An Old Fashioned Girl: Book Review! {LMA Challenge}

     Since joining the Louisa May Alcott challenge for this month I've been steadily reading away so as to get a good start on my 5 books. It has felt so nice to do something in the blogosphere again and join with friends in a challenge. I'm happy and really excited to be able to share my few reviews with you all. And, it's afforded an opportunity to read many of Miss Alcott's wonderful writing works that have idly been sitting by, waiting to be checked off of my to-read list. ;)

And if you'd like to join us, please go to In The Bookcase for more on this fun reading challenge for June.

An Old Fashioned Girl 
by Louisa May Alcott

     Our heroine, Polly, is a sweet-spirited, country minister's daughter come to visit her wealthy cousins in the city. Polly has been taught many wonderful life lessons from her parents about modesty and good character, and isn't used to the upper class fashions and lifestyles of her cousin's and their acquaintances. The girls snub Polly for her old fashioned ideals and she has a difficult time staying true to the young girl she is, without allowing herself to be influenced by peer pressure.

“I think you are right dear, but you have lived in the country, and haven't yet learned that modesty has gone out of fashion.” ~ Fanny

“Women can do a great deal for each other, if they will only stop fearing what other people think.”

      Polly is such a hard little worker, and years later when she is almost all grown up she takes work as a music teacher, once more near her cousins in the city. There she faces many trials of another kind and must bare them all as cheerfully as she may. But her cousin's family has come into some trouble, and now the shoe is on the other foot. Polly is now the one giving the advice, serving and helping the Shaw's in their time of need without any bitterness or resentment.

“[Polly] had learned this secret. She loved to do the 'little things' that others did not see, or were too busy to stop for; and while doing them, without a thought of thanks, she made sunshine for herself as well as others.”

Behind the Story

      Miss Alcott first published her story as six chapters in a magazine in 1869. She later added to them for a full story, which she began from the chapter “Six Years Later” by sharing from the children's more young adult years, partway through the book.

Take It Away!

      I found this a very sweet story with many moral-character building idea's for young ladies. There were many things I agreed with, as I'm pretty old fashioned myself, so I enjoyed the encouragement to young ladies to be naturally who they are, to aim for kindness and gentleness in their behaviour, and to not give in to peer pressure.

“The least of us have some influence in this big world; and perhaps my little girl can do some good by showing others that a contented heart and a happy face are better ornaments than any Paris can give her.” ~ Polly's Mother

      Here are some of the many character-building topics referred to throughout An Old Fashioned Girl: to respect parents and elders, not to be give in to vanity or pridefulness, to have charity and forgiveness to our “enemies” and those who are cruel to us, never to grow up too fast just because “it's the fashion” or “the thing to do”, to work with a cheerful attitude, to love and help our brothers instead of fighting with them, to reach out to those in need regardless of past transgressions toward us, and that men's heart's are not something to be trifled with flippantly.

“When you feel out of sorts, try to make some one else happy, and you will soon be so yourself.”

Just a Thought...

      While I greatly admired Polly's character and steadfastness, she was a bit too pious at times. I was troubled that she was always being compared to girls who were “lesser” than she was in character, setting Polly up as the good example and the one always in the right. I had wished there would be at least one or two girls of similar upbringing around, or at least who would have seen that some of what Polly said was true, then try to implement them into their own lives.

      It can be a very dangerous game to play with oneself. To compare yourself with girls of lesser character or faith adds to your vanity and stunts your spiritual and character growth when you have nothing to stretch you from girls around you. It also could make you a bully if you constantly tell other's they are in the wrong when it may be just a personal belief and not a biblical “standard”.

I agreed with much of what Polly said and stood for, I just wish Miss Alcott had written more than one “good girl” amongst Polly's friends so she wouldn't seem so alone for much of the book.

      The romance was light, and only a little bit of a love triangle. Polly handled it well, non-coquettishly and honestly. Though I understand the qualities and inspiration a young woman can possess over a man in helping him to grow in character (and vise versa too!), I didn't like that the author wrote the ending with the idea that Polly could change the young man that she liked the most. And The ending was sweet and a happily ever after for all though, and I did enjoy Miss Alcott's little finishing off of what happened to the main characters in their grown-up years.

My Rating

   *** 3 out of 5 stars

Next on the List...

     Jack and Jill - a fun story about two next door neighbor children who get into all sorts of scrapes. ;)

Thank you for stopping by! 

Happy reading, y'all!