A reading list for Tim Lott

Tim Lott (columnist in "liberal" UK newspaper The Guardian) has published this column where he (with his tongue firmly in his cheek, I'm sure) describes his life as a dad of girls- a pink hell full of x chromosomes who can't ride bikes, Peppa Pig and Rainbow Fairy books, apparently. I have some suggestions for him for other books that he might want to read with them.

Image: Indiebound.org

Ronia the Robber's Daughter is wonderful, by the author of Pippi Longstocking. I have reviewed it here. I will add only, look at the Puffin cover above. Ronia is strong, independent, active, everything that I would want my daughter to be. She's a great role model for a girl.

The Dragon Whisperer by Lucinda Hare. Again, I have already written about it here. Set in a fantasy world (which Tim's fairy-loving girls may enjoy), it is the story of a brave, resourceful girl with the special gift of being able to communicate with dragons.

Princess Smartypants by Babette Cole is the story of a very modern, motorbike riding princess who doesn't want to get married. She has lots of suitors, who she sets impossible tasks. Finally Prince Swashbuckle fulfils them, but when she kisses him he turns into a frog, so she stays in her castle with her pets. A witty fairy tale.

The Ordinary Princess by MM Kaye is another subversion of a traditional fairy tale. Princess Amy is given the gift of ordinariness at her christening by the Fairy Crustacea. She grows up to be ordinary indeed- brown haired, freckled and preferring to play in the woods than the usual princess pursuits. She discovers that her parents are planning to hire a dragon for her to be rescued from by a prince, so she runs away to live in the woods. Eventually she goes to work as a kitchen maid in a neighbouring king's palace. Eventually she meets an ordinary prince. It's a lovely book for a princess loving little girl.

Joan Aiken's Dido Twite series (The Wolves of Willoughby Chase and sequels). Dido Twite is a little London urchin being dragged up in an alternate version of early 19th century England. I wrote about her here. She's vulnerable, tough and loyal, and the books are inventive, exciting and great fun to read.

For his older daughters, The Thirteen Treasures and sequels shows a more Shakespearean version of fairies; malignant and without morals or pity. I wrote about the first book here. In particular Red, the girl that Tanya meets, is a strong girl. They are great, exciting adventures.

Tamora Pierce's Lioness books are about Alanna, a girl who wants to be a knight rather than a lady. Her twin brother wants to learn to be a magician. Brother and sister swap places. Alanna is a great character, and while I usually don't enjoy books where girls have to be honorary boys in order to have worth, the conceit in this book works effectively. The negotiations that Alanna has to do between her wishes to be more than decorative are a great metaphor for girls growing up and working out who they are.

Finally, I have written about Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching several times, but she is such a great character. I'd have adored her when I was 10.

If he wants more ideas of books and films to watch with his daughters that will empower them rather than make them feel like rubbish for being girls, then A Mighty Girl has some fantastic ideas. Thankfully, my dad didn't seem to feel that being the father of three girls was such a tragedy of pinkness as Tim does.

Art for art's sake

Two weeks ago I went to see the Cult of Beauty exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. On the Aesthetic movement of 1860-1900, it outlined the movement's impact on art, architecture, literature, interior design, fashion, and some of the political and cultural influences on it.

Some of the exhibits strongly reminded me of two books by Louisa May Alcott: Eight Cousins (1875) and its sequel, Rose in Bloom (1876). Published in the decade following the great success of Little Women, Alcott used the novels to outline her political and educational philosophy, based on that of her father, Trancendentialist philosopher Amos Bronson Alcott.

Eight Cousins is the story of recently orphaned Rose Campbell. She has come to live with her great aunts while her guardian, Uncle Alec, is away at sea. Her aunts are loving but old fashioned, and when we first meet Rose she is feeling a little sorry for herself. Uncle Alec has very advanced views, through which Alcott is able to promote her ideas about diet, feminism, fashion, philanthropy and bringing up girls. Many of these appear to be Alcott's father's ideas, but they resonate with many of the Aesthetes' tenets, outlined in the exhibition.

On Uncle Alec's arrival, Rose is presented with many mementos of his travels, decorating her room in a way that would have delighted Aesthetic taste: bamboo furniture, a Japanese screen, a painting of the Madonna and a blue and white jug and bowl. Japanese porcelein and paintings had been arriving in the West since the 1860s, after the end of the Kaei era of seclusion of Japan; French artists were particularly influenced by Japanese woodblock printing, and Little Women paid for May Alcott, Louisa's artist sister, to visit Paris. Later in the story Rose goes to the harbour and meets Chinese merchant Mr Whang Lo and his nephew, Fun See, and is presented with a fan, packets of tea and a tea service. In Rose in Bloom, Fun See marries one of Rose's closest friends.

(Image: Victoria and Albert Museum. This fan is Japanese but was made in 1870s).

Uncle Alec has very advanced ideas in woman and girls' dress; firstly he loosens Rose's tight leather and steel belt so that she can breathe freely and run; later he stops fashionable Aunt Clara from dressing Rose in ultra-fashionable style. The description is similar to the costume on the right:

(University of Texas collection)

"The upper skirt was tied so tightly back that it was impossible to take a long step, and the under one was so loaded with frills that it "wobbled"- no other word will express it- ungracefully fore and aft. A bunch of folds was gathered up just below the waist behind, and a great bow rode a-top. A small jacket of the same material was adorned with a high ruff at the back, an laid well open at the breast, to display some lace and a locket."
Uncle Alec advocates dress reform; Rose is dressed in "pyjamas" or pantaloons with a dress over the top; described as being to the top of her boots, Rose's dress is longer than the one pictured:

(Teachushistory.org)

The Aesthetic dress in the Cult of Beauty was of a later period. I was particularly taken with this Liberty one:

(Victoria and Albert collection)

It could be worn without a corset and lacks the embellishment of much late Nineteenth Century fashion.

Any readers wanting to read more of Alcott's feminist writing for girls could also try An Old-Fashioned Girl, which advocates independence and employment for young women, an urges practical philanthropy and fair wages for working women.