Little Women (Little Women, #1) in Classics Without All the Class

Aug 07, 2011 Audrey rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-as-a-child, civil-war, classics, listens, young-adult-fiction, 1860s, series, inspired-by-true-story, girls-who-write

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I first read this over a decade ago, when I was in early elementary school. Considering that I had not revisited it since, I thought it was high time that I reread this classic. Along with reading the book, I grew up watching the movie adaptations (the 1933, 1949, and 1994 versions), so I know the story really well. Still, there were a few parts of the book that I had forgotten.

Sorry to be so predictable, but Jo is definitely my favorite sister. I am like her in many ways, and unlike her in pro I first read this over a decade ago, when I was in early elementary school. Considering that I had not revisited it since, I thought it was high time that I reread this classic. Along with reading the book, I grew up watching the movie adaptations (the 1933, 1949, and 1994 versions), so I know the story really well. Still, there were a few parts of the book that I had forgotten.

Sorry to be so predictable, but Jo is definitely my favorite sister. I am like her in many ways, and unlike her in probably just as many, but I think what draws me to her is how well she is fleshed out as a character. As a reader, I really felt the struggles, grief, and rejoicing along with her. I also really like that she is a writer, and I enjoyed following her endeavors and successes. I always wanted to be a writer, too, although I haven't gotten there yet and I don't know if I have the talent for it. It does make me relate more deeply to Jo, though.

Amy really annoyed me at first, but she got a little better as she grew up. Still, she's not my favorite. I do love how younger Amy was always mispronouncing words, often to hilarious effect. Meg is okay, but she is kind of silly sometimes, and just generally kind of 'meh.' And of course I love Beth. It's hard not to. For some reason I always thought of her as the youngest child, when she is actually the third sister. I love Beth's deep connection and friendship with Jo, especially because they are so different. Her death came more softly than I recall. Perhaps the fact that I knew she was going to die just made it not as shocking. In any case, the author worked up to it so gently that I felt that it was less jarring than it could have been. As a kid I remember finding it so heartbreakingly sad when I would watch the movie versions.

As for Laurie . . . I really like him, especially as a young boy. His friendship and witty banter with Jo comprises some of my favorite parts of the book. Deep down, I do want Laurie and Jo to be together, even though I completely understand why they are not such a good fit. I find Laurie more unlikeable in the second part of the book, and I wonder if that was an intentional move on the author's part to accentuate the compatibility differences between him and Jo. I'm not a huge fan of Bhaer with his thees and thous. I do appreciate that he is a rather unconventional romantic hero, though. That is kind of daring and refreshing, even if still don't think he's exactly right for Jo.

I really enjoyed Alcott's writing. It's very relaxing, and I appreciated the interjections of humor and intentional irony that often popped up in unexpected places. She also gives some good insight into all kinds of everyday things—relationships, work, etc. I will admit that I found a few parts of this book to be a bit preachy and saccharine, even when I agreed with everything that was being said. But that's probably just my jaded modern sensibilities poking through, so pay no mind. :)

It's hard not to like the Marches' warm home and loving family life. The story just feels sweet and, in a way, timeless (as I suppose it has proven to be). That said, I think I would enjoy it more if I didn't know everything that was going to happen. If I had read this for the first time with no idea how the plot would unfold, it might be a lot dearer to me. As a final note, I like that the book goes a little into what happened beyond the “happily-ever-after” proposal(s), which many stories end at. ...more

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