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A review by tanya_brodd
Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott
2.0
So, I read this book in the early 80s when I was about 12 or 13 years old. I LOVED THIS BOOK!
So when I happened across an edition from 1910, I bought it with an eye to reading it to my own kids. I decided to go back and reread this book I had so enjoyed.
And, I did not enjoy it.
It is preachy, creepy, classist, and racist. Yes, racist. Two Chinese characters are included purely to be laughed at - one is even named Fun See. The classism about boys of a certain class and well bred young ladies is evident in the way Phoebe, the maid, is treated as a toy for Rose and how sweet Phoebe has no other desire than to make Miss happy.
While there were certainly some forward ideas for the time about raising a young woman, this is a book that should be forgotten.
So when I happened across an edition from 1910, I bought it with an eye to reading it to my own kids. I decided to go back and reread this book I had so enjoyed.
And, I did not enjoy it.
It is preachy, creepy, classist, and racist. Yes, racist. Two Chinese characters are included purely to be laughed at - one is even named Fun See. The classism about boys of a certain class and well bred young ladies is evident in the way Phoebe, the maid, is treated as a toy for Rose and how sweet Phoebe has no other desire than to make Miss happy.
While there were certainly some forward ideas for the time about raising a young woman, this is a book that should be forgotten.