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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
This book made me happy! Since I am home for the week, I have decided to embark upon the re-reading of some of the books from my childhood (though I doubt I’ll get through many) and I’d forgotten quite how lovely this one is.
It is mostly a series of letters from an orphan, Jerusha Abbott, to her benefactor, Daddy Long Legs. I normally don’t like the style of letters (e.g. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society) but this is so exquisite and I’d love to read more of it.
It is mostly a series of letters from an orphan, Jerusha Abbott, to her benefactor, Daddy Long Legs. I normally don’t like the style of letters (e.g. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society) but this is so exquisite and I’d love to read more of it.
"معظم الناس لا يحيون، بل يكتفون بالجري، ويحاولون بلوغ هدف ما بعيد في الأفق، وفي حرارة الجري تنقطع أنفاسهم ويلهثون فيخسرون رؤية الريف الجميل الهادئ الدي يجتازونه، ثم يكون أول ما يكتشفونه أنهم صاروا مسنين ومنهكين ولن يحدث بلوغهم هدفهم أو عدمه أي فرق"
"لقد قررت الجلوس على جانب الطريق وتكديس الكثير من السعادات الصغيرة"
"لقد قررت الجلوس على جانب الطريق وتكديس الكثير من السعادات الصغيرة"
funny
lighthearted
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
كانت قراءة الرواية ممتعة جداً. أسلوب الكاتبة نوعي، متجدد و عفوي للغاية.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
One of my mother's teenage favourites and a buddy read with her <3 A truly wonderful little book which had me laughing out loud and constantly searching for pockets of time in my day to read even just a few more lines. I especially found myself reaching for it when I was down, and was always cheered up. Judy is such a delightful protagonist, with a distinct voice and great humour. She's really more a friend than a book character :)
funny
hopeful
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I read this book as a child and loved it, and while it's been on my bookshelf all these years, I never picked it up again until a friend mentioned it this week. I was happy to find that I still loved it on rereading it, even after all these years! I don't want to give any spoilers but will say I don't think the interpersonal dynamics in this one are for everyone, but I was perfectly happy with how it ended and also enjoy the spunky protagonist and epistolary nature of the book.
What a beautiful, beautiful trainwreck.
1 star for quick reading, 1 star for Judy's character despite the flaws.
Despite marking the major spoilers, this whole thing is still filled with spoilers.
The issues:
1) Lack of details to important things. How does she contact the secretary (his name is given only near the end), what do the checks with money say (are they anonymous or have a fake name or no name at all?).
Yet we are be able to read about color of candy wrappers and the cost of chocolate. (I made those up, but it's too boring to find the exact nothing-meaning items.)
2) Judy's lack of action despite her curiosity. Now, if she had the name of the secretary all along, and she did seem a very curious and persistent child, why didn't she launch an investigation into that, even as a joke and then report back to Dadddy-Long-Legs (further refered as DLL) how she had wished it had led somewhere?
She collects and ponders over any information she has about DLL, yet why does she has to be so blind until the end to not connect all the dots?
3) Romance. *screams into the void*
3.1) Judy's lack of expression on any romance related anything. She does not express a gram of romantic ideals, except for the old cliches of getting married and having children, which when coming from her, come off as learned dogmas.
Any other displays of past romantic feelings towards someone or vice versa are never mentioned, and if the excuse is that she grew up in a very restricted environment, then shouldn't she question the feelings that she does develop throughout the novel for certain someone?
3.2) Contrast of relationships.
3.3)
3.4) The Ending.
In conclusion, this would have been better kept as a parental relationship and all would be nice anddaddydandy.
4) Judy's character inconsistency. She shows on multiple occasions that she's akin to a strong female lead, 1) when she feels lonely and DLL hasn't answered any of her letters, she writes a frustrated letter to him, 2) she resists when DLL tells her to go to the farm, 3) as well as all that yada yada about her future. 4) She doesn't let people push her around, when others insist she must go traveling during the summer break, 5) or when DLL sends her extra money to spend on objects of vanity.
And yet, her character caves in at the end of this book. She's fought her way through, she has dreams of traveling when she graduates and doesn't wish to be stuck in a farm, but then returns just there.
The author isn't sure if her novel is a coming of age story or romance, and she butchers them both in an omelette with a good start, but a bad aftertaste.
1 star for quick reading, 1 star for Judy's character despite the flaws.
Despite marking the major spoilers, this whole thing is still filled with spoilers.
The issues:
1) Lack of details to important things. How does she contact the secretary (his name is given only near the end), what do the checks with money say (are they anonymous or have a fake name or no name at all?).
Yet we are be able to read about color of candy wrappers and the cost of chocolate. (I made those up, but it's too boring to find the exact nothing-meaning items.)
2) Judy's lack of action despite her curiosity. Now, if she had the name of the secretary all along, and she did seem a very curious and persistent child, why didn't she launch an investigation into that, even as a joke and then report back to Dadddy-Long-Legs (further refered as DLL) how she had wished it had led somewhere?
She collects and ponders over any information she has about DLL, yet why does she has to be so blind until the end to not connect all the dots?
Spoiler
I mean, how many rich men, that want to give constant gifts, does one have to know to start thinking: "wait a minute, these two men seem a tad too similar!?"3) Romance. *screams into the void*
3.1) Judy's lack of expression on any romance related anything. She does not express a gram of romantic ideals, except for the old cliches of getting married and having children, which when coming from her, come off as learned dogmas.
Any other displays of past romantic feelings towards someone or vice versa are never mentioned, and if the excuse is that she grew up in a very restricted environment, then shouldn't she question the feelings that she does develop throughout the novel for certain someone?
Spoiler
Yet, not a whisper until we read the outburst of love and commitment at the end.3.2) Contrast of relationships.
Spoiler
She sees DLL as a father figure, but develops romantic feelings for Jervis. And when she finally discovers they are one and the same, she has no confusion, no conflict within herself, the concept of Daddy-Long-Legs as the only one who understands and hears her, the only one that really cares about her puffs into the air and is no more. And how about Jervis' attraction to Judy? The letters after all are a young girl's memoirs.3.3)
Spoiler
Jervis. He keeps the information about him being DLL until the very end. Why? To still be able to control her even if he cannot do so in real life, since in that life he's not holding the power of money over her head. And yet, both relationships are essentially based on money. DLL sends her money for schooling, reasons for doing so is at Judy's own interpretation. Jervis keeps popping up in her life to give her gifts and spend whatever time he can with Judy, but we don't get to see too many interactions between them, and in letters with DLL she mostly compliments Jervis, who, though being rich, doesn't have the personality of the rich.3.4) The Ending.
Spoiler
Once the reveal comes and the two people become one, Judy feels no betrayal of trust or having been manipulated, doesn't even question his unnecessary secrecy. Before that Judy writes that she rejects Jervis' proposal due to him not knowing her past, meaning she believes that such things should be shared. Yet, her past doesn't matter that much and she hasn't lied about any of it, while Jervis' actions of hiding the truth have had a continuous consequence.In conclusion, this would have been better kept as a parental relationship and all would be nice and
4) Judy's character inconsistency. She shows on multiple occasions that she's akin to a strong female lead, 1) when she feels lonely and DLL hasn't answered any of her letters, she writes a frustrated letter to him, 2) she resists when DLL tells her to go to the farm, 3) as well as all that yada yada about her future. 4) She doesn't let people push her around, when others insist she must go traveling during the summer break, 5) or when DLL sends her extra money to spend on objects of vanity.
And yet, her character caves in at the end of this book. She's fought her way through, she has dreams of traveling when she graduates and doesn't wish to be stuck in a farm, but then returns just there.
Spoiler
There is also a part about her saying how her interests are changing to fit Jervis' and that they have everything in common, yet I find it such a lame way to make their relationship plausible, as well as sending the wrong message: that to be in a romantic relationship, you must have everything or most in common with your partner. And here too, we see the slight distortion of who we're told Judy is at the beginning, and who she's bent into to fit the narrative.The author isn't sure if her novel is a coming of age story or romance, and she butchers them both in an omelette with a good start, but a bad aftertaste.
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Yes