#gingerreviews

My first introduction to Little Women by Louisa May Alcott was the 2019 movie by Greta Gerwig. I went to see it with my mother and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. Afterwards, I obviously wanted to read the book. I started it many times since 2019 but I just now got around to sitting down and reading it.

It’s not the books fault I’ve never stuck it out to read it entirely at once, because it is a comfortable, easy and fast read. Life just has it’s means of getting in the way.

I absolutely adore Little Women and the March sisters, so this review will probably just be me gushing about them - you gotta deal with that, sorry.

I grew up with one sibling, my older brother and I never really cared for having a sister but this book makes me crave three of them. This story is such a comfortable place to set yourself in. The way Alcott describes the life they live, their feelings, emotions and the places they live in, is incredible. I could feel the comfort and the warmth of them sitting together at christmas.

The book really portraits the sisters in a beautiful, natural way. They love each other so dearly and care for each other more than anything. But they also fight, bicker and do things they will regret. I do not want to endorse the way Amy burns Jo’s story or Jo’s revenge by nearly letting Amy drown, it’s hurtful and cruel. But that’s life with siblings, maybe not to such extremes, but you love them dearly while they also upset you sometimes.

Seeing the sister grow up, nearly forced to do so is managed beautifully.

Meg, seemingly only caring for riches and longing for what life had been like, when they still had more money; turns into a wonderful young woman. Realizing that life is not necessarily about riches, but about the people in your life and the care you have for them. Meg is a clear case of the oldest sister. As the first born she has to go through rough things to make life easier for her sisters, she alone has to face challenges none of them have faced yet. She tries to be strong and she knows she’s not alone, but behind her strong caring facade, she is just a child forced to grow up faster than she can grasp.

Jo, an absolute whirlwind, learns that sometimes you cannot just play pretend but you have to make sacrifices of your own to help those around you. Jo’s character is impactful, she is an outsider seemingly the unspoken protector of her sisters, but she is loved dearly and she loves with all her heart. She is introduces as the “not like other girls” trope, but she is also so much more than this. By the end of the book she is still impulsive but realises that sometimes you have to think before you move. She is witty and clever, but she is also tender and kind and would sacrifice everything she has for her family. Jo is a rebel in the best and worst ways, that’s what makes her different.

Amy, oh my dear Amy. I remember seeing the movie and not really liking her. But I was wrong. Amy dreams of growing up faster, she wants to prove herself. But at her core she is a tender artist, she wants to pursue her dreams knowing they might not be worth much. She comes off as a brat, standoffish and mean at times. But the way she grows throughout the book, learns that was is dearest to her is right there next to her is beautiful. Amy is a wonderful character and maybe the one with the most growth in the whole book.

Beth, I was so scared for her. She is the gentlest of the four sisters and by far the most precious. She is mild and seemingly fragile, but she loves wholeheartedly. No one cares more than Beth, she loves unconditionally. She is pure and it’s so scary when you remember she is only 12 in the book. She sometimes comes off as not being treated the same as her sisters because of her character, but she is tough and through her believes maybe the strongest of them all.

All of the sisters grow tremendously during the course of the book, I get it that’s the whole point. But in my eyes it’s executed so beautifully. They are thick as thieves and seemingly nothing will get between them and their endless love for each other. They will always stand up for each other and protect eachother throughout everything.

Okay, so I started reading “1984” by George Orwell, because everyone always screams about it being a classic. And because my “thought-daughter” aesthetic riddled TikTok For You page told me about its relevance for the current state of the world and that I would need to read it to become disgustingly well educated (amongst reading other books of course.). So I bought it and read it.

Before 1984 I had never read Orwell before; I had seen a friend in a theater production of “Animal Farm” so I was aware who he was and what else he had written. I know that people are split on his writing style but I quite enjoyed it, English isn’t my first language, so books known as classics can be quite daunting. But I got through it well, only minor hiccups along the road.

Anyways I went into 1984 knowing very little. I knew about Big Brother and what Winstons job was. But that’s about it. So I went in not really knowing what was coming and I was pleasantly surprised. I got into the plot of the book fairly quick, not struggling through unexplained exposition or word-jumbles I couldn’t grasp. So the book had me in it’s hold easily.

Part I of the book was a fast read, not really much to complain about, except Winton’s incredible show of misogyny. I understand the context of it, him being brainwashed by the Party and all, but it still isn’t pleasant to read about rape fantasies of a woman much younger than him. That’s where I would take off the half of a star from five stars. Also I kind of ignored the age gap between them while reading, but I do find it interesting looking back on it. Also there is a debate about whether they actually loved each other or just enjoyed the thrill of it. I haven’t really decided what my take on it is yet, but I’m interested in the conversation.

Part II of the book was kind of a drag. It just kind of went on and on, and lost itself in the relationship between Winston and Julia. I know why it happens, to give you a sense of false security, at least that’s my take on it. Together seem to be heading into a good direction, a possible future for them. They lose themselves in their romance and its secrecy. Which just kind of drags the book out, but it’s ok. Also the point of a book inside a book was ridiculous. I’ve seen a lot of people complain about it and making jokes that Orwell just wanted to write a manifesto. And yea.. I get it. But I also found it really interesting. Maybe that just my interest in political systems and stuff, but I get that people say it boring and that it drags the book out. I think it was necessary point in the book but I agree that maybe it could’ve been shorter, lol.

Part III in comparison to the other parts, was the strongest. I knew that Winston and Julia were gonna fail and get caught. And I knew that Mr. Charrington was a member of the Thought Police. I knew what was about to go down, I just didn’t know how. So I genuinely felt horrified when the telescreen behind the picture was revealed. The thought of it having always been in the room with them, watching, listening, knowing, I was genuinely surprised. And then the whole brainwashing in Room 101. I think I’ve never read a book and felt so helpless. I was absolutely devastated just having to stand by and watch Winston’s mind get recalibrated. To see him fight against it and still knowing it was a lost cause. I felt so gutted by the time they released him. I also understood that O’Brien wasn’t who he seemed to be, but i was surprised that he was the one to do the procedures in Room 101.