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Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'
So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow
6 reviews
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
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
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
informative
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
4.5
So Many Beginnings is the story of four sisters and their mother, and takes place while their father is away fighting in the Civil War. Yes, the sisters are called Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy but no, this book is not Little Women. It may be subtitled A Little Women Remix but to me it read as a wholly original story that just happens to make use of some elements from Little Women. This is a story about a recently emancipated Black family looking to build a new life. It is a book that is strident and unapologetic in its politics, a book that has as much to say about race and racism today, as it does about issues of race 125 years ago. I suspect many readers will object to it on these grounds. I am not one of those readers. I loved virtually everything about it - especially what I learnt and how it prompted me to think about new (to me) things or to reconsider old things through a new lens. For instance the setting, the Freedmen’s Colony of Roanoke Island, was new to me and I was fascinated by what I learnt. I also enjoyed being prompted to think about the different ways Black people might have viewed Liberia, or the mixed emotions fighting in the Union army, when the Union itself was racist, might evoke for a Black soldier. This is a richly layered story, not a mere simple retelling. It’s use of certain elements from a “classic” should force readers to reconsider that classic (all classics really) with fresh eyes, to ask themselves what is included in it, what is not and why?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Racism, and Slavery
melaniereadsbooks's review
emotional
hopeful
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for an ALC of this book.
In this Little Women retelling, Bethany Morrow sets the March family in a recently emancipated Black Freedmen's Colony during the civil war. The sisters have their own struggles for independence, freedom, and love, but face them as a family.
I thought this story was extremely heartwarming and endearing. Can I just say that I love Jo and Laurie. I also headcanon Jo as asexual even though the word is never used in the book. I loved their relationship the most by far!
I really like that this book took a classic novel and remixed it into something that explored not only coming of age, but also what it meant to be a recently freed slave during the Civil War. I thought this book did a great job with the plot and setting! I do wish that the writing had been modernized, but other than that, I don't have complaints!
Pub Date: September 7, 2021
In this Little Women retelling, Bethany Morrow sets the March family in a recently emancipated Black Freedmen's Colony during the civil war. The sisters have their own struggles for independence, freedom, and love, but face them as a family.
I thought this story was extremely heartwarming and endearing. Can I just say that I love Jo and Laurie. I also headcanon Jo as asexual even though the word is never used in the book. I loved their relationship the most by far!
I really like that this book took a classic novel and remixed it into something that explored not only coming of age, but also what it meant to be a recently freed slave during the Civil War. I thought this book did a great job with the plot and setting! I do wish that the writing had been modernized, but other than that, I don't have complaints!
Pub Date: September 7, 2021
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Chronic illness
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Violence and Gun violence
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