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A review by sshabein
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
Would you believe that I've never read this until now? When I was a kid, my mom made the "mistake" of recommending it to me, her weird baby-goth, Christopher Pike-reading, contrary child. You tried, Mom! Sorry!
But a few years ago, I picked up this movie cover version for free during one of the annual times the local school district gives away books they are pulling out of circulation (aka Magical Free Book Day). I imagine they decided that a 1994 movie adaptation was not enough to pull in 2010s teens. I remember watching this movie at some point, and I also very much liked the 2019 version directed by Greta Gerwig. So when our local library's reading challenge this year had the category "Classic You've Been Avoiding," I knew it was time.
And it's great! Books find you at the right stage in life. When I was younger, I would have absolutely bristled at the moralizing and deification of homemaking, but as someone over 40, I can now see that it's not so much a "be a good wife and mother" book as it is a "create the close community you would like to see in the world." The Marches and the Laurences are not as old-fashioned as one might think at first glance. Now I sincerely would like to read Little Men and Jo's Boys.
But a few years ago, I picked up this movie cover version for free during one of the annual times the local school district gives away books they are pulling out of circulation (aka Magical Free Book Day). I imagine they decided that a 1994 movie adaptation was not enough to pull in 2010s teens. I remember watching this movie at some point, and I also very much liked the 2019 version directed by Greta Gerwig. So when our local library's reading challenge this year had the category "Classic You've Been Avoiding," I knew it was time.
And it's great! Books find you at the right stage in life. When I was younger, I would have absolutely bristled at the moralizing and deification of homemaking, but as someone over 40, I can now see that it's not so much a "be a good wife and mother" book as it is a "create the close community you would like to see in the world." The Marches and the Laurences are not as old-fashioned as one might think at first glance. Now I sincerely would like to read Little Men and Jo's Boys.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death