Bright Young Things is a book by Anna Godbersen set in the 1920’s about three girls whose lives connect in the illustrious city of New York. Two of the three girls Cordelia Grey and Letty Larkspur grew up in the small town of Union Ohio. Together they run away to New York City to escape the dull lives they lead. “They came to avoid kitchens and marriages, to a place where they could reasonably claim to be eighteen forever. Or for the foreseeable future, anyway, which seemed to us the same thing. They came mostly, for the fun – especially the young things, especially the girls.” Unfortunately, upon arrival they find that everything they dreamed about the city isn’t true. Astrid Donal, the third girl, is an extremely well off flapper living in New York at the time the other two arrive. After Letty and Cordelia part ways Astrid Donal befriends Cordelia and becomes her guide to the city, introducing her to a variety of things. As time goes on they become inseparable friends who help each other though the thick and thin.
On the other side of New York Letty gets to see a whole different aspect to the infamous city, she has to tough it out mostly alone. She gets a job in a club as a cigarette girl. As she struggles through a less privileged life then Cordelia she learns a lot about herself and how the world really is.
Throughout the story all three girls lose a bit of their innocence. They have to face things about themselves and about the world they previously thought they knew. Do you think it would have been better if the two girls stayed in Union Ohio and left their lives they way they were?
Which of the girls do you think learned more about themselves, Cordelia who was able to become part of the well off side of the city and meet the supportive Astrid or Letty who had to make her own way on the less privileged side of the city?
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15 comments:
1. Yes I think the girls would have been better off staying in Union Ohio. It seems like they had much bigger plans and too high of hopes for New York.
Despite the fact that they ran into trouble, I think that they still should have went to New York if they were truely unhappy in Union Ohio. I think that it is better to take a risk then play it safe and be unhappy with your life.
I think that Letty learned a more harsh lesson. Which Cordelia had her friend Astrid to provide for her, Letty was alone and had to deal with the hardships of being poor alone.
*while.
Not which.. Whoops :)
1. HECK NO! dude have some adventure! especially while your young. dont follow the crowd and do the expected. if they did, there'd be no sense of fulfillment in their lives. BORING!
2. neither. they arent the same people they where before and they are changing, not realizing who they "really are". Cordelia changed less cause she was supported just like back home. Letty changed because her surroundings changed and she did what was necissary. thats all there is to it. no one learned more about themselves.
1) Well they certainly would have had a easier time if they stayed in Ohio, but they wouldn't have learned any of the lessons.
2)Letty because she learned about the hardships of life and how far she could push herself.
1. I think it was a very positive venture to leave Union Ohio (even though Ohio is far superior to New York in every aspect except professional sports). As I understand it, these girls left their sheltered Ohio life and got a good taste of the "real world" in New York. I think it's important to live surrounded by these worldly impurities because you have more of a connection to all the people of the world. One should know all there is to know about the world and that goes far beyond what can be seen in Union Ohio.
2. The girls on the less privileged side of the city learned more about themselves. They had little or no help in living their lives and for that reason, they saw more of themselves then other people who might help them along through life.
I think that Letty learned more about herself because of the tough times and adversity that she faced. I think that those experinces tought her more about herself than living the high life.
2) I think Letty learned more about herself because she was on her own and could barely get by. However, Cordelia was dependent on Astrid and didn't seem to care about learning about herself, rather she cared about discovering new things in New York.
I do not think that the girls should stay in Union. Part of life is moving around and seeing other places to find where you belong. If you stay in one place, you cannot figure that out. I think Letty learned more. Even though she didn't become well off. She learned the other side, the more harsh side. But it probably led her to be a tougher girl and be more appriciative of the little things in life.
I think going to New York was better for them because they learned new things about life they had not, and may have never, learned at Union. I think Letty learned more. She had to learn to live on her own and probably came to appreciate the littler things in life where Cordelia probably hadn't learned as much because she was provided for.
1. I think the girls should have stayed in Union Ohio but at the same time they also learned an important lesson. They learned that life outside isn't as good as it always seems. So in both ways there was good and bad.
1. If the girls had stayed in Ohio, they would have had a significantly smaller amount of trouble. Although, if they had not gone, they would hae regretted it for the rest of their lives and always wondered what would have happened. Plus, they would not have learned what they learned throughout this story.
2. I think Letty learned more about herself. Since she had to support herself for probably the first time, and do things she never had to do before.
I think probably they both learned a lot. I mean, living the high life, you learn how to over-indulge and be spoiled and selfish, and never have to truly work for anything. I think Letty learned more valuable life lessons. She learned what life is really like, and how hard work is the way most people must take. Cordelia didn't learn much except for how to just be served. Letty learned how to be a likable person, and that while you're not rich, you can still be happy.
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