Monday, September 10, 2012

Teaser Tuesday 143: Little Women (Take 2)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current book or recent read.
* Share a few "teaser" sentences from somewhere in the book.
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser!



Yes, I am still working on
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I had planned to spend most of the previous weekend (Sept 1-2) curled up with it, but a migraine laid that idea to rest. I pegged away at it when I could during the week, and was able to spend a large chunk of this past Saturday with it. I am finally in the home stretch, only about 60 pages to go. Might just finish before bed tonight!

Also, I think I have figured out why some people dislike the book. It has a tendency, particularly in part one, to come off as rather preachy—something I never picked up on when read many years ago. Still a good book, though. I thought this passage particularly timely, considering election day is less than two months away.


He read a long debate with the most amiable readiness and then explained it in his most lucid manner, while 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. In her secret soul, however, she decided that politics were as bad as mathematics, and that the mission of politicians seemed to be calling each other names; but she kept these feminine ideas to herself, and when John paused, shook her head and said with what she thought diplomatic ambiguity, “Well, I really don’t see what we are coming to.” (pg 468)


ABOUT THE BOOK:
(For those unfamiliar with this classic children’s book)

Little Women is an American classic, adored for Louisa May Alcott's lively and vivid portraits of the endearing March sisters: talented tomboy Jo, pretty Meg, shy Beth, temperamental Amy. Millions have shared in their joys, hardships, and adventures as they grow up in Civil War New England, separated by the war from their father and beloved mother, "Marmee," blossoming from "little women" into adults. Jo searches for her writer's voice and finds unexpected love. . .Meg prepares for marriage and a family. . .Beth reaches out to the less fortunate, tragically. . .and Amy travels to Europe to become a painter. Based on Louisa May Alcott's own Yankee childhood, "Little Women" is a treasure—a story whose enduring values of patience, loyalty, and love have kept this extraordinary family close to the hearts of generation after generation of delighted readers.




21 comments:

Sandra Nachlinger said...

That excerpt is timeless! I read Little Women years ago.
My Teaser is from A COLLIE RESCUE.

Beth said...

So very true!!!! Here is my teaser for this week

Shelley Munro said...

I think I would have been with Meg. They do seem to do a lot of name calling.

Unknown said...

Yes always tricky to come back to a childhood favourite - doesn't always measure up to memory! Our TT features Persepolis

Claire said...

I'm definitely with Meg about politicians just calling each other names. It's so true! Hope you're fully recovered from your migraine.

My teaser is here if you'd like a look :)

Juli Rahel said...

Hope your migraine is better! I love this bit of Little Women, Meg is a great character! Thanks for sharing :)
My Teasers
Juli @ Universe in Words

Heather said...

Sandy: Isn't it timely? I read this years ago, too, but am beginning to think we had an abridged version, as I do not remember it being so long, and don't remember some scenes.

Beth: It is true, isn't it? Some things never change! lol

Heather said...

Helen: Rereading any book, favorite or not, can be an interesting experience--especially the more years there are since you last read it. I have a few other favorites I would like to reread as well. Should be interesting to see how they measure up!

Claire: Thank you, the migraine is long gone. Now if only I could get some allergy relief... lol

Heather said...

Shelley: There does seem an inordinant amount of name-calling, doesn't there?

Juli: Thank you, and glad you liked this teaser from Little Women.

Anonymous said...

My all time favorite book.

http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2012/09/teaser-tuesday.html

Unknown said...

I loved Little Women, but it took me a long time to get through, too. Started it in middle school, but because of it's length moved on to a different book for a book report and it took me forever to get back to it.

My teaser: http://polliwogblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/teaser-tuesday_11.html

Heather said...

Books Mama: It seems a great many women claim this as their favorite. It is certainly worth reading.

Leah: I don't think it's the length that hung me up, but more the writing style. I've read much longer books in only a couple of days. I did like it, but am hoping my next classic reads much faster (especially as it is a longer book).

Angel The Alien said...

I have actually never read Little Women! But did you know that there is a sequel called LITTLE MEN, which is about how one of the Little Women grows up and gets married and starts some sort of strange orphanage/boarding school? I did read that one when I was a kid.

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

I read it several times as a child, and then reread it a couple of years ago. Even though I still enjoyed it, I did pick up on the preachy tone, which I'd missed in childhood.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Heather said...

Nikki: Yes, LMA wrote other books about the Marches -- Little Men and Jo's Boys -- though I have not read those. Also, part two of Little Women is sometimes published seperately as Good Wives.

Laurel-Rain: I know I read it a couple times growing up, too. While it was preachier than I remembered, I did enjoy reading it again.

Alice Audrey said...

I think the preachy elements are why I didn't make it through the book years ago. I was overly sensitive.

Heather said...

Alice: I can understand that. It did tend to bog down the narative at times.

Unknown said...

I have actually never read this. I hear it is a favorite for many but I'm not such a big fan of classics. I also don't like preachy books so it might not be for me. Thanks for stopping by My TT!

Heather said...

Hi Jennifer! I know they aren't for everyone, but I do enjoy reading a few classics each year--books i may have missed in school or want to reread--along with other genres/authors I love. Thanks for visiting!

kayerj said...

oh I did love little women, and jo's boys.

Unknown said...

I don't really read Classics. The limited time I have, I got for Pnr/Ya/thrillers. (I know)
Here's mine - Teaser Tuesday
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