Challenge criteria: A book over 600 pages
Blurb:
Little Women is the heartwarming story of the March family that has thrilled generations of readers. It is the story of four sisters–Jo, Meg, Amy and Beth– and of the courage, humour and ingenuity they display to survive poverty and the absence of their father during the Civil War.
Image via Goodreads
What I liked:
If you’re looking for a book to show you the importance of family, this is the one. Seeing the March sisters so happy together, even in their time of extreme poverty, is completely heart warming. It’s a pretty good lesson that money is definitely not everything.
It’s easy to see yourself in any of the four sisters; the homely Meg, Jo the writer, Beth’s placid nature, or Amy’s vanity.
I loved reading Amy’s adventure across Europe, because it was great to see the girls get some independence in their lives. It also gave seven-year-old me a case of itchy feet, and a want to travel.
What I didn’t like:
The heavy influence on religion, as well as some of the flowery language (“we’ll have capital times” for example) may not sit well with modern audiences who wish to leave their days of studying Shakespeare behind them.
Out of five:
Four. It’s a beautifully told story, and one that I travel back to time and time again.
I love Little Women and the sequels too. I thought the adaptation with Susan Sarandon as Marmee was brilliant.
I’ve actually never seen the film version! I can’t see how I haven’t. One day, I’ll put it on.
Oh you have to watch it, it’s fabulous. Winona Ryder is Jo with Christian Bale as Laurie. Gabriel Byrne is Professor Bhaer and he’s wonderful in the role.
And Claire Danes and Kristen Dunst? I’ve heard of it, but never got around to it!
I wanted so much to like this book when I read it last year but I didn’t warm to it at all 😦
I think that’s common for people who read it for the first time as adults. It’s disappointing, but if your first read comes when you’re a little earlier it takes a bit of the magic out.