Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Two Nice Thoughts from Daddy-Long-Legs

I finished Daddy-Long-Legs today. It's a super-quick read, but... I only ever managed to read it during class, and thus was limited to Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 AM to 2 PM, whilst attempting to look attentive and studious during lectures.

Anyway, the book is written by Jean Webster. Check out this genealogy: obviously, the famous Webster family; her mother, Annie Clemens, was Mark Twain's niece; her father, Charles Luther Webster, was a member of Mark Twain's publishing firm; also in her family tree were the notable Daniel Boone and Eli Whitney. Awesome!

Ironically, no one really took her seriously in the beginning. She was also a terrible speller.

Anyway, her very likable protagonist Judy (Jerusha) has two killer quotes. I know they'll seem ridiculous, but they struck a chord with me.

1. "I don't agree with the theory that adversity and sorrow and disappointment develop moral strength. The happy people are the ones who are bubbling over with kindness. I have no faith in misanthropes."

2. "It isn't the great big pleasures that count the most; it's making a great deal out of the little ones - I've discovered the true secret of happiness, Daddy, and that is to live in the now. Not to be forever regretting the past, or anticipating the future, but to get the most that you can out of this very instant."

Nice, huh?

3 comments:

Murlene Brown Watkins said...

I LOVE Daddy Long Legs! It's been a favorite for a long, long time. I keep trying to like the movie, too, but can't quite manage that.

I also LOVE Guernsey Literary and PPS
We seem to have similar tastes in books! Which means you have very good taste :-)

Murlene Brown Watkins said...

Ooops! Left an 'S' out of the Guernsey book title: PPPS

Hilary said...

Yes, we do have similar taste! It must run in our blood. Oh wait...

Anyway, I especially like Jean Webster because she was social reformer first, author second.

And Judy's very cute.