A review by bookedbymadeline
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

lighthearted relaxing sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

The story was difficult to get into and focus on at times, especially in the beginning. It’s a very slow, descriptive story with long chapters that mainly discuss the girls’ day to day lives. The pacing was all over the place. The morals and preachy lessons every chapter were  exhausting. I would skim at times when I got really bored especially with Meg’s chapters; I just was not vibing with the writing style at all.

Part 2 (which is technically Good Wives and not Little Women) is so much better! It’s the only reason I didn’t DNF and why I gave it 3.5 stars. The only thing that kept it from 4 or more stars was part 1 and Jo’s ending.

I suppose I understand why it’s a classic but for me it doesn’t come anywhere close to the likes of Austen, Eliot, or the Brontë sisters. Very rare instance where the movie is better than the book. I was a little disappointed to discover some of my favorite quotes from the Gerwig movie aren’t in the book at all. Although Alcott did have some good prose at times! Kind of glad I read it if only to say that I did and cross it off my classics TBR.

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