Book Review: Little Women
A reflection on the first classic book I've got back into after a while and what it has taught me about sisterhood
Slight spoilers for Little Women ahead so proceed with caution!
Hi everyone! I hope you’re all doing well. It has been a WHILE since I’ve sat down and done any type of media review whether that be a film or book so I thought I’d review my recent read Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I absolutely adored the film and was really reluctant if I’d like the book or not but it turns out I’m equally (or more) obsessed with the book! Let’s begin the (hopefully) non-spoilery yap about the book and what it taught me about womanhood and sisterhood alike.
Little Women follows the lives of the four March sisters - Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy as they navigate their teenagehood and the beginning of young womanhood together against the backdrop of 19th century New England during the American Civil War. The book explores the highs and lows of what it means to be a woman as well as all the little things in between, from their individual aspirations, romances and family dynamics as the book progresses. I loved everything about this book and I’ll delve into some of the characters and what they have taught me.
I’d say the main character of the novel and who took most of the story by charge was feisty and headstrong Josephine (or Jo to her sisters). From the beginning, Jo has big aspirations to become a successful writer and the breadwinner for her family whilst her sisters take on the more traditional roles. I really resonate with the fact that Jo didn’t back down from her dreams all throughout the novel even though countless challenges and obstacles came her way.
As well as this, it was lovely to see the progression of her and Laurie’s friendship even though it had a bittersweet ending at the end of the book. I won’t go too much into the details but if you watched the hill scene during the movie, it has the exact same vibes as that but just ten times more heartbreaking (yay we love literature which tears us apart). I really admired how Jo saw Laurie more as a friend and brother figure and although that wasn’t entirely reciprocated, it was nice near the end to see how they saw one another even though their lives didn’t plan out how they initially wanted to.
Another character I deeply admired was Margaret (otherwise known as Meg to her sisters). Meg exuberates what it means to be a daughter, mother and sister figure and does so with lots of grace and love and her character was very inspiring to me to say the very least. Minor spoiler but I loved how she ultimately sacrificed her own ambitions and dreams to get married to her love John Brooke (and the book explores most of this throughout). Meg really teaches us that even though we may have to sacrifice our own dreams in favour of others, it will eventually come back to us in better ways than we could ever imagine. At times, even though there are challenges between Meg and John with their marriage and maintaining a family, it is really lovely to see how they both fight against these challenges together in the name of love.
The next of the sisters is then Elizabeth (again Beth to her sisters) and she is the epitome of youth, innocence and love all wrapped up into a delicate girl. Major spoiler incoming but I really loved how she took her illness head on and turned towards Jo in her darkest hours of need, which I think beautifully sums up what sisterhood is all about. In your darkest hours of worries or needs, a sister is the best shoulder to cry on and I will always stamp that. I feel like sisterhood and womanhood is so beautiful in this sense too as it shows how we can always unite together in our worries, fears and doubts.
Last but certainly not least is the absolute icon that is Amy March (aka the youngest of the sisters). I resonate with her character so so much and shameless self promo but I also wrote a little piece about it here. I truly believe Amy’s character was everything and more in the novel just as it was in the movie. It’s so heartbreaking to see how she fights for recognition amongst her sisters simply just for being younger but I feel like that was where the beauty and lesson of her character lies. She is extremely passionate and loving and she simply wanted to be loved for that.
Another minor spoiler but I really felt when she tried to mix into the crowds in France whilst on her travels abroad with Aunt March and in the end, tried to marry Fred Vaughn but it didn’t work out because she knew that was where her heart didn’t lie. Her monologue is the most beautiful thing ever and I always echo her words, as the youngest daughter myself, ‘I want to be great or nothing’ because isn’t that what we all want to be? Recognised and praised for our talents, nothing more or less.
I’ve gone off on an absolute tangent but I’m going to summarise by saying I absolutely adored this book and I will definitely be planning to reread this again soon (whilst also tackling the summer tbr which I’m currently procrastinating oopsie). From the beautiful character arcs to the timeless settings and messages, Little Women is everything and more and I hope you guys enjoy this book as much as I do if you end up picking it up after this review! A clear five stars from me.
Lots of love and hugs,
Halima <3
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did you hear my shriekkkk? I love little womennnnnn it's such a precious story 🥹 i love marmee and her wisdom and kindness. Grandpa lawrence, too 🌷🌷meg and John's marriage 🥹🥹
The ✨ iconic hill scene ✨ of the greta gerwig adaptationnnn 😩😩
ivelovedyoueversinceiveknownyoujocoudlnthelpitttt ALSJAKDHWISJJS 🤧🤧🤧
Now let me go look up that specific chapter so i can go over it again (part 2 chp 35 y'allll)
An awesome review for an awesome book. One question though, do you prefer the film adaptation or the book? 👀