littlewomen

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Book Reviews and Synopses

Little Women

Louisa Alcott

Alcott, Louisa. Little Women. Apple Classics Books. Columbus, Ohio. 1931.

Little Women is a classic novel about love, innocence, compassion, and sadness. The author, Louisa May Alcott, has changed the way we read books. The words she writes are inspiring, and disturbing, but yet, she writes it in a way so the reader wants more. Written in 1927, and published in 1931, Little Women has made it’s way to the top as what the New York Times says it is “one of the best novels of all time.” Though this book is quite unsettling, it has been read and loved by people all over the world.

The story takes place in the 1930’s, on the great island of Manhattan. It is about five young girls: Mary, Jane, Clair, Wendy, and Lucie. After the tragic death of the girls’ parents, the five orphans are adopted by a big-shot Broadway producer, and are forced to be raised on the stage. The girls are forced to dedicate their lives to theater, and dealing with the emotions that comes with it.

Jane, the oldest sister, decides to take her younger sisters and run away, as the rehearsals get brutal and emotional abuse becomes stronger. Soon after they flee, the girls’ father follows them. During this chase, Wendy meets a young African American boy, Daniel. Soon after the meet, they fall in love. The other sisters are very nervous and horrified about if there father finding them, also the fact that one them has fallen in love with a minority. After seven months of being on the run, the girls and Daniel have moved from New York to Kentucky, living on a ranch with a nice family with three other kids. But after a long time of relief of not seeing there father, he catches up with them.

The girls are dragged back to Manhattan, where they are locked up in the basement of the Regal Theater, with barely any light, food, or strength. The father comes in three times a day to give them food, water, and a beating. After four months of the terrible life they have been forced to live, the girls decide that they have had enough of it. They come up with a plan to break out in the middle of the final act of the play above them, and tell the audience what has become of them.

This book is a masterpiece of literature. Louisa May Alcott delivers a passionate story that has moved readers everywhere. It is inspiring and truly, ingenious, a must read book.

4.7 out of 5 stars.

Contributed by D. Makieg

May 9th, 2011