Little Women

(Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)

By: Louisa May Alcott, Jane Smiley - introduction, Siobhán Kilfeather, Vinca Showalter

Narrated by: Christina Ricci

This timeless classic is now an easy-to-read chapter book!

The four March sisters--Meg, Amy, Beth, and feisty Jo--share the joys and sorrows of growing up while their father is away at war. The family is poor in worldly goods, but rich in love and character.

Critic reviews

"The American female myth."
—Madelon Bedell

Wish I'd read it sooner!

I’m not sure why I didn’t read Little Women long before now. Maybe it’s because my mom never read it and neither did any of my school friends when I was young. For similar reasons, I never even watched a Little Women adaptation, so really didn’t know much of anything about what it was about. It wasn’t until around last year that I saw some of my friends on Goodreads talking about LW and it occurred to me that I’d never read it and maybe I should give it a chance.

This was a new-to-me classic that I enjoyed very much. The March family was lovable from the start and it was fun to learn the girls’ different personalities and see life and that period of history through their eyes. Some aspects of it reminded me of the Little House on the Prairie series, which was good since I also enjoyed that series a lot, but it was its own unique story. Even the sad part, though it almost made me cry in a public location, was handled so tenderly that it didn’t tarnish she shine of the rest of the story for me.

I actually don’t feel like I have a favorite character because I liked the majority of them for different reasons, though I did have a soft spot for the pearls of wisdom Mrs. March would drop where appropriate.

I am *slightly* conflicted about a certain plot point related to a certain relationship a lot of readers seem to wish had turned out differently. I’m not sure how to talk about this without spoilers, and since I’m not aware of a way to do spoiler code here on Audible, I guess I’ll be vague here: I didn’t hate what happened with that relationship, but also am not sure I’m okay with the attitude Alcott apparently had behind the reason she had this relationship turn out the way it did. I almost wish that if she had that much problem with people wanting these characters to be together, she would have bucked the norm and had character in question not marry at all rather than spite the readers by putting her with someone else. *shrug*

That being the only thing I really had any issues with, though, I’m giving this book 4.5 stars, which rounds up to 5 stars since we can’t do half stars. I really enjoyed it.

On the topic of the audio performance, I thought Christina Ricci did an excellent job. She reads clearly, putting appropriate emotion in her voice where needed, and I also appreciate that she sounds close to the ages the sisters were supposed to be (as apposed to a much older voice actress trying to sound younger, which sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t). She was a great choice of narrator for this story.

Great tale

Alcott's tale is a classic worthy of your time. Ricci's reading of it is good, although sometimes it sounds awkward, especially in its version of Hannah and Mr. Bhaer.

:)<-<

It was good I liked the first part more than the the second. part but all and all it's pretty goog

Overall enjoyed this classic

It was a slow start to get me engaged in this book and I found the voices irritating at the beginning. I’ve never read this book or seen the movie so I had no preconceptions. About halfway through I finally connected with the characters and loved all the hidden truths and wisdoms of life that stand the test of time.

Oh I loved it

How a book that was published in 1868 is still so relevant. Everyone should read this book. It’s beautiful and has so many lessons that need to taught and applied to life.