Remember in my last post where I discussed my love for my sisters? It was not always sunshine and rainbows. As small children, we bickered constantly – spending that much time with anyone is bound to make you go crazy. People always told us that we’d grow up to be best friends, but we firmly disagreed and vowed to always be enemies. Sisterhood was a concept I did not want anything to do with in my youth. My mother only has a brother, so I never saw examples of sisters being close until I read Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic, Little Women.
“Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents,” grumbled Jo, lying on the rug.”
The Penguin Classics cover of “Little Women”, which is the first copy I ever read.
The Book
Little Women is the quintessential American novel – it is a coming-of-age story, romance novel, and chock-full of patriotism. It is classified as a children’s book, but even as an adult, I can read and enjoy it while taking away important messages. The book follows the upbringing of Josephine “Jo” March – a headstrong, fiercely independent girl who dreams of being an author. She has three sisters – Meg (the oldest and most responsible), Beth (Jo’s younger sister who is a quiet and loving musician), and Amy (the youngest March – slightly bratty with dreams of being an artist). The family is held together by their mother, Marmee, while their father is away serving in the Civil War. Other characters frequently pop in the lives of the March girls – Theodore “Laurie” Laurence, their next-door neighbor and Jo’s best friend is one of the main ones. The book is set in Concord, Massachusetts (very close to where I grew up, another reason I love the book so much) during a bustling time.
Each sister has their own unique struggles that they come to terms with throughout the book. As the oldest, Meg is facing the daunting prospect of entering society and becoming a women and wife. She dreams of being a housewife but struggles to justify something so “ordinary” to her fanciful sisters. Jo attempts to navigate becoming a writer in a world dead-set against women in the field while also coming to terms with her identity, her relationship with Laurie and her sisters, and a tragedy that befalls the family. Beth undergoes sickness while trying to hold her oft-feuding sisters together – she is intent on staying at home and preserving the last inklings of childhood. Amy, a romantic, struggles to balance her own ambition for greatness and love with her duty to her family.
Jo is the true main character of the book, although all the sisters receive their due diligence by Alcott. Her trials describe the struggles of being a woman in that time period, but many still ring true today. Her devotion to her family and friends is clear, and it is endearing to see all of the characters interact, especially the sisters. I often tell people that it is impossible to understand the relationship between sisters unless you have sisters yourself. Alcott does a great job of encapsulating the nuances of sisterhood. Her book is made even better with the knowledge that it is loosely autobiographical – based on the lives of Alcott and her own sisters. It’s so interesting to see how sisters tend to fall into stereotypical roles. Myself, as the oldest, have always identified with Jo (and Meg’s feeling of responsibility of her sisters). My middle sister, Abbey, is unequivocally Beth – the quiet and loving pacifist (they even play the piano!). Lucy, my youngest sister, IS Amy Curtis March – dramatic and sometimes misguided in her actions, but always has the purest intentions. Those with sisters will enjoying reading the book and seeing how they fit into the roles.
I will always remember my first reading of Little Women – it was completed almost entirely in the rocking chair of my second grade classroom during independent reading time. Once again, barring spoiler, this book was my first experience with heartbreak. A particular scene left me in jaw-dropping sadness and a melancholy feeling that lingered for days. Little Women has also had many adaptations – plays, mini-series (the Winona Ryder one is my favorite!), and movies (most recently fantastically adapted in 2019 by Greta Gerwig ). They range from way off to startlingly close to source material, but all are entertaining and worth a watch. New retellings have also been written now that the book is in the public domain – The Spring Girls, Jo & Laurie, and Great or Nothing are a few that I’ve read and enjoyed.
I think it goes without saying that I, as a Little Women aficionado, give the book 5 stars. I would give it 6 if I could. You will fall in love with the March girls, Laurie, and those around them as you read your way through their lives.
The Bop
Little Women’s bop is “Strawberry Fields Forever” by The Beatles. The Beatles always makes me think of my family – this song, perhaps, most of all. The bright and cheerful song reminisces on John Lennon’s idyllic childhood in Liverpool, England. The song is nostalgic but also embraces growing up and carrying the joy of childhood with you forever. This is perfect for Little Women – the March girls each have their own qualms with leaving childhood, and throughout the novel they come to understand that they can grow up while still maintaining the love and lessons from their youth. Perhaps they could replace “Strawberry Fields” with “Orchid House” – the syllables even match up!
To close, take a break from hardcore reading to nestle up with Little Women. The book wraps you in the warm glow of childhood and leaves you with the feeling of waking up to a warm bowl of chicken soup and the love of your family surrounding you.
“Oh, my girls, however long you may live, I never can wish you a greater happiness than this!”