I somehow was never required to read this in high school or college, but I just finished it and was more than surprised at how much I enjoyed it. It's my wife's favorite book, so I agreed to read it despite it not at all being anything like what I typically read.
I should say that I'm a 29-year-old male who typically reads books and stories in the horror, sci-fi and weird fiction vein, so I was skeptical at how much I would enjoy a novel written from the perspective of a poor adolescent girl in the early 1900's. It's now on my favorite book list. This thing was incredibly well-written and detailed, full of life and memory of the experiences and struggles of childhood and growing up.
On one hand, it's disappointing that I didn't read it in school, but on the other hand I'm glad I waited until now so that I could fully appreciate it.
I should say that I'm a 29-year-old male who typically reads books and stories in the horror, sci-fi and weird fiction vein, so I was skeptical at how much I would enjoy a novel written from the perspective of a poor adolescent girl in the early 1900's. It's now on my favorite book list. This thing was incredibly well-written and detailed, full of life and memory of the experiences and struggles of childhood and growing up.
On one hand, it's disappointing that I didn't read it in school, but on the other hand I'm glad I waited until now so that I could fully appreciate it.