Little Women

Carolyn and I decided to read Little Women. I have decided to add little poignant quotes from the book as I go along. I will just keep adding them to this post.

Ch. 3
- "I saw you dancing with the red headed man I ran away from. Was he nice?

Oh. very! His hair is auburn, not red, and he was very polite, and I had a delicious redowa with him.

He looked like a grasshopper in a fit when he did the new step. Laurie and I couldn't help laughing. Did you hear us?"

Ch. 4
- "I don't believe fine young ladies enjoy themselves a bit more than we do, in spite of our burned hair, old gowns, one glove apiece and tight slippers that sprain our ankles when we are silly enough to wear them, And I think Jo was quite right."

- "Tell another story, Mother, one with a moral to it, like this. I like to think about them afterward, if they are real and not too preachy, said Jo, after a minute's silence."

- "When you feel discontented, think over your blessings, and be grateful."

- "So they agreed to stop complaining, to enjoy the blessings already possessed, and try to deserve them, lest they should be taken away entirely, instead of increased, and I believe they were never disappointed or sorry that they took the old woman's advice."

Ch. 5
- "... remember that children should be children as long as they can."

- "If the Laurences had been what Jo called `prim and poky', she would not have got on at all, for such people always made her shy and awkward. But finding them free and easy, she was so herself, and made a good impression."

Ch. 7
- "You have a good many little gifts and virtues, but there is no need of parading them, for conceit spoils the finest genius. There is not much danger that real talent or goodness will be overlooked long, even if it is, the consciousness of possessing and using it well should satisfy one, and the great charm of all power is modesty."

Ch. 8
- "Your father, Jo. He never loses patience, never doubts or complains, but always hopes, and works and waits so cheerfully that one is ashamed to do otherwise before him. He helped and comforted me, and showed me that I must try to practice all the virtues I would have my little girls possess, for I was their example. It was easier to try for your sakes than for my own. A startled or surprised look from one of you when I spoke sharply rebuked me more than any words could have done, and the love, respect, and confidence of my children was the sweetest reward I could receive for my efforts to be the woman I would have them copy."

- "...you may say anything to your mother, for it is my greatest happiness and pride to feel that my girls confide in me and know how much I love them."

- "No, dear, but speaking of Father reminded me how much I miss him, how much I owe him, and how faithfully I should watch and work to keep his little daughters safe and good for him."

- "Why should I complain, when we both have merely done our duty and will surely be the happier for it in the end? If I don't seem to need help, it is because I have a better friend, even than Father, to comfort and sustain me. My child, the troubles and temptations of your life are beginning and may be many, but you can overcome and outlive them all if you learn to feel the strength and tenderness of your Heavenly Father as you do that of your earthly one. The more you love and trust Him, and the less you will depend on human power and wisdom. His love and care never tire or change, can never be taken from you, but my become the source of lifelong peace, happiness, and strength. Believe this heartily, and go to God with all your little cares, and hopes, and sins, and sorrows, as freely and confidently as you come to your mother."

Ch. 9
- "I want my daughters to be beautiful, accomplished, and good. To be admired, loved, and respected. To have a happy youth, to be well and wisely married, and to lead useful, pleasant lives, with as little care and sorrow to try them as God sees fit to send. To be loved and chosen by a good man is the best and sweetest thing which can happen to a woman, and I sincerely hope my girls may know this beautiful experience. It is natural to think of it, Meg, right to hope and wait for it, and wise to prepare for it, so that when the happy time comes, you may feel ready for the duties and worthy of the joy. My dear girls, I am ambitious for you, but not to have you make a dash in the world, marry rich men merely because they are rich, or have splendid houses, which are not homes because love is wanting. Money is a needful and precious thing, and when well used, a noble thing, but I never want you to think it is the first or only prize to strive for. I'd rather see you poor men's wives, if you were happy, beloved, contented, than queens on thrones, without self-respect and peace."

Ch. 11
- "Yes, I wanted you to see how the comfort of all depends on each doing her share faithfully. While Hannah and I did your work, you got on pretty well, though I don't think you were very happy or amiable. So I thought, as a little lesson, I would show you what happens when everyone thinks only of herself. Don't you feel that it is pleasanter to help one another, to have daily duties which make leisure sweet when it comes, and to bear and forbear, that home may be comfortable and lovely to us all?"

- "Then I am quite satisfied with the experiment, and fancy that we shall not have to repeat it, only don't go to the other extreme and delve like slaves. Have regular hours for work and play, make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life become a beautiful success, in spite of poverty."

Ch. 25
- "Mother says that neither she nor her daughters will ever offer it (wine) to any young man under her roof.

Meg spoke seriously and expected to see Laurie frown or laugh, but he did neither, for after a quick look at her, he said, in his impetuous way, I like that! For I've seen enough harm done to wish other women would think as you do."

Ch. 33
- "Speaking of books reminds me that I'm getting rich in that line, for on New Year's Day Mr. Bhaer gave me a fine Shakespeare. It is one he values much, and I've often admired it, set up in the place of honor with his German Bible, Plato, Homer, and Milton, so you may imagine how I felt when he brought it down, without its cover, and showed me my own name in it, from my friend Friedrich Bhaer ."

- "I promised to do so, but left the door open and enjoyed the fun as much as they did, for a more glorious frolic I never witnessed. they played tag and soldiers, danced and sang, and when it began to grow dark they all piled onto the sofa about the Professor, while he told charming fairy stories of the storks on the chimney tops, and the little `koblods', who ride the snowflakes as they fall. I wish Americans were as simple and natural as Germans, don't you?"

Ch. 38

- "Meg tried to look deeply interested, to ask intelligent questions, and keep her thoughts from wandering from the state of the nation to the state of her bonnet."

- "...Meg learned, that a woman's happiest kingdom is home, her highest honor the art of ruling it not as a queen, but as a wise wife and mother."

I finished reading Little Women today. I recorded many more quotes at the beginning of the book than at the end. The beginning seems to have more "lessons" and the end more living. There were some parts that I did want to record but I can't remember them right now.

This was the second time I read Little Women. I did hear it on tape in my dad's car when I was maybe 14 though - so I guess it is kind of the third time.

I love the emphasis throughout the book on bettering one's self. When I read it I, too, am filled with a desire to better myself. Developing patience is another idea that is developed in the book. Everything is so fast nowadays that I actually get impatient when my computer takes about 30 seconds to load a page. Sometimes when I get impatient with it I remember having the Kmart Bluelight free dial up and trying to find a wedding dress waiting about 2 minutes for 1 picture of a wedding dress to load. I was patient though and found my dress online and then went to the store to buy it. To do one's work cheerfully is another theme I enjoyed in the book. I love the little moral lessons throughout the book. They aren't too preachy. Marmee more just guides her girls with little life lessons. I am sure that most of the characters in the book are based on real people and I imagine that many of the lessons taught by Marmee were taught to Louisa May Alcott by her own mother.

I love that Teddy married Amy and that Jo married Mr. Bhaer. I think that they were good matches. I like that Amy and Jo were both friends with their spouses before they were married. Meg did wait three years to get married so I suppose she and Mr. Brooke were friends as well, but they didn't seem to really know each other when they got engaged. I think Marmee is a good mother and I remember a quote I wanted to copy was that she doesn't give advice unless she had tried it and seen it work first. I think that is good advice :) for giving advice. I think she taught her children well and also gave them enough freedom and independence at the same time. Last time I read this I was about 25 and about to get married. This time I think I read a little from the Marmee prospective since I am now older than the girls were for the whole story.

The end seemed a little rushed to me or maybe dragged on a little - I am not sure which, but I did like the ending with them talking about their castles in the air. I think it just skipped too fast with too many characters at the end since they all had children and some of the boys in the next book Little Men are mentioned. I think that the Daisy and Demi chapter was in the wrong place. The My Lord and My Lady maybe was too. After having Mr. Bhaer appear it is hard to read about Amy and then about two little babies. My Daisy and Demi could have been combined into the chapter On The Shelf.

I don' t have many criticisms though. It was published in 1868, so I think the style is characteristic of the times in which it was written. I enjoyed the book and had trouble putting it down. My husband and kids seem glad that I am done reading it so they can have some attention.

I read the last 60 pages or so lying in the hammock with a cold breeze while the magpies chattered around and the clouds made the sun blink on and off.