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katie0528's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
A tale of four sisters growing through their teens and early married lives. I attempted this book once as a kid ane gave up pretty quickly in, and while I did make it all the way through this time, it was mostly because I listened to it as an audiobook. While the girls and their relationship with the neighbor boy Laurie is charming, this book is one long morality tale. Nobody can do a single thing without Alcott turning it into a lecture on what proper young men and women should and should not do and how they do or do not think. It became quite tedious, and she even makes comments in the book about how the reader must have fallen asleep during her sermons. Lord knows I tuned out during many of them.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Classism, Grief, and Death
Minor: Misogyny and War
paigehf's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Animal death, Child death, Death, and Chronic illness
Minor: War
imagremlin's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Death and Child death
mockingjayx16's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Child death, and Death
Moderate: War, Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Xenophobia
Minor: Animal death, Classism, and Racism
kwolfie's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is an overall lovely book with a great and in depth story, each character well built and the story interesting all throughout. It did get a bit preachy at points, and many of the lessons don't transfer from the 1800's to today. Even with that in mind though, it can still be viewed as a reflection of the time and all that has changed. I did not like who ended up with who but I came around by the end, despite that there is a couple with a 15 year age gap which is just about crossing the weird line. Again, reflection of the times and all.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
jaqylantern's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I hadn't realized this book was more episodic snippets of the girls' lives rather than one plot line.
The book was mostly fine until the last third. Certain events, choices, and matches did not work for me or really seem to fit the story or characters.
I think m biggest issue was the writing. Some was fine but then there were chapters that were INCREDIBLY preachy. There was no subtly about morals or faith, it felt more like an essay than fictional writing.
The book was mostly fine until the last third. Certain events, choices, and matches did not work for me or really seem to fit the story or characters.
I think m biggest issue was the writing. Some was fine but then there were chapters that were INCREDIBLY preachy. There was no subtly about morals or faith, it felt more like an essay than fictional writing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness
Minor: Death
bookworm_sarah's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief
Minor: War
ncd2's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
seventhswan's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I can see why this book is a classic! It's extremely sweet - the characters are all lovable, the drama largely low-stakes, and everything turns out okay in the end. However, the old-fashioned language and now-historic setting stopped it from feeling too twee or preachy, and instead created a story that is cosy escapism for the modern reader. There was plenty in it that I'd not tolerate in a modern novel, and I'm still not entirely sure if it was aimed at younger readers and, if so, whether it would still appeal to them now. However, as an example of fiction from an era I'd not really explored before, I enjoyed it!
Although I've not seen any film adaptation of Little Women, I thought I knew the basic plot, but I was surprised - pleasantly so - by the ending! I was particularly attached to Amy by the end of the book, which I didn't expect at the beginning, and actually found Jo a bit irritating. I thought, though, that there was a good balance between the characters and the focus switched often enough to keep the story from becoming too dull.
Although I've not seen any film adaptation of Little Women, I thought I knew the basic plot, but I was surprised - pleasantly so - by the ending! I was particularly attached to Amy by the end of the book, which I didn't expect at the beginning, and actually found Jo a bit irritating. I thought, though, that there was a good balance between the characters and the focus switched often enough to keep the story from becoming too dull.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Child death
Minor: War
kourteb's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I definitely prefer the first half of the book but as someone who considers the 2019 film my canon, this was still a great reread. However, I will say that buying into the Amy and Laurie lovestory is incredibly hard for me for multiple reasons. I think if Laurie’s developing feelings were more fleshed out rather than given in dialogue after the fact I would find it more believable? I also will never support the Professor Arc as !singleJo is my truth whether that be her sexuality during the time period, aromatic identity, or contentment with platonic and familial relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death