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eliza_reads_a_little's review against another edition
4.0
knocked a star off - although I enjoyed the story and the style of writing, do be aware there are some pretty offensive eugenics views in the book! Take with a pinch of salt and bear in mind the times...
19paws's review against another edition
5.0
This sequel--sort of--to the more popular Daddy Long Legs is simply delightful! Told through stick-figure-illustrated letters, it describes the joys and trials of running an "orphan asylum" at the turn of the century, from the viewpoint of a tender-hearted, though reluctant asylum superintendent. Although there are some disturbing and outdated references to the relationship of heredity to character, the book is still amazingly fresh and progressive for one written nearly 100 years ago. And it is very funny!
rachelhelps's review against another edition
4.0
This is a public domain book about a young lady who becomes the director of an orphanage in the United States against her wishes. Told in a series of letters, the protagonist's chipper yet witty narrative is amusing, though becomes a bit tiresome by the end. There is a romantic subplot between our heroine and the brooding Scottish tsundere doctor, whom she playfully calls her enemy in letters to him.
About halfway through I got a little bored. Four stars for the first half, 2.5 for the second half. I loved how the protagonist realized that she didn't want to marry for the wrong reasons, although I thought it would have ended perfectly with her unmarried. It's just a shame that Jean Webster died before writing more, in childbirth nonetheless, because she was such a witty and promising author.
About halfway through I got a little bored. Four stars for the first half, 2.5 for the second half. I loved how the protagonist realized that she didn't want to marry for the wrong reasons, although I thought it would have ended perfectly with her unmarried. It's just a shame that Jean Webster died before writing more, in childbirth nonetheless, because she was such a witty and promising author.
khuloud_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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
5.0
thecorioliseffect's review against another edition
5.0
What a sweet book! I loved it! I actually think I liked it better than Daddy Long Legs. I thought Sallie's voice was adorable and sweet. I loved all her stories about the orphans, and it was so lovely to see how she changed from beginning to end, saying she was going to leave the asylum and then she couldn't bear to be separated from her orphans! I loved seeing her writing letters to Judy, and the way her relationship developed with her "Enemy" was just so engaging. Lovely read.
rooh_2004's review against another edition
4.0
ميتم جون جرير، الدار التي نشأت فيها عزيزتنا الجميلة جودي أبوت و التي عاشت فيه طفولتها
! الكئيبة المعتمة المبتورة من أي روح طفولية سعيدة
تتولي سالي ماكبرايد ذات الشعر الأحمر و الأصول الإسكتلندية (كم أحب ذلك التكوين العرقي من الشخصيات) رئاسة الميتم و تبدأ في تدبر أمره و تطويرة
و تجعله آدميا و مفعم بالسعادة التي يستحقها الأيتام
!! ال١٢٧ المساكين
في رأيي كان الكتاب نوع من "الاجندة" أو"الكاتالوج" لكيفية عمل أمور كثيرة مما يتطلب من المرء فعله بعد التخرج من المرحله الجامعية ، كالعلاقات الاجتماعية في العمل و كيفية التعامل معها و تربية الطفل و تهيئته لمواجهه العالم و غيرها،
و ناهيك عن الشخصية المذهلة "الطبيب روبن
ماكري" عدو سالي اللدود، الذي أحْبَبْتُهُ كثيرا منذ اللحظة
♥️ الأولي علي عكس سالي
ورغم أني وددت جودي أن تحقق حلمها و تتولي إدارة الميتم و لكنها إكتفت برعايته مادياً فقط، واضعتاً كل
!! آملها علي صديقتها العزيزة سالي
و الحقيقة أن سالي كانت خير مسؤول و خير مديرة للميتم و لكن الأمر لم يكن بالسهولة التي تخيلتها ، و لكن
!! تعلمت منها الكثير
لقد منك الرب يدين إثنتين و عقلا و عالما كبيرا تستخدمها فيه. إن استخدمتها علي نحو حسن فسيجازيك الرب، و إن استخدمتها علي نحو سئ، ستكون في فاقة
ملاحظة: أطعموا أولادكم "زيت كبد الحوت" و "السبانخ" و أفتحوا الشبابيك و أدخلوا الهواء النقي ْلبيوتكم و إستغلوا كل ثانية لإسعاد عَائِلَتِكُم و أَحِبَتَكُمْ و المُكُوث معهم، قبل أن يفوت
!! الأوان
♥️
amphitritedreams's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
An often funny, warm-hearted epistolary novel.
I enjoyed this very much as a teenager and on re-read today. Sadly, my digital edition did not come with Sally's charming illustrations. Strictly, this is a sequel to Daddy Longlegs, but you don't need to read Daddy Longlegs to enjoy this, and I'd say Dear Enemy is the better (and certainly less worrying) book.
Set in the very early 20th century (before the 19th amendment), hot-tempered socialite Sally is talked into putting her engagement on hold in order to reform an orphan asylum. It's a hard job, complicated by sparring with an irritating Scottish doctor, difficult trustees and rebellious staff as well as her own ideas about what matters most.
I enjoyed this very much as a teenager and on re-read today. Sadly, my digital edition did not come with Sally's charming illustrations. Strictly, this is a sequel to Daddy Longlegs, but you don't need to read Daddy Longlegs to enjoy this, and I'd say Dear Enemy is the better (and certainly less worrying) book.
Set in the very early 20th century (before the 19th amendment), hot-tempered socialite Sally is talked into putting her engagement on hold in order to reform an orphan asylum. It's a hard job, complicated by sparring with an irritating Scottish doctor, difficult trustees and rebellious staff as well as her own ideas about what matters most.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism and Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Mental illness, Racism, and Fire/Fire injury
If the foreground of the story is an enemies to lovers romance, the context is managing an early 20th century orphan asylum. There are frequent passing references to the challenges faced by the children their birth families. Social work at the time was preoccupied with alcoholism, heritability and eugenics, and these themes get some additional coverage in period style.