Books 2014: Little Women
This year, I have decided to try and remember the
books I've read, so I wanted to write-up a little post about each book as I
finish it. It has been a slow start to the year and I've only finished two so
far. Anyways, here are my thoughts on book number one:
Our Relief Society has an un-official book club and
our book for March is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. This is the
fourth or fifth time that I have read it in my lifetime. This book has probably
become of my favorite the more times I have read it because the good seems to
stand out more and I've become more patient for the moral lessons.
So, first, a brief summary of the book: The book
starts during the Civil War and tells the story of four sisters (Meg, Jo, Beth,
and Amy). The story follows their mother's attempt to raise kind, gentle, and
other-oriented girls. Each sister has their own, what they call burden, to
carry: Meg can remember a time when there was more money has to learn to
overcome her desire for an "easy" world; Jo is stubborn and has to
learn to tell the difference between the things she doesn't like and can change
and those that she can't; Beth is painfully shy and has to learn to reach-out
and bring those outside of her family into her world; and Amy who has to learn
how to harness her gifts in a way that still allows for humility and kindness.
The four girls make friends with their old neighbor's grandson, Laurie, who has
to learn that wealth doesn't make you right or superior and that wealth alone
isn't virtue. The story follows each girl into young adulthood where they learn
about sacrifice, lose, and love.
I have always identified strongly with Jo because she is restless,
inpatient, and hot-tempered. I always found it encouraging that someone with
those inherent characteristics (which I will freely admit I share) could learn
to harness those tendencies and control those that lead to dissatisfaction and
pain and use the others, in a controlled way, to lead to necessary change and
action. It was nice to re-read this story at this time in life. That restless
and inpatient nature sometimes struggles with the pace at which we are having
to take Tom’s education right now. It reminded me that rather than getting
frustrated with the situation I need to evaluate it and see if there is something
that I can do about it. For the most part there isn’t, but I can refocus that
energy into something useful. Here are a few of the things that I can focus
this energy into:
- · Finish painting the hallway and re-handing the closet doors
- Finish the small vanity area in our master bedroom
- Paint the bathroom
- Path the guest bedroom/puppy room and kit it out for multi-use areas
- Be more fully engaged in service to those in my ward/community
There were a few things that stood out to me this time that
I had not noticed before or hadn’t really thought about. I think everyone that
reads this story can’t help but to love little Beth. She is so pure, sweet, and
contented to help those around her. But this time I realized that Beth is the
perfect foil to Jo, she will express those emotions or desires that inspire Jo
to be better, to try a little harder, or to express more faith. For some reason
this never really stood out before, but it was Beth’s sweet nature and Jo’s
devotion to her that taught Jo how to find that calm center that ultimately
allowed her to achieve peace.
I think that this book is great for the little reminders
that life isn’t always fair, bad things happen to good people, and sometimes we
have to wait for our reward. But that with faith and love we can weather those
storms and become stronger and happier people.
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