Little Women

Little Women

by Louisa May Alcott

Publisher: Collins Classics, 2010, 286 pages, Soft cover, Black & white, Price:Rs. 125/-, Purchased from : Broadway Bookstore, Panjim,

Kind of book: Classic fiction

Reviewed by Mia Marie Lourenço

This book is an eye-filling, heart-warming tale of love, hardships, childhood and friendship during the American Civil War. This brilliant book tells us about the adorable March family. Sisters Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy try hard to support their mother while their father is away at war. The story , set in New England, tells about the bad and good times of the four sisters as they grow up.

The emotions were flowing right through me when Beth got a scarlet fever due to the dead baby she cared for. One part of the story made me weep and weep. Beth forgets the names of her family members and talks nonsense and looks painful when she is on her deathbed. Her sisters prepare her for the next day, by which I mean her funeral.

The most jolly parts are when they go camping and when Jo and Laurie take their long walks, have races, talk about their lives and castles in the air. The last part of the story, where at last the father of the four sisters comes home, gives you a very happy and satisfied feeling.

My favourite character is Josephine March, or Jo, who is a tomboy and has a great personality. She aims to be an author and tries succeeding in her dreams while she also supports her family. I like Jo because I too am like a tomboy and with a short temper. She is also very caring, friendly and a good-natured little woman.

There are a few words in the book which I could not understand, but the meanings to those words are given at the end of the book. So it was quite understandable.

Louisa May Alcott was born into an American family, the second of four daughters. During the American Civil War, Alcott worked as a nurse and these experiences served her in her storytelling skills. It wasn’t until early middle age that she became a success. In 1868, the first part of Little Women was published and her reputation grew from there. However her life was not a long one, for she died of illhealth at the age of 55 in 1888.

The good things this book teaches you is to love and care for your dear loved ones. It also teaches you that if you want to pursue your dream, you have to work hard and aim for it.

The cover design is very amusing. It is attractive – the little women with their mother. The design of the cover is very simple.

You can’t expect anything more from this already brilliant book. It could have been better if it was made into a simpler edition with pictures for younger children to get the hang of reading classics. I think it is quite affordable. But of course, if anyone finds it expensive, they can always get it from a library.

Some excerpts:

“Hurrah for Miss March, the celebrated American authoress,” cried Laurie throwing his hat in the air.

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“It won’t fail. Why, Jo, your stories are works of Shakespeare compared to half the rubbish that is published everyday.”

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These dialogues that I have written are not the only ones I liked, there are thousands more.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Mia Marie Lourenço

Std 8 – Fatima Convent, Margao