228072172015-03-07T18:26:39.439-05:002015-03-07T18:26:39.439-05:00I've never found Little Women too preachy and ...I've never found Little Women too preachy and I agree with what you said in your previous comment in that Alcott weaves the morals into the story pretty naturally. <br /><br />I think we could really do with more books like Little Women in children's literature right now. A lot of the books that I see in libraries and bookstores are just silly, trashy books about snot and poop. Erm... sorry for lowering the tone!Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08112080523452829647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-27165373596345566372015-03-07T17:29:34.071-05:002015-03-07T17:29:34.071-05:00I think Alcott weaves her moralizing in to her sto...I think Alcott weaves her moralizing in to her story pretty naturally, so the readers come to enjoy learning from her.<br /><br />And yes, I love that they're all so different!Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-53492974302973320002015-03-07T17:22:59.233-05:002015-03-07T17:22:59.233-05:00It was a sermon from Marmee, though, not directly ...It was a sermon <i>from Marmee</i>, though, not directly Alcott telling her readers what to do, which makes it a teeny bit better, I think :-)Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-52997225982811237902015-03-07T17:22:23.315-05:002015-03-07T17:22:23.315-05:00I think it would be especially hard for Meg to wor...I think it would be especially hard for Meg to work in a house filled with luxuries that she herself can't have. Seeing them would be a constant reminder, which is much harder than simply not having them. Like being on a diet on Halloween.Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-86790783825177905292015-03-07T17:15:32.790-05:002015-03-07T17:15:32.790-05:00Alcott did tell the morals in obvious ways, but I ...Alcott did tell the morals in obvious ways, but I don't think it's too preachy. Instead, it's a heart-warming reading, understanding that something so simple could produce such happiness.<br />Anyway, it's interesting that that four girls have really different characters. The differences lead us into four different kind of lives.bzeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03498859173435579196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-10033811444309034422015-03-07T16:59:58.427-05:002015-03-07T16:59:58.427-05:00I don't mind the author talking to the reader ...I don't mind the author talking to the reader and sometimes imparting lessons, but sometimes Alcott crosses the line. That story she told wasn't really a story but more like a sermon on how each of them needed to act... However, this isn't the worse one if I remember correctly :)Ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12335689970676214959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5587150608901957801.post-35367355432519312412015-03-07T15:15:00.713-05:002015-03-07T15:15:00.713-05:00I love your favourite line... it's adorable.
...I love your favourite line... it's adorable.<br /><br />Oh yes, I feel so sorry for poor Meg. I love how she admits she's so 'fond of luxury' in the beginning - all these sisters admit their flaws, and I love it.<br /><br />No, I don't find Louisa May Alcott's books preachy. They *could* sometimes be less preachy, but they aren't annoyingly preachy. Not at all preachy for most books written in that time! She sends little messages through her characters in a delightful, simple way.<br /><br />~ NaomiNaomi Pittshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13932777444665441104noreply@blogger.com