あしながおじさん（新潮文庫）

by ジーン・ウェブスター

わたしはあなたのもので、あなたはわたしのものです。

孤児院育ちのジュディが謎の紳士に出会い、ユーモアあふれる手紙を書き続け――。最高に幸せで素敵な結末を迎えるシンデレラストーリー!

孤児院で育ったジュディの人生に、とびきりのチャンスと幸せが舞い込んできた。名を名乗らない裕福な紳士が、奨学金を出して彼女を大学に通わせてくれるという。ただし条件がひとつ。毎月、手紙を書いて送ること。ジュディは謎の紳士を「あしながおじさん」と呼び、持ち前のユーモアがあふれた手紙を書き続けるのだが――。最高に素敵なハッピーエンドが待ち受ける、エバーグリーンな名作。

236 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2017

Reviews

[Yoshinobu Yamakawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book tells the story of Judy Abbott, a young girl from an orphanage who goes to college with the help of an anonymous benefactor. Judy calls the benefactor, whose face and name she does not know, "Uncle Ashinaga," and promises to report on her college life in letters. The highlight of the film is its vivid depiction of Judy's growing up process. In her letters, she candidly describes the joys and worries of college life, including academics, friendships, and how she spends her vacations. For example, she invites sympathy as she describes how she nervously dresses for her first dance party and how she struggles with difficult classes but studies hard.

Through her correspondence with her "Uncle Ashinaga," Judy is able to organize her thoughts and grow. The film also impresses us with the various relationships that enrich her life, including her college friendships and her encounter with Jarvis, who later becomes her lover. Judy's experiences may overlap with those of each of us in our own lives. This film captured the heart of the main character, Judy, with her purity and intellectual curiosity, as well as her heartwarming interactions with the people around her. It also provides a glimpse into American college life and social conditions at the beginning of the 20th century, which is interesting from a historical perspective.

[Emi · Rating 3 out of 5]

ほぼほぼ一方通行の書簡体小説なので、読み始めは好みではないかなと思ってたけど、いつの間にか入り込んで読んでた。最後まで読むと幸せな気分になれる。