Reviews

Took me a while to finish this book, especially after the eventful and emotional story of the first part, Little Women and Good Wives. This book was more of a collection of tales describing everyday life at Jo and Fritz's school! It's definitely heartwarming, and progresses into a plot, not simply short stories, but the chapters are long and the stories definitely are more targeted towards children, as we leave behind the drama with beloved characters such as Laurie, Amy, and Meg, only making occasional cameos. It is of course still a classic and perfect for a cozy spring day where you want nothing but fables of adorable kids. The lessons and child-rearing methods were possibly quite progressive at that time, but it's helpful to keep in mind reading this book the original audience and how times have changed. Beautiful stories all up, but definitely not a book I couldn't put down🙃🤪

blank__blank's review against another edition

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medium-paced

4.0

mo_ika's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

cy99's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

jaymec's review against another edition

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2.0

By itself this is not an entirely bad read. However, in regard to the first one, I really did not care for it. It was so sappy it made me irritated. Not to mention there was next to no conflict to make the story interesting.

lyhadley's review against another edition

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4.0

"Little Men" is decidedly not "Little Women," nor need it be. The romance, the intertwining plots and the decidedly feminist spunk of Alcott's initial work is toned-down in this episodic boyhood romp. Although returning characters play starring roles, including Jo (now the estimable Mrs. Bhaer) and Meg's childern Demi and Daisy, time is not wasted to introduce newcomers like the irascible Dan. Fixing youngsters is the Bhaers' prerogative, and they do so with some success. "Little Men" in some ways serves as a parenting manual, championing reasoning and forgiveness over straight discipline for young men and women in-training. Though not equal in depth as its predecessor, Alcott's second chapter reminds the reader how much must be learned through trial-and-error, notwithstanding the diligent tutoring of the best of parents. An exchange between the foils of Dan and Demi late in the book best illustrates the evolving maturity of the youngster when Demi speaks of his mind as a room in which all the bad in him must be wrestled away into a drawer to keep it from getting out. Details like this exhibit the author's belief that proper training on how to empathize and curtail malicious thoughts keeps men honest and strong. Feminism in this volume is not necessarily advertised as the unfettered independence of women, but rather the prescribed self-restraint of men.

brennasherrill's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? No

3.5

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