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

Sep 03, 2009 Krissy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

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Little Women has been on my to-read shelf for years. Finally, I thought I would read it after the Shining. Like in the TV show Friends. But I ended up reading the sequel to the Shining first. So I read Little Women after Misery. That works too. Interestingly, both feature main characters that are writers and write novels within the novel.

There is a lot of love and hate for this book. Now that I’ve read it- I get it. First the love. This is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. That should be enough Little Women has been on my to-read shelf for years. Finally, I thought I would read it after the Shining. Like in the TV show Friends. But I ended up reading the sequel to the Shining first. So I read Little Women after Misery. That works too. Interestingly, both feature main characters that are writers and write novels within the novel.

There is a lot of love and hate for this book. Now that I’ve read it- I get it. First the love. This is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. That should be enough said. It’s a classic. Tried and true. More than that though, the writing is beautiful and heartfelt. You can feel the love that family shares for one another. Even though its setting was over 150 years ago I could relate to the characters and their struggles.

Now the hate. My god for such little women this is a huge book. Painfully slow at times. But, when you think about the time period and the audience for which it was written, it makes sense. What else are they gonna do- put it down and go watch TV? Or milk a cow? Sew some socks? Read the cliff notes version? These past readers would probably choose to read a whale of a novel over their other possible past times.

I would probably get burned at the stake for suggesting this…but it might resonate for more modern readers if it was edited more thoroughly. For example, cut huge chapters that don’t seem to focus on plot or character development, chapters that focus more on “a day in the life” or little life lessons. Then- release those chapters individually as Little Women 1.1, 1.2 novellas. I know this is pointless. People can read Little Women for free on kindle. But I found myself thinking I would appreciate the culture, class and style of the book a lot more if it were a tad shorter. And offering the cut outs as “extras” would be a good way for someone who couldn’t get enough to extend their journey.

I both loved and hated this book. I likely will not read it again, but I am very glad that I read it. Side note- the movie version with Winona Ryder is amazing. I could only envision those actors as the characters in the novel. I felt it cut through a lot to the heart of the story.

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Aug 30, 2009 Margaret rated it it was amazing

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One of my mother's favorite books...and it's one of mine too. An absolutely charming story of 4 sisters, growing up during the Civil War. Louisa May Alcott invites you into their lives and makes you feel as though you were right there with them. Delightful. ...more

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