Sunday, May 2, 2010

Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster

ISBN-13: 978-0140374551
Publisher: Puffin Classics
Published: September 1995
185 pgs
Source: Personal Library




When I first heard of Daddy Long Legs it was during my Secondary School days. I hate to admit it, but at that time I was not really interested in reading the book. I read the book title and that was it; I never made it a point of reading the blurb until I read Nymeth's lovely review she posted in January this year. Though I know it is never too late to read it (or any other things for that matter), imagine what I have missed during all these years!

Anyway, Daddy Long Legs centers the life of an orphan called Jerusha Abbot (but she called herself 'Judy') and how her life change after an orphanage's trustee decided to sponsor her education. As much as Judy is thrilled and touched by her benefactor's kindness and generosity, she didn't have the chance of meeting him in person though she did get a quick glimpse of him and knew he is skinny and tall. He has asked to remain anonymous and wanted Judy to write to him instead and telling him about her progress in school, but then she would not expect any response from him.

Though intrigued by his anonymity, Judy adheres to his 'rules' and consistently write him letters, and she will address him as 'Daddy-Long-Legs' due to his physique, or sometimes Mr John Smith if she wants to be formal. In any way, Judy's letters are a sheer delight to read if you ask me, because most of the times they are packed with humour and a little sarcasm (though they are mostly her ramblings rather than mean). I could not count the number of times I actually grin or chuckle while reading her letters to Daddy-Long-Legs, and another thing I liked about those letters is she will sometimes include illustrations alongside with them and most of the time they amused me in a good way.

In short, Daddy Long Legs is a book that featured Judy's letters to Daddy-Long-Legs and oh, what a wonderful gem it is to my keeper's shelf. Aside from Judy's letters, I loved her voice and not to mention her personality and her outlook on life. I know I want to be her friend because she is fun and intelligent, sympathetic towards others, always willing to learn things (it made me smile when I knew her dream is to become a writer) and most of all she is never afraid to voice out her opinions, in which I most admire.

Daddy Long Legs is definitely one of those books that will bring delight not only to the young readers but adults alike. It left me a warm fuzzy feeling even after I closed the book and I hope anyone of you who has not read this book will pick it up soon. Now I will add Dear Enemy on to my wishlist and I hope my experience of reading this book will be the same (or hopefully will be much better) after reading Daddy Long Legs.

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