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infogdss29's review
4.0
Four authors voice the infamous March sisters in this novel based on Little Women, set during WWII. Beth, already dead and gone, is present through verse and in her sister's memories. The remaining three sisters have had a falling out that disperses them. While Meg stays home in Concord with Marmee, missing her fellow schoolteacher John; Jo is working in a factory building parts for airplanes; and Amy is supposedly in art school in Montreal but has actually registered for the Red Cross where she has been shipped out to London and is serving as a Doughnut Dolly. More modern subplots address Japanese interrment, Jo's lesbianism, classism, bullying, and coping with grief.
The story contains many period details--music, makeup, brands, hairstyles, books and movies, and slang--that position it during the 1940s. Many are just name dropped in without context. A fan of the original who is of a certain age or older will hear the Glenn Miller orchestra, or envision Victory Red lipstick, but a Gen-X or younger will skim over the reference.
The authors skillfully blend in many details from Little Women, referencing the time Amy burned Jo's manuscript, the time Laurie rescued Amy from falling through the ice, the time Beth got the piano from Mr. Lawrence. Other favorite scenes are incorporated into the present timeline: the time Laurie proposed, the time Sallie lent Meg a dress and Meg made a fool of herself at a party, the time Meg defended John to Aunt March, the time Amy fell for Laurie, the time Jo found a love of her own, the time Marmee confessed her own inner anger (although here, it's Meg she's confiding in, not Jo). The faith, hope, yearning and moral compass of the original is here too, and never saccharin.
Beth's poem(s) at the end of each chapter are a heart-wrenching reminder of her loss. As if writing from heaven, her omniscience view encompasses the past and hints at the future.
The digital version of this book contains letters from the various characters to one another; I found the font difficult to read. The cover, showing the four sisters from the back, in period clothing, allow the reader to imagine herself as one of the faceless characters.
I received an advance reader's review copy of #GreatOrNothing from #NetGalley
The story contains many period details--music, makeup, brands, hairstyles, books and movies, and slang--that position it during the 1940s. Many are just name dropped in without context. A fan of the original who is of a certain age or older will hear the Glenn Miller orchestra, or envision Victory Red lipstick, but a Gen-X or younger will skim over the reference.
The authors skillfully blend in many details from Little Women, referencing the time Amy burned Jo's manuscript, the time Laurie rescued Amy from falling through the ice, the time Beth got the piano from Mr. Lawrence. Other favorite scenes are incorporated into the present timeline: the time Laurie proposed, the time Sallie lent Meg a dress and Meg made a fool of herself at a party, the time Meg defended John to Aunt March, the time Amy fell for Laurie, the time Jo found a love of her own, the time Marmee confessed her own inner anger (although here, it's Meg she's confiding in, not Jo). The faith, hope, yearning and moral compass of the original is here too, and never saccharin.
Beth's poem(s) at the end of each chapter are a heart-wrenching reminder of her loss. As if writing from heaven, her omniscience view encompasses the past and hints at the future.
The digital version of this book contains letters from the various characters to one another; I found the font difficult to read. The cover, showing the four sisters from the back, in period clothing, allow the reader to imagine herself as one of the faceless characters.
I received an advance reader's review copy of #GreatOrNothing from #NetGalley
noralastra's review
3.0
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishing team for sharing this ARC!
As a fan of Little Women, I was excited to read a retelling of the sister story. You follow each sister go through their journey during WWII and I think having different authors for each sister definitely gave it a fresh feeling. While each other gave each sister their own voice, they blended well together.
The story was easy to follow and though it felt like a calm, quiet retelling, you had enough going on to keep you interested enough to see how the tale will unfold. I thought it was a fine read!
As a fan of Little Women, I was excited to read a retelling of the sister story. You follow each sister go through their journey during WWII and I think having different authors for each sister definitely gave it a fresh feeling. While each other gave each sister their own voice, they blended well together.
The story was easy to follow and though it felt like a calm, quiet retelling, you had enough going on to keep you interested enough to see how the tale will unfold. I thought it was a fine read!
charlottelynn's review
5.0
I love retellings and I adore Little Women. The bonus is it is set in the WWII era, which is one of my most favorite eras. The March family is affected by WWII just like the rest of the world. They have lost Beth to death and the rest of the other girls try to find their way in a world full of war, hurt, and excitement. The girls all go their own way and I love seeing them find their ways, find they way to make a difference, but it hurt to see them all divided from their family. They were so close as a family.
Usually, Jo is my favorite character but in this retelling, I found myself anxiously awaiting Amy’s story. The way she grew up, the places she went, the things she did was amazing. Her grit, her strength, and her power to want to make a difference made her my favorite in this book. I was excited to see how her story would turn out and hoped for the best. As she made new friends, ran into old friends, and lived in a world that she had only dreamed about I saw her grow and find a way to become her own person.
I highly recommend adding Great or Nothing to your TBR list. This retelling is wonderful.
Usually, Jo is my favorite character but in this retelling, I found myself anxiously awaiting Amy’s story. The way she grew up, the places she went, the things she did was amazing. Her grit, her strength, and her power to want to make a difference made her my favorite in this book. I was excited to see how her story would turn out and hoped for the best. As she made new friends, ran into old friends, and lived in a world that she had only dreamed about I saw her grow and find a way to become her own person.
I highly recommend adding Great or Nothing to your TBR list. This retelling is wonderful.
melissa_withthelonglastname's review
4.0
Little Women was one of my favorite books growing up, and I have probably seen the different movie adaptations hundreds of times.
This re-telling of a familiar story, set in the 1940s, is a welcome addition to the March family collection. I especially loved having four different authors voice the sisters. (Beth's poetry at the end of each chapter left me sobbing on more than one occasion.)
I honestly didn't notice that we spent less time with Jo than Meg and Amy until I read it in another review -- but the original story focuses so much on Jo already that it was nice to get to know the oldest and youngest sisters better through their chapters. (I also thought those two authors did a fantastic job with the secondary characters in each of those storylines.)
I felt like Jo's world was the least developed -- and I wished for more connection at the end. Maybe an epilogue would have helped?
(I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
This re-telling of a familiar story, set in the 1940s, is a welcome addition to the March family collection. I especially loved having four different authors voice the sisters. (Beth's poetry at the end of each chapter left me sobbing on more than one occasion.)
I honestly didn't notice that we spent less time with Jo than Meg and Amy until I read it in another review -- but the original story focuses so much on Jo already that it was nice to get to know the oldest and youngest sisters better through their chapters. (I also thought those two authors did a fantastic job with the secondary characters in each of those storylines.)
I felt like Jo's world was the least developed -- and I wished for more connection at the end. Maybe an epilogue would have helped?
(I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
beccaleedilly's review
4.0
I loved the way the authors had their own character, you could feel the lives of the march sisters each develop as the war and the death of Beth split them apart, and how each of them dealt with that grief. I loved this point of view of "what happened after... "
katy_alice's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.75
bbloome01's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
secretmagic's review
3.0
I've always been a fan of Little Women, so I had no doubt that I would enjoy this version of the March sisters.
I really liked that each author captured their passions and characters so well (even though I still need to be convinced that Amy and Laurie are a good idea...). I only wish there had been a bit more interaction between the sisters - it felt like we didn't get a full reunion. I would have loved to see them all gathered around Beth's piano to bring the family back together.
3.5/5 stars
I really liked that each author captured their passions and characters so well (even though I still need to be convinced that Amy and Laurie are a good idea...). I only wish there had been a bit more interaction between the sisters - it felt like we didn't get a full reunion. I would have loved to see them all gathered around Beth's piano to bring the family back together.
3.5/5 stars
lottie1803's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
3.75