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josefinceh's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Little women tell the story of the March family, mainly Jo and her four sisters (Meg, Beth and Amy) as well as the Laurence family next door, over the course of 15 years from the girls being teenagers to way into adulthood. The story discusses themes such as family, love, ambition/dreams and class/poverty. Most of all, the book is about being grateful for the things you do have in life.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and exploring the character and relationships between the four sisters. The entire story has this romantic feel to it, treasuring every moment like it would be the last. You get a great connection to all the characters and the ups and downs of their lives. Even the part that I've heard a lot of complaints about ( When Jo declines Laurie's proposal and Laurie ends up with Amy in stead ) felt very natural to me. This might be because I already knew what would happen from seeing the film. It is beautifully written, and the dialogue has a lovely rhythm like a classic Hollywood film.
I did find that towards the end the pacing slowed down significantly, frustrating given that the book already has a very slow pace to begin with. The second con with this book comes from its habit of becoming overly preachy at times, especially when dealing with themes like loss, sickness and poverty. This bothered me mainly because I'm not a religious sort of person, but if you have a connection to the Christian faith you might feel different.
I recommend the book to anyone who wants a relaxing, though somewhat emotional at times, read. Or If you have watched any of the film/TV adaptations and want to explore the characters further.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Child death
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Violence
A number of instances of ethnic stereotypes, both from the narrator and characters. I didn't notice any of them being specifically derogatory, but still worth taking note.