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Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters
Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters | Anne Boyd Rioux
24 posts | 25 read | 58 to read
As the beloved classic celebrates its 150th anniversary, discover the story of the novel that captured the imaginations of generations of girls. Since its publication on September 30, 1868, Little Women has been one of Americas favorite stories. While we now think of it as a girls book, it was initially read by both boys and girls, men and women of all ages. Professor Anne Boyd Rioux, who read it in her twenties, tells us how Louisa May Alcott came to write the book and drew inspiration for her story from her own life. Its Civil Warera tale of family and community ties resonated through later wars, the Depression, and times of changing opportunities for women, even into the twenty-first century. Rioux sees the novels beating heart in its honest look at adolescence and its inspiring vision of young womens resilience and hope. In gauging its reception today, she shows why it remains a book with such power that people carry its characters and spirit throughout their lives.
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ferskner
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I finished a book! It's been so long! #readathon @DeweysReadathon

LeafingThroughLife Yay! I‘m on pace to finish *two* today. Inconceivable! Lol. Keep up the great reading! 4y
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danimgill
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Mehso-so

I didn't feel like every section of this book was as fleshed out as it should have been (the final chapter on modern descendants of Jo March felt particularly weak to me) but overall it was a decent read if you're interested in Louisa May Alcott and the legacy of Little Women. The strongest sections to me were the ones about Louisa and the one on sexism in children's literature and why Little Women isn't treated like, say, Tom Sawyer.

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Mitch
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Book 1 of 2020 finished (read most of it in 2019 - but couldn't get it finished on time!). Book 2 here I come! Thanks for the recommendation @Blaire i'm 2 chapters in and love it!

Blaire Wonderful!! So happy to hear it. 4y
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Mitch
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Pickpick

Book of 3 parts - the 1st the most interesting, the story behind the creation of the book both its characters & the book as a business was fascinating. The final section explores the books current relevances & impact across popular culture. Sandwiched in between is the life of the book across movies and celebrities - a little drawn out & more like an academic survey. The other parts were compulsive reading. Great companion read to the new film.

rubyslippersreads I really want to read this, since I just saw the new film and rewatched the 1949 version. 4y
Mitch @rubyslippersreads I think you'll enjoy it - its super packed with ideas / info but really readable 4y
Scochrane26 I just saw the movie & cried through the whole thing. Didn‘t love the book though. I‘m stacking this because I‘m more interested in the 1st section. 4y
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Mitch
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Really enjoying this - super interesting to take one book and unpick the making of it, the parallels with the authors life, the cult of it and the legacy... only a third of the way through and seeing the movie in 38 hrs so need to read a bit faster! #slowreader

AHartforbooks I read the book so long ago I barely remember it, but I saw the new movie yesterday and kept wondering how much of this was Alcott's story. This looks like a great chance to find out. 4y
Mitch @AHartforbooks the opening few chapters are all about that question! 4y
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Mitch
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We‘re going to see the new Little Women movie on Monday - don‘t honk I‘ll get this read on time, but diving in for a few chapters.

TrishB Been today 👍🏻 4y
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Andrea313
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When your dress matches your book. #currentlyreading #louisamayalcott

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sarahljensen
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Pickpick

This book covers what you might expect like Alcott's biography, and it does it well. In the concluding section it asks questions why we expect girls to read Huck Finn but don't expect boys to read Little Women. It continues to ask what this might mean to imply that boys don't need to bother understanding the inner life of girls but it is taken for granted that girls think about the inner life of boys. I agree with the conclusions she reaches.

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BookishMarginalia
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Who knew there was a Little Women opera? Not me! I‘ve learned so much from this book and I highly recommend it. It really well written, entertaining, and informative. It also has made me want to reread Little Women.

Peddler410 I just finished reading Little Women to my 10 year old. We had to take a break for Zorgamazoo. Until now, I‘ve only read an abridged version (unknowingly)! And I read it annually from age 10 - 19 🤦🏻‍♀️ 5y
Bookwormjillk I finished this today and agree with you. Great book! 5y
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Andrea313
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Friday afternoon indulgence. #currentlyreading

BooknerdsLife Beautiful tea cup set 😍😍🌸 5y
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Bookwormjillk
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I‘ve been listening to, and really enjoying this audiobook in the car. Very interesting!

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JeannePW

A book about my favorite book!

RaimeyGallant Fun! And welcome to Litsy! #LitsyWelcomeWagon Some of us put together Litsy tips to help new Littens navigate the site. It's the link in my bio on my page in case you need it. Or if you prefer how-to videos, @chelleo put some together at the link in her bio. @LitsyWelcomeWagon 5y
AlwaysForeverReading Welcome to Litsy!!!! ❤️💙♥️💜💚 5y
Eggs Welcome to Litsy 🤗 5y
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WanderingBookaneer
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Pickpick

Rioux takes readers on a journey through Alcott‘s life, and how her most famous novel was conceived and brought to life. It then focuses on the novel‘s instant success and enduring legacy.

A must read for anyone who has a soft spot in their heart for Little Women.

#ATY2019 #ATY

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Itchyfeetreader Soft spot. Check. This sounds like it was written for me! Stacked 5y
BibliOphelia My name is Beth, and my sister is Amy. I was always pissed at my mom for not naming me Jo. 😂 This is definitely getting stacked! 5y
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WanderingBookaneer
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Lauren.Archer
Pickpick

This was an excellent book that covers many areas of Little Women from Louisa May Alcott to adaptations, to literary criticism and finally how Little Women has made an impact on a new generation of female Literary characters. Extremely well written and highly enjoyable.

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Lauren.Archer
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Next up...I read Little Women last month, thought this along with Geraldine Brook‘s March would compliment that nicely.

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eedevore
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Soth thinks this chapter title needs a little editing: “A Private Book for Girls [and Cats]” Can Boys [and Dogs] Read Little Women. Spoiler alert: Soth‘s answer is no. He doesn‘t want to have to explain the scenes with Beth‘s kittens to his dog sisters.

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KatyAliceReads
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While I am very much enjoying this book... I must fervently disagree with the author. Winona Ryder is THE definitive Jo March, and NOTHING you can write will ever convince me that casting her was anywhere near a mistake.

scripturient True, I absolutely adored her as Jo!!! 6y
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RobinGustafson
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Thankful for a three day weekend. Time to get some reading on! Next up: Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy : the Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters by Anne Boyd Rioux @bookcougars #fridayreads #littlewomen #louisamayalcott #bookcougarsreadalong

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balletbookworm
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Pickpick

A lovely overview of Alcott‘s life, the publication history of Little Women, & how Alcott‘s most famous creation has endured as a beloved work of American lit. Unless we‘re talking about the “canon” then “ugh, girl cooties” which is the basis for almost an entire chapter about why boys don‘t/aren‘t expected to read “girl books” even as girls are fully expected to read “boy books”. I spent almost that whole chapter yelling PREACH SISTER at my iPad.

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Insightsintobooks
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I'm enjoying this #ARC so far. I like learning about the formation of "Little Women".

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Librarybelle
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Take a look at this book coming out in August...a literary criticism on why Little Women is still relevant. Sounds good for anyone who loves Little Women.

rubyslippersreads This sounds right up my alley! 😊 6y
LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads Mine, too. 😍 6y
PenguinInFlight 🙋🏻‍♀️❤️ 6y
See All 14 Comments
LauraBeth Still my favorite ❤️❤️❤️ 6y
SharonGoforth Oooh!! 6y
Librarybelle @rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen @PenguinInFlight @LauraBeth @SharonGoforth I was so excited to see this...hoping to get to this soon! 6y
SharonGoforth Look forward to your thoughts on it!! 6y
theladygreer I just interviewed Anne about this book on my blog today! She's fabulous. 6y
Librarybelle @theladygreer I think this sounds like an amazing book. I didn‘t get a chance to read your blog entry today...I‘m going there right now! 6y
batsy Ooh, sounds great! I subscribe to the author's newsletter, The Bluestocking. I love it—each one features a lesser-known woman writer from the past. 6y
Librarybelle @batsy I‘ll have to sign up for that too...sounds interesting! 6y
Pamwurtzler @kitty_reads take a look at this! Sounds good! 6y
kitty_reads @Pamwurtzler omg that looks excellent!! 6y
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theladygreer
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Today I've got Anne Boyd Rioux on #womenshistoryreads, discussing forgotten women writers, LITTLE WOMEN, & how #womenshistoryisheretostay. Greermacallister.com/blog #womenshistorymonth

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