Little Men (1871)

Listening to an old favorite on audio is a wonderful experience. There's something so comforting about somehow sharing this with the narrator, who whispers softly into my ear as I fall contentedly asleep. This one's my second favorite of the series, behind Jo's Boys. I love the boys, I love the grown Little Women. I don't like The Princess, though, I find her unbelievable and repellent. Dan, on the other hand, is my beau ideal in every particular. And I think that it's in this book I found my justification for my staunch defense of Alcott's choice to marry Laurie to Amy and give The Professor to Mrs. Jo. Laurie and Jo would never have been happy, and Plumfield is perfect. ( )

I like this one better than Little Women but not as much as Jo's Boys. I adore Dan from the moment he slouches in, and Tommy Bangs reminds me of my own boy. There's not as much overt moralizing here as in LW, and the scenes of domestic life are somehow a little more vibrant in their cheerful chaos. It's in this book that one really sees how perfect the Professor is for Jo, and how happy she is with a houseful of harum-scarum boys to tend. It's certainly hard to be objective about a book one has read a zillion times. I love this one and always will, no doubt. ( )

I liked this one much more than Little Women. ( )

Louisa May Alcott is a delightful writer. While many girls read her in childhood, I'm glad I've waited till I'm an adult to meet her. Her world was very feminine and, like her and Jo, I feel like I have to work really hard to fit into the worlds of Meg and Amy. Though Jo tames herself, she keeps a house of rowdy boys to train and love and romp with.

This really appeals to me. Having the boys farm and honing their natural skills to play music, sing, ride, play sports, bring in a harvest, build things. I feel like contemporary school has left us smarter in some ways, but completely empty in others.

Though sometimes the storyline plodded along, I felt like I was hearing stories from Louisa and Jo over tea in the summer sunshine. ( )

This book is good because it continues the story. However, there isn't as much emotion here. The characters are just not present in the same way that they were in Little Women. Eh... ( )