Reviews with content warning for Chronic illness - Little Women

Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

45 reviews

emtees's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Like almost everyone, I read this book as a kid and I remembered the important parts: the March sisters and the strong bond between them, Amy’s terrible crime against Jo, the drama around who everyone should have married and, of course,

Spoiler

Beth’s death.

. I didn’t have any clear sense of the narrative of the story, just these different, unconnected moments, but I was sure there had probably been more to the book than that.

After rereading, I can say that they’re really isn’t. Though there is a rough through-line in the story of the March sisters each striving to find happiness, or at least peace, with the lot they get in life, the book itself is very anecdotal. It begins with the girls all in their early teens and carries on over about a decade (with a sudden jump forward at the end), and the topic is ordinary life, with each chapter focusing on some event, big or small, in their lives. Some stories, like the love-triangle-that-really-isn’t, carry through several chapters, but the book is written as if it meant to be read one chapter at a time, with breaks between each.

After finishing it, I can say that Amy’s crime is still terrible, Laurie married the right sister and Jo, if she had to marry at all, probably picked the right man, and

Spoiler

Beth’s death is still really sad.

There are a few moments that really stick out, and Jo remains a great literary character, flawed and ambitious but also kind and generous, but she really ended up feeling like the only selling point for the books. Getting through the thick syrup of sentimentality to the interesting parts of the story was a struggle. Actually, the most interesting part of the volume I read was the introduction, since it talked about the contrast between the very conventional story Alcott wrote about a family that superficially resembled her own and the reality of her life as a politically progressive career woman. I think I would have preferred that story.

Content Warnings

ginbat's review against another edition

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lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

Well written but did not withstand the test of time. Perfect for when it was written, but reading it in 2023 was not a fun experience. Preachy, somewhat sexist, very Christian. Perhaps it should have been split up into multiple children's books instead. But it wasn't. It was over 500 boring pages of in your face morals and how we should settle. I do think Alcott was a great writer, especially for the time period, but I just would not recommend this book to anyone born in the 21st century.

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em_gauts's review against another edition

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emotional 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

Content Warnings

cleotheo's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional lighthearted 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

3.75

I think I should have liked to read this when I was a child.
In the first part, the chapters are often contained little stories, for example decribing the events of one day. I liked the that the children where not perfect and their faults where discussed.
The second part does get a good bit preachy and every one should be married with children which i did not enjoy as much.

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