Scan barcode
tinaxx2's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Chronic illness
lindseyhall44's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
When writing this review, I tried to embrace my inner Jo March and “let genius burn,” as she so fiercely put it. Everything discussed will be spoiler free of course, I just couldn’t think of a better beginning than quoting such a beloved feminist character. To be honest, I wasn’t prepared to be so affected by the novel, especially since there is minimal plot. However, I was enraptured, which speaks volumes of Alcott’s writing and character development.
The gender roles regulated by society during the civil war times are one catalyst for the term “little women,” but also the social commentary on class and wealth, which will always be a desired goal no matter the time period. During the 1860’s, each sister becomes a governess in their own way in order to support the family, progressing into womanhood at a quick rate. Though the March sisters grow up under the same intellectual hand, each has various aspirations which diverge difference roads for different women. There’s Beth (my personal favorite), Amy, Meg, and Jo, as we gain unique perspectives on what being a girl-and eventually a women- really means to them. While morals direct many points of this book, I truly understand why Little Women is a passed on classic. The writing may take a moment to get used to, but I would definitely recommend if you are looking for a wholesome read or want to get into classics.
*I usually don’t rate classics but this one felt different:)
The gender roles regulated by society during the civil war times are one catalyst for the term “little women,” but also the social commentary on class and wealth, which will always be a desired goal no matter the time period. During the 1860’s, each sister becomes a governess in their own way in order to support the family, progressing into womanhood at a quick rate. Though the March sisters grow up under the same intellectual hand, each has various aspirations which diverge difference roads for different women. There’s Beth (my personal favorite), Amy, Meg, and Jo, as we gain unique perspectives on what being a girl-and eventually a women- really means to them. While morals direct many points of this book, I truly understand why Little Women is a passed on classic. The writing may take a moment to get used to, but I would definitely recommend if you are looking for a wholesome read or want to get into classics.
*I usually don’t rate classics but this one felt different:)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy and War
bagel_z's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Pregnancy
booksnest's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
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
4.0
This sat on my shelf as a daunting classic for so long, a book I wanted to pick up and love, but the 700+ page count was somewhat of a deterrent. To combat this I decided to pick it up as an audiobook, and what a fantastic decision that was. These characters were brought to life in my ears, each with their own quirks and interests. The March sisters felt like family by the time I was finished reading, I’d been on so many journeys with them and seen them grow up.
I really enjoyed the early themes of feminism running throughout this book. Mrs March is a powerhouse of a woman and is constantly teaching her daughters new things and making sure they are strong women who can think for themselves. I felt I myself was also learning from these insightful lessons, I felt like a fifth March sister at times, which shows truly excellent writing.
Overall a delight to read. Quaint yet sad, powerful yet calming. A brilliant companion for December.
I really enjoyed the early themes of feminism running throughout this book. Mrs March is a powerhouse of a woman and is constantly teaching her daughters new things and making sure they are strong women who can think for themselves. I felt I myself was also learning from these insightful lessons, I felt like a fifth March sister at times, which shows truly excellent writing.
Overall a delight to read. Quaint yet sad, powerful yet calming. A brilliant companion for December.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
fyre_flies's review against another edition
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Death
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
binu_bnew's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
gloriazthompson's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
One of the most wholesome and heartwarming reads. This book displays sisterhood, friendship, mother-daughter bonds, sweet romance, and a mature coming-of-age story. The loveliest of reads that I hope to come back to in the years to come.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death and Death
jpisano's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Sexism, Terminal illness, Grief, and Pregnancy
mnerd63's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.0
I love Little Women. I have two sisters and we all grew up in love with the movie from 1994. I saw the 2019 version in theaters and adore it as well, but it wasn’t until this year that I finally read the book. Yes, at times the story drags and the time period it was written in clearly dates it. However, I was more often taken by how some pretty “modern” ideas are harbored within the text, some hidden away and some right out there in the open. There were many lines that I knew well from either movie, sure they had been written only in the screenplay for the more modern audience, but were in fact lines from the original source material. I think my main take away from the book is how it subverted popular publishing norms of the time. This was a time where a woman’s voice or perspective was thought of as overly sentimental, naive, unimportant and worthless—and even now these ideas still pervade. But Louisa May Alcott proved them wrong. Little Women was a great success and still is. It hurts a little to know that some of Alcott’s efforts to make the story wholly her own were in vain—Jo marries at the end, despite the author’s wish for her to remain single. However, she does get away with a little more in Laurie’s character and how he parallels Jo. Both feel out of place in the roles assigned to them, but still have both “masculine” and “feminine” qualities. Neither gives these up fully when they grow up. They both are molded by a woman’s touch (Marmee and to some degree the other sisters) into accomplished, kind and respectful people. To me, that’s Little Women’s true message: that a woman’s perspective is important and has value in a world that claims otherwise. That women have unique minds and experiences and we can change the world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
grizzlysnack's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Chronic illness, Sexism, and Terminal illness