to think that Amy March is one of the most irritating literary characters ever.

[squoosh]

God she annoys me, throwing Jo's book in the fire, being a general brat and then sin of sins marrying Laurie when she had no business do any such thing.

I don't care what the subsequent books may say the Amy/Laurie union was a stupid idea.

They should have left her to drown in the icy river.

and don't get me started on the snorting scene...

Awwww I like the snorting scene, she was so overcome. But yes, too old.

Becky Sharp is my favourite literary heroine, I think.

The Amy-Laurie thing always struck me as a bit grim because IIRC doesn't he explicitly go through the thought process of 'oh well, if I can't have one sister I'll have the other'?

But Amy is horrible too, so they deserve each other.

I have a friend who is very into Meg's whole surrendered wife thang and who, just before she got married, was quoting the passage about her trousseau of household linen.

Has anyone read the Australian books of similar vintage called "Seven Little Australians" and "The Family at Misrule"?. "Seven" was serialised by the BBC donkey's years ago, in that Sunday 5 o'clock drama slot they used to have. They did change the ending though to prevent raucus weeping breaking out in front of TVs across the land.
The family of 7 had lost their mother and irascible dad had remarried, his new wife was only four years older than daughter Meg (yes, another one). All her step children loved her though. Lovely, believable and very spirited characters.

Noooo! I can see why people who've only seen the film think the Amy+Laurie match is rubbish but I think it really works in the books. He and Jo wouldn't have worked and you can see how he stops loving Jo and falls in love with Amy.
Agree Clare Danes was very badly cast. I love Emma Thompson as Elinor though even though she's nowhere near young enough

"?What made you go and leave me in the night, papa?"

The memory of the other father who had left his children in the night, never to return, made Mr. Bhaer hold his own boy close, and, for a minute, hide his face in Robby's curly hair"

Becky Sharp is all kinds of amazing, second in my affections to Marian Halcombe from the Woman in White. She's a bit of a one off in Victorian writing.

Squoosh I luffs you now! I started a thread in books (obvs wrong place as no takers) nominating Marian Halcombe as best female character from 19th c literature! Now there is a great character. Laura totally wet though, but hey if that's what floats Walter's boat.

If we're talking Collins, what about Lydia Gwilt? There's a woman who's not afraid to get what she wants!

Yay NumTum, Marian should be more well known. She's clever, fearless, slides across rooftops, makes ugly fat Italian spies fall in love with her. And she's not even a little bit pretty! I adore Marian.

Laura was wetter than a wet soggy thing.

are we moving over to books or staying here? Loved Woman in White :-)
Anyone else completed the OU BA Literature degree? The 19th century literature course was my favourite :-)

I loved the Anne of green gables books when I was young - my sister read all the later ones which told the story of all her children, Walter dying in the war etc....might have to try and find those....

Marian was amazing. Walter clearly realises late in the book that he's picked the wrong sister.

Back in New England, I like Nan and Josie in the later books -full of spirit and not bothered about marriage. Nan becomes a doctor, I think, which is pretty impressive for the late 19th century.

I just don't think Amy and Laurie gelled well. Meg or Jo would have been a better suitor for him

And she is a bit of a sap

JingleBitch couldn't agree more with the emma Thompson comment. IMO she was about 10 years too old for the role.

Physical books, no!

Yes you can, go to a blooming library!

mumof3men I'm doing that course at the moment and love it!

From memory so I may be wrong 'And on the bosom where she took her first breath, she quietly breathed her last'. Sob. Never could read it without crying. Was always mystified by Amy/Laurie, and by Jo marrying what appeared to be an old man to my teenage eyes.

You can download them for free.

There is a whole book about Clover!? Why did nobody mention this before!?!

HintofBream, yes, I remember Seven Little Australians. Poor Judy (whose real name was Helen, oddly enough).