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jenmangler's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was fascinating to learn how Louisa May Alcott's life influenced the book. It was equally interesting to learn about the book's initial (and ongoing) reception. I have only ever really thought about how much I loved Little Women and how much of an influence it had on my early life, and I really appreciated how this book helped me examine it's broader cultural impact.
gracefullypunk's review against another edition
2.0
Ugh, I started this book in January, attempted to continue in February, and haven't touched it since...not sure I'll meet my goal (or why this was on my goals in the first place) because this may just be too academic for me.
bhnmt61's review against another edition
4.0
This is a book about a book, and it mostly succeeds in being an interesting and informative exploration of the origin and impact of Alcott’s famous novel. It helped me to understand my own difficulties with Little Women, which must be largely the product of the baggage I bring with me. Gets a bit bogged down in the section that lists all the stage and screen adaptations. Otherwise I enjoyed it, in some ways more than I enjoyed Little Women. It ends quickly since there are about fifty pages of notes and an index at the end.
stephanie_w11's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a wonderful companion to Little Women. Rioux covers Alcott's life, how the book was written and received, its academic history, adaptations and its cultural impact on contemporary stories. All the while, Rioux argues for the continued relevance of the Little Women story. I loved it.
rsuray's review against another edition
5.0
AH-MAE-ZING! 5/5 stars. 20/5 stars. 100000/5 stars! "Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why it Still Matters" is a MUST read for anyone who has read "Little Women" before, doesn't matter if you enjoyed it or not. I literally had zero expectations going in, but Anne Boyd Rioux surpassed almost any comprehensive review of a novel that I have ever read. She starts with a brief bio of Louisa May Alcott, but writes it in a way that shows you Alcott's motivation behind specific plot points and character development in "Little Women." I'll never read "Little Women" the same way again, and it was already one of my favorite books!
Next, in my favorite chapter, she reviews all of the media ever put out about the novel...the media's authenticity, why they were done a certain way given the time they were released, etc. I never knew a "Little Women" opera existed, but after Rioux's high praise, I think that now I must see it. The strongest point of the book was when Rioux made a convincing case about the "gendering of books," even in 21st century America, and why both boys and girls today need to read the book. I won't say much more for fear of spoiling her theses.
As an aside, I desperately want Rioux to write an addendum to include the releases of the Masterpiece and Greta Gerwig movie adaptations, released after publication.
Next, in my favorite chapter, she reviews all of the media ever put out about the novel...the media's authenticity, why they were done a certain way given the time they were released, etc. I never knew a "Little Women" opera existed, but after Rioux's high praise, I think that now I must see it. The strongest point of the book was when Rioux made a convincing case about the "gendering of books," even in 21st century America, and why both boys and girls today need to read the book. I won't say much more for fear of spoiling her theses.
As an aside, I desperately want Rioux to write an addendum to include the releases of the Masterpiece and Greta Gerwig movie adaptations, released after publication.
ahawkins11's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
3.0
It was cute and detailed. I wanted more from the author's side of this analysis but it was detailed and interesting.
kendranicole28's review against another edition
4.0
I didn’t grow up on the original Little Women, and when I first read it as an adult I liked but didn’t love the novel. However, I have always (since childhood) loved the IDEA of the March family and have certainly enjoyed many movie remakes and book retellings. I’m also fascinated by Louisa May Alcott and the way she wrote her family into her work. So I was certain that I would love this scholar’s take on the legacy of the international classic.
Anne Boyd Rioux, an English professor specializing in biography and women writers, knows from personal and professional experience the impact that Alcott’s work has had on generations of readers and writers. Here, she offers some background on the Alcott family and Little Women’s origin story. She examines why this story of family and sisterhood has resonated differently with readers in the 150+ years since it was published, and explores the tremendous impact the book has had on the world of literature and on many specific authors (from other writers who went on to write classics, like Laura Ingalls Wilder, to present-day authors like J.K. Rowling). She takes us on a journey through the numerous Hollywood and stage remakes and countless Little Women retellings and spinoffs (offering her own opinions of which versions were successful and why). Finally, she seeks to answer the question of whether or not Little Women is still relevant for contemporary readers (spoiler: she says yes).
My favorite portions of this book are Rioux’s literary analysis, in which she examines themes of feminism vs traditionalism (and explains why critics on opposite ends of the spectrum have claimed the novel to be either a feminist manifesto or a story upholding unhealthy gender stereotypes and female oppression). I appreciated Rioux’s balanced perspective on the novel’s messaging and her explanation for such widely different interpretations of the same story. I was fascinated by her views on why and how Little Women should be taught today in school (with many surprising arguments). And I loved her take on girlhood through the decades, from how it was portrayed in Little Women to what it’s like today, and the overlap between the two.
This was published in 2018, on the 150th anniversary of Little Women’s original release into the world. A lot has happened in the seven intervening years (including a handful of additional Little Women retellings and at least one major movie remake) and I’d be curious to see if any of the author’s opinions have changed in that time.
Not everyone will be drawn to an in-depth view of a literary work, but for English nerds and fans of Little Women this is a comprehensive, insightful, and thought-provoking read.
My Rating: 4 Stars // Book Format: Print
Anne Boyd Rioux, an English professor specializing in biography and women writers, knows from personal and professional experience the impact that Alcott’s work has had on generations of readers and writers. Here, she offers some background on the Alcott family and Little Women’s origin story. She examines why this story of family and sisterhood has resonated differently with readers in the 150+ years since it was published, and explores the tremendous impact the book has had on the world of literature and on many specific authors (from other writers who went on to write classics, like Laura Ingalls Wilder, to present-day authors like J.K. Rowling). She takes us on a journey through the numerous Hollywood and stage remakes and countless Little Women retellings and spinoffs (offering her own opinions of which versions were successful and why). Finally, she seeks to answer the question of whether or not Little Women is still relevant for contemporary readers (spoiler: she says yes).
My favorite portions of this book are Rioux’s literary analysis, in which she examines themes of feminism vs traditionalism (and explains why critics on opposite ends of the spectrum have claimed the novel to be either a feminist manifesto or a story upholding unhealthy gender stereotypes and female oppression). I appreciated Rioux’s balanced perspective on the novel’s messaging and her explanation for such widely different interpretations of the same story. I was fascinated by her views on why and how Little Women should be taught today in school (with many surprising arguments). And I loved her take on girlhood through the decades, from how it was portrayed in Little Women to what it’s like today, and the overlap between the two.
This was published in 2018, on the 150th anniversary of Little Women’s original release into the world. A lot has happened in the seven intervening years (including a handful of additional Little Women retellings and at least one major movie remake) and I’d be curious to see if any of the author’s opinions have changed in that time.
Not everyone will be drawn to an in-depth view of a literary work, but for English nerds and fans of Little Women this is a comprehensive, insightful, and thought-provoking read.
My Rating: 4 Stars // Book Format: Print