Shidduch Lit V

1) While my childhood was filled with musicals, the works of Fred Astaire escaped my education. (For all his fanciful footwork, he does not pass the Hungarian looks test, you see. Plus by the 1950s, he no longer qualified as age-appropriate for his usual leading ladies. He's 56 in the below video, when the character should have been in his early 30s.) 

It was only recently I saw the delightful Daddy Long-Legs (with my beloved, Leslie Caron), and always eager to read the source material, took out the book it was based on, by Jean Webster. 

The book itself is quite pleasant, but it was the attached spin-off, Dear Enemy, that qualifies as Shidduch Lit. While I was reading it, my nighttime slumber was severely compromised. Odd, since no book had ever discomfited me in such a fashion. 

The book itself has but a few passages regarding courtship and marriage, yet all truisms in this day and age, even though it was written a century ago. They are mentioned almost casually, and in passing. 

It is quite necessary to read D.L.L. first, or else one will not understand the whole basis of the sequel. They are not difficult reads; I would recommend them both.

2) I bring before you another TooYoungToTeach recommendation, What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty. I took it out once, and in typical fashion had taken out too many reads at one time. I was surprised, however, that I was unable to renew. The book came out in 2009—why should it still be in such popular demand? 

Well, that became clear quite quickly. 

I do not know the official Bad4 parameters for "Shidduch Lit," as this may be merely "Marriage Lit"; not the tale of the courtship itself, but the state of relationship following the wedding. 

It reminds the reader of the importance of being able to see people not as "good" or "bad." It reminds us that being wholehearted will sometimes knock us down, but it is worth it. It reminds us of . . . well, that's a spoiler, and I don't want to spoil anything. TYTT was very considerate of that.