Little Women
by Louisa May Alcott
What a lovely book. A classic that every girl should read, and will probably bore every man to tears. There have been four film adaptations of Little Women, and I’ve seen them all. In my opinion, although the 1933 version has its moments, none of the movies come close to capturing Louisa May Alcott’s delightful novel.
Four sisters, Meg, Jo, Amy, and Beth, are growing up in an uncertain world. Their father is away fighting in the Civil War, and their mother tries to keep up a brave front despite her fear of becoming a widow. In the films, the girls are constantly depicted as having fun, but in the book, the readers understand the underlying insecurity in their everyday life. Yes, there are certain scenes that Hollywood likes to include, such as the melodrama performance, Jo’s burnt dress at the party, and Amy’s nose clothespin, but the book shows so much more than iconic moments. The girls are trying to grow up, but long for the reassurances their mother and childhood home can never give them. They are the product of growing up during wartime.
Had the book been about four boys, the underlying theme would have been clearer. Many times, when leaving for war, the father says to his son, “You’re the man of the house now.” There are no boys in this household, so the girls are the ones who grow up before their time, while still trying to find joy in the little things: a melodrama performance, what to wear to a party, and perfecting one’s nose with a clothespin. These girls truly are little women.
At times terribly touching, terribly sad, terribly realistic, and terribly sweet, this is a perfect and overlooked novel of the War at Home.
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of the 1933 film Little Women here!
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of the 1949 film Little Women here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1994's Little Women here!
Four sisters, Meg, Jo, Amy, and Beth, are growing up in an uncertain world. Their father is away fighting in the Civil War, and their mother tries to keep up a brave front despite her fear of becoming a widow. In the films, the girls are constantly depicted as having fun, but in the book, the readers understand the underlying insecurity in their everyday life. Yes, there are certain scenes that Hollywood likes to include, such as the melodrama performance, Jo’s burnt dress at the party, and Amy’s nose clothespin, but the book shows so much more than iconic moments. The girls are trying to grow up, but long for the reassurances their mother and childhood home can never give them. They are the product of growing up during wartime.
Had the book been about four boys, the underlying theme would have been clearer. Many times, when leaving for war, the father says to his son, “You’re the man of the house now.” There are no boys in this household, so the girls are the ones who grow up before their time, while still trying to find joy in the little things: a melodrama performance, what to wear to a party, and perfecting one’s nose with a clothespin. These girls truly are little women.
At times terribly touching, terribly sad, terribly realistic, and terribly sweet, this is a perfect and overlooked novel of the War at Home.
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of the 1933 film Little Women here!
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of the 1949 film Little Women here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1994's Little Women here!