Book Review: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

If you’ve been following my twitter feed, you might have noticed that I am working on a #sekritvideo project.  I know nothing at all about video, but I thought that it would be hilarious and fun to help out on the project.  Turns out that both of those preconceived notions are true.  I have also learned that working on video projects include a lot of “hurry up and wait” time. 

Seeing as I am at a point in between having helped create #octoporn and helping with more videoing later this evening, I have a bit of time in which I have essentially nothing to do except listen to a specific track on repeat from the Grey’s Anatomy Music Event Soundtrack (Unfortunately, I am also that girl. Please take the time to judge me at your leisure.) and to do a quick review of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women.

It has been about a month since I actually read Little Women, so bear with me.  Honestly, this review is more about actually getting rid of my backlog of book reviews, than actually reviewing Little Women, because I sometimes feel terrible reviewing a book that was written by a dead person. 

First things first, I read Little Women for one main reason.  In a certain Friends episode, “The One Where Monica and Richard are Just Friends,” Joey and Rachel exchange their favorite books.  Little Women just so happens to be one of those books.  Since watching that episode, I’ve always wanted to read Little Women.  I finally did. 

Second things second, I enjoyed Alcott’s tale.  It revolves around the lives and struggles of four sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March, who are growing up in mid-nineteenth-century New England.  Eventually, the plot turns from their childish troubles to those of young women who must find their place and role in life.

I loved the characters especially Jo, with whom I assume I was meant to identify. I loved how the family interacted with each other and with their neighbors.  I loved watching the girls grow up and find their place in life.  It is truly a beautiful story, and has withstood the test of time.  I do have one issue. 

Since I did identify with Jo and felt strongly about her character, when she married the professor.  I felt sadness.  I know I should have been happy for her, because she found her place in life, but I felt cheated.  The ending is too easy.  Everyone is too happy.  Had the story ended before Jo found her professor, I would have more fully enjoyed it. I would have written the story differently.  That’s all.

Aside from my one nit-picky objection, I loved reading Little Women.  You should probably go out and read it.  I mean, it is a classic after all.  I’m kicking myself that I waited so long to read it.  I mean, even after watching the Friends episode that made me want to read it, it took me a hundred years to get it and read it.  There are too many books to read, and only so much time in which to read them.  I will probably never read all the books I want.  No one will probably read all the books they want.  That is depressing.  So… in light of that fact, I am recommending that you read Little Women, but if you don’t want to read it, I want you to read those books you do want first.

Now, I’m rambling. I apologize.  I am going to go back to the #sekritvideo, and hit publish.  Now.