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niklit's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I don't know where to start with this book.
I love retellings of fairytales, folklore and classics, but I've never thought of them as a vehicle for a message separate from its source material. Usually, if a retelling diverts too far from the original, I'll question why they even bothered to reference the source instead of marking it as something entirely unique. I felt that way about the most recent Cinderella adaptation with Camilla Cabello, for example. I'd have liked it more if it hadn't pretended it had anything to do with Cinderella.
That said, this calls itself a "remix" of Little Women. And while the named characters are the same (the four March sisters, Jo's best friend Laurie) and the arrangement is mostly the same (managing life and coming of age as women during the Civil War) the big difference is that the Marches are a Black family. Which, understandably, makes a HUGE difference in the makeup and trajectory of the story.
They're very recently emancipated and are living in a freedman's colony on Roanoke Island in North Carolina. I've never read a Civil War Era book in which the Black people are emancipated, but still living in the South. Lots of stories of them finding/struggling their way North, or set before emancipation like many Antebellum stories are. And this is the first I'd ever heard of colonies of previously enslaved people living and working (as we see in the books, marginally) independently, before sharecropping.
As I've said before, one thing I really like in a retelling is when certain annoying characters or relationship dynamics are changed for the better. This book had a lot of that, too, and I really appreciated how it was handled
I love retellings of fairytales, folklore and classics, but I've never thought of them as a vehicle for a message separate from its source material. Usually, if a retelling diverts too far from the original, I'll question why they even bothered to reference the source instead of marking it as something entirely unique. I felt that way about the most recent Cinderella adaptation with Camilla Cabello, for example. I'd have liked it more if it hadn't pretended it had anything to do with Cinderella.
That said, this calls itself a "remix" of Little Women. And while the named characters are the same (the four March sisters, Jo's best friend Laurie) and the arrangement is mostly the same (managing life and coming of age as women during the Civil War) the big difference is that the Marches are a Black family. Which, understandably, makes a HUGE difference in the makeup and trajectory of the story.
They're very recently emancipated and are living in a freedman's colony on Roanoke Island in North Carolina. I've never read a Civil War Era book in which the Black people are emancipated, but still living in the South. Lots of stories of them finding/struggling their way North, or set before emancipation like many Antebellum stories are. And this is the first I'd ever heard of colonies of previously enslaved people living and working (as we see in the books, marginally) independently, before sharecropping.
As I've said before, one thing I really like in a retelling is when certain annoying characters or relationship dynamics are changed for the better. This book had a lot of that, too, and I really appreciated how it was handled
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Slavery and War
bibookworm's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
5/5 Stars! So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow is a masterful work of historical fiction. This story follows a recently freed family at the tail end of the civil war. The care and time Morrow put into research for this book is evident in the text. Out of all the sisters Jo was my favorite just as she was in Little Women. I’ve always read Jo as queer in the original text so seeing Morrow expand on that was beautiful. In this story Jo is aroace and I loved reading about how romance just wasn’t in the cards for Jo and she was fulfilled with platonic and familial love. I also loved Jo talking about intersectional feminism and how her identities of Black and Woman intercept. This is one of my new favorite historical fiction works. 10/10 recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Racism
Moderate: War
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
So Many Beginnings is the story of four sisters and their mother, and takes place while their father is away fighting in the Civil War. Yes, the sisters are called Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy but no, this book is not Little Women. It may be subtitled A Little Women Remix but to me it read as a wholly original story that just happens to make use of some elements from Little Women. This is a story about a recently emancipated Black family looking to build a new life. It is a book that is strident and unapologetic in its politics, a book that has as much to say about race and racism today, as it does about issues of race 125 years ago. I suspect many readers will object to it on these grounds. I am not one of those readers. I loved virtually everything about it - especially what I learnt and how it prompted me to think about new (to me) things or to reconsider old things through a new lens. For instance the setting, the Freedmen’s Colony of Roanoke Island, was new to me and I was fascinated by what I learnt. I also enjoyed being prompted to think about the different ways Black people might have viewed Liberia, or the mixed emotions fighting in the Union army, when the Union itself was racist, might evoke for a Black soldier. This is a richly layered story, not a mere simple retelling. It’s use of certain elements from a “classic” should force readers to reconsider that classic (all classics really) with fresh eyes, to ask themselves what is included in it, what is not and why?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Racism, and Slavery
idlereader's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery and Racism
Minor: War
jules_reads_books's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Full review coming soon! I really loved this one
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Racism
Minor: War
utopiastateofmind's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
So Many Beginnings, this historical fiction re-telling is firmly rooted in the power of the history and oppression of words. Packed with family and ambition, Morrow tells the story of four sisters with vastly different dreams. In many ways, So Many Beginnings feels like a slice of life. A moment of transition and change. New hopes and dreams, while still confronting the history and racism.
So Many Beginnings, this historical fiction re-telling is firmly rooted in the power of the history and oppression of words. Packed with family and ambition, Morrow tells the story of four sisters with vastly different dreams. In many ways, So Many Beginnings feels like a slice of life. A moment of transition and change. New hopes and dreams, while still confronting the history and racism.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for an ALC of this book.
In this Little Women retelling, Bethany Morrow sets the March family in a recently emancipated Black Freedmen's Colony during the civil war. The sisters have their own struggles for independence, freedom, and love, but face them as a family.
I thought this story was extremely heartwarming and endearing. Can I just say that I love Jo and Laurie. I also headcanon Jo as asexual even though the word is never used in the book. I loved their relationship the most by far!
I really like that this book took a classic novel and remixed it into something that explored not only coming of age, but also what it meant to be a recently freed slave during the Civil War. I thought this book did a great job with the plot and setting! I do wish that the writing had been modernized, but other than that, I don't have complaints!
Pub Date: September 7, 2021
In this Little Women retelling, Bethany Morrow sets the March family in a recently emancipated Black Freedmen's Colony during the civil war. The sisters have their own struggles for independence, freedom, and love, but face them as a family.
I thought this story was extremely heartwarming and endearing. Can I just say that I love Jo and Laurie. I also headcanon Jo as asexual even though the word is never used in the book. I loved their relationship the most by far!
I really like that this book took a classic novel and remixed it into something that explored not only coming of age, but also what it meant to be a recently freed slave during the Civil War. I thought this book did a great job with the plot and setting! I do wish that the writing had been modernized, but other than that, I don't have complaints!
Pub Date: September 7, 2021
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Chronic illness
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Violence and Gun violence
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