Jean Webster. Daddy-long-legs

When I took this book for the first time I was sure that the story is going to be about spiders. How surprised I was later to find out that I had got it quite wrong!

I liked this book very much. It was actually the first time when I was reading a book written in the form of letters. So it was both unusual and exciting  to watch  the progress of this story, to analyze the way the main character was thinking over and expressing  her ideas in a witty, funny and a full of tenderness manner.

As for me, I am not a great reader of love-stories. I prefer other genres of belles-letters fiction. But nevertheless, I don’t regret reading it from cover to cover at all.

My favorite character is certainly Jerusha Abbot. It appeals to me that she is always enthusiastic about events happening in her life. Though she often expressed her attitude (particularly a negative one) towards the asylum where she had been brought up, but I understand her. She had simply no one in the world who really cared for her, except for Daddy. But sometimes being unable to see him, realizing that there was not a person in the world whom she knew less and when the feeling of loneliness was especially acute, she complained of it very much. But in spite of it she had the greatest respect and love for him, trusting him her deepest feelings.

She faced a lot of troubles in her life before going to college. Some of these problems came to light only in this upper world. The lack of social intercourse which hadn’t bothered her in the asylum made her feel uncomfortable when staying at Lock Willow for a long time without a sensible partner to talk to, or when she faced the problem of her ignorance she had to read extensively and work hard in order to catch up other girls. But she managed to become a Very Useful Person. It’s also amusing to watch the way she felt happy with small events of little importance which may seem common to other people. But that teaches readers to appreciate all these small, tiny things which make us happier when we notice them. And she is happy every moment of her life and I do really feel her happiness through the pages. Besides, I want to enjoy the life as she does it in a pure and childish manner.

Her discovery of the world and desire to learn and become an intelligent person are so touching and encouraging that sometimes even desperation comes over me that I am not half as good-humored, responsible, hard-working and life-enjoying person as she is.

I am satisfied with the ending of this book. I suppose nothing could be better than leaving an empty page which provides some food for thought. And I dare say (though it may sound a bit insolent) the work would have been spoiled with the words «Happy End» and the context describing how well Judy Abbot would have been settled.

As the opportunity to determine the further developments was given to a reader I would like to wish Mr. Jervy with all my heart and soul a speedy recovery. I’m sure he will be healthy soon because there will be an object of his admiration nearby and in his mind. At the same time, Judy has the most cordial affection toward him and she will give him every attention and love. And finally, their affection will grow to a healthy, fine and stout love which has to lead to a happy marriage and then domestic felicity.

Jerusha wants to become a real Author and to earn money herself. She will manage to do it after all even being married. She’ll certainly succeed at it because when reading her letters from beginning to end I noticed that the style of her writing was improving. She is very poetic. I enjoyed her descriptions of nature in different seasons.  Some of her sentences are especially important for me as they carry perhaps not an extraordinary meaning but they are written in the shortest and the neatest way. For example I love the following idea, though I cannot fully agree with it:
«It’s much more interesting to live books than to write them»
Or when you want to say that you’ve got a bruise on your shoulder or on a knee it would be really nice to say:
«I’m black and blue all over»

But sometimes some situations make me cry and tremble when I read about what she was feeling inside when nobody was there nearby. She seems to be a very strong person with a fragile soul.

And I would like Jerusha to become the head of an asylum. As you remember she was dreaming about it before falling asleep. I think she will be able to found it with money she will earn being an Author. Besides, some financial support from her husband will help her also a lot.  All the orphans will feel there at home and have a happy childhood to look back upon when they grow older.

In conclusion I’d like to say that it’s a touching and a charming love-story which taught me a lot of things. And I dare say that everyone who resolved to read this book wouldn’t be disappointed and will read this book in one sitting