Childhood nostalgia poll

[rachelmanija]

Please reminisce, fondly or not, about any of these, or other books read in childhood, especially if they seem to have, deservedly or undeservedly, vanished from the shelves. I'd love to hear about non-US, non-British books, too.

[Poll #1720139]

Comments

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

I always figured that semi-approval was the doctor's Dark Tragic Past speaking, and/or Sally's bright young NY thing with the unthinking prejudices of the time. Eg Sally and the new black cook, a scene that causes horripilations. 'And what do you think her name is? *Sally*! I suggested she change it,' she writes, not turning a hair. Webster bats her down there, so I figured the same would apply to Sally's casual dismissal of 'the feeble-minded.' Perhaps not, then?

[juliansinger.livejournal.com]

Well, Wiki (that bastion of respectability) says that basically Webster was Conflicted, and wrote out that conflict in the story (as you say). When I re-read it recently, it did seem to eventually back off its approval. (And certainly Sally wasn't, in the end, a fan. Just a Nice Lady Trying To Do Good.)