1. The characters are hopelessly flawed but always learn from their mistakes and become better people. Which is so nice, yes? :-)
2. Betsy and Tib are a little boy-crazy but Tacy isn’t.
3. The characters have loving relationships with their families (and their fathers!) but it’s not sickly sweet or obsessive.
4. College and education are viewed as good and beneficial things. Most of the girls go to college and then get married.
5. Betsy learns to keep house after she’s married and makes it a priority. But, she doesn’t give up her writing to do so. They’re some of the few books I’ve read with a healthy balance between homemaking and having dreams and pursuits as a married woman.
6. Betsy’s life doesn’t end with her marriage: the wedding is in the beginning of the last book.
7. The books make a statement against sororities and fraternities which shows some greatness of mind on Mrs. Lovelace’s part, I think.
8. The characters eat so well! Warning: These books will make you hungry!
9. Betsy doesn’t like Elsie Dinsmore (and neither do I)!
10. They show that heartache (even over, (horrors!) boys) is normal and can be a beneficial thing to growing up and maturing.
And the 11th reason to read Betsy-Tacy is….
After a long sojourn in the world of “out of print”… the high school books are being re-released on September 29th! And Carney’s House Party and Emily of Deep Valley will be out next year!
So now instead of having to track them down on Abebooks and paying $25 for one paperback you can find them on BN.com for 11.99 (for 2 books actually). Dreeaming.... :-)
And if you want to know more about Betsy-Tacy follow these links:
http://www.maudhartlovelacesociety.com/
http://www.betsy-tacysociety.org/
Ingrid
