Little Women Read-Along: A Merry Christmas (Ch. 2)

I forgot to mention this in the previous post.  Would anyone be interested in writing a guest post for this read-along?  A character sketch or a review of one of the movie versions, for instance?  Or even a post delving into one of your favorite themes from the book.  Please comment any time if you'd be interested!  We had quite a few guest posts for the Lord of the Rings read-along and I thought they were so cool.

And I will be holding a give-away at the end of this read-along, just so you know :-)

Now, on to business!

It makes me smile and smile that we get a full account of the play!  Too often books like this spend plenty of time detailing the preparations for the play, and then when the production actually is presented, we only get a few sentences saying things like, "The play went off with only a few hitches.  One little character forgot her lines entirely, while another kept looking at the audience to see how they were reacting to the funny bits.  But although the scenery came crashing down on the poor actors' heads during the elopement scene, the show gamely went on, and was greeted with cheers and a satisfying round of applause at the end."

Wouldn't it be boring if that's all we got?  Instead, Alcott gives us pages of delicious play, and I'm so happy she does.  I'd forgotten they invited their friends to be the audience, though.  How jolly!

We also see that theme of good being rewarded coming through again, with Mr. Laurence sending them a big Christmas feast to show how good he thinks they were when they gave away their breakfasts.

Favorite Lines:

Hugo, getting thirsty after a long warble, drinks it, loses his wits, and after a good deal of clutching and stamping, falls flat and dies, while Hagar informs him what she has done in a song of exquisite power and melody (p. 19).

Possible Discussion Questions:  Have you ever put on a play with your family or friends like the March girls do here?

Have you read Mansfield Park?  If so, compare and contrast this statement with how Fanny Price views play acting:  "It was excellent drill for their memories, a harmless amusement, and employed many hours which otherwise would have been idle, lonely, or spent in less profitable society" (p. 16).  

Little Women Read-Along: Playing Pilgrims (Ch. 1)

Before we dig into the discussion, let me quick explain how I run read-alongs for anyone who might be wondering.  I will be doing one post per chapter, and in it I will share my thoughts about what happens in it, some favorite lines if I have any, and then a possible discussion question or two.  You are free to discuss any aspect of the chapter and in the comments, you don't have to discuss only what I've written about.  We will assume everyone knows the basic story and not worry about spoilage.  I plan to post at least three chapters a week, roughly one every two days.  The chapters are short and read quickly, so I don't think this is a problem.  That would let us finish right at the end of May, roughly, which I think would be a good stopping time.

I put page numbers after things I quote, but those are mostly for my own reference -- you don't have to do that.  I'm using this edition for the read-along.

(This is the edition I'm reading.)

So now... here we go!  Our first chapter.  This is one of the chapters I remember the best from when I was a girl.  I've always loved Christmas, so the beginning of this book made a strong impression on me as a kid.  I haven't read this for at least 17 years, possibly longer.  I know the last time I read it was before I went to college, so I'm really excited to return to it after all this time.  But because it's been such a long time since I read it, I don't know this text nearly as well as the other books I've led read-alongs for, so I'm counting on all of you participants to kind of show me the nuances I might miss.

In this chapter, I'm struck by the emphasis on personal behavior.  I had forgotten, or not realized before, how humanistic these first chapters are!  Their parents are basically telling these girls that if they try hard enough, they can overcome their faults and be good, that goodness comes from within.  We also have the first discussion of Pilgrim's Progress, emphasizing how the main character of that book worked to overcome obstacles.  According to the introduction for my edition, Pilgrim's Progress was Louisa May Alcott's father's favorite book.  I know we'll be seeing more discussion of it in the upcoming chapters.

My favorite character has always been Jo, and reading through this again after so long, I can see why.  Not just that she writes, which I do, or the fact that she wishes she was a boy, which I used to wish fervently myself.  But she says, "I hate to think I've got to grow up" (p. 5), and oh my, how I hated that.  Still hate it.  I am most insistent on never fully growing up, and play and act silly and read children's books and watch children's movies with great enjoyment still.  Sometimes I even do those things with my kids ;-)

Favorite Lines:

"If you mean libel, I'd say so, and not talk about labels, as if Papa was a pickle bottle," advised Jo, laughing (p. 4).

"Don't, Jo!  It's so boyish!"
"That's why I do it"  (p. 4).

A quick, bright smile went round like a streak of sunshine (p. 9).


Possible Discussion Questions:

Have you ever read this before?
Have you seen any movie versions of it?
Do you have a favorite character?

"Persuasion" by Jane Austen (again)

Persuasion is my favorite of Jane Austen's novels, and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it with Heidi during her read-along.  We dug deeply into the text and turned up so many treasures, and I have learned a lot about this book from all the participants.  Heidi, please do another read-along soon!

In Persuasion, Anne Elliott meets up with the man she was once engaged to, Captain Frederick Wentworth.  Eight years previous, she had broken off their engagement, and had regretted that ever since.  Neither of them had ever fallen in love again, and this book charts the rekindling of their romance as they slowly ascertain each others' feelings and whether things could ever again be as they once were.

Because I reviewed this a few years ago, I'm not going to spend more time than that on plot or why it's my favorite -- you can read all that in my first review here.  Instead, I want to talk about how often Austen emphasized that it is self-persuasion that can be the most harmful, even more than allowing others to persuade you of something.  I had always assumed the title referred to when Anne Elliot allowed Lady Russell to persuade her not to marry Frederick Wentworth.  But now I think it refers more to how Anne and Wentworth both persuaded themselves regarding that event.  

Anne persuaded herself that she was acting for Wentworth's good when she gave him up (see chapter 4).  "The belief of being prudent, and self-denying, principally for his advantage was her chief consolation" (p. 29).  She knew she ought to obey her parents, and Lady Russell was her surrogate mother.  Obey Lady Russell, she did, and she persuaded herself that Wentworth would be better off as a result. 

Wentworth, angry and heartbroken, persuaded himself that Anne was weak and timid, that "[s]he had given him up to oblige others" (p. 66).  He spent eight years persuading himself he had forgotten her, only to discover that he could neither stop loving her nor forget her.  If he had admitted to himself that he still loved her when he was promoted to captain only two years after they parted, he could have tried to reconnect with her, and they would have been spared six years of loneliness.  

So that's what I took away from this reading of Persuasion:  that it's far more dangerous to persuade yourself of something untrue than to allow others to persuade you.

Instead of listing some favorite lines like I usually do, I'm going to share some pictures of the copy I bought 'specially for this read-along.  It's one of the prettiest books I own.  I found it at Books-a-Million, and you can buy this edition here online.  They had a whole bunch of great classics in a similar style, and I also bought Jane Eyre because it was too lovely to resist.

It has those nifty page edges that look like they're hand slit, and pages are thick and creamy.  I happened to have a pen that perfectly matched the cover, so my notes inside look like this:

And while I was at the book store, I also found the absolute perfect bookmark to use for this read-along:

This was on a display of all kinds of beautiful classics-inspired book marks and such.  I spotted some of them at Barnes & Noble the other day too.

This is my nineteenth book read and reviewed for The Classics Club.

"Paper Hearts" by Courtney Walsh

I read this book in under 30 hours.  That's how much these characters sucked me into their lives.  I never get to read a book that quickly these days -- it takes me at least a week for most books, and often longer.  But I have a cold, so I kind of took the afternoon off on Monday, once Sam had his schoolwork done.  Camped out on the couch with this book and a box of Kleenex, and the kids came over now and then when they needed something.  (The Kleenexes were because of the cold, not the book.)  I threw caution (and the other 4 books I'm reading) to the wind and read the first 170 pages that day, and finished it on Tuesday.  Unheard of!  Absurd!

Yes, I inhaled this book.  I think I liked it so well because it reminded me a lot of one of my favorite movies, You've Got Mail (1998).  Just like in that movie, the heroine here owns a book store she inherited from a parent, and a newcomer is going to push her out of business, though here he's a doctor and not a fellow book store owner.  I guess I've always thought it would be cool to own a book store, though far more work than I'm actually willing to do, lol.  But experiencing that vicariously is a lot of fun for me.

Also, the hero is damaged goods with a tragic past, and you know how I love those.  He's not quite broody enough to be Byronic, but he's very sad and in need of hugs nonetheless.  So I was rooting for him to get a happily-ever-after.

The whole thing takes place in a small town called Loves Park that is a sort of Romance Central -- it's a tourist destination for couples, with a special postmark people like to get on their wedding invitations and other equally floofy, lovey-dovey stuff going on.  Abigail is 29 and single, with a mother who is absolutely insistent she get married as soon as possible.  Abigail is equally insistent she is content being single and running the bookstore her father bequeathed her. 

Enter Dr. Jacob Willoughby, a widower with his name straight out of Jane Austen and his looks straight out of a movie (I kept seeing him being played by Brendan Fraser).  He buys the building that contains Abigail's Book Nook, and he plans to use the whole building to create his own medical clinic.

You can see where this is going.  Oh, but I didn't tell you about the absolutely horrible woman Jacob has working for him!  Her name is Kelly, and several times after one of her scenes, I had to close the book and fume for a bit before picking it up again.  Dreadful woman.  Quite well-written, in other words, to have me loathing her so thoroughly.  Kelly is ostensibly helping Jacob set up his clinic because she is a successful businesswoman (and Jacob's dead wife's college roommate), but she's really trying to hook up with Jacob.  

So, with the exception of Kelly, I really enjoyed this book and heartily recommend it to people who like "inspirational romance," which is not usually my cup of tea at all.  So I'm not sure if that makes my recommendation weigh more or less, lol.

And actually, it's given me an idea for a novel, one about a woman who insists she doesn't want to get married and means it.  I've read a lot of books where a singleton tells people she's perfectly happy to be single, but inside she's yearning for love, whether she knows it herself or not yet.  And I realized while reading this that I'd be way more interested in the story of a woman who says she doesn't want to get married because she actually doesn't.  She's honestly content being single.  And you know what they say:  write the book you want to read.  So I've popped that idea into the old percolator, and we'll see if anything comes of it.

Particularly Good Bits:

Who needs a man when you have shelves of beautiful books and dreams of growth and success?  (p. 8).

It was so hard having handsome enemies (p. 11).

"But the very best love stories are the ones that are flawed and full of forgiveness and pain and joy and challenges and happiness" (p. 361).

If This was a Movie, I Would Rate It:  PG.  There's some kissing, but it's all pretty tame.

Mailbox Monday Once More

Linking up with Mailbox Monday again this week :-)  I got this in the mail a few days ago:

I'm hoping to start reading it soon!  I've read a couple reviews that said it was sweet and cute... but not too sweet or too cute.  Sounds like a good antidote to that late-winter "why isn't spring here yet" melancholy that tends to hit me in February.

Want to Join My "Little Women" Read-Along?

I've been meaning to write this post for simply weeks now, but other things keep taking precedence.  No more!  I hereby confirm that yes, I am going to host a read-along of Little Women, and yes, it will begin on March 1.

Like this banner says, it will probably take us several months to make our leisurely way through Little Women.  There are almost 50 chapters, and I usually manage to write a new chapter post every 2 to 3 days, so... yeah.  Not a slender tome!

In case you're wondering, let me tell you about how I run a read-along.  Obviously, we all read the same book at the same time.  I will do a blog post about each chapter, where I review what happened and post some of my thoughts on it.  I usually include a favorite passage or two, and a question for discussion.  Participants then get to comment on the blog posts as they please, and we have some lovely discussions that way.  If you want to see exactly how it all works, feel free to check out one of my previous read-alongs here.

There's no official sign-up sheet or anything, and I know lots of people have already expressed their interest on this page.  But if you think you want to participate, or just think it's a cool idea and want to spread the word, feel free to put one of these buttons on your own blog:

The Literary Heroine Blog Party -- 2015

The Literary Heroine Blog Party is always a bright spot in February for me. February is my least-favorite month, but I definitely look forward to this party! I always meet charming people and discover some new blogs I want to follow. If you want to participate too, just visit Kellie Falconer's blog, Accordion to Kellie. There's always a marvelous give-away associated with this party, and this year she's giving away a handmade tulle skirt from her Etsy shop, which she sells for a tidy sum.

I'm going to try to answer the questions differently from previous years, when I can think up something new to say :-)

Here we go:

1.  Introduce yourself! Divulge your life's vision, likes, dislikes, aspirations, or something completely random!

As you know, I'm Hamlette. I'm 34, I'm a writer, I've been married for almost 13 years, and I'm a stay-at-home, homeschooling mommy. My son "Sam" is seven, my daughter "Sarah" will be 5 this weekend, and my younger daughter "Tootie" is very 3. I love to write, read, watch movies, blog, bake, crochet, sew, and daydream.

2.  What, to you, forms the essence of a true heroine?

A true heroine helps others. She does not turn away from those in need, but kindly assists other people however she can. She strives to understand others and herself. If she finds she has been wrong or misguided, she learns from her mistakes and becomes a better person, rather than stubbornly going on as before.

3.  Share (up to) four heroines of literature that you most admire and relate to.

I'm trying to be different from my answers in 2013 and 2014, so I'm going to choose these four:

Dorothea Brooke from Middlemarch by George Eliot.  She's sensible, intelligent, and so warm-hearted.  She wants to help everyone around her, and generally manages to.

Thursday Next in Jasper Fforde's wacky series that's named after her.  Self-sufficient, intelligent, and manages to keep her head in some very peculiar situations.

Turtle Wexler in The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin.  Determined and intelligent (sensing a theme here?), she solves a mystery that baffles many grownups and learns a lot about human nature in the process.

Jerusha Abbot in Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster.  A new favorite!  She's quirky and fun-loving, curious and yes, intelligent, and an aspiring author.

4.  Five of your favorite historical novels?

I'm again going to assume that "historical novel" means novels set in a time prior to our present day. So to choose five I didn't mention previously, I'll say: Persuasion by Jane Austen, An Antic Disposition by Alan Gordon, Homer Price by Robert McCloskey, Shadows over Stonewycke by Michael Phillips and Judith Pella, and The Virginian by Owen Wister.

5.  Out of those five books, who is your favorite major character and why?

Anne Elliot from Persuasion by Jane Austen. I think a lot of readers kind of shake their heads at Anne Elliot -- that silly girl who persuaded herself to give up True Love. But whatever you may think of Lady Russell, she was basically Anne's adoptive mother, and Anne obeyed the Commandment to honor your father and mother when she broke off her engagement with Frederick Wentworth. Significantly, that's the only Commandment that has a promise attached to it: "it will be well with you, and you will live long on the earth." And sure enough, Anne's obedience is eventually rewarded.

6.  Out of those five books, who is your favorite secondary character and why?

Admiral and Mrs. Croft from Persuasion.  I can't talk about one without the other!  They're a devoted married couple, and truly enjoy each others' company.  They're also clear-sighted and open-hearted, and altogether make me smile every time they appear on the page.

7.  If you were to plan out your dream vacation, where would you travel to - and what would you plan to do there?

This year, I pick going to New Zealand and seeing all the places where Peter Jackson's Middle Earth movies were filmed. The Shire, the Green Dragon, and anywhere else we could get to!

8.  What is your favorite time period and culture to read about?

I love the WWII era, all the various cultures involved. Some of my favorite books that take place during that time include The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, Shadows over Stonewycke by Michael Phillips and Judith Pella, A Memory Between Us by Sarah Sundin, and Catch-22 by Joseph Heller.

9.  You have been invited to perform at the local charity concert. Singing, comedy, recitation - what is your act comprised of?

I think I'll help with scenery and costumes this year, and let others have the spotlight.

10.  If you were to attend a party where each guest was to portray a heroine of literature, who would you select to represent?

I chose Anne of Green Gables and Jane Eyre before, so since I'm on a Robin Hood kick right now, I'll say Maid Marian, and my hubby can go as Robin.

11.  Favorite author(s)?

Raymond Chandler, Laurie R. King, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jasper Fforde, Alexandre Dumas, Robert Louis Stevenson, Jane Austen, J. R. R. Tolkien, Thor Heyerdahl...

12.  In which century were most of the books you read written?

Twentieth.

13.  In your opinion, the ultimate hero in literature is…

Helpful, nice, and practical. You want one specific person?  I'll go with Captain Frederick Wentworth from Persuasion this year, since I'm currently rereading it.

14.  In your opinion, the most dastardly villain of all literature is...

I think I'll go with Sauron again, from The Lord of the Rings.  He just wants to smash and wreck and break everything.  Bad, naughty, evil Sauron.

15.  Describe your ideal dwelling place.

Our house, Tir Asleen.  I could happily live in this house for the rest of my life.  Lots of room for books and my piano.  Plenty of space to spread out big, messy projects.  Enough floors that I can go off by myself once in a while and find a teensy bit of solitude to recharge or calm down or simply BE, even if it's just for 3 minutes.

16.  Sum up your fashion style in a short sentence.

If it's not comfortable, I won't wear it.

17.  Three favorite Non-fiction books?

Again, trying to be different from the previous to years, so I'll go with Hamlet:  Poetry Unlimited by Harold Bloom, A Jane Austen Education by William Deresiewicz, and The Key:  How to Write D**n Good Fiction Using the Power of Myth by James N. Frey.  I unreservedly recommend all three.

18.  Your duties met for the day, how would you choose to spend a carefree summer afternoon?

Writing in solitude.

19.  Create a verbal sketch of your dream hat - in such a way as will best portray your true character.

A cowboy hat of indistinct color, well-worn and sweat-stained, that fits like I've worn it for years.  Something a bit like this, which John Wayne wore in The Comancheros (1961).

20.  Share the most significant event(s) that have marked your life in the past year.

Had my gall bladder out in September, which was very unexpected.  Other than that, nothing big has really happened :-)  I like uneventful years!

22.  Share the Bible passage(s) that have been most inspiring to you recently.

"Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." Psalm 50:15.