Little Women

I recently finished reading "Little Women". I savored all 643 pages of it for about 3 months, drawing out the process and delaying the inevitable final chapter until it was no longer possible. I hate it when a good book is over. Since I seem to have a recent mental block against posting recipes, I thought I'd pull a few quotes and apply it to the blog:

"Language cannot describe the anxieties, experiences, and exertions which Jo underwent that morning; and the dinner she served up became a standing joke. Fearing to ask more advice, she did her best alone, and discovered that something more than energy and good will is necessary to make a cook." (pg. 148).

And since we're all about keeping it inexpensive here on The Food Adventures of Bitsa Bitsa and Rag Rag:

"Wealth is certainly a most desirable thing, but poverty has its sunny side, and one of the sweet uses of adversity is the genuine satisfaction which comes from hearty work of head or hand; and to the inspiration of necessity we owe half the wise, beautiful, and useful blessings of the world" (pg. 350).

Let's talk about something while we're at it...

Do you remember the end of Little Women, the movie? Do you remember how Jo ended up with that old guy and suddenly Laurie fell in love with Amy and married her, even though he had fiercely loved Jo his ENTIRE life? Do you remember how unconvincing and unsatisfying that was?

Well, let me tell ya, the end of the book is just as unsatisfying. I am not convinced at all. You just don't love someone that much and then all of a sudden fall in love with their little sister. This turn in events did not make sense with the characterization that the author spent hundreds of pages developing. Jo does not really love the old German guy. Laurie may love Amy superficially, but not with the deep passion he has for her older sister. Jo and Laurie are soul mates and will love each other to the end of time. And that is that.