Özel Seri Swing Sayı: 75 kitap serbest oDF biçim

Sam Meis sammeis — This is a novelization about Mrs. Tom Thumb who stood 2 feet, 8 inches tall. The novel is told in the first person, Vinnie's (Mrs. TT) and just as the title says, like an autobiography. I was completely charmed by this little two foot narrator even though she isn't perfect. She is strong, determined, prideful and ashamed both, arrogant, selfish, and yet also extremely loving. Throughout the novel, she does wrong and she does right, just like everyone else and her narrative is very honest. Branded one of "nature's occasional mistakes" when it became realized that she was never grow past the height of a two year old, Vinnie refuses to let her parents coddle and protect her. She demands to go to school. This is the strong and determined Vinnie I admired so. She proves to the town that "little people" have the same abilities to think and learn as every one else and not only excels in school, but becomes a teacher. She's got a desire to be the center of attention, however, and just settling for being a school teacher in a tiny town isn't satisfying Vinnie. Here's the pride and arrogance. She joins a showboat touring the Mississippi and has an unsavory "manager." This part of her life occurs right before the Civil war breaks out so there is some interesting historical stuff merged in here. She also makes a wonderful friend in a giant woman. This is the nice side of Vinnie. I was very touched. From the showboat, she goes to P.T. Barnum and here her character starts to change.. and not necessarily for the better. She agrees to a publicity stunt of a marriage, gets her also tiny sister involved in show business (NOT for the right reasons), and there's a baby mishap I don't want to reveal. Here, Vinnie gets selfish. It's all about Vinnie.. except for her sister, Minnie, she doesn't give much thought to others. But she really does love Minnie and for a while, Minnie somewhat steals the show. I actually cried at one point. Minnie has a sad story. I didn't know whether to call her brave or incredibly dumb, but it is very moving. I used both the words "ashamed" and "arrogant." A strange combination? How can one be both? This is interesting.. Vinnie is very pleased with herself, sees herself as something really special. After all, she's had tea with the Queen. However, when faced with a troupe of dwarfs while traveling with the Barnum circus, Minnie looks down on them, considers herself above them. Is she really better than them or is she viewing them with shame? Is she afraid she is looking at herself? "..grotesque, misshapen little people.. " And later in the book, this made me think on the above further: In her husband's eyes one day, she sees something that she must admit to herself that she sees in her mirror, "Hurt and determination, both: That's what it was. Hurt at the cruelties the world sometimes threw at us; determination not to let anyone notice...... Perhaps I had also recognized it in the eyes of those misshapen little women from the circus; perhaps I hadn't wanted to.." So is Vinnie putting on an act? This really made me think about how many of us with disabilities try to cover up our discomfort, our hurt, with pride and arrogance.. There were many laugh out moments too. A scene with Mrs. Putnam was hilarious. Vinnie's wit really comes out at times. Also enjoyed her description of her husband toting around his little pistol on the train and her views on Mormon women. This review is already too long or I would quote it all. A beautiful story about an amazing woman who defied all odds, who traveled the world, who touched lives, joined a circus, and so much more.

Giuseppe Signore _iuseppe_ignore — Loved this book as a kid. I couldn't read yet but I had memorized the whole thing by the time I was in preschool.