I read Little Women for the first time when I was in middle school. The copy I own belonged to my grandmother, and it has full-page, full-color pictures. It's a beautiful edition. And it held a beautiful story. The March girls live sweet lives, always trying to do their best, but inevitably getting into "scrapes." Especially Jo. She was my favorite of the girls - so spirited, and she loved reading and writing. I've reread Little Women a couple of times, but I honestly found it a bit boring. I gravitated instead to Alcott's Eight Cousins and Rose in Bloom.
But somehow, I had never read the sequels to Little Women until just this month. Little Men and Jo's Boys have exactly what was missing in Little Women (and what Eight Cousins has in abundance) - lots of boys. Jo and her husband, Professor Bhaer, open a school for boys, both rich and poor. We are introduced to musical Nat, mischievous Tom, and troublemaker Dan, among others. We also get to know Meg and Jo and Amy's children, a wonderful continuation of the stories of the "little" women we already know. Suddenly, there are scrapes galore.
But somehow, I had never read the sequels to Little Women until just this month. Little Men and Jo's Boys have exactly what was missing in Little Women (and what Eight Cousins has in abundance) - lots of boys. Jo and her husband, Professor Bhaer, open a school for boys, both rich and poor. We are introduced to musical Nat, mischievous Tom, and troublemaker Dan, among others. We also get to know Meg and Jo and Amy's children, a wonderful continuation of the stories of the "little" women we already know. Suddenly, there are scrapes galore.
You know, I first thought that these books didn't really dive too deeply into life. They tell of short episodes in these characters' lives. Difficulties are usually settled by each chapter's end. These are books made up of anecdotes.
And yet, aren't anecdotes what make up each of our lives? Little difficulties happen and are solved quickly all of the time. Our lives don't have an overarching plot, complete with climax and resolution. Why do these characters need that?
Little Women, Little Men, and Jo's Boys are stories of love. Love for God and love for family shines through clearly on each page. In the end, I think that's what drew me into these books and now gives them a treasured place on my shelves. After all, love is truly what life is all about.
And yet, aren't anecdotes what make up each of our lives? Little difficulties happen and are solved quickly all of the time. Our lives don't have an overarching plot, complete with climax and resolution. Why do these characters need that?
Little Women, Little Men, and Jo's Boys are stories of love. Love for God and love for family shines through clearly on each page. In the end, I think that's what drew me into these books and now gives them a treasured place on my shelves. After all, love is truly what life is all about.
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