Little Women: A Review

So in my last post, I promised a review on “Little Women” (the 1994) movie, would be forthcoming. Well here it is-coming forth. J Okay, sorry about that.

I read Little Women around…. Third grade? Fourth grade? I’m not exactly sure. I liked it. I liked An Old Fashioned Girl and A Rose in Bloom better though.

But it’s really growing on me. My problem with it was mostly this: Jo didn’t marry the cute, funny, sweet, and lonely Laurie. And they are so cute together! 

                                  

I always got the feeling Laurie just married Amy because he liked the March family so much and was determined to get in it, one way or another. I felt that Miss Alcott threw Professor Bhaer on us at the last minute and was like, “Do you really want Jo to end up with SOMEONE? Well then, you ASKED for it!” Mocking me with their incompatibility and extreme age difference. Humph.

Now my opinion isn’t exactly that. I still hold true to the statement that Jo and Laurie should have been together, but I grudgingly admit that Professor Bhaer has his virtues. There.

Now this is for the book, mind you. I just saw the 1994 movie about a month ago, and enjoyed myself hugely. I came to know Jo better. (I used to think her a bit boyish and over the top and semi revolutionary….) Now I feel I can connect with her more. I love to read, try to write, and I can get a bit mad and lose my temper at times too. (The scene where Amy burns Jo’s book is simply horrifying. If that EVER happened to me… well.)

                     

I also came to like Professor Bhaer better. (The Prof. Bhaer’s accent and cuteness in the movie helped quite a bit…) BUT I still hold on to my Jo/Laurie hopes a little. I can’t help it. I still think that if Laurie wasn’t going to end up with Jo, he shouldn’t go for Amy. No, no, no. I feel, as Amy said in the movie, that she thinks he likes her for her family and not for herself.

 One thing that really spoke to me as I got older was the familial ties, the March sisters loving and close relationship, the general “kindred spiritness” of it all. That’s what I really love about classics. They often feature simple, wonderful, surprising, unusual everyday life.

This movie should have had me ranting and raving about how it’s not true to the book, and it’s a bit short, etc. But… with all its inaccuracies, it’s a wonderful movie that caught the essence of Little Women and has a wonderful soundtrack. Which is always a huge plus. I also thought the characters were fairly well cast, though I don’t remember Marmee being quite so “revolutionary” in her views and sometimes rather forward. Mr. March was not how I pictured him, but luckily he wasn’t in it much. Winona Ryder was a wonderful Jo. I have no complaints on that score.

   

One thing I want to stick in that doesn’t necessarily pertain to Little Women, but does pertain to Louisa May Alcott…I think some film director out there should get a hold of An Old Fashioned Girl or A Rose in Bloom. I would LOVE that! But I (or someone who is a devoted reader of such books, like myself) should supervise and make sure things are done right. Because there’s nothing worse than film writers and directors who positively RUIN a wonderful book. It is better off unmade than made badly. That’s all for my Little Women/Louisa May Alcott post. I hope you enjoyed!

P.S. I'm not completely sure what is going on with the font but it sort of looks like a typewriter, no? Next time I'll try to get it back to normal.

P.P.S. The ending was so cute. That's when Prof. Bhaer kind of got to me. :) Enjoy

I've Been Awarded the Elegant Blogger Award!

Hello everyone! Hamlette has been so kind as to nominate me for the elegant blogger reward, and I can't wait to answer the questions.... This will be fun! :)

The rules:

• When you receive the award, link back to keepcalmandsparkle1099.blogspot.com and the blog that nominated you (Hamlette)
• Display the award button in the post 
• Answer all of the 12 questions given in this post (do not make your own questions) 
• Nominate 8 bloggers (see below)
• Notify them that they have been awarded. 

Questions:

1. What made you start blogging?

Well.... I was searching for pictures of Anne of Green Gables, and I came across one entitled "Anne Week" which immediately caught my eye. I followed the link to Yet Another Period Drama Blog, and then I followed Miss Dashwood's links to other blogs. I was thinking while I was reading them "I could do this! It looks like lots of fun!" So here I am, with a blog, and definitely having fun with it! :)

2. What is your fashion style?

My fashion style is cute but comfortable (I hope!). I'll show some of my Pinterest pictures to show you what I like:

                         

                     

3. What is something none of your followers know about you?

Um...... I have never liked sparkles. In fact, when I was younger, I used to freak out if I got some on me. And they are super hard to get off yourself! And I used to hate tea. I love it now, but I used to think it was the grossest thing.

4. What are some of your blogging goals?

I hope to keep up with blogging now that school starts again and I want to actually publish some posts that have been rattling around in my head.

5. Where is your favorite place to shop?

The bookstore. Indubitably. If you mean clothes..... then probably Forever XXI. But only some of their stuff. Lots of their stuff is kind of out there.

6. What would your ideal amount of blog followers be?

Well.... I'd like to have some more, but it be sad to have so many followers that I couldn't really get to know them. Maybe enough so I would get 3-4 comments on each post.

7.  What are your talents?

For some reason I'm blanking. I must have some...... I love music, I'm an avid reader, I like writing, and history. I believe I'm pretty good at those things :)

8. Are you a leader or a follower?

I am usually a follower, but if no one will step up, I can be a leader. I have thoughts and ideas, but I'm usually to shy and self conscious to put them out there.

9. What is one of your favorite quotes?

Can I cheat and do two? One of my favorite nonsensical quotes is: "I'm not saying she was very silly, but one of us was very silly and it wasn't me!" - Wives and Daughters. Another of my favorite quotes is: "I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book!" -Pride and Prejudice

10. Do you have a favorite book or series? 

Just one? I will do a favorite book and series. Book: An Old Fashioned Girl by: Louisa May Alcott. Series:  The Anne of Green Gables series. But I love so many!

                            

11. Out of all the synonyms for elegant, which would you describe yourself with? (smart--stylish--dressy--graceful--dainty--fine)

I have been told I'm graceful, but I don't see how that could be possible considering how clumsy I am. Still, someone said so, and so I must appear so sometimes. ;)

12. What is your favorite flower?

A rose! Your surprised, right? ;) And I love all colors of roses too.

Most of the blogs I follow have already been nominated....

So if anybody is reading this, think it looks like fun, and hasn't been nominated yet, I nominate YOU for the Elegant Blogger Award!

My thoughts on "A Rose in Bloom"

A couple of weeks ago I stumbled across Louisa May Alcott's 'A Rose in Bloom' which is the sequel to 'Eight Cousins.' You do not have to read 'Eight Cousins' before you read a 'Rose in Bloom;' I didn't (and still haven't but I am planning on reading it soon.)

One thing I remember doing almost every time a finished reading this before bed was smiling. It is just one of those books that make you happy. Now, this is not to say it doesn't have its trials, hardships, deaths and disappointments. This is to say that through it all you saw a delightful view of life.

The story is centered around Rose. She is the only girl cousin and she is coming back from her trip to Europe. She is an heiress who is set to inherit a good fortune. She seems to have left at that crucial time when the girl is growing into a woman. She is disappointed by all the young men who seem interested in her only for her fortune. She has many hopes and plans to fulfill before she gets married, though.

A love interest starts quickly after this. The family is adamant about having her marry one of the cousins. This leads to some very tricky snarls indeed. Charlie, a.k.a Prince (short for Prince Charming as he is called by the girls) seems to be the one. He is not perfect, but Rose believes he is made of good stuff and that with a woman's proper guidance he could grow into a great man.

*SPOILER* To give him credit, he does try. However, Charlie is has been indulged too often, and when the temptation becomes too much he succumbs to his old habits. That is all I shall divulge.*END OF SPOILER*

Watching all of the characters grow into who they were to be was delightful. Seeing how their relationships, ideals, personalities, and opinions grew and developed was interesting to see. Alcott is one of those delightful  authors who could have no major climax, but see the interest and beauty in everyday life.

There were some wonderful couples. I never especially liked Charlie, thinking him a "dandy." He seemed shallow and superficial... and perhaps, at first, he was. As the story progressed, though I was delighted to witness a change in him, a real desire to become a better person. *Another SPOILER* I was truly sad when he had his accident and died. It was quite surprising, as he seemed to be improving so much! I can not blame him or be terribly mad for his little relapse. I was only disappointed in him. *END OF SPOILER*

Mac was my favorite (boy) cousin from the first. His bookish ways and shy but eager outlook on life drew me in from the beginning. I knew he and Rose didn't think of each other in "that way," but I thought it would be lovely if it could progress and turn into something by and by. *EVEN MORE SPOILERS* It did, and I was very happy indeed. Rose's reaction was surprising, but I understood. (I was disappointed, but I understood.) Mac is everything a lover should be. He is kind and true, putting his love's comforts in front of his own, not declaring himself because HE wishes it and does not care for Rose's thoughts or feelings on the subject. He takes it quite calmly on her first rejection. He is a gentleman and works to improve himself "to deserve her." He does not bring the subject up again, but you can see the love in his eyes, and feel his love for her when they are together. *END OF SPOILER*

Another couple I was pleased about were Archie and Phebe. Phebe is Rose's friend and companion. I believe she was a servant in the first book. She is pretty and talented, having practiced music abroad. She is kind and unassuming, and when Archie loved her from the first I was quite pleased. Archie was smart and well-to-do, with a good head on his shoulders. He truly loved Phebe. Phebe loved him too, though at first I thought she was rather cold. You find later though that she didn't want to make trouble in the family, as she was "beneath" him, and she thought he deserves better. My heart broke when she went away, but I understood why she thought she had to go. I, like Rose, completely understand her thinking. I also loved the scene where Phebe sings at the children's charity concert. You just have to read it.

Uncle Alec was the most amazing father figure for Rose! I love him so much! I hold the same views as Rose, when she says she hopes to find someone like Uncle Alec when she gets married. I couldn't agree more. He has a more modern view on women than the rest of the family, thank goodness. He believes exercise, wholesome food, and a full education are what a girl needs. He believes parties, balls, and gossip can ruin a girl and muddle her head, which seemed to be true.

The characters are all fascinating, good or bad, and the moral and feeling in the story is wonderful. I can't understand how this book is not more well known. It's at least as good as 'Little Women.' Actually, there are several books of hers that I believe deserve more recognition. *cough cough* 'An Old-Fashioned Girl.' I highly recommend it, and it's a lovely feel good story. It's also a fairly good sized tome, 336 pages. I hope you enjoyed the  review, and possibly some of you may feel the urge to read it? Because that's all I hope for. :) Until next time. -The Madd Rose (and this is a little random, but I was looking over this post and it doesn't have many pictures, but there's no movie for this book, so pictures are hard to find. next post will have a lot to make up for it.)