Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

This is one of my all-time favorite novels, and I thought there would be nothing better to write my first book review on! Have you read it?!

Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women is a beautifully-written coming-of-age story about the four March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. Each sister, though with wildly different characteristics and interests, represent the conflicting notions of how women were expected to behave, with the girls’ own ideas of independence, growth, and maturity. Alcott cleverly but subtly uses each of the March sisters as a model for either complying to the conventional role of women, or as a defiant rebel to the expectations of her 19th-century society.

Alcott uses the characters of each of the sisters to cleverly but subtly depict the struggle that women face, even today, between conforming to societal norms and forging a balanced professional and personal path for themselves. It is obvious that Alcott herself is represented through the protagonist Josephine, the second-oldest sister. Jo is a complex character who is well ahead of her time. She aspires to become a published writer and to make her own living, rather than focus on her looks, dressing, behavior, or even on marriage. I believe Jo is the most comparable character to women of today’s age (and to me), as we cannot help but relate as we watch her navigate through her roles of dutiful daughter, caring niece, loving sister, faithful best friend, respected governess, and towards the end, loyal wife and cherished headmistress.

While the story is undeniably full of the trials and tribulations of each of the March girls, there is still a sweetness to every part of it – no doubt a result of the closeness of the sisters, and the homely touch the book instinctively exudes. Reading this novel just felt right, as if I was at home with the Marches living among them as they journeyed through their lives. It reminded me a lot of my own sisters, the bond we have and the happiness, sadness, anger, frustrations, and love that we've shared since we were children. The poignant struggles of these "little women" are transcendent of time and place, and because they continue to be relevant today, this beautiful yet powerful story is one everyone, especially all women, should read.

Pick up a copy of this beautiful book here! https://www.amazon.com/Little-Bantam-Classics-Louisa-Alcott/dp/0553212753