A review by jaredolin
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.75

This was such a cute little journey! The March family was so precious in this book. They seemed to have the tendencies of George Bailey in their cheeriness, and also when emotions flood the story. Louisa really gets you to care for these characters as we go along, from the family newspaper creation to the castles in the air. I really felt like I watched these girls grow up and turn into wonderful human beings, each in their own respect. Within all of this cuteness, there are a few chapters of dread that linger over the reader, as we don't know what will come of the terrible situation within those chapters. Some of those moments are just soul-crushing, and that's a testament to how much I fell in love with Louisa's characters.
I also loved how many references that she pulled from, because I have a ton of books and songs and poems to look through now, and that makes me happy! And some of my favorite parts of the book are when Louisa comes out of the narrative to speak directly to the reader, with little colloquialisms or some direct advice. She's added those moments with a lot of humility which is why I seem to like it so much, so it just works for me.
For all the good advice and cute and tender storyline that filled the book, I have to say it's the use of some racially offensive terms and ideas that brought my rating down. Other than that, I rather enjoyed my peek into the life of the March family and will have to take a look at the less popular sequels now!
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