libronika's review against another edition
2.0
I am not entirely sure I am entitled to write a review for a book for which I am not a dedicated recipient. I enjoy children's books quite a lot, as they are usually magical and help you find your inner child, this was, unfortunately, not the case when it comes to "Little women".
The story was simply too childish and too dramatic for my taste. It is hard to read a book where every second page describes a minor incident as a life changing event. Naturally, a perspective of a child is way different yet it was tiring.
The book is also extremely outdated (shocking, isn't it?) and sometimes tries to push on you values that are considered stereotypical - having a good man choose you is as his wife is the best thing that can happen - really?
As an adult I did not enjoy the story as I was expecting to which was a disappointment. But in this case, my opinion seems to be an unpopular one :)
The story was simply too childish and too dramatic for my taste. It is hard to read a book where every second page describes a minor incident as a life changing event. Naturally, a perspective of a child is way different yet it was tiring.
The book is also extremely outdated (shocking, isn't it?) and sometimes tries to push on you values that are considered stereotypical - having a good man choose you is as his wife is the best thing that can happen - really?
As an adult I did not enjoy the story as I was expecting to which was a disappointment. But in this case, my opinion seems to be an unpopular one :)
charlie1995's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
khyland's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-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
3.5
lacywrites's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
4.75
annae_'s review against another edition
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? It's complicated
3.5
neerja12's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-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? No
5.0
aga89's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
hiswomandaughter's review against another edition
2.0
I know that lots of people live and breathe on this book. And there’s a genuine amount of whimsy that sort of makes the March sisters fun to read about.
But I apparently have a heart of stone: nothing happens.
Nothing happens for over 300 pages.
I just couldn’t get behind the characters, they meant very little to me. So what little happened to them meant very little to me.
I can appreciate that if I read this book when I was intended to have - likely as a child - this would’ve meant a lot more to me. But I believe this book’s success is built more on pure nostalgia than actual literary prowess.
But I apparently have a heart of stone: nothing happens.
Nothing happens for over 300 pages.
I just couldn’t get behind the characters, they meant very little to me. So what little happened to them meant very little to me.
I can appreciate that if I read this book when I was intended to have - likely as a child - this would’ve meant a lot more to me. But I believe this book’s success is built more on pure nostalgia than actual literary prowess.
ailurophile_bibliophile89's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
So, this was one of my favorite novels to read when I was a little girl. However, I had read an abridged version, one of those in a series that made the classics easier to understand for younger generations.
Rereading this for the first time since I was 12 was quite an experience. A familiar nostalgia rose in me that often accompanies a song or film from my childhood.
Now, having read the official, unabridged version, I am filled with a renewed respect for Alcott as a woman ahead of her time and with a certain type of sorrow for memories this tale has invoked in me.
However, I will add that Alcott was still bound by the restrictions of her time and so the praise for all the efforts of Meg and Marmee and Beth are a tad bit grating for me. Still, Jo also irritated me a bit, even as a young girl, because she scorned romance and was very much a tomboy (the princess in me still yearns for romantic love stories, even at my old age though I would like to note that there is nothing wrong with showing the more masculine side and it's perfectly acceptable to do so). Amy was always my favorite, believe it or not. She was one who had matured the most throughout the novel.
Therefore, 4 stars for a beloved classic that invoked the warmth and love I felt for my own childhood memories.
So, this was one of my favorite novels to read when I was a little girl. However, I had read an abridged version, one of those in a series that made the classics easier to understand for younger generations.
Rereading this for the first time since I was 12 was quite an experience. A familiar nostalgia rose in me that often accompanies a song or film from my childhood.
Now, having read the official, unabridged version, I am filled with a renewed respect for Alcott as a woman ahead of her time and with a certain type of sorrow for memories this tale has invoked in me.
However, I will add that Alcott was still bound by the restrictions of her time and so the praise for all the efforts of Meg and Marmee and Beth are a tad bit grating for me. Still, Jo also irritated me a bit, even as a young girl, because she scorned romance and was very much a tomboy (the princess in me still yearns for romantic love stories, even at my old age though I would like to note that there is nothing wrong with showing the more masculine side and it's perfectly acceptable to do so). Amy was always my favorite, believe it or not. She was one who had matured the most throughout the novel.
Therefore, 4 stars for a beloved classic that invoked the warmth and love I felt for my own childhood memories.