"I'm not too little! You're just hogging Laurie!"

I remember the first time I ever read Little Women. I was in 4th grade. I was completely enchanted by Teddy and could never understand why in heaven's name Jo turned him down. (I know that I'm not the only one who has a problem with that. I've always said that when I meet Louisa May Alcott in heaven, we're going to have a long chat about that part.) I never really cared for the whole Amy/Teddy union. I might have been ever so slightly jealous... Remember how I get overly attached to fictional characters? Anyway, when I was in 5th grade I finally watched the Winona Ryder/Christian Bale/Susan Sarandon movie version. Christian Bale as Laurie? Yes please! It was as if my imagination had thrown up all over the screen; each and every character was sheer perfection, my exact idea of what my beloved March family should have been. I'm not going to lie, I still bawl my eyes out when  Beth dies. I've always wished that I was more like Meg, she's so good and sweet but unfortunately, I'm just like Jo. I'm impulsive. I talk too much. I adore huge words and writing dramatic stories. I used to have long, gorgeous golden colored hair but I got all independent and had my mom chop it off. It wasn't for a good cause or anything, mostly just because I felt like it. I could never be like Beth, so angelic and kind. Amy was always too vain for me, though she's the one who ended up marrying my beloved Laurie. Plus, I always open up my mouth and say things I shouldn't, which is definitely a trait unique to Jo. And much like my lovely Jo, I don't like it when things change with my family. I'm forever wishing that things would stay just as they are.

Anyway, dear readers, I just thought that I'd share my musings on one of my most favorite books with all of you. 

Loves!

M

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

It's no secret that I adore fall. It's also no secret that I adore snow. Yes, you can blame me for praying for it on a regular basis as soon as November 1st hits. I'm sorry, but it's the truth. Don't hate me. Anyway, as I was driving to work this afternoon I was flipping through the radio channels and FM100 has already started playing Christmas music (which I'm morally opposed to. I am my father's daughter through and through on this one. No Christmas until after Thanksgiving) and heard the end of my all-time, most favorite, played-on-repeat-all-season-long Christmas song: I'll Be Home For Christmas. And even though I detest listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving, I let it play. It was snowing and I was all warm and stuggley in my car (feeling perfectly safe driving thanks to my new tires and my wonderful daddy) and I remembered once again how much I love this time of year. I love that I have an excuse to go home a lot to do things like make candy with my mom or for family Christmas parties. I love that EVERY time I go home my whole house smells like cinnamon. I love that finals are almost here and that means the semester is almost over. Basically the ONLY downside to all this is that is ends too fast. So here's the the start of my very favorite time of the year....

Everytime I read...

Pride and Prejudice I remember why I love it so much. I also remember why Elizabeth Bennet is my hero. And since I haven't put up a good list in a few days, I'm going to give you one about my endless and undying love for this particular book.

*I love that Elizabeth is sensible, but romantic at the same time. She believes in marrying someone for love, but she's not as silly about it as Lydia and Kitty.

*The relationship between Lizzy and Jane reminds me of my sister Whitney and I. Whitney is sweet and loves everyone; in reality, she's "too apt to like people in general" while I have the tendency to be slightly more judgmental. Whit always wants people to end up being good and I'm perfectly happy with letting people have ulterior motives and talking about it. (It's a personality flaw, I know).

*Elizabeth loves to read. I always wonder what she's reading because if it were me, I'd be reading Pride and Prejudice while walking in those lovely fields.

*"Stupid men are the only ones worth knowing, after all."

*Elizabeth is so very sassy...it makes me feel better about some of the things that I say.

*"Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may. Everything nourishes what is strong already. But if it be only a slight, thin sort of inclination. I am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away."

*"Your defect is a propensity to hate everybody." "And yours,' he replied with a smile, "is willfully to misunderstand them."

Those are just a few things that I love about my favorite book... And there are many more to come, I'm only half way through the book on this go around. :)