Reviews

Eight Cousins, Or, the Aunt-Hill by Louisa May Alcott

forrestefires's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

I much prefer the first half to the second. As always, Louisa is a champion of women not being constrained.

erdufylla's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

As far as girly children's literary classics go, this one was always one of my favorites.

catherinesque's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

It's always strange to reread a book from childhood as an adult. It wasn't exactly how I remembered it, but I could still hear Grandma reading it to me.

caseyhitchcock81's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I looooooved this book when I was a kid. I thought her cousins were super cool, even if she was a bit of a sap.

bethg331's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Probably my last book of the year. I did enjoy it. It is about Rose and her seven male cousins and all they get into during a year. Of course there are great moral lessons with it being by LMA.


"It is apt to be so, and it is hard to bear; for, though we do not want trumpets blown, we do like to have our little virtues appreciated, and cannot help feeling disappointed if they are not."

mrs_w24's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I remember once reading this and never finishing it because it was boring. But this time around...I so enjoyed the wholesome values and interactions of Rose and her dear boy-cousins. A lovely book, indeed.

suebeemedsker51's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I have read this book at least 15 times. I love it.

tanya_brodd's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

So, I read this book in the early 80s when I was about 12 or 13 years old. I LOVED THIS BOOK!

So when I happened across an edition from 1910, I bought it with an eye to reading it to my own kids. I decided to go back and reread this book I had so enjoyed.

And, I did not enjoy it.

It is preachy, creepy, classist, and racist. Yes, racist. Two Chinese characters are included purely to be laughed at - one is even named Fun See. The classism about boys of a certain class and well bred young ladies is evident in the way Phoebe, the maid, is treated as a toy for Rose and how sweet Phoebe has no other desire than to make Miss happy.

While there were certainly some forward ideas for the time about raising a young woman, this is a book that should be forgotten.

maxthefish's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing tense fast-paced

3.75

ladytea's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

A good and solid book from Louisa May Alcott however I feel it is a bit juvenile to read as an adult. The writing is solid, but plain and boring. It was a cute story and certainly one I would have little girls read, but a bit young for me.