Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Little Women is the first classic book I’ve read in yeeeaaarrrssss. I was not a big fan of classic books. I only had experience in reading the classics when it was required in school back in HS and university. Beyond the syllabus, ah, nah. Until I got interested (among any other things that get me interested my whole life) into watching reading vlogs a.k.a booktube which influenced me to do the same for my channel as well. One of the booktubers I am following is a foreign (Canadian if I remember it right) Lit Major, and if you see or hear her too I know you’ll get back to that phase in your life (if there’s any) where you just want to curl up on your bed and read books not minding your job or any of the house chores.

Title: Little Women (Little Women, #1)
Author: Louisa May Alcott
Genre: Classics, Fiction, Historical Fiction
My Review Rating: ★★★★✰
Goodreads Synopsis:
‘Wouldn’t it be fun if all the castles in the air which we make could come true and we could live in them?’

A heart-warming tale of love, sisterhood and hardship during the New England Civil War, Little Women tells the story of the lovable March family. Meg, Beth, Jo and Amy try to support their mother at home while their father is away at war and enter into various scrapes and adventures as they do so. Alcott beautifully interweaves bad times and good as her characters struggle with the trials and tribulations of growing up and their relationships with one another.

But no. I am a mom and I need to the job/s of a mom. But I still try hard to stay sane and feed my cravings, you see. I try to go outdoors sometimes and travel (though I can’t wait for the pandemic to lay-low so I can confidently go with Mnemo already), I try to draw, paint, and read books still. I need to keep my creative and fun self before they fade. So big thanks to the people who inspires me, even if they don’t have any idea, to not drown myself with responsibilities and yet not pulling back from them at the same time. #balance

Also read: Chill day: Aozora at the Farm, Tagaytay

I first heard Little Women from Friends, the TV Series. That episode where Joey thought the book Rachel was reading was boring and that his book, The Shining, is the best. They’re different genres and I’m sure The Shining is one of the best in its own genre. Little Women, as shared by Rachel was better and lent it for Joey to read and see. And so Joey lent book to Rachel as well. They ended up spoiling both the books but as for me who had no idea what they’re talking about and couldn’t relate, I was like, “oh okay. ha. ha.” And now that I read it already tr at least a part of it, I realized these spoilers are basically the plot twists and the most exciting ones and biggest in the book. Thanks, Rachel, I now really hate you. Officially.

No, I just hate Rachel, but I love spoilers. They make me more interested and excited to read it myself. I also watched the movie adaptations, both the 1994 and 2019 versions, in the middle of my reading and to be honest, I loved the 1994 more.

Little Women is sometimes published in two parts – Little Women and Good Wives. Although I am eyeing the Puffin (??) edition which consists both parts, I both the cheaper print just to justify my expense and test the waters first before buying a more expensive edition. I got the Collins Classics edition from Fully Booked for Php125 while I still am in love withe the 1k+ version. -.- The book also has two sequels, Little Men, and Jo’s Boys.

The book follows the story of four sisters – Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. They’re expectedly different, with different behaviors and challenges. The book talks about each of the characters life coming of age and the challenges they have to get through as sisters and an individual.

The characters also has this friend and neighbor, Laurie, who had a crush on Jo, and Jo had crush on Laurie. Although Jo was firm with her priorities, her love for Laurie was not enough to bend her plans just yet. Which, ah, hurt me. I ship Jo and Laurie, and Laurie changed a bit when she rejected him. At least in the movies, because I believe it was not part of the book I read. One reason why I want my hands on the Good Wives.

What’s your castle? What’s your dream castle in the air, just hanging there waiting for you to fly on? Mine is a big home, not for the brag, but for enough spaces for all my likes. A library, a kitchen, a pantry full of my favorite items, a studio for when I feel artsy, a quiet spot for my big and cozy couch where I can read and enjoy my coffee.

Each scene with the four sisters and Laurie was relateable you ask yourself what if you’re there, and you’re with these kids and going through the same life as them? The writing and language makes you feel involved in the story. Believe me, I was super kilig whenever Jo and Laurie had scenes together.

It also helped that they have good movie adaptations that help your imaginations better.

Also read: My rules in reading (you have my permission to steal this list)

In every chapter, the book discussed a challenge for either all or each of the characters and then ended it with a nice tone or challenge overcame. One thing I can’t buy is that the book made it sound so easy to change your attitude or behaviors or mindset or feelings about that specific burden which is not the same case in real life. It felt like a fairy tale to me that everything fell perfectly just in one wave of a wand.

The edition I have and read has 286 (257 minus the dictionary) pages and I read it for more than a week. Not because it wasn’t interesting but because, as usual, I got soooo many more tasks to prioritize in a day to day basis, plus I am a mom. It’s hard to maintain a calendar if you are a mom of a growing toddler. Not that I am complaining, I looove being busy. Thank God for making me busy.

view my vlog about little women!

characters

atmosphere

writing

plot

intrigue

logic

enjoyment

I am using the CAWPILE rating system, though please remember a reader’s taste may change from time to time, so I’m not sure if you can trust me here unless this was a recent read. Leaving my ratings anyways because this was totally how I felt the time I read this book. *winks*

I was in Tagaytay when I read most parts of this book. We spent our two days there celebrating my friend’s wedding, enjoying coffee, foodtripping, and of course, a little bit of cold away from Manila. One perfect place to enjoy reading (and yes coffee).