Little Women

This is not the first time I have read Little Women, in fact I tried many times in my teens to read the story, but I always so loathed it because I couldn't help thinking how backwards these women were. Joe was scandalous for not being a proper lady (and sadly she was the one I related to the most). Each time I was left feeling bleh about the thing and wondering what was wrong with me for not enjoying such a classic. At about sixteen I had decided that it wasn't me who had the problem, it was that I could not relate to the story because I was a modern woman and let it go at that, vowing never to read the stupid thing again.

Then I got a Nook and found myself with very little money and a load of free books and went to town. Suddenly all I show more had left was Little Women. I figured what the heck, it was better than nothing, I was fairly sure. I was surprised how differently I felt about it this time. Now, having children, I can see the way I have tried to use some of Mrs. March's subtle techniques. Knowing other mothers, wanting a little girl, I found myself suddenly entrenched with their lives and wondering if I would have a Joe like me, or what would I do if I had an Amy! The things that seemed antiquated in my youth, now seemed nostalgic and charming. It is amazing how books change as we change! If you have read it before and weren't sure you cared for it, perhaps you should try it again! show less

Enamored of this coming-of-age novel as a child, I reread this American classic after seeing the musical. Loosely based on Alcott's own family and sisters, the novel presents an idealized and highly moralistic version of a family in the last years of the Civil War. It's the story of four sisters—pretty, domestic Meg; impetuous, tomboy Jo; quiet, homebody Beth; and artistic, self-centered Amy— who are living at home with their mother while their father is a chaplain in the Civil War. When the book opens, Meg is 16 and Amy 12, and it ends with the marriages of three of the girls. Alcott was asked to write a book for young girls by her publisher. She resisted at first, but acquiesced and wrote Little Women in ten weeks. It was an show more instant best seller and has remained beloved by generations of American girls.

Revisiting childhood classics as an adult is always a dangerous move. Will the cherished books hold up under adult scrutiny? In addition, in this case, I had seen many movie and now musical adaptations. The verdict is mixed. The work is clearly dated, having been written more than 150 years ago, and I was surprised by the heavy moral overtones, which I didn't remember from my youthful readings. Gender roles and responsibilities are very traditional, and yet Jo rebels against those expectations in ways I found interesting now, even if she succumbs in the end. I have always found her attraction to Professor Bhaer much more understandable than to Laurie. So while I found the Pilgrim's Progress references and moral lessons heavy-handed, I appreciated Alcott's attempt to push the boundaries. I would love to do a more in-depth comparison of the book and her own life. show less

I found the characters too cutesy-old-fashioned when I tried it as a kid (I was a realistic fiction and sci-fi reader exclusively), so I'd somehow never read the whole thing! Greta Gerwig's movie inspired me to finish it, finally.

As brilliant as that adaptation is, there are still some enjoyable bits that are never filmed, especially in the second half when they're adults -- like the hilarious sequence where Amy makes Jo go visiting with her and Jo keeps fucking it up. I still find Marmee insufferable: turns out the reason every film Marmee is a holy spouter of platitudes is because she's actually written that way, in every single scene. I also really needed some acknowledgement that these are allegedly poor people *with a servant*, so show more what does Hannah's life look like when she isn't making everyone a meal at odd hours? But overall, ok, I get it now! This book is great, and deservedly groundbreaking! show less

Re-reading this as an adult, I've realized that my goal is to become Amy. Because SHE GETS EVERYTHING SHE WANTS - most of which she takes away from poor, useless, ragtag Jo.

Amy gets beauty; she gets popularity; she gets the rag money to buy pickled limes. She gets Jo's trip to Europe; she gets Jo's dream of wealth and mansions and horses; she gets the easy, instant affability and social brilliance that Jo can never achieve; and then she gets Jo's boyfriend.

She's beautiful and gracious and good hearted (because she never has any trials!), she's a good artist, as little as she makes of it, she's damn rich, and she's married to that teasing, vexing Lawrence boy, certainly the best choice out of the three husbands. (And much better than show more Fred Vaughn - ugh.)

Did I mention she gets to sleep with Laurie?
"What does Amy call you?"
" 'My lord.' "

Yeah, that sounds about right. show less

I committed to reading a classic every month this year and since I remember enjoying the abridged version I read as a child I decided to start with Little Women. Mistake.

Unpopular opinion here. I found Little Women to be incredibly boring, filled with Pilgrim's Progress references and preaching (too much even given the time period), and overall lacked any depth of story. I don't care who marries who or how many children they have and this being a classic can't change that.

What I couldn't get past is how hypocritical I found Little Women. While continually telling me the only way to be happy is through virtuousness and generosity all they did was complain about how bad off they were. Poor us, we can only afford one servant. Woe is me, show more I'm so poor, let me just run off to New York or Europe for a few months to console myself. I'm just too beautiful, these boys won't leave me alone, let me flirt with them some more. I married such a poor man and have home with everything I need but can't spend $50 on a piece of material. Let me just steal the money from him instead. (($50 in 1868 is equivalent to nearly $1,000 purchasing power today so this is beyond ridiculous. Yes, I looked it up.))

Once again, I'm obviously in the minority here. Just not for me. show less

"Cuatro pequeños baúles en fila, cubiertos de polvo y gastados por el paso del tiempo. Cuatro mujeres que han aprendido a trabajar y amar. Cuatro hermanas, separadas por el tiempo, ninguna de ellas falta, aunque una se marcho antes que el resto, pues el amor inmortal la hace más presente que nunca. Cuando a las cuatro les llegue la hora de abrir sus baúles ante el Señor, espero que rebosen de dicha, actos de bondad y vidas llenas de valor. que sus almas se eleven felices y, que tras la lluvia, luzca un sol eterno."

Cuando un libro te llega tan hondo es difícil hablar de él porque las palabras demeritan lo que te hace sentir. Lo primero que quiero decir es los personajes de está historia te enamoran, todos y cada uno de ellos show more tiene algo que para el final del libro hace que se quede fijo en ti, pero definitivamente Jo fue mi chica favorita y creo que se debe a que es la que más se adapta al rol femenino de la actualidad, es lista, sarcástica, fuerte e independiente sin que por ello deje de ser tierna, compasiva, maternal y amigable.

"En toda vida, hay días de lluvia, días oscuros y días tristes y grises

La historia es conmovedora, te hace pensar, reír, entristecer, enojarte, es decir que te hacer pasar por un montón de sentimientos, y para mi que fue la primera vez que me acercaba, lo único que sabia era gracias al sr. Joey Tribbiani (porque trate de olvidar todo lo que dijo Rachel y funciono...en un 90%) y a la introducción de la edición que tengo (Gracias Lumen), y esa ignorancia creo que fue muy buena porque todo fue nuevo, increíble y me sentí como una niña que iba creciendo con ellas.

"Con las mujeres, al igual que con los sueños, todo puede ocurrir al revés de lo que uno espera"

Algo a resaltares que la vida de estas hermanas es narrada con una enorme carga moral, de verdad ENORME, durante todo el transcurso del libro encontraras varias referencias al rol de la mujer, el hombre, la religión, el comportamiento social y las clases sociales...cuando tomas en cuenta que no por estar ahí debes tomarlo al pie de la letra pero parte de esas enseñanzas podrían servirnos para ser mejores seres humanos entiendes una pequeña parte de porque ha trascendido esta historia.

"Si tiene edad para plantear la pregunta, tiene edad paraescuchar la respuesta. Yo no le meto ideas en la cabeza, me limito a ayudarle a desarrollar las que ya tiene."

Lo que no me gusto quedará en este spoiler

Señora March, es usted una señora muy sabia y agradable pero, de verdad, Jo y Laurie estaban hechos el uno para el otro, y ODIO que Laurie se quedara con Amy, no me importa cuanto haya cambiado ella.

Lo de Beth, querida Alcott me debes una explicación, por lo que entendí (corrijanme sí me equivoco, por favor) murió a causa de una recaída de la escarlatina que tuvo de niña pero estuvo más de 1 año enferma y no dijo nada ¿Sí hubiera hablado no la habrían podido salvar? Sí es así ¿Porqué no lo dijo? La única razón que vi a esto fue lograr que Amy se casara con Laurie (porque Jo sí estaba enamorada de él, sólo que aun no era el momento. Lo rechazo porque pensó que Beth lo amaba no porque ella no lo hiciera).

Lo último que no me gusto, pero al mismo tiempo lo ame por realista, fue que al final nadie logro conquistar sus Castillos en el aire, pero Jo, mi querida Jo, el tuyo fue el más triste porque ya no escribías y siempre creí que podrías hacer tu vida en familia y continuar con tu sueño (aunque no te convirtieras en la gran escritora).


"Valoro mi libertad y no tengo prisa por perderla a cambio de ningún hombre"

Ese final fue tan agridulce, me sentí bien por ellos porque, a pesar de lo que no me gusto, son felices y pueden serlo mucho tiempo, pero me sentí triste por que era una despedida, por todo lo que creí que sería (y que los habría hecho más felices...sólo digo) y no fue.

"Antes de morir espero hacer algo importante, algo heroico o maravilloso que me permita seguir viva en el recuerdo. No sé qué es, pero no pararé hasta descubrirlo y, algún días, os asombraré a todas."

Este libro pasa a mi lista de favoritos y lo volveré a leer en un futuro no muy cercano. show less

One of the pleasures of old age is unashamedly finally reading a book that for most of my life I would have dismissed as little-girl-literature and confessing I enjoyed it. One reason for this was unexpected, though. Jo, the second of the March girls, and self-evidently the alter ego of the author, is a tall, clumsy, impetuous bundle of energy who is repeatedly described as having boyish traits. Aside from wishing she could marry her older sister Meg to prevent the family circle from breaking, there is not so much a suggestion of lesbianism here as there is of rebellion against societally-constructed norms of what is appropriate for one gender or the other. There is a clear expectation in Jo’s mind of what a girl “is,” and she show more most definitely is not that, and her regret that she is not is decidedly minor. I can only imagine how much good this book has done in the 150 years since it appeared for other young girls who have read it and wrestled with similar conflicts.
There are other pleasures as well, such as the evocation of life in a New England town in the mid-nineteenth century. The overall arc of the plot is relatively simple: All four girls are virtuous and loveable, but each struggles against a major character flaw. In the second volume of the book, each succeeds in overcoming her flaw; the book’s conclusion is too fairy-tale-like to convince, although this reader would gladly grant that the Marches and their affiliates did indeed live happily ever after. A good read. show less