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A review by daumari
Little Women, Volume 1 by Louisa May Alcott
3.0
Read for The Bière Library Storytime Book Club's December/January pick. Looks like I gave it a 3 upon initial Goodreads ratings when I joined in 2009; I think "liked it" still suffices here though I do have a greater appreciation for it with the first reread out of childhood! As always, I wonder if we should consider then-contemporary novels as historical fiction now because they ARE historical, or simply fiction? idk.
I've finished... part one! Because that's all this edition contains, as Aladdin decided to publish Good Wives separately (flap does suggest ages 8 and above, so I assume this edition is aimed at a middle grade audience and the cartoony cover art would support that). I have checked out LW from my library's digital collection so I can read part 2/[b:Good Wives|78960|Good Wives|Louisa May Alcott|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1282713827l/78960._SX50_.jpg|6582437] next to properly finish out, though. Part one ends on a peaceful, hopeful note after a year (bookended by Christmas scenes), which probably would've been fine. Reading half reminded me which events are actually in the back half and honestly? Good for you, Louisa May Alcott for introducing surprises to the reader then when pressed to write sequels.
One of the things we discovered as we've read/discussed this for book club is how LMA didn't actually want to write Little Women initially- it was a request by her publisher to write something for young women, with encouragement from her abolitionist minister father (she preferred to write lurid sensation novels). Jo is definitely something of an author avatar, a writer who would rather focus on her dreams than becoming a demure young lady etc. And while LW ostensibly is here to show coming of age and how the youth can become good people, the four sisters are all distinct with their own personalities, foibles, etc. (except Beth, unless poor health is her negative trait? shyness, maybe). Though contemporary to the 1860s and a period piece to us today, there's something still incredibly timeless about sibling squabbles and the vanities of school fads (pickled limes!), of getting into imaginary adventures with your siblings and your bestie next door.
The other thing I noticed on this reread is how literary/well-read the sisters are, with plenty of references to contemporary literature of the day. One of the girls' secret clubs is the Pickwick Club where they all assume pseudonyms from [b:The Pickwick Papers|229432|The Pickwick Papers|Charles Dickens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1360795072l/229432._SY75_.jpg|3315230] (haven't read yet), with probably references to those characters. Jo regularly comments on what she's reading/borrowing from the Laurence's library next door. When I encounter similar references in literary fic, I do sometimes thing about how it dates/anchors the story into a particular time and place, but that's part of world building and maybe using that cultural shorthand works for readers familiar with references (just provides additional homework to future readers, ha).
I've finished... part one! Because that's all this edition contains, as Aladdin decided to publish Good Wives separately (flap does suggest ages 8 and above, so I assume this edition is aimed at a middle grade audience and the cartoony cover art would support that). I have checked out LW from my library's digital collection so I can read part 2/[b:Good Wives|78960|Good Wives|Louisa May Alcott|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1282713827l/78960._SX50_.jpg|6582437] next to properly finish out, though. Part one ends on a peaceful, hopeful note after a year (bookended by Christmas scenes), which probably would've been fine. Reading half reminded me which events are actually in the back half and honestly? Good for you, Louisa May Alcott for introducing surprises to the reader then when pressed to write sequels.
One of the things we discovered as we've read/discussed this for book club is how LMA didn't actually want to write Little Women initially- it was a request by her publisher to write something for young women, with encouragement from her abolitionist minister father (she preferred to write lurid sensation novels). Jo is definitely something of an author avatar, a writer who would rather focus on her dreams than becoming a demure young lady etc. And while LW ostensibly is here to show coming of age and how the youth can become good people, the four sisters are all distinct with their own personalities, foibles, etc. (except Beth, unless poor health is her negative trait? shyness, maybe). Though contemporary to the 1860s and a period piece to us today, there's something still incredibly timeless about sibling squabbles and the vanities of school fads (pickled limes!), of getting into imaginary adventures with your siblings and your bestie next door.
The other thing I noticed on this reread is how literary/well-read the sisters are, with plenty of references to contemporary literature of the day. One of the girls' secret clubs is the Pickwick Club where they all assume pseudonyms from [b:The Pickwick Papers|229432|The Pickwick Papers|Charles Dickens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1360795072l/229432._SY75_.jpg|3315230] (haven't read yet), with probably references to those characters. Jo regularly comments on what she's reading/borrowing from the Laurence's library next door. When I encounter similar references in literary fic, I do sometimes thing about how it dates/anchors the story into a particular time and place, but that's part of world building and maybe using that cultural shorthand works for readers familiar with references (just provides additional homework to future readers, ha).