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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
I read this book for the first time in 9th grade, and I reread it with my book club last summer. I was struck by the wisdom that is imbedded in the story. Marmee is a very wise woman who imparts lessons to her children almost without them realizing it. I love Jo's tomboyishness and her zest for life. And I would so love to have a sister like her!
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
15/3/21
So my review hasn't fundamentally changed that much now that I've actually finished reading it; my original copy did not cover the 'Good Wives' half of the novel, which definitely led to some confusion between my partner and I as regards Beth. Oh, poor Beth!
Previously...
So apparently my copy is only Part One, so let's put a hold on my review until later.
I love the warmth and affection she has for her characters; exploring the dysfunction within the family unit has become such de rigueur that the very concept of family-as-dysfunction is normalised, and so Little Women alights to the heart like an ember to candlewick, bathing dear reader in soft incandescence.
That is to say, after umpteen thousand literary explorations of how people can live in spite of family, I'd quite forgotten you could explore how people live by virtue of family.
Yes, the Marches are definition middle-class; yes, whole chunks of it are raw Protestant fable, and the gender politics are era-appropriate. Still laughed, still cried; haven't seen the movie(s) yet but apparently they're scheduled for tomorrow night according to my partner.
I enjoyed my year with the March sisters, and in this spectacularly shitty year of 2020 I will carry their love for each other with me year on through.
So my review hasn't fundamentally changed that much now that I've actually finished reading it; my original copy did not cover the 'Good Wives' half of the novel, which definitely led to some confusion between my partner and I as regards Beth. Oh, poor Beth!
Previously...
So apparently my copy is only Part One, so let's put a hold on my review until later.
I love the warmth and affection she has for her characters; exploring the dysfunction within the family unit has become such de rigueur that the very concept of family-as-dysfunction is normalised, and so Little Women alights to the heart like an ember to candlewick, bathing dear reader in soft incandescence.
That is to say, after umpteen thousand literary explorations of how people can live in spite of family, I'd quite forgotten you could explore how people live by virtue of family.
Yes, the Marches are definition middle-class; yes, whole chunks of it are raw Protestant fable, and the gender politics are era-appropriate. Still laughed, still cried; haven't seen the movie(s) yet but apparently they're scheduled for tomorrow night according to my partner.
I enjoyed my year with the March sisters, and in this spectacularly shitty year of 2020 I will carry their love for each other with me year on through.
Simple and amiable. Its a beauty to read and no doubt deserving to be a classic.
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
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
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
When I cry real tears and can't help laughing out loud, it has to be considered a 5 star book.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
I might be in the minority but I was expecting more from this book. Maybe seeing the movie painted my perspective on it a bit too much. To me, it seemed to be drawn out and the message I was hoping for at the end seemed to be lost.