Little Women or let us go SQUEEEE

I got my book from scholastic today, yes, book, singular. Books are so expensive in Malaysia and the libraries in my small "city" or more appropriately, town are dreadfully lacking in the quality reading department. I couldn't even find Animal Farm! I tell you my school library is better stocked, but they lost their copy of Animal Farm (its an antique too!) and To Kill a Mockingbird. Sacrilege, I know, the very thought of a library losing books. Or with bare shelves whichever one is scarier to you.  Yes, Ipoh libraries I am looking at you.

So back to the real topic, I finished The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick in class and I was so happy with all the Little Women references. Yes, I was so giddy and it helps that the characters are likable too. I adore Emma, am rooting for Jess, want to befriend Cassidy, and would like to see Megan continue to improve. Then the next book is about Anne of Green Gables!! Scholastic, please send the catalogue to my school ASAP!

I love Little Women, it's part of my childhood. I was rather sad that Laurie and Jo weren't together though I like Mr Bhaer well enough and feel that Amy has grown tremendously. I was absolutely heartbroken when Beth died but I cried when I read about how Jo coped with the death of her sister. To quote, "Poor Jo, those were dark days for her." Though don't take my word for it since my memory is lousy and I can't vouch for the accuracy of the quote. But then, we're not lawyers and there is no need to be that accurate. Its not like someone's life is hanging in the balance.



 To tell you the truth, I've never seen the musical. I only stumbled on this by chance while surfing Youtube. It's sort of a community hall kinda thing but this is my favourite version. They're so sweet and I like the kite part. All sorts of symbolism without being melodramatic. Yes, I've seen various interpretations of this scene but this is my favourite. Oh, Beth............

Now to soften the blow and the disappointment when Jo rejected Laurie, take a look at this comparison of the proposal scene in the 1994 Little Women movie and the much older Anne of Avonlea movie. Apparently (and I stress it's only hearsay), LM Montgomery was inspired by Jo's rejection to write Anne's rejection of Gilbert's proposal! Thankfully, Anne accepted his second proposal or we would have no "Mrs Doctor Dear" and the world would be a poorer place indeed.