I never read Little Women when I was a girl. I decided to pick it up for a YA classic of the back to the classics challenge, hosted by Sarah at Sarah Reads Too Much. I was excited to finally get around to reading this much-loved classic. Well, I feel kind of bad about this, because I know this is a favorite among many, but I didn't like it. Usually the faster I read a book, the more I like it. This one took me 20 days, which is quite long for me. Mostly, the book bored me.
Little Women is the classic story of idealized 19th century family life that examines a girl's growth and progress into womanhood. I wish I would have read this as a young girl, because I think I would have been able to relate to it more. Instead, I found it dull. I never felt invested in the story; rather than take an emotional journey with the characters, I felt like I was simply reading about it, disconnected.
Publisher: Barnes and Noble Classics, 1868
Sorry you didn't enjoy this one very much. It was one of my favorites when I was younger, and I felt I could especially relate because I have three sisters.
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading it today too. There were some good moments in the novel but I actually started skim-reading the last few chapters. As it is considered a 'classic' and I've enjoyed other classics, I expected more from the novel.
ReplyDeleteBut I guess that is maybe why the novel should be read by girls growing up (not that I'm not finished growing up yet).
I reckon I just don't fall into the novel's target market.
reviews, Like I said, I think I would have liked it more had I read it when I was younger.
ReplyDeleteDee, I started skim reading the last 50 pages too. It just got so long and dull! You're right - we aren't exactly the novel's target audience.
I love this one, but like others have said, I liked it is a teeanger so that's probably why I still like it now.
ReplyDeleteI take it you read the long version? Here in the UK it's actually split into two books, Little Women and then Good Wives, which makes Little Women a lot more concise. I never read both back to back and am not much of a fan of Good Wives.
Tiny Library, Yes I read the long version. It had two parts, but was made into one book. I would have liked to just read the first half! It was more interesting than the second.
ReplyDeleteBrenna
ReplyDeleteI have just discovered your blog and I am glad to know that it is just not me.
I am desperately trying to finish Little Women but I am just not enjoying it. There are some great parts to the book, I do agree but as a whole I find it rather boring and much too religious for my liking.
It was heavily based on her own childhood (and absent father.) Her sister Elizabeth lived the same story as Beth in Little Women. (I'm being illusive so I don't spoil the book for others -- but you should know what I mean.) :-)
ReplyDeleteMeg and Amy were also true of her own sisters.
The book was heavily moralistic because the male publisher wanted that of a female writer. Alcott disliked all the heavy moralism and wrote adventure novels (like Jo March) under a pseudonym. They've recently been discovered and attributed to Louisa May Alcott.
Hidden under all of the moralism of Little Women, you can see that Alcott buries her feelings about rebellion, in the character of Jo.
It's one of my favorite books. :-)
Congrats on making your way through it! I need to start A Scarlet Letter soon, and I'm afraid of having a similar reaction.
ReplyDeleteJillian, I actually read all about the background of the novel. While all the things you mention are interesting, it still doesn't change the fact that I was bored to death by the book. I think Alcott is a good writer, I just don't care for the story. It was the first 19th century novel I've read that I very much disliked.
ReplyDeleteSarah, Oh thanks! It was a bit of a struggle, especially the second half.
I love Little Women as a girl and I enjoy it now as an adult. Of course, I have three sisters and could always relate to Jo. But, I've also learned that books which are raved over and praised to no end, whether they be classics or not, often don't live up to the expectation. (Twilight, anyone?)
ReplyDelete2 Kids and Tired Books
20 days? Wow! I've only started to read Narnia now and I know how you feel.
ReplyDeleteHolly, Yes you are right - to each their own! I'm glad you enjoy it though :)
ReplyDeleteAlexandra, I know I read a couple of books in-between as well, but still.
I read this for the first time when I was about 10 and I adored it. Jo was everything I wanted to be when I grew up. I think that reading it for the first time as an adult would have been a completely different experience and I'm not sure I would have liked it.
ReplyDeleteMelissa, That's what happened I'm sure. I know my younger self would have liked it more.
ReplyDeleteI read this one when I was a teen and but can hardly remember it. I'll be reading it next month for my Reading Buddies project. I know my mom said she didn't like it much.
ReplyDeleteIt is good to be back at last catching up with your blogging activities, lots of posts for me to read here. I was so disappointed to discover that you did not enjoy Little Women as I re read it and reviewed it on my blog recently and felt it still had a lot to offer a new generation of readers. :(
ReplyDeleteI automatically like anyone who dislikes this book. Haha. I hated it.
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