This was a very enjoyable story. I love that the sisters stuck together no matter what was going on in their lives. The pact and honor that they demonstrated was superb. In fact I went on to read little men. ( )

It's a good book for girls. I loved it.

I’ve been enjoying the episodes of the Canonballz podcast covering classic books that I’m already familiar with so much that I decided to try reading a new one. I know how loved this book is, but had never read it or seen any of the TV/movie adaptations, so decided this might be a good place to start.

Or not. I’ve listened to a full hour of the story and cannot keep my mind on it. The characters are boring, their pious concern over being well-behaved and having nice attitudes is boring, and the style of writing is boring, even for middle grade fiction. Maybe the pace picks up later. Maybe the characters get more interesting. But I’ll never find out, because I just can’t face another 18 hours of listening to this.

DNF at 5%. Audiobook, borrowed from my public library via Overdrive. C.M. Hebert does a fine job with the reading, but it was still a yawn-fest.
( )

After reading Alcott's thriller, A Long Fatal Love Chase, this book was a bit depressing. It is insipid, with just poor Jo to add a tiny breath of fresh air, even if she is easily 'corrected by her sisters. And even Jo is judgmental and annoying. I'd like to say that I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read it as a pre-teen, but I doubt it. I felt a lot of pity for the insipid readers who really enjoyed this book through out the years, though I suppose for a reader who enjoys seeing how teens in earlier eras lived, this book has some appeal. Alcott writes well enough, and the book is easy to read, and does capture the sense of stifling dullness that was so many women's lot in the past. ( )

4.5 stars

A very cute story. I liked how Alcott didn't shy away from bringing in some serious topics and situations. ( )