Little Women (Signet Classics)

This timeless children's classic is read and enjoyed by many adults as well as children. Unlike most classics considered children's works today, Little Women was intended for an audience of children. It takes place during the Civil War and the years following, and narrates the story of 4 girls as they grow up, including their friends and their family. Louisa May Alcott based this work in large part on her family, although many of the events are born totally of her imagination. Jo is based on Louisa May; Meg is based on her older sister Anna; Beth is based on her younger sister Elizabeth, or Lizzie; and Amy is based on her youngest sister May. Because the character Jo is based on the author herself, she is the most well defined character in the book and the one most children identify with. A tomboy, a writer, and quite determined, Jo is the central figure in the book and most events center around her growing up, but all of the other girls get special attention in stories particularly about them from time to time.There is a great sense of morality in the work, but it is never treated in a 'preachy' manner. Values and morals are taught and absorbed by the reader as the girls learn them through various trials, some funny, some sorrowful, some frustrating. There is likewise a very strong emphasis on God. Much of the first half of the book centers around concepts found in the Puritan work, Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan. The girls are often pointed by their mother toward God and placing their trust in Him and seeking His aid in various situations. Louisa May Alcott was also a transcendentalist and her family was close friends with Emerson, Thoreau, and Hawthorne. Because of this, there is a sense of joy found in nature as well as respect. In addition, Louisa May was an avid feminist in her day, although not in the sense of feminist that many think of today. She believed that women should not be barred from admission in the workforce, or limited to work as seamstresses or governesses, nor should marriage be their only avenue of insuring a stable and secure future. She did not get married, but did raise her sister May's daughter after May died. Little Women is definitely not anti-marriage, but some of the characters dream of becoming well-known in their favorite fields; also, some of the characters speak about how the only way they can insure a positive, pleasant future is by marrying well, which is later rejected in a way that asserts that women should be able to choose marriage freely for love, not for position or money and likewise free to choose not to marry.This book is well loved by so many. It spurs many children on to become strong readers for life and the childhood copy of Little Women will become worn from much loved reading. This book will be loved by most girls, but boys will enjoy it as well. Jo's tomboyish behavior and the neighbor boy, Laurie's presence will attract the attention of boys. It makes a great choice for bedtime reading with chapters of perfect length to read one per night and short enough that if begged by the kids, you can read two. In addition to Little Women, it would also be beneficial to read a biography of Louisa May Alcott.I strongly recommend an unabridged version. Don't miss out on the well-known sequels Little Men and Jo's Boys.

I won’t write a full blown review but suffice to say, it’s an engaging enjoyable read that also gives a lot to think about or discuss. It’s a classic for a reason.

Every Christmas, I enjoy watching various versions of "Little Women" on video. My favorite is the latest one starring Susan Sarandon, Winona Ryder, and Christian Bale . . . lovely, true to the spirit of the original work, and the scene depicting the death of Beth (played to perfection by Claire Danes) breaks my heart, no matter how many times I see it. AS FOR THE BOOK . . . it is dated and preachy and quaint for the modern reader, no doubt; still, it is easy to see why the work has endured through the years. All the universal themes of family togetherness (and the pain of separation), self-sacrifice, faith, joy, love, and hope in times of war and deprivation and hardship (what family today with a loved one in a war zone could not relate to the March family of 1861?) -- we recognize ourselves in the book despite the Victorian mannerisms and concerns, and the sometimes stiff dialogue Alcott produced. I know I read it years ago, but I've forgotten so much detail (or perhaps the movies have dulled my recollection of the book, which is quite likely) that it seems almost a first reading. Free on Kindle -- so Kindle readers, download and enjoy this enduring American classic. Not just for children or for girls; I'm a 61-year-old man!

Five stars forever and ever. Little Women is my favorite classic.This book is a coming-of-age story about the March sisters (Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy) growing up in New England during the Civil War. Out of all the March sisters, I’ve always resonated with Jo the most, from her writing down to the potential spinster path (sometimes Amy too). My family is tight-knit like the March family and similar in that we get along and fight at times, but at the end of the day, we have so much love for each other.I highly recommend Little Women. It’s funny, heartwarming, and inspirational. I can’t say enough good things about it. READ IT.

This is a great novel and the first I’ve read from this author. It made me feel about the same when I first read Oliver Twist: very heartfelt and emotional. Highly recommend!

I received a kindle as a gift for christmas/birthday because I have always loved to read and because I started traveling more and more. I love the amazon kindle that I have. I had an app on my old smart phone because I always wanted to read. While traveling, having my kindle helps kill time during waiting periods, especially during lay overs. I have had some lay overs lasting over 10 hours. Having a plethora of Amazon kindle books to choice from is fun when I get ready for a trip. I selected this book in the middle of a binge purchase and I am glad I did!I enjoy sinking my teeth into a quick read of all types of genres and being able to just stick my head into a different world allows me to escape from the world and any current stress. I love both fiction and non-fiction, allow the world of fiction reads allow you explore a new place without having to go far. I can read through a 300 page book in two days, I love connecting with a story and a character. There is a great joy from completing a good book. I can read while listening to music or even watching tv. I really do not like when someone interrupts me when I read, I can get so engrossed that I do not want to pull out and entertain conversation. The worse is when people want to talk about the book you are trying to read. If you wanted to have a conversation, you would not be reading. I do not understand why people think it is find to just randomly start conversations that are not needed.I have found that the kindle fad has started to dwindle, but it is a great innovation that I am happy to have because of that access to millions of titles and I look forward to downloading more as I plan more travels and can travel to new worlds in my head before traveling to new lands.