Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
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Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Let me start off by saying, I genuinely loved every minute of this book.
Yes, all 500+ pages of this book were a delight. I found myself taken back to the 1800’s and wrapped up in this family of girls.
I wanted to be adopted by Marmee. I wanted Jo as a sister. I wanted to play Pilgrim’s Progress with the girls.
From the description… “Little Women is a coming-of-age novel written by American novelist Louisa May Alcott. Alcott The story follows the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—and details their passage from childhood to womanhood. It is loosely based on the lives of the author and her three sisters.
It is no secret that Alcott based Little Women on her own early life. While her father, the freethinking reformer and abolitionist Bronson Alcott, hobnobbed with such eminent male authors as Emerson, Thoreau, and Hawthorne, Louisa supported herself and her sisters with "woman’s work,” including sewing, doing laundry, and acting as a domestic servant. But she soon discovered she could make more money writing. Little Women brought her lasting fame and fortune, and far from being the "girl’s book” her publisher requested, it explores such timeless themes as love and death, war and peace, the conflict between personal ambition and family responsibilities, and the clash of cultures between Europe and America.
A True Classic that Belongs on Every Bookshelf!”
What is the Book Little Women About?
The book Little Women is a coming age story following 4 sisters, Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth in 1800’s America.
You can’t help but be transported back in time with the sisters as they face each problem or adventure. Alcott’s writing is simple, making it easy for young and old readers alike to get lost in the story.
While this is a hefty book (my copy was around 530 pages), the Little Women novel is an absolute joy for girls and boys alike. This was my first time reading through it, as I had never read it in school or as a child, and I wish I had read it sooner.
A tip for reading through this book; the book Pilgrim’s Progress is cited many times throughout Little Women. The girls love the book Pilgrim’s Progress, and it’s referenced directly and indirectly countless times. You and your children will have a better understanding of Little Women if you read Pilgrim’s Progress first. There is also a movie if you don’t want to read the book.
This version of the movie is my boys’ favorite! It’s available on DVD or streaming through Amazon.
Since Little Women follows the girls through a decade or so of their lives, we see them go through many things in life…including death (minor spoiler below).
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The major character death in this book may be sad for young readers. I was definitely a little teary myself. We see it coming (Alcott graciously builds to this moment rather than springing it unexpectedly upon readers). Just something to be aware of before starting this story. It won’t happen until the second half of the book.
We also see the girls go through the trials of boys, being poor, chores, dealing with difficult family members, and more. All things we routinely go through in our own lives. During each trial, the voice of reason (many times Scripture or Marmee), is there to help guide the girls in the ways of the Lord.
The book’s format reminds me of the Bible in many ways. This is one large story, but each chapter (sometimes a few shorter chapters together) are all their own smaller stories. You really feel like you are there with them during these stories of their lives.
Through this book, you go through the coming of age journey of all the girls. When we open chapter 1, all 4 sisters are young girls. By the end of the book, they are adults with children. Most of the book they are in the younger to teen years, and we go with them through their many adventures.
My favorite character is definitely Marmee, their mother. Her words of wisdom, the way she cares for her daughters, and the way she mirrors Christ to her family, warmed my heart. Her words were the most important to me in the book. She is a gentle, but Biblically wise mother that we rarely see in modern books.
Marmee ministered to my soul, even though I’m nearly 40.
Final Thoughts
I wholeheartedly recommend Little Women to readers of all ages, especially girls.
I’ll be honest, as a mom of teen boys, this wouldn’t be their cup of tea, and that’s okay! This book really wasn’t written with boys in mind. While some boys may enjoy this book, I know my two wouldn’t enjoy it (too girly!).
However, this is a wonderful book for mothers and daughters to read together. It will spark many fun, weighty, and important discussions.
If you haven’t read this book yet, grab it now on Amazon and get to it! It’s a wonderful story that you’ll enjoy for years to come.
