*3.5 stars*
Which leads me to an actual review, I know, I have almost forgotten how to write one, but here we go. Yesterday I stumbled upon this sweet book of coming of age. It was my first epistolary novel, meaning the plot was completely conveyed through letters. And I loved it. It was very easy to read, I would even call it a page turner. Through the novel we follow 4 years of college life of Jerusha Abbott. Growing up and having spent all her 17 years in orphanage she is bewildered to find out that she has been picked out to receive anonymous donations from one of the orphanages beneficiaries. She starts addressing the man as a Daddy Long Legs, after a long legged shadow she once witnessed him cast from afar. The plot is delivered to us through the eyes and letters of a teenage girl, first discovering the world and people she had no idea existed outside from her little bubble. It gives off a sense of "trueness". Even through written a hundred years ago, I can still relate to Judy. Her bubbly personality, urge to please her dear Daddy Long Legs and shine in her academic life mixed up with undeniable girly vanity of someone who grew up having nothing make Jerusha into a real girl. And even though the ways of life have changed drastically since then, it still stays charming for a modern mind.
Yet, hardly any book comes without flaws. Daddy Long Legs might just have as much good as there is of that, what made me cringe. The reason I gave it 3.5* is just that it could have been so much more.
Some slight spoilers ahead!
For a starter... calling your anonymous beneficiary slash romantic interest Daddy through a whole book, is slightly disconcerting... yet I can see how a girl might develop fatherly feelings for an imaginative figure who also is her only friend/family outside the college. Yet, neither of them should seem so comfortable with it. I really hope she isn't going to continue her letter to her loved one, starting them with "Dear Daddy!" Ugh! However, a much bigger problem for me lies in the end of the book.
When you find out the person you have become to think of as a father or family at least, and a man you have strong romantic feelings for turn out to be the same - ... A girl would be upset! Really. Especially one with Judys character. I just don't see her happily accepting it without a blink and just falling into his waiting arms. And then continuing sending letters to him in the same way! I just... can't.
End of the "spoilery" part :)
I also wish we could see at least some of the story through someone else... inevitably it stayed a bit too one dimensional. But I guess this must be the charm of the epistolary style.
Overall. There were just so many issues with this book and the last chapters managed to tear everything even more apart, BUT the majority of the book was still enjoyable. Judy was a great character and watching her grow up and making her way in the world was very satisfactory. I do dare to recommend this book, just... don't expect the romance to blow you away, more then anything it's a coming of age story of a bright girl.
The book actually has a sequel called Dear Enemy, and even though I loved the first installment enough, I'm not sure I will be picking it up anytime soon.
