To continue the discussion I began last week:
“Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott is my absolutely favorite book. It’s one of those books I could read over and over and over…and still be heartbroken when Beth dies and still get weepy over the ending when Jo finds what she is looking for. But, believe it or not, there are plenty of people (women and girls even) who have never read this classic. Please, do yourself a favor and read it. When you ask other devotees of the novel to explain why it is so appealingly, the answer inevitably is “Jo”. Jo March is what all of us wish we could be…generous, loving, caring and devoted to her family and her ideals. For all the trouble Jo gets into due to her fiery nature and her deep seated emotions, Jo has an unquenchable spirit that we all love and relate to. Now, I have read Alcott’s other novels and have not liked a single one – at all. So, what it is about “Little Women” that makes it timeless, classic and such a great read?
Having already confessed my love for this story, you can’t imagine how I felt when I visited Orchard House several years ago. Orchard House was in the middle of some extensive renovations but when I was standing in Louisa May Alcott’s parlor, kitchen, bedroom and garden I felt a strong connection to the vivacious and deep feeling Jo and I could picture every scene from “Little Women” when I moved from room to room. Especially touching was seeing the desk where Louisa wrote her novel. Being in Orchard House was like being a member of the March family. If you have the opportunity to visit Concord, Massachusetts, be sure to visit this landmark and see if you can feel Louisa and Jo’s spirits within its walls.
