MY THOUGHTS:
I love this book. Louisa May Alcott has given us a beautiful example of the quintessential Victorian era girl in Rose Campbell, who is kind and fun-loving but can be pushed too far by the unscrupulous or overly-demanding. The circumstances that push Rose's buttons are perfect nineteenth century examples of more up-to-date situations that might similarly nettle us. And through it all she's so sweet and earnest, we can't help getting invested and barracking for her to get the appreciation (and the man!) she deserves.
I didn't have to sit and re-read it entirely within a day and a half, but I felt compelled to keep turning pages. Last read was many years ago, after all. Anyone who has read Eight Cousins might expect Rose's relationships with some of her boy cousins to evolve as they all grow older, and this is especially true of dashing Charlie and nerdy Mac. They both unwittingly help her learn what sort of man a girl should aim to spend the rest of her life with.
Charlie's chosen occupation is gentleman of leisure. He aims to have fun simply because he can, and sticks to his personal ethic, which is basically, 'Enjoy yourself to the max, because YOLO.' He loves being a society man, hitting the bottle, and basking in the admiration of others. But these things have him so firmly hooked, Charlie never gets around to finishing much else. His major project is to win Cousin Rose and her fortune for himself, and since he's the most compelling Campbell boy, he doesn't expect it'll take too long.
But Charlie's relationship with Rose is complex, because he's adept at emotional manipulation that goes along the lines of, 'I have nothing of value without your support, so if you criticize my lifestyle I'll lose the plot, and it'll be all your fault.' Has Rose learned enough relationship skills from Uncle Alec over the years to equip her for this sort of subtle blackmail from a charming young man?
On the other hand, Rose values her relaxed companionship with Mac, who seems to grow brighter and more unconventional each year. But his refreshing originality stops amusing her when it takes the form of falling in love with her too. Mac's approach is entirely different from Charlie's, because he remains mysterious about how he intends to sweep her off her feet. Wondering what he's going to do makes her edgy. Has Rose learned enough from Uncle Alec to help her handle quiet admiration from an intense young man without freaking out?
I hope I'm not making this sound like one of those hackneyed romantic triangles, because it definitely isn't. For a start, Mac would never set out to steal Rose from Charlie. He has far too much integrity for that. Nor would Charlie imagine for one minute that Mac would ever get a look in. You have to read it to see how it all pans out, and there are plot twists enough to make us laugh and cry. And you can bet Alcott really develops the characters of all three!
There's also an entertaining Archie thread keeping us cheering him on too. Some of the aunts and uncles would have loved their sober and reliable oldest boy to win Rose's heart, but little do they know that Archie has some stubborn and scandalous romantic plans in another direction! His beta romance is a great addition to the novel.
As always, my heart was touched by the great relationship between Rose and Uncle Alec. Sure, by today's standards he can be overbearing, autocratic and just plain cocky, but Rose trusts him completely and never feels there is anything she can't discuss with him. Their history is long enough that she knows full well he loves her dearly and is totally committed to her. Alec has proven many times that he has Rose's best interests at heart, and not every father-figure is such an anchor for the young women in their lives. Because of this, I call the guy a winner. Nothing she throws at him can shock him, and she knows it.
If a fraction of Alcott's inspiration for Alec came from her own fanatical dad, Bronson Alcott, then I can't help thinking he must have been a winner too.
This novel burrows to the heart of some delicate issues, through various conversations of Rose and Alec, that are often swept under the carpet. These talks are always sparked by events of the story, and include how we must adjust our attitudes to do the right thing without expecting thanks or gratitude from the entitled people we may rub shoulders with. Rose even admits feeling jealousy and discouragement, when she considers how gifted and celebrated Mac and Phebe are becoming in the public eye, while anyone could do the quiet, behind-the-scenes things she herself does. Then Uncle Alec delivers a very timely, spur of the moment pep talk on perspective which can't help hitting the sweet spot of any reader who falls short of brilliant.
The book gives us some memorable contrasts. Alcott delivers us a shocking bombshell which I wish she hadn't, but the boy Rose ends up with explains why he loves her in a very endearing manner. The nineteenth century society is described as a 'giddy vortex which keeps so many young people revolving aimlessly, till they go down or are cast upon the shore, wrecks of what they might have been.' Whoa, and they didn't even have the social media complication. Mac's prescription of, 'Keeping good company, reading good books and loving good things' is still sound advice to keep our head above water. And overall, the hallmarks of a beautiful soul are always evident.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
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