When that I was and a little tiny boy . . .

[kellyrfineman]

This post has nothing to do with the rain, but the phrases in the icon and subject are from a song Shakespeare wrote and/or incorporated in Twelfth Night:

When that I was and a little tiny boy,
With a hey, ho, the wind and the rain,
A foolish thing was but a toy,
For the rain it raineth every day.Place your bets now: Those that think I'm going to

Comments

[wordsrmylife]

Oh I definitely wanted Demi's stove and pots! Easy Bake, Smeasy Bake. That's definitely what I remember most about "Little Men," as well as Meg's(?) son saying, "Opey doy, me's tummin'" although why that of all phrases sticks in my head I will never know. But you are so right, the encouragement of imaginative play, and of play that produced results (that marvelous stove) and an atmosphere of acceptance for all kinds of children was what sticks with me.

[kellyrfineman]

I did love my Easy Bake oven, but that push-through tray over a light bulb was nothing compared to Demi's stove, pots and pans.

I intend to keep looking at some of the books I loved, and trying to figure out what it is that has stuck with me all these years later, and why it is that I liked them so much.

[annemariepace]

You can probably guess that for me, it was all about the little pans and real cookstove.

And I was just thinking of rereading LITTLE MEN last night, proving once again that you and I are twins separated at birth.

[kellyrfineman]

Twins indeed. I would still love a small stove, pots and pans, even though I'm completely grown and can use the real ones. You'll see in some future book discussions that small-sized things and domestic equipment turn up in other books I loved.

[jeannineatkins]

Oh, boy, did I long for that cooking stuff, too. Making wee little biscuits and cunning pies or whatever, I can't remember, but totally remember kind of drooling over those pages.

[kellyrfineman]

Oh, yes, I wanted to make all those real foods, too. Part of it was the notion of making one's own food, and part of it was the idea of having small-sized cookware all my own. It makes me think that including more discussion of food in other books (there is food in the gnomes already), and of the idea of kids making their own food. And perhaps small cookware.

[kellyrfineman]

I loved Little Women too, with a big, big love. I only read Jo's Boys that one time when I was about 11 or 12, because I was so terribly upset by Dan's death. If I ever undertake a project about Alcott (which is a possibility - I've been stockpiling Alcott-related books), I will read it again. Otherwise, not. I can't forgive her for killing Dan off (much in the way that M can't forgive Jo Rowling for the death of a certain young man in HP7).

[katsie]

I never forgave LMA for Dan's death or Charlies's in Rose in Bloom (or, on a lesser scale, Jo refusing Laurie - although I sort of understand that one). But I still reread all her books, I just can't escape the stories.

[kellyrfineman]

I didn't forgive her for Beth's death when I was a kid, but these days Beth's death doesn't upset me. Dan's still does. I haven't read Rose in Bloom yet.

[tracyworld]

I loved this book, too. Don't remember many details except that I could always lose myself in the story. And I do think #4 held a powerful sway for me, too.

[kellyrfineman]

I could always lose myself in the story, too. But I'm trying to remember why, for the books I loved as a kid, I loved them, as a means of informing my future writing projects, maybe.

[tracyworld]

I should do this, too. But I wonder how successful I'll be in pinpointing those reasons since I've gone back to read books I loved as a child, and couldn't get through them. Hmm.

[kellyrfineman]

You'll notice that I'm not actually re-reading the books at present. Just recalling what I can off the top of my head (and with a quick glance at summaries). The books I'll be talking about are, without exception, all ones that I read a number of times. I was an avid re-reader as a kid, and still re-read some books now and again.