Reviews

صاحب الظل الطويل by Jean Webster

avoraciousreader68's review against another edition

medium-paced

5.0

Book source ~ Purchased at Chirp

In the early 1900s, Jerusha “Judy” Abbot grew up in a home for orphans. When she is 18, she is sent to college by one of the trustees who chose to remain anonymous. As part of his agreement to pay for her tuition, room and board, she is to address him as Mr. Smith and write to him monthly when she received her allowance. She does so and this is a collection of her letters to him.

Ok, this is just as delightful as I remember it being when I read it as a kid several decades *cough*four to be precise*cough* ago. I actually only vaguely recalled it, but remembered that I enjoyed it, so when I saw it on sale at Chirp I jumped at the chance to revisit it. Also, the narrator is fantastic!

 

murawa's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

delgremmyaward's review against another edition

4.0

Every time I read this book, I grow a little more satisfied with the writing style and a little less satisfied with the romance. The fact of the matter is that a grown man meets a teenager, becomes her sponsor and de facto guardian, and uses his position and money to try to control her actions. Even while she is learning about parts of the world herself and showing she is amply able to make her own decisions, he continues to control her through what basically amounts to financial intimidation. This is a little off-putting, but I would imagine that many people today can relate to this. What really gets me is this:

Spoiler

That sponsor steps into her real life, befriends her, tries to sway her actions through their friendship, and demeans her when she disagrees. He becomes a hypocrite to ingratiate himself with her. He reacquaints himself with his family, whom he dislikes, because his niece is a "friend" of Judy's who can get him access to her. He comments on other couples needing chaperones while whisking Judy away for himself to go for long walks and drives, chaperone-less. When Judy decides to work for herself instead of going to Europe, he calls her an idiot (because she isn't choosing to be with him). I wish we could see some of the letters she and he exchange because as it is, it isn't clear to me why Judy would fall in love with him when somebody like Jimmie McBride is around.

Every time I read this I wish Jimmie McBride were the end game. Even better, I wish there were somebody else reading her letters. I love the idea of a crush sitting on the other end of the postal route, pining over a person he'd love to meet. Perhaps an older trustee has a son who convinces his girl-hater father to sponsor an orphan, steals his mail, and slowly falls in love with his father's age-appropriate young ward. Why would that have been a worse story? Or maybe the non-age-appropriate sponsor falls in love with her and proceeds to act in accordance with his station and NOT pursue a relationship with her until she has graduated. I'd even accept that. What I don't accept is that an exceptional woman finds her only semblance of family comes from a person who wants not just to marry her, but also to own her mind and opinions-- and who doesn't even like girls, at that. It's very frustrating.

I can see how anybody would fall in love with Judy through her letters, though, because I did. She's delightful. Many aspects of her letters are familiar to somebody who had mild adventures in their youths, even if the setting of a turn-of-the-century women's college seems a little anachronistic at this point. (Spending time on Roman history as a rule and only learning basic geometry when in college? Education has changed.) The letters tap a little into nostaliga for those of us who are older than she is and hope for future happiness for those who are younger. She's hard-working, if a little whiny. (After a while, you start to lose count of the times she says, "I've never had this experience, except if you count that time at the orphanage when I did. It just wasn't to my liking at the time.") She's also funny. Judy also possesses a gentle wit and ability to spin the quotidian trials of college life into engaging tales. She'd be a terrific real-life letter writer. It's easy to see how somebody might warm to her when exposed to her sunny personality.

Spoiler

I just wish that somebody weren't Jervis.

Still gonna read it again. It's cozy and comforting in a way few other books are. Maybe don't go for the sequel, though. I'll accept a lot of moral iffiness in books (which should be obvious given my qualms over this book and its corresponding four-star review), but I draw the line at the pro-eugenics stance that pops up in the next book.

maysoonessam's review

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

lilsoliver's review against another edition

4.0

Daddy-Long-Legs follows a young orphan named Judy, who has been given the scholarship to attend college by a mysterious benefactor. The only catch is she must write him letters informing the benefactor of her progress in school. This is partly an epistolary novel and is made up of Judy's letters to her benefactor, who she calls Daddy Long Legs.

This novel was definitely a two reads kind of book. I felt very weird about the love story between this adult man and the girl he is sending to college the first time around. It felt very creepy and manipulative. The second time around, I focused more on Judy's character and saw that she is, in fact, a very independent and strong female character.

Overall, I really enjoyed this read. Though, in some ways, the romance does seem really creepy and weird. Judy's character development is the best part of the story and makes the read worthwhile.

catburglar_'s review against another edition

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

if you like anne of green gables you’re going to LOVE this.

the book is written in letter format from a girl who is in an orphanage to the man who sends her to college, giving her allowances etc but he remains anonymous and his one condition is that she writes him often on her progress which is beneficial as she has high expectations of becoming an author. 

for less than 150 pages this short story is phenomenal and well worth a read. there are little illustrations throughout which is just so adorable and i loved seeing her excitement of the things many of us take for granted. so many book references throughout too such as: jane eyre, little women, wuthering heights, treasure island  and whenever i see characters enjoy literature it makes me all the more excited to read. 

there is a romance in this too.

quotes i like:
“In the spring when everything is so beautiful and green and budding, I feel like turning my back on lessons, and running away to play with the weather. There are such lots of adventures out in the fields! It's much more entertaining to live books than to write them.”

“It isn't the big troubles in life that require character. Anybody can rise to a crisis and face a crushing tragedy with courage, but to meet the petty hazards of the day with a laugh— really think that requires spirit.”

“Most people don't live; they just race. They are trying to reach some goal far away on the horizon, and in the heat of the going they get so breathless and panting that they lose all sight of the beautiful, tranquil country they are passing through; and then the first thing they know, they are old and worn out, and it doesn't make any difference whether they've reached the goal or not.”

“my only quarrel with life is that the days aren't long enough to write all the beautiful and valuable and entertaining thoughts I'm thinking.”

“I hasten to assure you that I am young and happy and exuberant; and I trust you are the same. Youth has nothing to do with birthdays, only with alivedness of spirit, so even if your hair is gray, you can still be a boy.”

robnob's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

annashiv's review against another edition

5.0

Absolutely loved it. It reminded me of many other books like A Little Princess, and Jane Eyre, and even Harry Potter. All of which I love. Judy was just so likable most of the time and funny. I would have read it all in one sitting if I could have. I suspect I will reread this book and recommend it to many.

aquila83's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

valkinbabe's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

I absolutely love this book. Judy is just so funny, and her letters are so amusing, I love it.