A review by seventhswan
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

hopeful 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? Yes

4.0

I can see why this book is a classic! It's extremely sweet - the characters are all lovable, the drama largely low-stakes, and everything turns out okay in the end. However, the old-fashioned language and now-historic setting stopped it from feeling too twee or preachy, and instead created a story that is cosy escapism for the modern reader. There was plenty in it that I'd not tolerate in a modern novel, and I'm still not entirely sure if it was aimed at younger readers and, if so, whether it would still appeal to them now. However, as an example of fiction from an era I'd not really explored before, I enjoyed it!

Although I've not seen any film adaptation of Little Women, I thought I knew the basic plot, but I was surprised - pleasantly so - by the ending! I was particularly attached to Amy by the end of the book, which I didn't expect at the beginning, and actually found Jo a bit irritating. I thought, though, that there was a good balance between the characters and the focus switched often enough to keep the story from becoming too dull. 

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