Ladies and Gentlemen, a re-read! This is one of those books I won't tire of reading. This is my favourite passage in the book, simply because I am a girl and we girls can go on and on about the men that we love. ;-)After The Fall"The Garden is lost, but I have found HIM, and am content. He loves me as well as he can; I love him with all the strength of my passionatenature, and this, I think, is proper to my youth and sex.If I ask myself why I love him, I find I do not know, and do not really much care to know; so I suppose that this kind of love is not a product of reasoning and statistics, like one's love for other reptiles and animals. I think that this must be so. I love certain birds because of their song; but I do not love Adam on account of his singing--no, it isnot that; the more he sings the more I do not get reconciled to it. Yet I ask him to sing, because I wish to learn to like everything he is interested in. I am sure I can learn, because at first I could not stand it, but now I can. It sours the milk, but it doesn't matter; I can get used to that kind of milk.It is not on account of his brightness that I love him--no, it is not that. He is not to blame for his brightness, such as it is, for he did not make it himself; he is as God make him, and that is sufficient. There was a wise purpose in it, THAT I know. In time it will develop,though I think it will not be sudden; and besides, there is no hurry; he is well enough just as he is.It is not on account of his gracious and considerate ways and his delicacy that I love him. No, he has lacks in this regard, but he is well enough just so, and is improving.It is not on account of his industry that I love him--no, it is not that. I think he has it in him, and I do not know why he conceals it from me. It is my only pain. Otherwise he is frank and open with me, now. I am sure he keeps nothing from me but this. It grieves me that he should have a secret from me, and sometimes it spoils my sleep, thinking of it, but I will put it out of my mind; it shall not trouble my happiness, which is otherwise full to overflowing.It is not on account of his education that I love him--no, it is not that. He is self-educated, and does really know a multitude of things, but they are not so. It is not on account of his chivalry that I love him--no, it is not that. He told on me, but I do not blame him; it is a peculiarity of sex,I think, and he did not make his sex.Of course I would not have told on him, I would have perished first; but that is a peculiarity of sex, too, and I do not take credit for it, for I did not make my sex.Then why is it that I love him? MERELY BECAUSE HE IS MASCULINE, I think.At bottom he is good, and I love him for that, but I could love him without it. If he should beat me and abuse me, I should go on loving him. I know it. It is a matter of sex, I think. [Disclaimer, Tatuu wouldn't love a man who beats or abuses her but I have known of women who love men who mistreat them. I do not understand why this is so. Isn't it natural to dislike something that causes you pain?]. He is strong and handsome, and I love him for that, and I admire him and am proud of him, but I could love him without those qualities. If he were plain, I should love him; if he were a wreck, I should love him; I think, and he did not make his sex. Of course I would not have told on him, I would have perished first; but that is a peculiarity of sex, too, and I do not take credit for it, for I did not make my sex.Then why is it that I love him? MERELY BECAUSE HE IS MASCULINE, Ithink.At bottom he is good, and I love him for that, but I could love himwithout it. If he should beat me and abuse me, I should go on lovinghim. I know it. It is a matter of sex, I think.He is strong and handsome, and I love him for that, and I admire him and am proud of him, but I could love him without those qualities. If he were plain, I should love him; if he were a wreck, I should love him; and I would work for him, and slave over him, and pray for him, and watch by his bedside until I died.Yes, I think I love him merely because he is MINE and is MASCULINE. There is no other reason, I suppose. And so I think it is as I first said: that this kind of love is not a product of reasonings and statistics. It just COMES--none knows whence--and cannot explain itself. And doesn't need to. It is what I think. But I am only a girl, the first that has examined this matter, and it may turn out that in my ignorance and inexperience I have not got it right."- EVE What a nice little booklet! It's my first Mark Twain. I know, I know: how could an avid reader like myself could have been avoided Mr Twain for so long? Well: as a kid, I didn't like to read the classic kid-book. I misses Twain, Dickens and Kipling, for example. And while I was growing up, I sort of put them aside.There's a lot of clever thoughts in these pages. And feelings, and awe. Sometimes you can tell that Eve's part is written by a man, I think she's too submissive in her declaration of love for Adam, but I glad I came across this novel.
What do You think about Eves Diary (1906)?
Scusate l'assenza, è periodo da 'blocco del lettore'. Ma sto cominciando a riprendermi...
—lagofe
Will have to re read in some foreseeable future to properly appreciate it perhaps.
—Shona103
This is very creative and also rather funny. A nice quick read.
—Maddy
I usually love Twain, but this didn't do it for me.
—12345678910
