Little Women (Puffin in Bloom)

My favorite book from childhood that I still love to read

What we now call Little Women (400 pages) was originally “Little Women” (200 pages) and “Good Wives” (200 pages). This version is the original 200-page "Little Women."

This version ends with Meg’s engagement and nothing very memorable happens except: Amy gets in trouble for pickled limes, there is a terrible fight between Amy and Jo, there is a bad run of scarlet fever, and Meg gets engaged. The only love story is Meg’s and it is not very moving.

Everything you remember being great about the story of the March girls actually happens in the second half, Good Wives, when all the women are grown up.

Our book club gave it a B+ for Little Women and Good Wives

_Little Women_ : 4/5 Although set in a time and place seemingly far away, I could find glimpses of myself not consistently in one character throughout the course of the book but rather in the day to day experiences, explorations, whims, fallacies and frustrations of each of the little women illustrated in the story as well as all other supporting characters. I also have a personal bias towards the writing style of the author, just saying! - Reading them during early morning rides to the hospital instilled a sense of serenity and always left me in awe with lessons to carry along for the day, and all that lay beyond. 💛 Alhamdulillah, I enjoyed it and would recommend it. P. S - On an honest note though, it's not fast paced or eventful, so it may not be a 'page-turner' in that sense but for the busy lives we often lead, it felt like a necessary break to slow down and be soothed everyday 🥲✨ Character : If I had to choose a favorite character, it'd be hard for sure, but I'd go with Mrs. March. I like idealising characters and having someone to look upto or learn from so she was just the right one for that 💯✨ And although she may be spilling gems of wisdom, the way the little girls try to carry them on their tiny shoulders, uphold through forthcoming trials and imbibe them despite natural temptations or the way they pick themselves and correct themselves after having been allowed to fall, I'd say, is much more commendable and doable ✨💯💪 Perhaps I'm trying to say I fell more in love with the individual character developments and the way they influenced one another in the progress towards the same. 💕

Average rating from club members: 3/5