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The Classics Club: My Favorite Classic (August Meme)

At the age of 8, maybe 9, I was given a copy of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. I honestly don't remember much about getting it or even who gave it to me. I think it probably was either a birthday or Christmas present since books are usually what I was/am given. But I remember being so excited to have it, yet being amazed by how big it was and unsure if I would be able to actually finish it. But I did finish it and I have finished it countless times since then.

Little Women is by far my favorite classic. It's one of the first ones I read and it's one that I have cherished for at least 15 years (with many more to come).

Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy, Marmee and Laurie were characters that became so incredibly real to me. The images of family, love, individuality, faith, hard-work and triumph were ones that mirrored (and still mirror) my family. I am from a home-schooled preacher's family with 4 sisters and 1 brother. I have parents who let us be ourselves in whatever way we wanted. My sisters are photographers, fashionistas, runners and comedians (okay just with our family, not professionally). My brother is an athlete, a boy Scout and a gentleman. My parents are active in our lives. They are present for every event. They are committed to investing in each of us. Our family life is something I would never trade in a million years. And while at times like the March sisters we wished that some things would be different, I would never want to trade my family and I would never want to change anything in our past.

Little Women taught me a lot about family and work and love and life. It is still a book that teaches me. With each time I read it there is something else new that I notice or take to heart. It's a timeless book with timeless lessons. And it's my favorite. Plain and simple.

Comments

  1. AmyAugust 5, 2012 at 9:57 PM

    Lovely. An old favorite of mine, too. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sarah Reads Too MuchAugust 6, 2012 at 12:45 PM

    Little Women is on my list as a sort-of re-read.... I know that I had an abridged Children's version as a child, and I know that I would read though the copy my mother had when she was a little girl whenever I visited my grandmother... but I have no memory of reading it cover to cover. I need to do that. Thank you for participating in our first monthly meme question!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AllieAugust 6, 2012 at 10:31 PM

    I love Little Women! I had an illustrated/abridged version when I was really young, and that copy got so battered and torn from how many times I read it. I think I just loved Jo-finally there was a character like me! :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. CatAugust 7, 2012 at 3:09 PM

    Lovely! A very early favourite of mine too and I still have the copy I received as Christmas present when I was young.

    ReplyDelete

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