Well, before I write anything I would like to proudly announce that this is my 50th review and I take this opportunity to write a review on this book Little Women
Vengeance and a few others who sent me M2Ms (who feel I only write reviews on movies and not books) should really take time to read my review now. lol !
|| About the book ||
I first read this book when I was about 13 or 14.
As a tomboy who didnt have any sisters at home (but who longed for one) , I really enjoyed reading the book and could almost feel as if, I was living with those characters at home and doing things with them.
Infact long ago a hindi serial by Amol Palekar called Kachi Dhoop was inspired by this book.
This book by Louisa May Alcott is a simple story of 4 sisters who go thru various ups and downs in life. Their characterization and their different traits sometimes bring out funny moments. The book thrives on their close bonding with themselves and their family. It spawns thru their different phases of life, with them as little girls, then as mature women and finally mothers to their children.
It is believed that Little Women is an autobiographical account of the Author's childhood.
|| About the Little Women ||
The four little women from the March family are Meg, Jo,Beth and Amy.
The story starts with the oldest one being 16 and their father in the army.
How they survive in their father's absences, do the best they can to earn a few bucks and how they keep encouraging each other to be in the best of spirits, thru the worst times, forms the main plot.
Meg is the typical older sister of the family who is very pretty and loves partying and attention of men. She is very gentle, thoughtful and yet has this small wish in her heart to marry rich.
Jo is the second one, a real tomboy who cares a fig, if her clothes became dirty if she ran down the hill or if her hair became a mess while jumping. She is the the one who whistles (although Meg doesnt approve of it) and the one who thinks is the man of the house in the absence of her father.
Beth is the third one, gentle, quiet and the little home maker. She helps everyone by let going of her small wishes and does the sweetest (sometimes silly) things like building a hospital for the discarded, broken dolls. She is also the perennial peace maker between the angry sisters.
Amy last but not the least, bubbly, a little conscious about her nose, too big for her boots is forever at logger heads with Jo. But towards the end of the book , she is the only one who makes a flourishing career and marries a great guy.
|| Story ||
Its a very believable story about girls next door and not very dramatic or violent tale, unlike Wuthering Heights and Tale of two cities (which are again great books).
Life is tough for the four sisters when they dont have too much money and have to fend for themselves in the absence of their father. They make friends with the rich boy next door Laurie who later falls in love with Jo. Laurie's grandfather has a soft corner for the quiet Beth and cares for the family as a concerned elder.
During the good times, the sisters play a whole lot of girlie games (if anyone reads the book now, they would yawn as those games look a trifle silly now).
They play postman where each of them writes mails to the other and drops the mails in their postbox and sometimes pilgrims progress(where each girl has her small burden (of work) to carry and the game is to assess the progress with it.
In between, the girls have a blast when the two older sisters are invited to dance balls and parties. Dressing up and helping the sisters and later hearing their stories also forms an exciting part of their lives.
They also have a small newspaper created by themselves where they write the most childish things in the news section like : - Our old cat died recently or Mother got a new pair of slippers or Amy fared well in school and what not
Life takes a turn when one of the sister dies (I am not telling who) and when Laurie falls for Jo but is refused by her and later he marries another sister (again, not telling who.. lol).
|| The end ||
Their father comes back, each of the girls (except the one who dies) marries and settles down. One of the girls becomes an accomplished painter and one becomes a writer. Laurie, who marries one of them , continues to be an indelible part of their lives.
|| My views on the book ||
This is one of my favorite books I own (my first copy was not returned by my friend (much to my dismay)) and I bought it again recently from Barnes and Noble).
The book is gripping and anyone who likes classics will want to read it at one go. The characters touch your heart. Each girl will be able to relate to one of the girls in the book. I most identify myself with Jo (lol !). I also know of some boys who like this book as well.
one of the F.R.I.E.N.D.S show Joe owning this book and later giving to Rachel who reads it with great interest. During the course of a fight, Joe gives away all the little secrets of this book to Rachel who had not finished the book by then. I really enjoyed that episode when they discuss the book. Anyone seen this one ?
Little women deals with unrequited-love, sacrifice, death, class differences between the snobbish rich society and the ''not so fortunate'' and manages to balance all these together, making it possible for all age groups to relish it.
I end my 50th review here, which is also my first NOVEL-BOOK review
comments eagerly awaited !!!!
