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Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
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Little Women

by Louisa May Alcott

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11,37314768 (4.15)421
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English (142)  Spanish (3)  German (1)  Finnish (1)  All languages (147)
Showing 1-5 of 142 (next | show all)
Yes, I finally read it. It was so sugary sweet it passed the threshold of cavity jokes and went right in to I just can't help loving it land. Sort of like pixi-stix. ( )
dsbs | Jul 8, 2009 | 1 vote
this is the first classic I had ever read and I loved every page of it! ( )
miss_writer | Jul 6, 2009 |  
The classic that's been adapted so many times. While being very preachy, the charming characters manage to sweep you away. Surprisingly feminist for its time. ( )
mohi | Jul 5, 2009 |  
I found that this novel was overly moralistic and sickly sweet for my tastes but well written nevertheless.

I can see the attraction for its target audience. Just not for me. ( )
BookMarkMe | Jun 30, 2009 |  
So, I clearly read this at the wrong time in my life being an old crotchety professional woman in my 30's -- as much as I love literature from the 1800's, and as much as I understand that times were different when Alcott wrote this beloved young girl's tale -- I had a hard time not eye-rolling and occasionally gagging from the syrupy goodness and heavy-handed preachiness. Perhaps I would have bought it more as a sweet little girl -- though without doubt, I was never as sweet as the March clan even on their worst day.

Now that I got the negative out of me, I will admit that the little ditties of the girls' lives were entertaining and despite the novel's role as almost a cultural icon, I was clueless as to the conclusion, so I read on eagerly. I actually liked little snot-nosed Amy and her maturation the best. I think Alcott was conflicted regarding her notions of womanhood. She created the independent, non-conformist, bold Jo March - our herione. Yet, she tirelessly pumps up marriage and the love of a man as being the best life has to offer. Her little asides to readers about 'being kind to spinsters, who missed the bloom of life' ' and 'boys loving their mothers above all else forever' just seemed over the top to me, even for the late 1800's. Oh, and I kinda wanted to smack Marmee around -- Is that wrong?

So, I can see the attraction for a young girl and I do understand why it has endured. I am glad I finally read it, but count me out on the sequels. Although, I do plan on next reading Geraldine Brooks' Pulitzer Prize winning 'March' - which was really why I finally made the sugary plunge in the first place after all these years. ( )
jhowell | Jun 29, 2009 | 3 vote
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Series (with order)
Canonical Title
Original publication date
People/Characters
Important places
Important events
Awards and honors
Epigraph
Dedication
First words
“Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents,” grumbled Jo, lying on the rug.
Quotations
...for love casts out fear, and gratitude can conquer pride. (p75)
You have a good many little gifts and virtues, but there is no need of parading them, for conceit spoils the finest genius. There is not much danger that real talent or goodness will be overlooked long; even if it is, the consciousness of possessing and using it well should satisfy one, and the great charm of all power is modesty. (p82)
Learn to know and value the praise which is worth having, and to excite the admiration of excellent people, by being modest as well as pretty. (p110)
Money is a needful and precious thing, - and, when well used, a noble thing, - but I never want you to think it is the first and only prize to strive for. (p111)
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
Disambiguation notice
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
Book description

Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0451529308, Paperback)

In picturesque nineteenth-century New England, tomboyish Jo, beautiful Meg, fragile Beth, and romantic Amy come of age while their father is off to war.

(retrieved from Amazon Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:58:05 -0400)

(see all 5 descriptions)

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