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22.7k reviews for:

Little Women

Louisa May Alcott

4.1 AVERAGE

inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Jo March you are so me
adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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
emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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
hopeful inspiring relaxing sad

After having watched several movie adaptations and sung in the chorus of my high school's production of the musical, I thought it was time to read the original book.

It was more moralizing and sentimental than I expected, and I found the most angelic characters (Mr. and Mrs. March, as well as Beth) the least engaging. On the other hand, I never found Amy insufferable: in many ways, she's a mirror image of Jo. I don't have a gripe with the romance between Jo and Bhaer either, though the final chapter felt unsatisfying. There are so many heroines with artistic ambitions in 19th century literature who shelve their dreams when they meet their future spouses. But beyond that, it seems like a forceful shift towards domesticity and motherhood inconsistent with Jo's character, even if Alcott does hint earlier that our protagonist's tomboyishness is a flaw to be corrected.

At the end of the day, what I found most impressive is how Alcott navigates an expansive cast of characters and maps out their believable progression towards maturity. Do I love everything? No, but not every writer can make you care enough about her fictional children to have a strong opinion. Alcott's story is one I keep referring back to, especially for its fiery protagonist.

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On a side note, it is quite disconcerting how similar Gilbert's initial proposal in the movie Anne of Avonlea is to Laurie's proposal to Jo. Why did the screenwriters paraphrase so heavily? As if Anne and Gilbert's relationship is amending the mistake of Jo's rejection? It comes off like hamhanded fanfiction.

Cried my eyes out all the way through it. As good as I remember from 20 years ago.
emotional hopeful lighthearted relaxing slow-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

I think I would have liked this better 10 years ago. Or maybe it was the sugary translation which put me off.
emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No