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crystalisreading's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
So Many Beginnings is a solid retelling of Little Women, thoughtful, well-researched, and true to the original story in a way that a lot of retellings of this story aren't, in my opinion. This isn't just a story about 4 sisters living alone with their mom and having adventures and misadventures. It's also the story of a family living in a limbo of uncertainty, as the American Civil War rages on elsewhere. It's about making due with what they have, and relying on each other for strengths and comfort. So Many Beginnings is perhaps more explicit about those themes than the original Little Women, but it still captures the same dynamic, as well as the dynamic of the sisters--Meg, dutiful and kind but trying to find a life for herself, Jo, the brash and "unladylike" writer with ambitions beyond the life she leads, Beth/Bethlehem, the gentle and artistic sister struggling with grave health concerns, and Amy/Amethyst, the beautiful and charismatic youngest child, hungry for accolades and the finer things of life. The dynamics of their developing relationships with the men in their life, their generosity to those in their community, their love and worry for their absent father--all ring true to the original story. Jo's asexual identity adds queer rep to a story already brimming with Black representation, Black history, and Black joy, and feels much more satisfying for her character than pinning her down to domestic bliss as in the original series.
This wasn't necessarily a quick read for me, but I am glad I read it. I learned more Black history, such as the existence of freedmen's colonies in the American South during the War and enjoyed the story, in both its familiarity and its newness. Plus, that cover illustrations is absolutely gorgeous!
#23for23
This wasn't necessarily a quick read for me, but I am glad I read it. I learned more Black history, such as the existence of freedmen's colonies in the American South during the War and enjoyed the story, in both its familiarity and its newness. Plus, that cover illustrations is absolutely gorgeous!
#23for23
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Racism
Moderate: Sexism, War, Chronic illness, and Medical content
Minor: Death
booksthatburn's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
SO MANY BEGINNINGS reimagines the story of LITTLE WOMEN with the March family as newly freed Black people in the Freedpeople's Colony of Roanoke Island. It fundamentally transforms the original story with the change in context and characterization. I love the decision to keep the same nicknames for the sisters but different full names. That small change makes it clear early on that this is its own story, that these are different March sisters and from now on I need not belabor further distinctions and divergences.
There's so much love between the March sisters and their parents. Their father is away for most of the story, but he is constantly in their thoughts and in correspondence with them through letters to their mother.
The story begins with the March family emancipated and living in the Freedpeople's Colony. Much time is devoted to showing their lives there, a mix of precarious circumstances and deliberate choices to fortify what they have and make things better for those around them. Meg is a teacher, and she teaches Amy at home when she's done with her students in the colony's school. Jo (Joanna) composes words and thoughts constantly and is persuaded by her sisters to begin putting them to paper so they can be shared with others. Beth (Bethlehem) is a seamstress, taking apart the clothes which were left behind and using them to create new garments for her family. Amy (Amethyst) is full of energy and constantly dancing. Her mother and sisters try to shield her from adult concerns as much as they can so that she can have a childhood in ways they were never able to.
The audiobook narrator is a delight, bringing them all to life. The narrative seems to focus a bit more on Beth and Jo than on Meg and Amy in the first portion, then after the time jump most of the story is about Jo and Amy, with some scenes featuring the others. I love how Beth and Jo are handled, which might have tinted my recollection of the balance between the characters. They all have plenty of time in focus and no one feels neglected by the narrative. I'm especially pleased with Jo and Lorie, as Jo describes herself in ways consistent with an aspec character even though that label would have been anachronistic (and therefore doesn't appear). Instead she does the more useful thing of describing the tension she experiences in how other people think she should feel about Lorie. Their bond is unshakeable and doesn't need to fit anyone else's ideas of how they should be with one another, and the narrative supports that instead of trying to bend them to society's expectations. It's a small but important thing which feels emblematic of how the whole story approaches these characters. It's in everything from seeking answers about Beth's illness, to Jo using her words to educate others about the colony rather than letting white journalists control the narrative without even interviewing a single Black resident.
There's so much love between the March sisters and their parents. Their father is away for most of the story, but he is constantly in their thoughts and in correspondence with them through letters to their mother.
The story begins with the March family emancipated and living in the Freedpeople's Colony. Much time is devoted to showing their lives there, a mix of precarious circumstances and deliberate choices to fortify what they have and make things better for those around them. Meg is a teacher, and she teaches Amy at home when she's done with her students in the colony's school. Jo (Joanna) composes words and thoughts constantly and is persuaded by her sisters to begin putting them to paper so they can be shared with others. Beth (Bethlehem) is a seamstress, taking apart the clothes which were left behind and using them to create new garments for her family. Amy (Amethyst) is full of energy and constantly dancing. Her mother and sisters try to shield her from adult concerns as much as they can so that she can have a childhood in ways they were never able to.
The audiobook narrator is a delight, bringing them all to life. The narrative seems to focus a bit more on Beth and Jo than on Meg and Amy in the first portion, then after the time jump most of the story is about Jo and Amy, with some scenes featuring the others. I love how Beth and Jo are handled, which might have tinted my recollection of the balance between the characters. They all have plenty of time in focus and no one feels neglected by the narrative. I'm especially pleased with Jo and Lorie, as Jo describes herself in ways consistent with an aspec character even though that label would have been anachronistic (and therefore doesn't appear). Instead she does the more useful thing of describing the tension she experiences in how other people think she should feel about Lorie. Their bond is unshakeable and doesn't need to fit anyone else's ideas of how they should be with one another, and the narrative supports that instead of trying to bend them to society's expectations. It's a small but important thing which feels emblematic of how the whole story approaches these characters. It's in everything from seeking answers about Beth's illness, to Jo using her words to educate others about the colony rather than letting white journalists control the narrative without even interviewing a single Black resident.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content, Chronic illness, Slavery, War, Death, Racism, and Classism
Minor: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
jessthanthree's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content and Racism
Minor: War
armontheroad's review
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a brilliant LITTLE WOMEN retelling!! In fact, this may be an unpopular opinion, but I believe this is better than the original. We follow our little women in 1863 North Carolina, living through the American Civil War. Bethany C. Morrow did a suburb job at discussing serious topics for a YA audience, whilst also keeping humor, love, and hope throughout the novel. I loved all of these characters so much. We get an aro-ace Jo and a chronically ill Beth, which is amazing! The discussions on platonic friendships between men and women had me weeping. There is a scene where Jo mentions feeling betrayed by men befriending her in attempts to court her down the line, once they have earned her trust as a friend, and it broke my heart. This is an experience I have gone through multiple times in my life and I have never seen it in media. It makes my heart so happy young readers have books like this to grow up with. This is a novel I will be buying and passing down to my children. A modern-day classic in the making!
CWs: White supremacy, execution, all other cws are listed below.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Blood, Chronic illness, Death, Slavery, War, and Child death
foreverinastory's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Jo is canon aroace in this one and I am living for it!! Also a QPR!! Hell yes.
Rep: Black aroace (most likely demiromantic) female MC, chronically ill Black cishet female MC, two Black cishet female MCs, various Black side characters.
CWs: Racism, slavery, chronic illness. Moderate: Mentions of war. Minor: Violence and gun violence.
Rep: Black aroace (most likely demiromantic) female MC, chronically ill Black cishet female MC, two Black cishet female MCs, various Black side characters.
CWs: Racism, slavery, chronic illness. Moderate: Mentions of war. Minor: Violence and gun violence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Chronic illness, and Racism
Moderate: War
Minor: Gun violence and Violence
niklit's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I don't know where to start with this book.
I love retellings of fairytales, folklore and classics, but I've never thought of them as a vehicle for a message separate from its source material. Usually, if a retelling diverts too far from the original, I'll question why they even bothered to reference the source instead of marking it as something entirely unique. I felt that way about the most recent Cinderella adaptation with Camilla Cabello, for example. I'd have liked it more if it hadn't pretended it had anything to do with Cinderella.
That said, this calls itself a "remix" of Little Women. And while the named characters are the same (the four March sisters, Jo's best friend Laurie) and the arrangement is mostly the same (managing life and coming of age as women during the Civil War) the big difference is that the Marches are a Black family. Which, understandably, makes a HUGE difference in the makeup and trajectory of the story.
They're very recently emancipated and are living in a freedman's colony on Roanoke Island in North Carolina. I've never read a Civil War Era book in which the Black people are emancipated, but still living in the South. Lots of stories of them finding/struggling their way North, or set before emancipation like many Antebellum stories are. And this is the first I'd ever heard of colonies of previously enslaved people living and working (as we see in the books, marginally) independently, before sharecropping.
As I've said before, one thing I really like in a retelling is when certain annoying characters or relationship dynamics are changed for the better. This book had a lot of that, too, and I really appreciated how it was handled
I love retellings of fairytales, folklore and classics, but I've never thought of them as a vehicle for a message separate from its source material. Usually, if a retelling diverts too far from the original, I'll question why they even bothered to reference the source instead of marking it as something entirely unique. I felt that way about the most recent Cinderella adaptation with Camilla Cabello, for example. I'd have liked it more if it hadn't pretended it had anything to do with Cinderella.
That said, this calls itself a "remix" of Little Women. And while the named characters are the same (the four March sisters, Jo's best friend Laurie) and the arrangement is mostly the same (managing life and coming of age as women during the Civil War) the big difference is that the Marches are a Black family. Which, understandably, makes a HUGE difference in the makeup and trajectory of the story.
They're very recently emancipated and are living in a freedman's colony on Roanoke Island in North Carolina. I've never read a Civil War Era book in which the Black people are emancipated, but still living in the South. Lots of stories of them finding/struggling their way North, or set before emancipation like many Antebellum stories are. And this is the first I'd ever heard of colonies of previously enslaved people living and working (as we see in the books, marginally) independently, before sharecropping.
As I've said before, one thing I really like in a retelling is when certain annoying characters or relationship dynamics are changed for the better. This book had a lot of that, too, and I really appreciated how it was handled
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Slavery and War
bibookworm's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
5/5 Stars! So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow is a masterful work of historical fiction. This story follows a recently freed family at the tail end of the civil war. The care and time Morrow put into research for this book is evident in the text. Out of all the sisters Jo was my favorite just as she was in Little Women. I’ve always read Jo as queer in the original text so seeing Morrow expand on that was beautiful. In this story Jo is aroace and I loved reading about how romance just wasn’t in the cards for Jo and she was fulfilled with platonic and familial love. I also loved Jo talking about intersectional feminism and how her identities of Black and Woman intercept. This is one of my new favorite historical fiction works. 10/10 recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Racism
Moderate: War
idlereader's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery and Racism
Minor: War
jules_reads_books's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.25
Full review coming soon! I really loved this one
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Racism
Minor: War
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