I am so fortunate to have an amazing sister who has shaped my life in so many ways. Even though we now live far apart, we manage to stay close with lengthy phone chats at least once a week. My sister listens to and cares about the minor details of my life, shares so many of my precious childhood memories, and brings so much joy with her energy and sense of humor.
In literature, the presence of a strong sibling relationship can have a huge impact on a character's journey, in childhood and beyond. Hannah shared her favorite sibling relationships a little over a month ago, and today I'd like to share mine (they all happen to be sisters, but of course brothers are equally important!):
3) The River of Time series by Lisa Tawn Bergren
This series has so much great humor, romance, and adventure, but one of my favorite aspects was the relationship between the sisters, Gabi and Lia. In the first book, Waterfall, they accidentally travel back through time to 14th century Italy, but because their timing is a little off, Gabi spends a significant portion of the book trying to find her sister. For the remainder of the series, they work together to help the family that has taken them in and struggle to decide whether they want to return to the present. I really appreciated that while they definitely have their squabbles, Gabi and Lia would do anything for each other. I also loved that they bond over girly things like pretty dresses, but they also fight side-by-side in ways 14th-century Italians didn't think possible for females, gaining them a reputation as the "She-Wolves of Siena." 2) Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
1) Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
In my mind, both the book and movie versions of Little Women illustrate the epitome of what sibling relationships can be. The events in the lives of the March family are nothing out of the ordinary, but the close bond the sisters have with each other makes everything more meaningful. In a time of poverty for their family, the girls make their own fun by creating their own newspaper and putting on "wild theatricals." Together, they find joy in small pleasures, like a special Christmas meal. But they also have conflicts, which are so palpable you can feel Jo's rage when Amy destroys her manuscript and Meg's irritation when Jo ruins her hair. They also struggle with the changes which every family must face - older siblings striking out on their own or getting married, leaving younger siblings behind. Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy illustrate the beauty and challenges of sibling relationships in a timeless way that brings me back to their story again and again.What kind of relationship do you have with your sibling(s)? What sibling relationships in books and movies stand out to you as your favorites?
Thanks for reading!
Laurie
Attributions:
Waterfall: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MT8SK8/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
Cascade: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052DYEWK/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
Pride & Prejudice: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/prideandprejudice/images/6/69/Bennet_sisters.jpeg/revision/latest?cb=20110910015723
Little Women: http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/littlewomen/images/a/ad/Little_Women_1994.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140617173321
Thanks for the shout-out! I think the world would question my sanity a lot more if I didn't have my lovely sister to sing crazy songs to when looking for parking spots and rant when I feel as though I'm losing my marbles. :) I loved your examples of sibling relationships.. I think my favorite is the March sisters because even though it's in a different time period, it's such a realistic portrayal of true sibling relationships. I think another of my favorites would be the Weasleys in Harry Potter, particularly Fred and George. They add a comedic layer that is so well-balanced with the more serious tone of the later books in the series.
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome, the shout-out was well deserved :) Haha, I may not sing quite as many crazy songs, but I definitely appreciate your listening ear when I need to rant as well! Fred and George came to mind for me, too, when I was putting together this post. I love that while individually they're each funny guys, the way they interact together makes them 10 times funnier. I feel like we're a little bit like that - not nearly to the extent of Fred and George, of course, but we play off each other well :)
DeleteI loved hearing your opinion on this subject! I especially liked hearing your opinion on the River of Time series. I haven't heard of that, but it seems so neat. I have three siblings, and a very different relationship with each one. Great post!
ReplyDeleteAw, you guys sound so fun. I agree with the Weasleys and the March sisters. :-)
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