I'd like to recommend the Anne of Green Gables books, especially if you like the anime. Montgomery is a genius at writing slice of life, especially the comedic parts. I learned a lot on how conservative the western world could be a century ago, like how they took the sabbath at Sunday really seriously. It's quite fascinating. And the last book, Rilla of Ingleside, is a wonderful combination of classic Montgomery comedy hijinks intertwined with the ongoing events of World War 1. Marvel at how Canadians respond to the ongoing of the war, how they used to be really patriotic towards their British kin. I learned the derogatory term "Huns" for Germans from here.
And while I am at it, I'll recommend Emily of New Moon too from the same author. This one is more darker, since it's a struggle of the titular protagonist to become a writer. Sure, it has its funny scenes too but the overall mood is heavier. It can also be read as a feminist literature, and a good one, since she has to struggle to prove herself to her family who doesn't want her to be a writer. Compared to Anne, Emily is somewhat fiercer. I can easily imagine her becoming a bitter, jaded person if some events on her life were to change.
There's also The Story Girl, where the main charm is the rivalry between the titular girl and her cousin. Both have somewhat sharp tongues. The Story Girl like to think her cousin as stupid, while the cousin thinks of her as uncouth. The cousin is the perfect housekeeper, while the Story Girl can't cook. The Story Girl is a natural poet, while the cousin thinks it's all nonsense. In any other books, the cousin would be set up as the villain, but in this, she's the perfect foil to the Story Girl in providing comedy. It's really a shame this never gets an anime adaptation.
Kellhus said: Any Russian lit fans?
I'm reading that prison book by that Dostrofky (can't spell it) guy. It's pretty damn good.
Also, I saw a trope of innocent pure children being used there. That trope really was quite popular in that era, I suppose. Dickens and Hector Malot (author of Ie Naki Ko Remi and Perrine Monogatari) also used it.
The trope is pretty dead nowadays though, what with people wanting children with more "spunk" in them. |