The Time Machine

I really like this one. It makes you think.

H.G. Wells starts The Time Machine with a lot of fancy language that intimidated me at first, but quickly became a gripping adventure tale that I didn't want to put down or have end. Wells really immerses you into the action, even while--very artfully--breaking the point of view between two narrators. I really don't remember the last time I was as engaged as I was for this (as far as this list is concerned). Even the heartbreakingly lonely death of the Earth is so beautiful in a matter of pages. I want more! I'm actually surprised it didn't turn into a series like Sherlock Holmes, though I'm also glad that it didn't, because it makes it that much better.

It's part social commentary, part allegory, all sci fi fun. I'd very much like to see it as a movie, but I doubt anything would be able to do Wells' impeccable imagery justice. Especially since I just looked up pics from the 1960 version and Weena looks like a normal gorgeous lady. What the literal crap. That is absolutely not the point of this story.

Little Women

When I was little, my relatives from Japan used to send me VHS tapes of kids' shows to watch that they recorded from Japanese TV. One of the shows that I remember watching over and over again was this anime series called "ナンとジョー先生 (Nan and Teacher Jo)".  I realized sometime later that Miss Jo was a character that originated from Little Men (which I see now is a continuation of Little Women), so getting to read this book has a nostalgic place in my heart.

It's clear Jo is supposed to be the favorite in this book (I wonder if she's modeled after Louisa May Alcott herself), but is Amy actually supposed to be the worst? Because she really bothers me (even when she was the spoiled young 5 year old or whatever she was) and I can't get over it. In my eyes, she ruins Laurie. I mean, I'm glad Jo found the guy she's supposed to be with and that she's happy, but it basically did turn Laurie into a worthless piece of garbage. He sounds like an intelligent person when he speaks to Jo, but as soon as he has anything to do with Amy he gets pulled into her imbecility and it's hard to endure.  Call it what you will but it gave me some twisted pleasure that Amy and Laurie's child is weak and might die.

Also, for how much it was stressed that Meg's children were incredibly smart and "advanced", why the hell do they sound so stupid when they talk?

Anyway, if I can get past all that (which I barely can), this is a very warm, genuine story about family love as a joyful and cherished happy place. I prefer the first part to the second with all the ups and downs of teenager/mid 20's that had me longing with fondness on the past, but I suppose that's true to real life and shows Miss Alcott's talents.