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A review by kbkittyb
Jo's Boys by Louisa May Alcott
4.0
Ahhh this is what Little Men should have been!! This felt like home in a way that its former did not!
In this we actually get to experience the original March family again, as well as the new. I won't say that I liked all of the decisions and pairings but I think L.M.Alcott had a natural perversity and enjoyed playing with her readers. This did have some more bitter undertones that her earlier work didn't, but age does that to you, so she is forgiven. Despite some of Jo's and Megs decisions and statements being uncharacteristically mean to certain members of the flock.
It was also brilliant to return to Alcott's particular brand of feminism that felt lacking in good wives and little men. However, the moral teachings of the book are just too much for me at times - within all of her works. Dan's ending is evidence of this - forgiveness is preached but he is so tainted by one sin that he is irredeemable in the eyes of everyone who claims to love him....Very hypocritical. (I am clearly still annoyed by Dan's storyline)
Although it felt somewhat rushed as there is so many characters to get through it was lovely to see what became of them. Alcotts outstanding ability as a writer lies in her characterisation - I am very sad to leave these behind. The ending was blunt and harsh but at least we weren't left wondering.
I believe we see more of Alcott herself in this work, she seemed tired of hiding behind her angelic characters by this point.
I would recommend.
In this we actually get to experience the original March family again, as well as the new. I won't say that I liked all of the decisions and pairings but I think L.M.Alcott had a natural perversity and enjoyed playing with her readers. This did have some more bitter undertones that her earlier work didn't, but age does that to you, so she is forgiven. Despite some of Jo's and Megs decisions and statements being uncharacteristically mean to certain members of the flock.
It was also brilliant to return to Alcott's particular brand of feminism that felt lacking in good wives and little men. However, the moral teachings of the book are just too much for me at times - within all of her works. Dan's ending is evidence of this - forgiveness is preached but he is so tainted by one sin that he is irredeemable in the eyes of everyone who claims to love him....Very hypocritical. (I am clearly still annoyed by Dan's storyline)
Although it felt somewhat rushed as there is so many characters to get through it was lovely to see what became of them. Alcotts outstanding ability as a writer lies in her characterisation - I am very sad to leave these behind. The ending was blunt and harsh but at least we weren't left wondering.
I believe we see more of Alcott herself in this work, she seemed tired of hiding behind her angelic characters by this point.
I would recommend.