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Jo's Boys (Little Women #3)
Best known for the novels Little Women and Little Men, Louisa May Alcott brought the story of her feisty protagonist Jo and the adventures and misadventures of the March family to an entertaining, surprising, and bittersweet conclusion in Jo’s Boys. Beginning ten years after Little Men, Jo’s Boys revisits Plumfield, the New England school still presided over by Jo and her ...more
Paperback, 336 pages
Published
February 26th 2008
by Bantam Classics
(first published 1886)
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Abigail
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Readers Who Loved "Little Women" & "Little Men" and Need Completion
Shelves:
childrens-fiction,
literature-classics
Alcott's multi-generational saga of the March family, begun in Little Women and continued in Little Men, is concluded in this third and final volume. Mrs. Jo's "little men" have grown up, and this book follows their various and intertwining adventures as adults...
Leaving aside a few charming passages in which Mrs. Jo must hide from her adoring fans (a snippet of authorial autobiography?), this book has always been a major disappointment to me. While no one would deny that the...more
Leaving aside a few charming passages in which Mrs. Jo must hide from her adoring fans (a snippet of authorial autobiography?), this book has always been a major disappointment to me. While no one would deny that the...more
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Finally! I started reading this as soon as I finished Little Men, but didn't really get into so put it down for a few months. Around page 150 I suddenly got hooked on the stories within the book (because every chapter in an Alcott novel has its own individual plot) and read a few chapters every day until I finished it. It's obvious at the end that it's the last book she'll write about the March family as the last page lists what happens to every character - which is a bit sad, as Alcott's novels...more
A long, sometimes tedious, but almost always charming epilogue to Little Women and Little Men. Alcott wrote it in 1886, eighteen years after Little Women and two years before her death. She must have known, feeling the effects of mercury poisoning from her time as a Civil War nurse, that the lights were really going out, the curtain about to fall.
In this book Alcott continues to find a platform for her ideas, including women's suffrage, co-education, rehabilitation for criminals, a...more
In this book Alcott continues to find a platform for her ideas, including women's suffrage, co-education, rehabilitation for criminals, a...more
I am sad to see the curtain close on the tales about the March family! It is a little slower-paced than Little Women, which is my hands-down favorite out of the series, but it was a thoroughly enjoyable read. The thing I love most about Louisa May Alcott's March family series (Little Women, Good Wives, Little Men and Jo's Boys) is the way she gently weaves her philosophies about childrearing, feminism, education and living a good life into her stories in such a gentle, non-preachy way. This will...more
I just finished reading the entire series of the March family and their descendants. I homeschool and picked up Little Men for inspiration. I gleaned so many wonderful insights for educating young children, finding our personal missions and following your bliss. In reading the entire series, I get a vision of what I want our lives to look like as I raise my children and the kind of experiences I want them to have. It is easy to involve yourself in the lives of the people in these books because y...more
I've been listening to this at night, along with Little Men, for the last few weeks. I haven't a shred of objectivity abou this particular book, as it's one of my all-time favorites. Revisiting it as an adult, I can see more clearly some of its weaknesses, in particular its preachifying and the stilted way some of the character traits (Nan, most notably) are portrayed. However, this matters not the shadow of a whit to me, for these people are so alive, and Plumfield so dear that I hardly notice ...more
some quotes:
p. 116 "Virtue, which means honor, honesty, courage, and all that makes character, is the red thread (British put a red thread in their ropes) that marks a good man wherever he is. Keep that always and everywhere, so that even if wrecked by misfortune, that sign shall still be found and recognized. No matter what happens to your body, keep your soul clean, your heart true to those who love, and do your duty to the end."
p. 112 "It is the struggle wi...more
p. 116 "Virtue, which means honor, honesty, courage, and all that makes character, is the red thread (British put a red thread in their ropes) that marks a good man wherever he is. Keep that always and everywhere, so that even if wrecked by misfortune, that sign shall still be found and recognized. No matter what happens to your body, keep your soul clean, your heart true to those who love, and do your duty to the end."
p. 112 "It is the struggle wi...more
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For those of you who many not be familiar with Alcott, Little Men and Jo’s Boys are the sequels to the beloved Little Women. Telling the story of Jo’s life after her marriage to Professor Bhear, Little Men introduces us to Plumfield School where boys, and girls, are taught not only the important lessons learned from books, but the important lessons of life as well. Jo’s Boys takes the chronicles of the students to new heights, as the students reach adulthood and choose their future paths, all...more
Standing by the 5 stars. As I've said before, these people are too intimately wound up with my psyche to be rated objectively.
There's some preaching but to my eye it's not as heavy-handed as in Little Women. There are lots of great female role-models (with respect to the times). All of the young women are working toward careers, with the exception of Daisy (that natural housewife!). The young men are supportive and for the most part, respectful. There are anachronisms aplenty, but t...more
There's some preaching but to my eye it's not as heavy-handed as in Little Women. There are lots of great female role-models (with respect to the times). All of the young women are working toward careers, with the exception of Daisy (that natural housewife!). The young men are supportive and for the most part, respectful. There are anachronisms aplenty, but t...more
This was a good read mainly because of the previous books, especially "Little Women".
It is interesting to take the narrator of "Little Women", where Alcott writes "So grouped, the curtain falls upon Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. Whether it ever rises again, depends upon the reception given to the first act of the domestic drama", and compare it to the tired narrator of "Jo's Boys" ("It is a strong temptation to the weary historian to close the p...more
It is interesting to take the narrator of "Little Women", where Alcott writes "So grouped, the curtain falls upon Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. Whether it ever rises again, depends upon the reception given to the first act of the domestic drama", and compare it to the tired narrator of "Jo's Boys" ("It is a strong temptation to the weary historian to close the p...more
This is a sweet sequel to Little Men and takes place 10 years later. It tells what the young men try to accomplishes they go in to the world in search of careers, money, fame, etc. However it kind of reads like an after thought. The details of each character are sparse in comparison to the fluidity of the telling in Little Women. It is fun to know what each young man is doing and to whom they marry, but there isn't enough detail. I kept feeling like there could be so much more to the story. ...more
Of the three "March" books, this is the hardest one to relate to as an adult. As a child, I found it the least interesting. There was less of Jo, and she was a lot preachier. It's nice to see the second generation mature, but there are so many its hard to keep track and some of the loose string wrap-ups seem hurried or gratuitous.
On the other hand, as an adult, I approve of Alcott unveiling more forcefully her own attitudes towards women, in a way that she didn't in LW, Ro...more
On the other hand, as an adult, I approve of Alcott unveiling more forcefully her own attitudes towards women, in a way that she didn't in LW, Ro...more
I really liked revisiting this novel for the first time since childhood. Alcott wrote this novel some time after Little Men, and I can't help wondering how much she drew from her own experience. There's a strong regiment for women's rights throughout the novel; Jo is an accomplished writer, and dealing with zealous fans; and there are several comments about writing sequels and summing up.
While Alcott may not have been as invested in Jo's boys, I'm glad she wrote the novel. I thin...more
While Alcott may not have been as invested in Jo's boys, I'm glad she wrote the novel. I thin...more
This was the last book by Alcott highlighting the March family. Of the three this was my least favorite as it felt a little rushed. It's like eating a big bowl of soup and still feeling hungry. Still a delightful read, but it didn't go into as much detail as her previous books. I did like how Jo's character really developed into a mirror image of Alcott, you could get a better idea of what her life was like as a successful author during the post civil war era. Raised by a transcendentalist fathe...more
Erin Germain
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Shelves:
2011-reads,
classics,
fiction,
historical-fiction,
kindle,
three-stars,
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I'm a bit torn, and really wanted to give this more stars. In terms of writing, I certainly could, because I've always loved Alcott's descriptive style, but some of the storylines didn't sit well, and a few of the characters really seemed set up, from the beginning, to be sacrificed for the good of the moral. The ending left me feeling as though there should have been a little more and I thought it bit sad to see how she closed the book on the Marches (sorry for the pun). Maybe I just need to re...more
Jo's Boys is the follow-up to Little Men, which is a follow-up to the beloved classic Little Women.
In Little Women and Little Men, Louisa May Alcott introduced readers to the characters that eventually appear in Jo's Boys, in particular to Jo March and her husband Professor Bhaer. This warmly parental couple start a small boarding school called Plumfield, primarily for boys whom readers get to know first in Little Men; Jo's Boys (Little Women #3) was mostly written to tell t...more
In Little Women and Little Men, Louisa May Alcott introduced readers to the characters that eventually appear in Jo's Boys, in particular to Jo March and her husband Professor Bhaer. This warmly parental couple start a small boarding school called Plumfield, primarily for boys whom readers get to know first in Little Men; Jo's Boys (Little Women #3) was mostly written to tell t...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
A childhood favorite re-visited.
Is the story as good as I remember? – Yes
What ages would I recommend it too? – Eight and up.
Length? – A couple of evening's reads.
Characters? – Memorable, several characters, Again, three with almost identical names.
Setting? – Late 1800's, mostly at the boy's school, now a college.
Written approximately? – Late 1870's.
Does the story leave questions in the readers mind? – Ready to read more.
...more
Is the story as good as I remember? – Yes
What ages would I recommend it too? – Eight and up.
Length? – A couple of evening's reads.
Characters? – Memorable, several characters, Again, three with almost identical names.
Setting? – Late 1800's, mostly at the boy's school, now a college.
Written approximately? – Late 1870's.
Does the story leave questions in the readers mind? – Ready to read more.
...more
Another (and final) charming book about the March family, and Jo's school for boys, and now girls, at Plumfield.
Like Little Men, this book is full of moral teachings, and a little bit of preaching. The boys and girls from Little Men return to Plumfield for various visits, and Jo delights in her children, but also takes the opportunity to bestow a few more life lessons upon them. In addition to the normal moral plays found in Little Men, Jo's Boys also includes a few funny scenes wher...more
Like Little Men, this book is full of moral teachings, and a little bit of preaching. The boys and girls from Little Men return to Plumfield for various visits, and Jo delights in her children, but also takes the opportunity to bestow a few more life lessons upon them. In addition to the normal moral plays found in Little Men, Jo's Boys also includes a few funny scenes wher...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Louisa May Alcott. One of my favorite writers. She came from a brilliant era in literature. I will admit, in light of her Little Women, and An Old Fashioned girl (my personal favorite) I was a little disappointed in this book. Its not that the book was "bad", after all, it is Alcott who wrote it, I just think that her other literary works are so wonderful, that perhaps this just didn't reach the same mark as her others. But you should read it just to have the entire Louisa collection ...more
This sequel to Little Women and Little Men is barely readable. There are entire chapters in which nothing seems to happen. The many characters talk to each other about moralistic, preachy, and uninteresting inner turmoil and do things like eat dinner and weed the garden in a very boring way. There are a few chapters/story lines that shone through the others and kept me going but overall it's hard to recommend this book although I really enjoyed Little Women and found Little Men decent.
I thought I had read this book before but, in reading the series again, I realize that I never did. I'm sure I would have remembered it had I tried it before. To be honest, I couldn't even finish the book though I did keep skimming through trying to find a good story in there somewhere. The gap between Little Men and Jo's Boys was too long of a time period in my opinion. All of the sudden everyone is grown and off, the school is turned into a college, and Jo into a famous author. The beginn...more
This sequel to Little Women and Little Men is a wonderful charming read. It continues the story of the March family, now grown and living their dreams. Jo's boys paints a valuable picture of the importance of mothers, fathers, and mentors in the lives of children, teens, and young adults - a refreshing picture, especially in the society we live in today. I could say so much more. Just don't miss this classic piece of literature.
I gave the book only 3 stars, because I found it a bit too over-dramatic in parts. Otherwise, the characters were written well in character; their adult personalities were not much different from their childhood personalities, which I really appreciated. It felt both odd and refreshing to read about them all as adult, and I liked how support for women's suffrage (overt) and integrated education (subtle) were woven into the story lines.
Four stars, not because it's not as good as the others in the series ("Little Women" and "Little Men"), but just because everyone is "grown up" and moving on. Once I got into it, though, I found I enjoyed it nearly as much as the first two books.
The ending is sad, as it's the end of the series. Perhaps I just have issues with endings. Ah, well. I find I am hungry for more good books after having finished this delightful series!
The ending is sad, as it's the end of the series. Perhaps I just have issues with endings. Ah, well. I find I am hungry for more good books after having finished this delightful series!
I read Little Women as a kid, but never got around to the sequels until now. I didn't like them as much -- the children were still interesting in Little Men, but Jo and the other adults become completely one-dimensional and only there to deliver sermons and moralize.
Also, it was pretty clear that Alcott herself was tired of it all in Jo's Boys. I laughed out loud at the end when she says straight out that she'd like to have the entire house and family swallowed up by an earthquake.
Also, it was pretty clear that Alcott herself was tired of it all in Jo's Boys. I laughed out loud at the end when she says straight out that she'd like to have the entire house and family swallowed up by an earthquake.
If you read Little Men, you won't be surprised how the kids turn out in this story about their adulthood. I found how a few of them turned out to be a little heavy-handed in that the author seemed to be teaching you a lesson about various kinds of character traits and lifestyles, but what can you expect when your family grew up in an alternative community of intellectuals?
I liked finding out what happened to the kids.
but still my favorites are:
Little Women, Eight Cousins, Rose's Boys, and The Inheritance.
My whole family has watched the movies Little Women and the Inheritance was quite good. It was an easy way to expose the whole family to My Louisa.
I think this is such a great way to introduce a new generation to such a great author.
but still my favorites are:
Little Women, Eight Cousins, Rose's Boys, and The Inheritance.
My whole family has watched the movies Little Women and the Inheritance was quite good. It was an easy way to expose the whole family to My Louisa.
I think this is such a great way to introduce a new generation to such a great author.
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Louisa May Alcott was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania on November 29, 1832. She and her three sisters, Anna, Elizabeth and May were educated by their father, philosopher/ teacher, Bronson Alcott and raised on the practical Christianity of their mother, Abigail May.
Louisa spent her childhood in Boston and in Concord, Massachusetts, where her days were enlightened by visits to Ralph Wal...more
More about Louisa May Alcott...
Louisa spent her childhood in Boston and in Concord, Massachusetts, where her days were enlightened by visits to Ralph Wal...more
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“Men are always ready to die for us, but not to make our lives worth having. Cheap sentiment and bad logic.”
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“…books are always good company if you have the right sort. Let me pick out some for you.' And Mrs. Jo made a bee-line to the well-laden shelves, which were the joy of her heart and the comfort of her life.”
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