Today is yet another later than usual Saturday Pages, I was just hooked up finishing one book and starting another and it took me a while to part me from the books when I woke up after my morning-nap-after-night-shift-at-work, but I'm finally here and there's a review up!
This Saturday's book is December's book for The Midnight Garden's Classic MG & YA Challenge and Readalong, and it is yet another challenge that I've managed not to flunk and that I will continue with over in 2015, since I've already bought the books for Jan & Feb!
After or before reading my review of Little Women, don't miss dropping by the discussion at The Midnight Garden!
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I read the book for the first time when I was 12-13 and then saw the 1994 movie and I feel that most of my opinions on the story became influenced more by the movie than the original reading of the book, and that reflects very much on how heartbroken I was over Jo and Laurie.
But if there's something this re-read has showed me is that although some perceptions have changed from my first reading, some essentials have not changed: I adore Beth and suffer greatly for that sweet darling, I continue to understand Jo's struggle to be who she wants to be and her defiance of what is expected and proper, I still despise Amy with a burning passion, Meg is still a dear, Laurie is "a great chap" but he loses all points with his final choices and the social expectations and limits on women still make me see red with a white hot rage.
I appreciated in a different way the love and bond between the sisters and I found it to be quite probably the biggest highlight of the book for me. I didn't appreciate as much and was much more bothered by the moralizing in the book this time around. I don't mind some references to being a good person and being caritative and cheerful with what you have, but all the references to what a good woman should do or do not... again white hot rage. I know it's frame in its time period, but it always makes me happy that I was born on the age I was, despite the way still to go.
I wasn't happy how Amy seemed to get rewarded for sticking to the shape society chooses for women no matter how horrible a person she continued to be and that Jo being herself and not conforming to the square she was supposed to stay in, ended up being punished and had to try and settle somewhat with someone that will allow her a position but also some sort of freedom, but that doesn't seem like will make her really happy.
After the discussion at The Midnight Garden it also made me wonder if Jo's wants to be a boy were more than just her wanting the freedoms and choices that men had and she didn't have as a girl, or if it had a queer underside, with Jo feeling like she should have been a boy, therefore showing some trans qualities.
The book has gone a lil bit up on this re-read, from my upset 3 stars to 3.5 to 4 stars. A classic that has to be read.
View all my reviews
This Saturday's book is December's book for The Midnight Garden's Classic MG & YA Challenge and Readalong, and it is yet another challenge that I've managed not to flunk and that I will continue with over in 2015, since I've already bought the books for Jan & Feb!
After or before reading my review of Little Women, don't miss dropping by the discussion at The Midnight Garden!
Little Women by Louisa May AlcottMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I read the book for the first time when I was 12-13 and then saw the 1994 movie and I feel that most of my opinions on the story became influenced more by the movie than the original reading of the book, and that reflects very much on how heartbroken I was over Jo and Laurie.
But if there's something this re-read has showed me is that although some perceptions have changed from my first reading, some essentials have not changed: I adore Beth and suffer greatly for that sweet darling, I continue to understand Jo's struggle to be who she wants to be and her defiance of what is expected and proper, I still despise Amy with a burning passion, Meg is still a dear, Laurie is "a great chap" but he loses all points with his final choices and the social expectations and limits on women still make me see red with a white hot rage.
I appreciated in a different way the love and bond between the sisters and I found it to be quite probably the biggest highlight of the book for me. I didn't appreciate as much and was much more bothered by the moralizing in the book this time around. I don't mind some references to being a good person and being caritative and cheerful with what you have, but all the references to what a good woman should do or do not... again white hot rage. I know it's frame in its time period, but it always makes me happy that I was born on the age I was, despite the way still to go.
I wasn't happy how Amy seemed to get rewarded for sticking to the shape society chooses for women no matter how horrible a person she continued to be and that Jo being herself and not conforming to the square she was supposed to stay in, ended up being punished and had to try and settle somewhat with someone that will allow her a position but also some sort of freedom, but that doesn't seem like will make her really happy.
After the discussion at The Midnight Garden it also made me wonder if Jo's wants to be a boy were more than just her wanting the freedoms and choices that men had and she didn't have as a girl, or if it had a queer underside, with Jo feeling like she should have been a boy, therefore showing some trans qualities.
The book has gone a lil bit up on this re-read, from my upset 3 stars to 3.5 to 4 stars. A classic that has to be read.
View all my reviews
Ooo, so glad you enjoyed this book! I think I read it... a really long time ago... maybe. I watched the movie, I believe. Or am I mixing up books? No, I think it was this one. It's a classic!
ReplyDeleteExcellent review, Pili!
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
You might have read the book and watched the movie! The 1995 movie had Winona Ryder and Kristen Durst.
DeleteThank you Alyssa!
That's fantastic that you re-read this classic because you have a finer appreciation for it at a different age. I read this when I was in school and no doubt I'd have different thoughts about it as well. Lovely review Pili!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jeann! I feel like I should re-read some other classics and see how I feel about them now, so many years since I first read them!
DeleteAmazing review Pili. <3 I'm glad you enjoyed this book more the second time you read it :) I don't think it would be for me. Sounds too sad, I think. But I do love the new cover for it. <3 It do sound pretty interesting :) Thank you for sharing about it sweetie. <3
ReplyDeleteIt does have quite a few very sad parts! =( But the newest edition is absolutely stunning!!
Delete