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charlote_1347's review against another edition
5.0
I would like to begin by saying that I watched ‘A Little Princess’ as a child many, many times and fell in love with it. It was a fairy tale that relied on kindness rather than magic and that was a moral I could champion. Sara was a relatable character for a small child and was equally as relatable to a grown adult, as I discovered on recently reading the book.
Her experience of life in the opening pages was wholesome but narrow. Her thoughts were considerate and self-reflective but her awareness of social, economic and cultural struggles was lacking. We see her acknowledge that her privileged childhood was a matter of luck, that she could have been born to a poor family, but she does not take this thought further. It does not occur to her that the money in her silk purse could feed a starving beggar. That realisation comes later. Despite this lack of awareness, Sara is an endearing child. Most of her interactions with other characters, adults and children alike, show her to be a mature, affectionate person. She teaches Ermengarde that compassion can be more important than intelligence and helps her to develop a sense of self-worth. Lottie clings to Sara as a mother figure and while Sara indulges her, she does not tolerate her childish tantrums. Perhaps the best example is the way Sara interacts with Becky. While Sara is aware of Becky’s position in the household, she does not dismiss her as Miss Minchin does. To Sara, Becky is a child as well as a chambermaid. One does not cancel out the other.
When Captain Crewe is pronounced dead and Sara is plunged into poverty, the transition is jarring. I don’t doubt that that was the author’s intention. Suddenly, through no fault of her own, Sara is stripped of everything: her family, her finery, her social standing. This changes her but for the better. She accepts her new lodgings without complaint and works like a dog, taking comfort in ‘pretending’. ‘Pretending’ is a touching reminder of her age and vulnerability but it also a reminder of her endurance. Not once does she utter a ‘woe is me’.
My favourite scene, by far, was when Ram Dass transformed the attic while Sara slept. The concept was inspired (and a little creepy). The imagery was decadent and vivid. I closed my eyes after reading the descriptive paragraphs and a picture of the attic crystallised in my mind. The depiction of Sara was particularly good in this chapter. It would have been too far-fetched to have her call to Becky immediately, since she believed that she was dreaming. Even when the objects and fabrics prove tangible, she dawdles for a while to revel in the luxury. Her hesitation is only temporary however, and she summons Becky with haste to share her good fortune. It was heartening to see Sara rewarded, even if life does not always work that way. There was satisfaction in it.
The other scene that had a dramatic impact was when Sara gave five of her six buns to a beggar. Again fate seemed to reward her kindness by leaving money in a drain for her to find. Starving, she digs the coin out and walks into the nearest bakery. Before she can fill her stomach, a starving child catches her eye. Sara, disregarding her own stomach cramps, gives almost all of her food away, realising that the child needs it more than her. This encounter is a turning point in her character growth because Sara is exposed to misery worse than her own and becomes aware of suffering on a grand scale. Her personal experience plants itself in the middle of social, economic and cultural inequalities and injustices and she realises that millions of people all over the world are suffering like her. She is not alone.
‘A Little Princess’ was an inspiring read. Marketed as a children’s book, it doubles as a novel in its own right. Anyone of any age would benefit from picking it up in their local bookshop and giving it a read. The world can always benefit from a little more magic.
Her experience of life in the opening pages was wholesome but narrow. Her thoughts were considerate and self-reflective but her awareness of social, economic and cultural struggles was lacking. We see her acknowledge that her privileged childhood was a matter of luck, that she could have been born to a poor family, but she does not take this thought further. It does not occur to her that the money in her silk purse could feed a starving beggar. That realisation comes later. Despite this lack of awareness, Sara is an endearing child. Most of her interactions with other characters, adults and children alike, show her to be a mature, affectionate person. She teaches Ermengarde that compassion can be more important than intelligence and helps her to develop a sense of self-worth. Lottie clings to Sara as a mother figure and while Sara indulges her, she does not tolerate her childish tantrums. Perhaps the best example is the way Sara interacts with Becky. While Sara is aware of Becky’s position in the household, she does not dismiss her as Miss Minchin does. To Sara, Becky is a child as well as a chambermaid. One does not cancel out the other.
When Captain Crewe is pronounced dead and Sara is plunged into poverty, the transition is jarring. I don’t doubt that that was the author’s intention. Suddenly, through no fault of her own, Sara is stripped of everything: her family, her finery, her social standing. This changes her but for the better. She accepts her new lodgings without complaint and works like a dog, taking comfort in ‘pretending’. ‘Pretending’ is a touching reminder of her age and vulnerability but it also a reminder of her endurance. Not once does she utter a ‘woe is me’.
My favourite scene, by far, was when Ram Dass transformed the attic while Sara slept. The concept was inspired (and a little creepy). The imagery was decadent and vivid. I closed my eyes after reading the descriptive paragraphs and a picture of the attic crystallised in my mind. The depiction of Sara was particularly good in this chapter. It would have been too far-fetched to have her call to Becky immediately, since she believed that she was dreaming. Even when the objects and fabrics prove tangible, she dawdles for a while to revel in the luxury. Her hesitation is only temporary however, and she summons Becky with haste to share her good fortune. It was heartening to see Sara rewarded, even if life does not always work that way. There was satisfaction in it.
The other scene that had a dramatic impact was when Sara gave five of her six buns to a beggar. Again fate seemed to reward her kindness by leaving money in a drain for her to find. Starving, she digs the coin out and walks into the nearest bakery. Before she can fill her stomach, a starving child catches her eye. Sara, disregarding her own stomach cramps, gives almost all of her food away, realising that the child needs it more than her. This encounter is a turning point in her character growth because Sara is exposed to misery worse than her own and becomes aware of suffering on a grand scale. Her personal experience plants itself in the middle of social, economic and cultural inequalities and injustices and she realises that millions of people all over the world are suffering like her. She is not alone.
‘A Little Princess’ was an inspiring read. Marketed as a children’s book, it doubles as a novel in its own right. Anyone of any age would benefit from picking it up in their local bookshop and giving it a read. The world can always benefit from a little more magic.
waylintaylin's review against another edition
4.0
Such a darling read! Sara was so refreshing and I loved how all of the characters really meshed. I wish I had read this when I was younger.
cheshirecataclysmic's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
craftingcnage's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those books that I could read a thousand times over.
kim_j_dare's review against another edition
4.0
This is the book that epitomizes the magic of reading for me. When I think back to childhood days curled up and reading for hours, very few characters drew me in as completely and utterly as Sara Crewe.
kaiatoast's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
skepticbook's review against another edition
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0