Book Nerd Twins

Note: I’ve only read part 1 of Little Women

Little Women

Reviewed by: Noelle

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

As each day becomes shorter, the nights longer and the wind colder I find myself in a reading slump. November is one of my least favourite months of the year.  There’s too much rain and never any snow. Winter break feels incredibly far away. The drive to stay organized has long since left me. Not only that, I’ve been struggling to find something to read, nothing seemed to jump out at me, though, I perused bookstores and libraries, I just couldn’t find the right book.

Reluctantly, I picked up Little Women, a book I’ve been meaning to read for years. The thing about classics? There’s just always something other to read, something faster and less sexist and more relevant. But there’s magic in classics too. They unlock a window into the past letting you peer into an unknown world, letting you marvel at not only the evolutions of the present but also what has been lost from the past. The hardest part is simply working the nerve up to open the curtain!

Although Little Women is nothing like a twenty-first century YA novel, its slower pace and intricate details add to its charm. The slow burn romance, the subtle foreshadowing, the slightly confusing language. All these characteristics give you a chance to breathe, to get comfortable, to really travel back and take it all in. The style of the book is so much more reserved than that of one written in the present day. The benefit of this is that every joke or more outrageous comment flies off the page landing a real impact instead of falling flat as so many things do when they’re overused.

Little Women was originally published as two volumes, but has since been turned into a very long thick book with two parts. Sadly that means I still can’t say I’ve finished it though I’ve swum and sometimes slogged my way through part one.

The characters that fill the pages are both well known and well loved. I’ve seen them in countless remixes and spinoffs, movies and fanart. Although you can love them without reading this beloved classic I don’t believe you can really understand their essence. All four sisters are so clearly portrayed, so beautifully painted. Yes we are told that one is shy and another unlady-like. But what I love, what I don’t find modern books do nearly as well was the way I could hear them, how it felt like they were there. Meg’s loving scolding, or Jo’s hilarious pranks, Beth’s bashful moments and Amy’s complaints. Everything felt so real, so heartfelt, so fresh although the author and her sisters are long since gone.

Another monumental change from present day literature was the amount of time the author took on each day. We didn’t just get a snapshot we got the full picture. At points, the year the first part covered seemed to drag on. Without its attention to details and colourful portrayal, Little Women wouldn’t have felt the same. I loved how I didn’t realize time had passed. Winter went into spring and summer into fall seamlessly. There were no uncomfortable transitions or incredibly in-your-face signs of time passing; it just felt natural and comforting, as if it were all real.

It’s difficult to stick with a book when it’s long and at points difficult to understand and I know I never would have if not for the characters. From the protagonists to Aunt March’s parrot each character added their own unique flair, contrast and high emotional stakes to the story. I love each of the sisters and I think it ironic that they fulfill many of our modern day stereotypes based on birth order.

Margaret or Meg as most people call her is the eldest sister and you can tell this in how much she cares for each of her sisters. She’s ladylike and yearns for social status, wealth and beauty but she also has an appreciation for the simpler things in life. She’s always there for her younger sisters and goes along with all their antics which I believe she loves immensely amidst her disdain at their youthfulness. 

Josephine, who goes by Jo, is the tom boy of the family. Wild, rebellious, with a quick temper, she yearns to be independent and wishes to devote her life to her creative passions. 

I greatly admire both Meg and Jo and wonder how they’d be perceived in modern times. I don’t think Jo would be seen as such a black sheep or be forced to change so much or who she is and Meg would definitely have more options on where to work and what kind of life she’d like to live. I think Meg and Jo really represent the struggles a lot of women face in what to do with their lives. Whether independence is the only goal or whether family or other things are what matter most. It’s up to each person and seeing them clash but also support each other throughout the novel was reminiscent of my own sibling relationships.

Elisabeth, who goes by Beth, is treated as the baby of the family although not the youngest. She’s shy and timid, nothing like her other sisters with larger than life personalities. But what you come to realize is silence really does fill a room. The peace and innocence Beth brings to every interaction displays a whole new perspective to each event. She is truly painted as an angel by her sisters and the author and she is none the vainer because of it. I’m not sure if I can bring myself to read the second part as I know of her ill fated future.

Amy is the stereotypical youngest child. She is witty and sarcastic, forever trying to keep up with her sisters and be a part of their ever changing lives. She is a force of nature full of energy and passion, creativity and flair, she is graceful when she needs to be but will complain otherwise. Although Amy is not nearly as virtuous as Beth I find myself relating with her more.

Laurie. He’s almost like a member of the March family. The March’s next door neighbor soon becomes a member of all their games and shenanigans. He’s full of energy and has a temper similar to Jo’s; they’re so similar to me but because Laurie’s a boy he has so much more room to himself though he’s gone through many of his own struggles.

Each of these characters really brought the story to life, with their unique struggles, contrasting personalities and fascinating lives. They brought the past to life in a way history textbooks cannot. 

You’re invited to a world where telegrams and letters are the only form of long distance communication, full of struggles for independence and the future. Full of celebrations and sorrows, bravery and beauty. Do you dare to open the curtain and take a peep inside?