Little Women - Read-a-Long

[lillian_raven]

Hello and welcome,

to this read-a-long where we can discuss every minor fact about Little Women I. Every chapter has its own discussion under thread and you can post everything you want about this chapter.
What you love, like or hate.
What you find curious or cute.
Whatever you find worth discussing in this chapter.

Comments

Chapter 3 - THE LAURENCE BOY

[lillian_raven]

Jo and Meg attend a New Year's Eve party at Mrs. Gardiner's house. There is much commotion getting the two girls ready as they try to make the best of their old dresses and gloves. Jo tries to curl Meg's hair but only burns the ends off in a great tragedy. At the party, Jo meets Laurence, the grandson of old Mr. Laurence. He tells Jo that he would like to be called Laurie instead of his given name, Theodore, because classmates had teased him in the past. The girls return from the party and share their experiences with their sisters.

Re: Chapter 3 - THE LAURENCE BOY

[lillian_raven]

The ball scene is one of my favorites in the 94 movie but in the book it is so... boring. Idk but maybe I wished for more dialogue between Laurie and Jo?

Nevertheless the short scenes before and after the ball with the sisters were great. It shows their wonderful relationship!

Re: Chapter 3 - THE LAURENCE BOY

[chiana606]

I'm curious, since you're very much not into the Laurie/Jo romance-ship, how you generally feel about their canon scenes together in the book. Do you enjoy reading them? Or is it something you sort of skim the way I do any description of the plays the girls perform.

Re: Chapter 3 - THE LAURENCE BOY

[lillian_raven]

No I read and also like their scenes because I love them as best friends. Their friendship is cute and I always only saw Lauries 'love' as a crush phase during a normal friendship so I never could ship them. Nevertheless I love their scenes together.

I admit the only scenes where I skim through are the later scenes with Meg and John. I often thought their romance is nice but slightly boring. It is enough to read their love story only one time except five, six and more times like I do it with the Amy/Laurie scenes.

Re: Chapter 3 - THE LAURENCE BOY

[chiana606]

My favorite part of this chapter is the part where Laurie doesn't laugh at Jo's ruined dress. It's interesting how he's described as being so shy in this chapter, and also the dark look he gets after saying he wants to go back to Italy and enjoy himself in his own way.

I also very much enjoyed Jo's lack of interest over fashion.

I tutor a lady in English, and we've been watching fifteen minutes of the Little Women film every lesson for listening practice. During this scene in the film she had so many questions about whether or not Americans always dress up and go to balls like this to search for suitors! It was very funny. I think I'd enjoy it though.

Re: Chapter 3 - THE LAURENCE BOY

[lillian_raven]

Yes the thing with the dress is cute! Also the dance scene in the floor. :)

I really wished there would be more background for Laurie. Sometimes we get glimpses of a darker Laurie and I have a craving for more. A rogue!Laurie would be fun in my opinion.

Oh this sounds really like fun! Also it sounds better than some questions/beliefs me and other friends heard about my home country.

Re: Chapter 3 - THE LAURENCE BOY

[chiana606]

Oh, I get some not nice beliefs about the USA too. Like little kids asking me "Teacher, why does America want to bomb China?". I also once had someone spit on me when I told them what country I was from, but that was in a little backwater town, and it's not normal at all. Mostly the opinion of the USA that I seem to get is that we're all rich, there's no traffic, and we all get free health care (all three not true!).

Re: Chapter 3 - THE LAURENCE BOY

[lillian_raven]

Some people are unbelievable. *facepalm*