Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: A Thoughtful Review... by a christian

 

What a great book to finish a whole year of readings!

I loved this book; it has something that these kinds of period novels have, it is just like you learn a lot from them. I am the kind of person who (unfortunately) watches movie adaptations before reading the book, so as expected, I was waiting for things that happened in the movie (2019 adaptation) to happen in the book, and actually… The book was 10,000 times better (as usual).

I learned a lot about Christian life, family, love, being grateful, pride, modesty, and marriage. Initially, I intended to focus on Jo's perception of herself throughout the book, but in the end, I gained valuable insights from each sister's self-perception. I cried rivers! And enjoyed it a lot. 

So here are the things that I learned and that I loved from Little Women! (with spoilers):

1. I loved the Pilgrim's Progress reference and also the recognition of God.

The Pilgrim's Progress is a Christian allegory written by John Bunyan about a character named Christian. Essentially, the book narrates the various challenges he endures on his journey to heaven. It serves as an allegory for our lives as Christians and pilgrims in this world.

From the beginning, there are references to this, and we see how each daughter has their own little pilgrim's book and throughout this book (Little Women) we see them recalling it and learning from it while going through their little troubles and temptations of life. It's beautiful how Mrs. March taught her daughters to love God above all. 

''My child, the troubles and temptations of your life are beginning and may be many, but you can overcome and outlive them all if you learn to feel the strength and tenderness of your Heavenly Father as you do that of your earthly one. The more you love and trust Him, the nearer you will feel to Him, and the less you will depend on human power and wisdom. His love and care never tire or change, can never be taken from you, but may become the source of lifelong peace, happiness, and strength. Believe this heartily, and go to God with all your little cares, and hopes, and sins, and sorrows, as freely and confidingly as you come to your mother." 

2. I learned to be grateful.

I learned, along with them, to be grateful regardless of the economic situation.

''When you feel discontented, think over your blessings, and be grateful.'' 

''For love casts out fear, and gratitude can conquer pride''

3. Heavy burdens need to be shared.

One of the most beautiful parts of the book occurs when Jo opens up to her mother, seeking help with her strong character. That was so beautiful, especially how Jo felt lighter after expressing herself. 

''The knowledge that her mother had a fault like hers, and tried to mend it, made her own easier to bear and strengthened her resolution to cure it, though forty years seemed rather a long time to watch and pray to a girl of fifteen.''

4. The importance of little Beths in this world.

Here is where I cried the most, it was so sorrowful. 

''There are many Beths in the world, shy and quiet, sitting in corners till needed, and living for others so cheerfully that no one sees the sacrifices till the little cricket on the hearth stops chirping, and the sweet, sunshiny presence vanishes, leaving silence and shadow behind.''

5. The character growth.

THIS. It was incredibly beautiful to see how each one of the sisters grew in their character, I learned a lot personally from it. 

6. Laurie and Jo.

The most controversial topic about this book is Laurie and Jo. I believe the lack of information provided by the movie about Amy and Laurie is the reason why people were too shocked at how everything ended.

So first, allow me to say this: Laurie and Jo weren't meant to be together. They were just very good friends, something that Laurie misunderstood (I don't blame him, though). This is what Mrs. March said about them and that is what I exactly think of them: 

"Because, dear, I don't think you are suited to one another. As friends, you are very happy, and your frequent quarrels soon blow over, but I fear you would both rebel if you were mated for life. You are too much alike and too fond of freedom, not to mention hot tempers and strong wills, to get on happily together, in a relation which needs infinite patience and forbearance, as well as love." 

It was merely a boyish passion. Laurie was literally begging her to love him, displaying his immaturity, youthfulness, selfishness, and childlike impatience. This is how Jo describes it:

"I've done my best, but you won't be reasonable, and it's selfish of you to keep teasing for what I can't give. I shall always be fond of you, very fond indeed, as a friend, but I'll never marry you, and the sooner you believe it the better for both of us—so now!" 

Now, at one point in the movie, Jo regrets her decision, but she didn't do that in the book (thank goodness!) she said this:

''But you are right in one thing (talking to her mother). I am lonely, and perhaps if Teddy (Laurence) had tried again, I might have said 'Yes', not because I love him anymore, but because I care more to be loved than when he went away." 

7. Amy and Laurie 

Yes, I loved this. Everything feels just right here. They were very good friends since childhood, whereas in the movie, their relationship felt so sudden and cold. Amy learned to be graceful instead of prideful, and she grew beautifully in sweetness of character and manner (I admire her so much). They had so much in common and it felt just right how everything ended. 

"It is so beautiful to be loved as Laurie loves me. He isn't sentimental, doesn't say much about it, but I see and feel it in all he says and does, and it makes me so happy and so humble that I don't seem to be the same girl I was. I never knew how good and generous and tender he was till now, for he lets me read his heart, and I find it full of noble impulses and hopes and purposes, and I am so proud to know it's mine… Oh, Mother, I never knew how much like heaven this world could be, when two people love and live for one another!" 

8. Marriage 

I learned a lot from Meg's marriage and it was so enlightening. It shows us the roles of both, the man and the woman in a home, how to be a wise wife and a mother, how we need to humble ourselves, how sinful we are, and that not everything is rosy. Forgiveness, oh yes… forgiveness, and to NEVER settle for less. 

"Watch yourself, be the first to ask pardon if you both err, and guard against the little piques…"

I learned a lot more things, but these are the main ones. I loved this book.
5/5 stars.

Here is the direct link of the Kindle edition of Little Women FREE!

Fun fact: This is how Louisa May Alcott physically describes Laurie in the book:

 “Curly black hair, black eyes and brown skin”

Did you know that? I will read your comments bellow!

How to Study the Bible Intentionally - Reuben A.Torrey

Goes directly to the point. He explained very well all the methods, and we also have examples of how you can apply those methods. I found some examples really long. He gives the advantages and disadvantages of each one.

I'm not sure if I would recommend this book to someone that is just starting to study the bible because it can be a bit suffocating due to the big amount of examples, but each person is different and this is great resource that I would definitely save for future references.

4/5

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

This book has taught me a lot of things. I was expecting more a "romantic" kind of a prince and princess-like book, but this book was profound, more than that.

I could see how Jane Austen perceived life, moral and love, and I always appreciate that in the books that I read (eventhough I don't always agree with everything). I would like to break down some of the things that I noticed and how I feel with them in my Christian perspective.

1-We prejudiced the book and the characters.

I don't know if it was because I have seen the movie, but I am the person who's always going to prefer the book than the movie because I find that it's more accurate to the feeling that the original author wanted to impart to the story, but I need to admit that I myself prejudiced the book, thinking that I was going to find something more "romantic" than it really was. I also prejudiced the characters as long as I was reading, often finding myself agreeing with one or each of them and in the end I found that most of the time the pride and prejudice were the ones shining within them.

I love when authors deceive the readers. I love when they make us think something of someone and in the end we were just looking at a glimpse of the truth. And I found this ALL the time, though I realized it really far away in my reading.

2-The love of a mother.

Mrs. Bennet... oh, Mrs. Bennet!, I admit that I couldn't stand her most of the time, but at some point I understood that all that she wanted was good for her daughters (and sometimes a little pride for herself). That showed me the way that mothers care about her children. I do not agree with her exasperation and lots of things that she did, but sometimes she made me think of the love of a mother.

3- Acknowledging our pride and prejudice brings pain but also freedom.

I loved the moment when some of the characters admitted that they were proud and prejudiced. This reminded me of how the bible tells us to do the same but not staying like that but changing for better. And even though it's painful, it brings freedom.

4- What we instruct and how we instruct children/youth REALLY matters.

Proverbs 22:6 in the Christian Standard Bible, goes like this: "Start a youth out on his way; even when he grows old, he will not depart from it."

Lydia, I suffered a lot from what she did, and we see the importance of instructing the youth.

Quoting:

"She has been allowed to dispose of her time in the most idle and frivolous manner, and to adopt any opinions that came in her way."

That's TOO dangerous and we could see the consequences of it.

5- Things done in the way that they should be bring happiness instead of shame.

Nothing else to add.

6- Forgiveness

I didn't like how the parents (the bennets) acted with the Lydia's thing, in the way that I didn't feel that they talked to her about the matter as they should, correcting her more. But I would like to stand out the forgiveness part. Quoting from a person that was a clergyman:

"'You ought certainly to forgive them, as a Christian, but never to admit them in your sight, or allow their names to be mentioned in your hearing.' That is his notion of Christian forgiveness!"

We can see how Mr. Bennet added to his "advise" that this was not how a christian should act. We should forgive BUT after correcting, which I think that they didn't do the correcting part so much.

7-The sinful nature of the humankind

We can see how people are blind and can't see how bad their actions are that, even after receiving a lot of help more that we deserve; we don't care about the weight and the wrong in our actions. That reminded me also of what the bible says about how people who do not know God are blind in their own pride and sins and can't recognize their condition, not even recognize God himself as their God.

8-The importance of marriage

It was refreshing to see (that's why I love this kind of books) That even though they didn't literally say that the marriage was something biblical, you could see that it was really important in those days. And that can make people nowadays change their perspective about it.

I couldn't stop thinking how for us; Christians, marriage is the representation of Jesus Christ loving his church. After I saw everything that Mr. Darcy did for Elizabeth, his sacrifice, his effort, I found out that It was the kind of love that jesus says that he displayed for his church and still does.

They are a lot of things that impacted me in the same way but that would be too much for me to write.

Overall, I enjoyed a lot this book, couldn't stop reading it and I loved how it made me reflectionate in a "Christian way" even though this is not a "Christian book", in the end: whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

5/5

"If you will thank me," he replied, "let it be for yourself alone. That the wish of giving happiness to you might add force to the other inducements which led me on, I shall not attempt to deny. But your family owe me nothing. Much as I respect them, I believe I thought only of you." 

Para Ser Sinceras - Dra Cornelia Hernández, Coalición Por el Evangelio

Un corto y excelente libro acerca de la feminidad bíblica. Nos recuerda que como mujeres nuestra sexualidad es importante y que el hecho de que seamos mujeres no es casualidad, fuimos diseñadas por nuestro creador y eso es hermoso. Habla sobre la importancia de una educación sexual sana y saludable, de como la unión matrimorial nos recuerda como lucirá nuestra unión con Cristo en la eternidad y muchas otras cosas más con consejos útiles incluidos!!. Excelente 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Algunas de mis frases favoritas:

"La pureza sexual inicia en tu corazón, en lo más íntimo de tu ser y es imprescindible para estar cerca de Dios."

"Guarda el corazón de hombres y mujeres no siendo piedra de tropiezo para ellos; sé ejemplo de pureza y modestia en tu entorno."

"Te pregunto: ¿Eres capaz de hacerte feliz a ti misma? No, ¿verdad? Entonces, ¿qué te hace pensar que otra persona podrá hacerte feliz y viceversa? La felicidad—mejor aún, la satisfacción plena— solo es posible de conseguir a través de una relación con Cristo."

La última batalla (Las Crónicas de Narnia, #7) - Lewis, C.S.

Como siempre, el mejor libro. Sin palabras. Siempre lloro. 5/5

-¡Por fin estoy en casa! ¡Este es mi auténtico país! Pertenezco a este lugar. Esta es la tierra que he buscado durante toda mi vida, aunque no lo he sabido hasta hoy.

Y mientras hablaba, ya no les pareció un león; pero las cosas que empezaron a suceder después de eso fueron tan magníficas y hermosas que no puedo escribirlas. (re-lectura)