A few works of Children's Literature
Feb. 22nd, 2008 12:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pinksonia I've recently started re-reading children's fiction, beloved by myself or others. I started with the librivox recording of Louisa May Alcott's
I must admit that this book I disliked in childhood until after the movie came out, at which point I re-tried the book hoping to find the Jo/Laurie relationship come to a different resolution. Not so much. On this re-read I realized just how different Laurie's personality is between the movie and the book, particularly at the beginning. In the book he can only be described as shy, reserved, or timid until Jo comes to bring him out of it. In the movie I would say he's much more impish even from their first meeting. I'm guessing this comes from Christian Bale being too old play that younger type Laurie.
I was also struck by how religious the book gets, yet how well integrated that religion is. I think modern religious novelists could take some lessons. Every character is treated with respect despite their level of believe because that is not the purpose of the story. Faith is one aspect of the character, like it is one aspect of real people's lives. Beth has inherent strong faith. She has the childlike acceptance to match her other childlike desires and her consciousness that she will never grow up. Marmie has clearly questioned in the past and come out stronger on the other side. The rest of the girls, Jo most clearly wrestle with issues of faith and end up at various stages in their journey. Yet, all of this is presented as intertwined with the rest of their growing. So much so, that I am having a difficult time picking out an example despite the overwhelming feeling I get from the novel. Clearly anytime Alcott references Pilgrim's Progress or talks about their "little books" (which I take it are New Testaments) she is alluding to religion. But it's there also in Amy's refinement in Europe, and Jo's learning patience by Beth's sick bed.
I'm also pleased to announce that I now "get" Prof. Behr, and have turned my affections from Laurie to him. Marmie is unbelievably smart, and a great judge of human nature.
.
I plan to continue this trend with the rest of the Anne books (I'm currently working on Anne of Avonlea), and was wondering if anyone had other suggestions.
I must admit that this book I disliked in childhood until after the movie came out, at which point I re-tried the book hoping to find the Jo/Laurie relationship come to a different resolution. Not so much. On this re-read I realized just how different Laurie's personality is between the movie and the book, particularly at the beginning. In the book he can only be described as shy, reserved, or timid until Jo comes to bring him out of it. In the movie I would say he's much more impish even from their first meeting. I'm guessing this comes from Christian Bale being too old play that younger type Laurie.
I was also struck by how religious the book gets, yet how well integrated that religion is. I think modern religious novelists could take some lessons. Every character is treated with respect despite their level of believe because that is not the purpose of the story. Faith is one aspect of the character, like it is one aspect of real people's lives. Beth has inherent strong faith. She has the childlike acceptance to match her other childlike desires and her consciousness that she will never grow up. Marmie has clearly questioned in the past and come out stronger on the other side. The rest of the girls, Jo most clearly wrestle with issues of faith and end up at various stages in their journey. Yet, all of this is presented as intertwined with the rest of their growing. So much so, that I am having a difficult time picking out an example despite the overwhelming feeling I get from the novel. Clearly anytime Alcott references Pilgrim's Progress or talks about their "little books" (which I take it are New Testaments) she is alluding to religion. But it's there also in Amy's refinement in Europe, and Jo's learning patience by Beth's sick bed.
I'm also pleased to announce that I now "get" Prof. Behr, and have turned my affections from Laurie to him. Marmie is unbelievably smart, and a great judge of human nature.
I also just started on the Anne of Green Gables series which was my absolute favorite from the time my father read me the first on in Kindergarten. I didn't remember the amount of time the L.M. Montgomery had devoted in Anne of Green Gables to making sure the readers realized that, although Matthew showed it better, Marilla loved Anne just as much. I'm glad Montgomery took that time. It would be too easy to mistake Marilla's often fumbling attempts at teaching lessons and bringing Anne up properly as a lack of love, and that would do a real dis-service to the character. In fact, in this reading I find myself more drawn to Marilla than I ever have been before. Before I was always sure that while I would have liked to be Anne I was really Diana. Now I think I may actually be Marilla.
I plan to continue this trend with the rest of the Anne books (I'm currently working on Anne of Avonlea), and was wondering if anyone had other suggestions.
