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Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽'s Reviews > Daddy-Long-Legs
Daddy-Long-Legs (Daddy-Long-Legs, #1)
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Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽'s review
bookshelves: gutenberg-freebie, comfort-read, historical-fiction, oldies-but-goodies, humor
Jun 16, 2014
bookshelves: gutenberg-freebie, comfort-read, historical-fiction, oldies-but-goodies, humor
Daddy-Long-Legs is a delightful short novel written in 1912. Basically it's along the lines of "Anne Shirley goes to a girls' college." It's mostly epistolary, told in the form of letters written by the main character where she talks (and jokes) about her daily life.
At the beginning of our story, Jerusha is a 17 year old oppressed but imaginative girl who lives and works in an orphanage, where she's grown up. She's unexpectedly given the chance to go to college when one of the orphanage trustees reads a humorous English essay that she wrote and offers to pay her way. He insists on remaining anonymous to her, but wants her to write him monthly letters telling him of her progress. This novel consists of the letters Jerusha (who quickly dumps her unliked name at college and tells people to call her "Judy") writes over the next four years to her benefactor.
It's fun to get a glimpse of life at an all-girls college 100 years ago. A sample from one of Judy's letters:
But overall this is a gentle, humorous coming-of-age story with just a bit of romance. Minus one star for the overly pat and somewhat disturbing ending -- I didn't care for the way the author glossed over some major personal trust issues (view spoiler)
I'd recommend Daddy-Long-Legs to those who enjoyed Anne of Green Gables and who like light, old-fashioned historical fiction. You can read a copy free online or download it here at Project Gutenberg.
At the beginning of our story, Jerusha is a 17 year old oppressed but imaginative girl who lives and works in an orphanage, where she's grown up. She's unexpectedly given the chance to go to college when one of the orphanage trustees reads a humorous English essay that she wrote and offers to pay her way. He insists on remaining anonymous to her, but wants her to write him monthly letters telling him of her progress. This novel consists of the letters Jerusha (who quickly dumps her unliked name at college and tells people to call her "Judy") writes over the next four years to her benefactor.
It's fun to get a glimpse of life at an all-girls college 100 years ago. A sample from one of Judy's letters:
Dear Daddy-Long-Legs,Judy/Jerusha is a likeable main character with a lively sense of humor and an independent streak. In many ways the book is dated, understandably, but at the same time there are some unexpectedly progressive views. Given the times, it's not too surprising that Judy also makes some positive comments about socialism, as well as a few snarky comments about religion.
I hope you aren't the Trustee who sat on the toad? It went off--I was told--with quite a pop, so probably it was a fatter Trustee.
. . . Every spring when the hoptoad season opened we would form a collection of toads and keep them in [window wells by the orphanage's laundry room]; and occasionally they would spill over into the laundry, causing a very pleasurable commotion on wash days. We were severely punished for our activities in this direction, but in spite of all discouragement the toads would collect.
. . . I don't know why I am in such a reminiscent mood except that spring and the reappearance of toads always awakens the old acquisitive instinct. The only thing that keeps me from starting a collection is the fact that there's no rule against it.
But overall this is a gentle, humorous coming-of-age story with just a bit of romance. Minus one star for the overly pat and somewhat disturbing ending -- I didn't care for the way the author glossed over some major personal trust issues (view spoiler)
I'd recommend Daddy-Long-Legs to those who enjoyed Anne of Green Gables and who like light, old-fashioned historical fiction. You can read a copy free online or download it here at Project Gutenberg.
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Reading Progress
June 16, 2014
– Shelved as:
to-read
June 16, 2014
– Shelved
June 16, 2014
– Shelved as:
gutenberg-freebie
Started Reading
June 28, 2014
–
Finished Reading
June 29, 2014
– Shelved as:
comfort-read
June 29, 2014
– Shelved as:
historical-fiction
November 26, 2014
– Shelved as:
oldies-but-goodies
September 22, 2016
– Shelved as:
humor
Comments Showing 1-34 of 34 (34 new)
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Jun 28, 2014 08:36PM
Have you seen the old movie version with Fred Astaire? It's been years since I did, but I recall it being pretty cute.
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Ashley wrote: "Have you seen the old movie version with Fred Astaire? It's been years since I did, but I recall it being pretty cute."No, I never heard of it until now. I'll have to keep an eye out for it on TMC. Does Fred dance?
I'd love to see the pictures Judy draws that are in the print version.ETA: Wow, I just looked at the Wikipedia summary of the film, and the book's 14 year difference in their ages is 30 years in the movie. I have some issues with that.
Oh, dear! We read this book in high school, in English class. I must admit, I don't remember any of it, other than the title.
oh I don't think age matters much in Hollywood. They'll use makeup and lighting to make it look more like the age difference in the book. First Tweety and now you :) I suppose I MUST read this!
oh ok. I just reread your comment. They actually CHANGED the ages in the movie. You would THINK they could find actors for the role that would actually fit the part. Sure, Astair was great; but surely there were a dozen others who may not have been great but pretty stinkin good!
Dorcas wrote: "oh ok. I just reread your comment. They actually CHANGED the ages in the movie. You would THINK they could find actors for the role that would actually fit the part. Sure, Astair was great; but sur..."Well, once they decided to make it a dancing type of movie I can see why they were willing to make adjustments to the storyline so they could use Fred Astaire. I dislike how often Hollywood does the older man/young woman thing, but Fred was such an awe-inspiring dancer that I have to give Hollywood a pass on this one.
Dorcas wrote: "oh I don't think age matters much in Hollywood. They'll use makeup and lighting to make it look more like the age difference in the book. First Tweety and now you :) I suppose I MUST read this!"It is a men's world. Hollywood, for a very long time, considered it appropriate to match aging male actors with very young actresses. Only after repeated complaints, continuing over decades, did Hollywood finally catch on that this is in bad taste.
Btw, the law punishes men who have sex with minors considerably stronger when there is a significant age difference between the consenting partners. These men end up in prison for years or even decades, whereas offenders who are but a few years older than the consenting "victim" usually get off with a slap on their fingers. (I know because, 11 years ago, one of our spot workers, then 32 years old, had sex with an almost 15-year old girl, who had been very determined to have sex with him. The prosecutor had aimed for a life sentence. The guy ended up with a 15-year sentence and was released on parole after 5 years because we had offered to employ him full-time. He turned out a scumbag, but this had nothing to do with his sex offense.)
I consider it a very bad thing that Hollywood continues matching older actors (if not as old as Astaire, at the time) with very young, quite often underage, actresses. This definitely sends the wrong message to older men AND young girls.
I just saw this and got the kindle edition for free. It seems really cute. I'm a great Anne lover. I suspect I will like this very much. I don't think I saw the movie but I do know of it. I will read this first and then check out the movie. I am sure Leslie is perfect in it.
I haven't seen the movie but some day hope to! I think you'll love this book. Jerusha is so hilarious. I really need to read this again more slowly . . .
It sounds cute. I went to a small women's college and always felt it was more boarding schoolish than college. There's prolly plenty I can relate to. Tho, not an orphan. :-) And, well, no benefactor.
I adore Daddy-Long-Legs. One of my all time favourites. Try Dear Enemy, the sequel. I love that even more.
I had very mixed feelings about Dear Enemy, as you can tell if you read my review. :D Parts of it I thought were wonderful; other parts (mostly the eugenics discussions) weren't so good.
This book was mentioned in the Mother-Daughter Book Club series so I am definitely adding this to my TBR list.
Amber wrote: "This book was mentioned in the Mother-Daughter Book Club series so I am definitely adding this to my TBR list."This was a really fun, humorous story -- I think you'll like it. I really need to read it again, and make my teenage daughter read it. I think she'll love it.
I hope your daughter likes it then. You should start a mother-daughter book club with you and your daughter and have this be the first book you both read together.
Amber wrote: "I hope your daughter likes it then. You should start a mother-daughter book club with you and your daughter and have this be the first book you both read together."Cute idea! She's heading off to college in 3 months; maybe we can do it during the summer and once in a while after that. :)
We did this for YA book club once.
I read this years ago and did love it. It was a favorite book of my mother's and she had recommended it to me. I have a vague memory of reading it as a young girl as well, but I am not certain. Tadiana, I also wonder if I would have enjoyed some books as a young person which did not just thrill me at a later age. For instance, I loved Anne of Green Gables on TV and the books were my daughter's favorites as a girl but when I decided to read it, I was disappointed. Perhaps I have missed truly enjoying some great YA books by waiting so long.
Oops, I see that it was not Tadiana, but Dorcas in an earlier review who commented on enjoying or rating a book differently depending on our age at the time of reading it.
Excellent review! I really liked this book, though it's been a while since I read it.
Fantastic review! This sounds really good (haven't read the spoiler obviously) so I might just pop over and download it (so thank you also for the link)!
Trish wrote: "Fantastic review! This sounds really good (haven't read the spoiler obviously) so I might just pop over and download it (so thank you also for the link)!"It's a fun, quick read! Hope you enjoy it!
This is such a lovely book. Did you see the film with Fred Astaire? The age gap was a little jarring but hey its Fred.
Kavan wrote: "This is such a lovely book. Did you see the film with Fred Astaire? The age gap was a little jarring but hey its Fred."I think I saw part of it on cable a few years ago. I love Fred Astaire, and he dances like a dream, but he was not the right man for this part.
I'd heard of this book and it sounds like a lot of fun! Your review was great, especially referencing that it was published in 1912.
The happy mood is very different from LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT, which is set in that year!
Carol wrote: "I'd heard of this book and it sounds like a lot of fun! Your review was great, especially referencing that it was published in 1912."Definitely read it, especially when you're in the mood for something cute and funny and nostalgic!
Great review, and thanks for setting my mind at ease :) I loved this book as a kid and when I thought of it this morning I wondered if it was actually creepy under 21st century eyes. Glad to hear it wasn't. Might be time to read it again!
Shan wrote: "Great review, and thanks for setting my mind at ease :) I loved this book as a kid and when I thought of it this morning I wondered if it was actually creepy under 21st century eyes. Glad to hear i..."For me it's actually in the "slightly creepy" category (view spoiler). But I give it somewhat of a pass because it was written 100 years ago, though I still docked it a star for those things. Other readers may have more of an issue with either or both of those things, though!
well totally liked the the review
Excuse me, how can i read the book, please?!😅
Mariam wrote: "Excuse me, how can i read the book, please?!😅"Click on the words “Project Gutenberg” in the last sentence of my review—it’s a link to a free online copy of this book.
