Reading Little Women

Little Women (Signet Classics)
Louisa May Alcott

"Being the second part of 'Little Women'....Girls write to ask who the little women marry, as if that was the only end and aim of a woman's life. I won't marry Jo to Laurie to please anyone." --- L.M. Alcott


I know for a lot of you, Little Women, is one of your top favorites so, please "love me" still when I tell you it didn't make my top 5. Now, no throwing darts yet because I did find the novel sweet and also extremely heartwarming the way the small family worked together through their trials. I also enjoyed each pen stroke where Alcott spent time giving wholesome and valuable lessons as each girl grew into a Woman. The passages on homemaking were always delightful to read as well. Oh, and I loved the small little quotes that she entwined in each Gals love story. I felt the advice the Mother gave to the gals were so timely and packaged so pretty that each sentence was written with the word "Timeless" in mind. Also, I enjoyed how each character was so very different from one another and described so neatly. Truly amazing.

Now why didn't it make my top 5. Well, I must confess, I didn't enjoy the 1st half of the book. It is possible that it was because I was so busy with other things while I was trying to read it that I just had a hard time connecting with the characters. Who really knows? But through the 2nd half of the book, I warmed to the characters and felt like I was reading a story that could be told from many families that I know. So, when I read that the 2nd half of the book was added only due to the request of her readers I was totally delighted. I felt that this section is the true "Gem" of the book so I was in awe when I read that she wrote the 2nd half in just 2 months.

"Being the second part of 'Little Women'....Girls write to ask who the little women marry, as if that was the only end and aim of a woman's life. I won't marry Jo to Laurie to please anyone." --- L.M. Alcott

Mrs. Alcotts quote just breaks my heart. It appears as if she has a bad opinion on marriage but her comment on Laurie is what I would like to talk about for a bit. I know you are going to want to know if I felt that the book ended correctly, right? I can't imagine it ending any other way! I was so happy that Jo married the Professor and had boys to rear. To me, Jo and Laurie were established as brother and sister from the beginning and should remain that way. I felt like if Alcott had made their love for each other blossom into a romance it would have taken away from the story. I do not think she could have been as effective in showing how Jo's heart was MOLDED toward HOME if she had not married Jo to the Professor. Really, it was Jo's journey that kept me reading. So, I feel like this is the real "Soul" of why this book is still read and treasured.

It seems like another common question is "What sister do you most relate to in Little Women?" And it is here that I leave you with that question because quite frankly I am still pondering it.....