 |
| "Please, sir, I want some more." Oliver Twist |
First to come to mind were Scout and Jem in To Kill a Mockingbird. And who could forget the temperamental Mary Lennox of The Secret Garden. Then I thought of Heidi who lived with her grandfather on a mountain and of Anne of Green Gables who lived with the Cuthberts on an island.
Mark Twain made famous two orphans, Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. Dickens couldn't get enough of motherless children - Pip of Great Expectations, David Copperfield, and Oliver Twist ("Please sir, I want some more.")
Roald Dahl populated some of his books with orphans, such as those starring in The Witches and James and the Giant Peach.
Sigh. The life of a motherless child.
Who can you add to the list?
My own mother died when I was 14 - maybe that's why I like all of the books you mentioned so much. My dad was 74 and in poor health so he lived with one of my brothers and I lived with a sister & family for 2 years and then a brother & his family for a year. On my own at 17 1/2.
ReplyDeleteMakes we want to go back and read some of those books! Will be awhile as I just started a reread of "Miss Read" books with a mystery inbetween...
Joyce in KS
Joyce, sounds like you could write an 'orphan' book of your own. You were very young to lose your mother. I am so sorry. Mine died three-and-a-half years ago - she was in her eighties - and I miss her every day.
DeleteI have not read any of the 'Miss Read' books although they are on some TBR list somewhere. What mystery did you read in-between?
Jane Eyre! and Annie, of course. Our daughter Jennifer loved the Annie character so much, she was Annie for Halloween, knew all the words to all the songs, and has now accumulated a nice collection of memorabilia. I drew the line when she asked me, aged 6, to die her hair red.
ReplyDeleteI first read Jane Eyre at about the age of 12 when I discovered all of my father's books in the old cedar chest. He said I could read whatever I wanted (joy supreme) as long as I took care with each and every book I read. I did, and I have still have some of them.
Well, I have never read 'Jane Eyre', but how could I forget Little Orphan Annie. I will be humming 'Tomorrow' the rest of the night! That is so funny about the request for red hair.
DeleteHow lovely to have your father's books, Penny. I cherish the ones I have that are inscribed with family names. Such treasures.
Hi Belle!
ReplyDeleteMy computer was down for a few weeks so I am catching up on your posts.
Regarding 'Miss Read' about a year ago I finished an 800+ page biography of Samuel Beckett (Damned to Fame) it was exhausting with the need to constantly cross reference his plays and works but one of the most rewarding biographies I have ever read. When I finished I felt the need to read something light, anything lighter than the existential musings of the great Samuel. I had just picked up a bag of books from my library discard sale (pretty random, Penguins, always lots of Penguins)and told myself to just pick one and jump in, but it must be light! Low and behold a Miss Read's "Mrs. Pringle of Fairacre" was on the top of the pile. Reading this was such an enjoyable exercise, no demands, no angst, no need for navel gazing, just what the doctor ordered. Since then I have kept an eye out for further books by Miss Read and my collection is growing especially for those times for mental recuperation from taking on a challenging reading project.
Glad you are back, Tullik. Wow! I am impressed that you made it through the Beckett biography. I can see why Miss Read would appeal after that. I am not one for angst in my reading. I will give Miss Read a try. My library seems to have quite a few of the titles in its collection.
DeleteBelated entry:
ReplyDeletemy favourite motherless children in literature (both by coincidence in India) are
Kim (Kimball O'Hara) Rudyard Kipling
The Secret Garden (Mary Lennox) by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Oh, yes. I forgot about Kim. Thanks for the addition.
DeleteThe mystery I'm reading between the first two Miss Read books is The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths. Thoroughly enjoying it and will probably finish tonight. Second Miss Read book on the way to our library. Msy have to read something else inbetween.
ReplyDeleteJoyce F in KS
I started the second book by Elly Griffiths but put it away for another time. Are the Miss Read books to be read in order? My library carries quite a few.
DeleteI think the Miss Read books are better in order. They are sort of a cozy quick read and might not appeal to you at all but you won't know till you try one I guess. If you Google Miss Read you get a Wikipedia link which lists all her books. I see Elly Griffiths has five books total in that series so far. I'll have to fill in with another author if I keep the Miss Read as every other book. Maybe the last books of Marcia Willett. Have you ever read anything by her? Hers are best read in order also.
ReplyDeleteJoyce in KS
I am not familiar with Marcia Willett but I see the library here carries many of her titles. I will give her a try. Thanks, Joyce.
Delete