If Jo March met Jane Eyre, and science was somehow up to making them a baby, and then that baby was tragically orphaned (sorry, ladies) and then one of Dickens' benevolent benefactors stepped up to send her to college and insisted that she repay him by writing monthly letters, then Jean Webster would be entirely moot. FORTUNATELY FOR US she isn't, because that hypothetical situation is laughable (Jo and Jane would never get along).So. Jerusha Abbot (later 'Judy' because 'Jerusha' will get your ass kicked) is a quietly feisty orphan at one of those dingy, gruel-eating orphanges until a benevolent benefactor sends her off to college and insists that she repay him by writing monthly letters (at which point she is still a feisty orphan, but one at college and with an allowance). He never writes her back, so even though we're only reading her letters and getting one side of the conversation, it's the only side of the conversation so it's fine.
And by 'fine' I mean 'hilarious.' Because Judy is winsome and spunky and just the right amount of insubordinate. She begins by re-naming her benefactor 'Daddy Long-Legs' because she saw his tall, skinny ass leaving the orphanage and because he has asked her to address him as Mr Smith which, lame. Her letters are full of early 1900s women's college shenanigans PLUS illustrations (more about which below) PLUS she's new to this whole 'education' bit, so she keeps saying things like 'Speaking of classics, have you ever read Hamlet? If you haven't, do it right off. It's perfectly corking. I've been hearing about Shakespeare all my life but I had no idea he really wrote so well; I always suspected him of going largely on his reputation.' Which more or less mirrors the first time I read Hamlet, except I am not given to saying 'perfectly corking.'
And the illustrations! (They are perfectly corking.) Word on the street is Webster drew them herself, and they add a delicious bit of wtfery because they are mostly like this:
Ha ha, what? That is like a pictoral representation of the sort of prim wackitude you can expect to find in the words-part of the book.
High-spirited protags can either be done very well or very badly, and Webster does Judy so right that what actually happens in the novel hardly matters (Judy learns biology, writes short stories, gains independence, envies her friends' silk stockings and proper parents, has tea and goes for long walks with various gentlemen, etc.). The cover is highly embarassing, though, because I brought this to the gym with me and felt like I was reading Madeline.
In sum: reeeeeeeeeed eeet.
Nine caterpillars.
Second Opinions
things mean a lot
YABOOKNERD
booklust
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20 comments:
This book has been on my wish list for some time now, but you've really inspired me to head out and get it right now. If I just like steal the book, that's not a violation of a book buying ban right?
This title is so familiar to me I really thought I'd read the book in my teens. But the illustrations are not familiar at all, so I guess I haven't - I certainly would have remembered them! Going onto the TBR, now.
Which edition/publisher is that? Apparently some have the illustrations and some don't. I've never heard of this one and would love to read it.
Who else recently reviewed this? Was it Nymeth? Maybe...it seems like the type of coolness she would review. Anyway, I guess I was already convinced to read it, but you sealed the deal. I love those pictures!
I flove this one and re-read it recently. My sister was kind of enough to gift me her second copy.
I cannot wait to read this!!! How have I missed it for this long?!
This has been on my TBR for about a year and now I'm dying to read it! Thanks for a great review.
I read this during the read-a-thon (which it was perfect for) and did not expect to love it so much. I need to buy my own copy so I can at least flip through and check out Judy's drawings now and then.
lol, I had forgotten the Hamlet bit. Glad you loved it too :D
Perfectly corking review! I really enjoyed this book, though I didn't particularly like its sequel. Sadly, I read it online and didn't get the illustrations, either, but they are fabulous! Glad you liked this one, too :-)
This is the book that made me start blogging -- I was appalled that I'd never read it and needed to spread the word. I loved the sequel also.
And I got a 1911 edition at my library book sale for $5!! How cool is that???
I read my grandmother's copy of this book. It not only has the illustrations (I'd run right out and avoid any copy that didn't have them) it also has photos from the 1931 (?) movie starring Janet Gaynor as Judy and Warner Baxter as the title character.
This classic kicks butt internationally. The book is readily available over here and in 2005, a Korean movie version (updated) but with the same title was filmed.
One of my favorites.
I know I read this when I was younger but I don't remember a thing about it. I'm definitely going to pick it up again soon!
I have not heard of this book before, but your opening sentence hooked me immediately. It will definitely go on the TBR list now.
I read this as a child and although I remember it being enjoyable, that's about all I remember ... maybe I'll pick it up again one day!
I love, love this book. I should re-read. Someday.
Daddy Long Legs is a perfectly corking read, and I really feel that more people should read and adore it.
I'm glad you did!!
(You like The Sparrow *and* Daddy Long Legs, you must be a good egg!)
I read this when I was about 11 and I ADORED it! <3 Mark Twain's daughter so obviously got some of his smarts. She kicks butt!
Mark Twain is Jean Webster's uncle. Not her father.
Your review does justice to this awesome book! And may I recommend the sequel (Dear Enemy) if you haven't tried it.
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