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A review by husnaibrahim_
So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow
4.0
This version really stands out as one of my favourites. I appreciated how it delved into some crucial aspects of American history, especially the portrayal of the Northerners' involvement in slavery and their subsequent attempts at becoming white saviors during the following years. I think the way it tackled the concept of freed individuals reclaiming their narrative, both physically and through writing, was compelling. Plus, I found the dynamics within the March family more intriguing this time around.
The resolution, where each character gets their happy ending, even though it might not be entirely realistic, seems to work well in the context of this story. I particularly liked how Meg's happiness was prioritized right from the start. As the oldest sister, she often got the short end of the stick in previous versions, so this felt refreshing. Her relationship with Wisdom was also done really well, and the deliberate inclusion of his interactions with their father added depth to it.
Also whilst I've always had a soft spot for their mother, Amy somehow always manages to emerge as my favorite March sister in almost every version. Maybe it's because, like Amy, I'm the youngest sister, and I see a lot of myself in her. Plus her journey from youthful innocence to a confident and sophisticated young woman, especially in this retelling, is something I really enjoyed. What's really fascinating to me is how she retains her childlike playfulness around her sisters but transforms into a composed high-society figure outside the family circle. You can see this shift in her interactions with —her romantic interest— Joseph Williams compared to her interactions with her family, and it just adds another layer to her character that I truly appreciate.
In contrast to how Amy is usually portrayed in other versions, this one shows something different. She still has her moments of self-doubt about her talents and often finds herself comparing to Jo, but this version handles it uniquely. It actually brings out the fact that, deep down, they're just typical sisters. They're so different yet can't help but look up to each other or sometimes feel a bit inferior when making those comparisons.
What makes this version stand out is how it ditches that typical competitive and self-doubting sibling dynamic. Sure, there's still the usual bickering, but everyone here gets to follow their own paths without tripping over those nagging doubts. Plus, I think that Jo is a little less overbearing here.
Now, as for Beth's ending in this one, it feels just right. In other adaptations, she often feels like she's in the shadows. But in this one, justice is done to her character. I've also always believed that Beth's quiet nature aligns better with what Jo probably envisioned for herself. There's an African proverb that says, "he who makes the loudest noise is an empty barrel." While this saying may not directly apply to Jo, it's intriguing to consider that, in most versions, Jo might be depicted as the unmarried sister by choice, because she is so persistent about it being so. Yet it seems to realistically apply more to Beth if anything.
So it’s interesting to see how this adaptation offers a fresh perspective on this aspect of the story, which I find particularly interesting.
The resolution, where each character gets their happy ending, even though it might not be entirely realistic, seems to work well in the context of this story. I particularly liked how Meg's happiness was prioritized right from the start. As the oldest sister, she often got the short end of the stick in previous versions, so this felt refreshing. Her relationship with Wisdom was also done really well, and the deliberate inclusion of his interactions with their father added depth to it.
Also whilst I've always had a soft spot for their mother, Amy somehow always manages to emerge as my favorite March sister in almost every version. Maybe it's because, like Amy, I'm the youngest sister, and I see a lot of myself in her. Plus her journey from youthful innocence to a confident and sophisticated young woman, especially in this retelling, is something I really enjoyed. What's really fascinating to me is how she retains her childlike playfulness around her sisters but transforms into a composed high-society figure outside the family circle. You can see this shift in her interactions with —her romantic interest— Joseph Williams compared to her interactions with her family, and it just adds another layer to her character that I truly appreciate.
In contrast to how Amy is usually portrayed in other versions, this one shows something different. She still has her moments of self-doubt about her talents and often finds herself comparing to Jo, but this version handles it uniquely. It actually brings out the fact that, deep down, they're just typical sisters. They're so different yet can't help but look up to each other or sometimes feel a bit inferior when making those comparisons.
What makes this version stand out is how it ditches that typical competitive and self-doubting sibling dynamic. Sure, there's still the usual bickering, but everyone here gets to follow their own paths without tripping over those nagging doubts. Plus, I think that Jo is a little less overbearing here.
Now, as for Beth's ending in this one, it feels just right. In other adaptations, she often feels like she's in the shadows. But in this one, justice is done to her character. I've also always believed that Beth's quiet nature aligns better with what Jo probably envisioned for herself. There's an African proverb that says, "he who makes the loudest noise is an empty barrel." While this saying may not directly apply to Jo, it's intriguing to consider that, in most versions, Jo might be depicted as the unmarried sister by choice, because she is so persistent about it being so. Yet it seems to realistically apply more to Beth if anything.
So it’s interesting to see how this adaptation offers a fresh perspective on this aspect of the story, which I find particularly interesting.