(no subject)

coffeeandink says: "I love A Little Princess! It is all about stories and pet rats and cold garrets and really kind of frightening stoicism, in retrospect. It was my favorite story in the world when I was nine years old."

I read this and had one of those moments in which a lot more things about me made sense. I read A Little Princess back in third grade or so; it's one of the books read prior to moving to Taiwan, so it's very early on in my mental development, or something.

And I adored it, and loved Sara, and pretty much wanted to be Sara. I loved the Magic and India and the dreary rooftops of London, as well as how secretly angry Sara could be and her kindness. I still remember her little speech to herself on staring Miss Minchin down and how she was stronger in the end because she wouldn't let her anger out like Miss Minchin did. And of course, I loved it because she read, and even in third grade, I found a kindred spirit when she tells one of her friends just how she feels when someone interrupts her while she's in the middle of a good book.

Sara Crewe was the reason why I was interested in the French Revolution and why I thought (and still sometimes think) that dolls and stuffed animals magically come to life behind closed doors.

Also, pet rats.

It all makes sense, I tell you!!