Book Review: North & South

North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell
***Clarification:This is not the Civil War North & South

Synopsis: Small town English Southerner finds herself in the wicked North (wicked as in fast paced and stressful) where she befriends the poor Higgins Family and her father befriends Mr. Thornton, a businessman who owns a mill. While the story focuses on a multiple of stressful situations, the two main characters carry the weight of the story's world on their shoulders and come out of it with their dignity still intact.

I'm really picky when it comes to books. I sometimes don't even try books out because I worry they will be such a complete waste of time. So I cleave onto my love of the classics, and stories I feel can stand the test of time.
I also am usually pretty adamant about reading the book before seeing the movie. When Harry Potter was about to come out my Mom insisted I read the books before watching the movie. Good thing too, because books=outstanding, movies=so-so.
Fast forward to some dreary Sunday in December. I'm bored, it's cold outside. Nothing to do. I decide to watch the BBC miniseries North and South on Youtube. It was fantastic, I watched the whole thing that day (I think it's 4 hours). Then I became obsessed with watching certain parts over and over again, like when Margaret tells Mr. Thornton to "be a "man" and go and save his innocent Irishmen." Awesome!
Anyways all I'm saying is when they announced in my Book Group that they were going to read North and South, I was like--shoot! I should've waited to watch the movie until after I had read the book.
Once I started reading the book I was startled to realize how happy I was to have watched the movie first. Because the movie was somewhat altered from the book, significant parts were not included or were added.
This spiked my curiosity into how they justified doing all their editing. I found that it was like reading a book and also solving a puzzle as well.
The verdict is, I loved the book and I loved the very edited movie equally as well.
I can't believe I just wrote that.

To Sophia, My Twelve Year Old.

Dearest, You gave me my first breath as Mother.

The years have rolled on and there you stand a
glimmer in my eye, a strong young woman.

I could never have guessed your character as a baby, still small and delicate.

How honored I am to have a daughter that has grown to be so capable, honest, and good natured.

You were a little angel sent to me from above.

Helping your Mother throughout these years
of constant strain and change.
You know how to do so many things and you have so many talents.

Though, your sisters and brother are still small I hope and pray that they will be

as strong, courageous, and true as their
Big Sister.

Happy Birthday, I love you very much my dear, sweet, and perfect Sophia.