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I’m a huge fan of Louisa May Alcott. I have been since I was eleven years old, and
read Little Women for the first
time. Jo March was (and still is) the
coolest character ever with her temper, independent ways, and love of the
written word. Once I wandered into Jo’s
world, I was forevermore an Alcott fan.
I’m on my second copy of LittleWomen because my first copy literally fell apart from having been carried
around so much, and read so many times.
I usually re-read it at least once a year.
Jane Austen, on the other hand, is an author whose books I
have never
been able to get into. I’ve
tried, I really, really have. I make it about 25 – 30 pages in, and then I just
can’t take it anymore. I give up and
move on to a book I enjoy. I don’t know
what it is, but I’ve never read something of hers and wanted to read more.
Friends and family tell me I “should” like Jane Austen’s
books, and that I’m the Jane Austen “type”.
I’ve been given dozens of copies of various Jane Austen novels over the
years, and they’ve all made their way to thrift stores, or used bookstores in
trade for other books.
It really bugs me to be told I’m the Jane Austen “type”
since I don’t like her books, but it also bugs me that there doesn’t seem to be
(or at least I’ve never heard about) a Louisa May Alcott “type”. Maybe none of us are cool enough to be typed
as the creators of Jo March.
I just think it seems like Jane Austen gets a lot more
attention than Louisa May Alcott as a great author whose books you simply must
read, despite the fact that Alcott’s books are much better than Austen’s. So
where do you stand on the matter of Alcott vs. Austen? Are you a fan of either? Both?
Neither?
I've always loved Louisa May Alcott. Like you, I read Little Women again and again. :)
ReplyDeleteI knew I liked you! :-) I just love Little Women; I think it's one I could never get tired of.
DeleteI'm with you on Louisa May Alcott. I have her book, Under the Lilacs, on my Kindle. Have you read it?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I tried to read Pride and Prejudice when I was a teen. Never got far. I should give it another try, but my reading list is already so long ...
Best,
Deb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com
I haven't read Under the Lilacs yet. It's on the Kindle, but I'm NOT a fan of the Kindle, so I've kind of been putting it off. I want to read it, I just don't want to use the Kindle right now.
DeleteI am a Jane Austen fan but I haven't read all her books. I think she gets a lot of attention because she wrote about independent minded women in a time when that was unacceptable. Her protagonists were intelligent women fighting a polite war against the restrictions of their time. Does that sound like you?
ReplyDeleteThat makes sense as to why Jane Austen gets a lot of attention, though I do think the same can be said for some of Louisa May Alcott's characters. I suppose we should be glad they both pursued their writing and paved the way for female authors to write strong women.
DeleteI fall on the side of Austen. Susan Gourley rally summed it up well for me above. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd agree whole-heartedly with your response to her.:)
Awesome, we can agree to disagree on Alcott vs. Austen, but agree on other points. :-)
DeleteI don't really fall on the side of either. I'm a terrible reader girl and don't really love a lot of the classics (probably a lot to do with not liking being forced to read things because someone tells me too--yeah I totally don't like authority lol)
ReplyDeleteBut I've read both and have both at the house. I've read some Austen I enjoyed but others eh not so much. I haven't tried Alcott as an adult though I remember reading Little Women long, long ago.
Happy A to Z-ing!
~Anna
My A to Z.
Yeah, I'm not a big fan of being forced to read anything, even if it is considered a classic. There are enough books out there for there to be something for everyone without forcing any on anyone.
DeleteGood luck with A to Z!
This is terrible to admit, but I haven't read any books by either author. I do know that my sister was a big Little Women fan. Maybe I'll have to put these authors on my to read list after the A/Z challenge.
ReplyDeletebetty
That's not terrible, there are just A LOT of books out there, so everyone has quite a few they haven't gotten to yet. I do highly recommend trying Louisa May Alcott though. :-)
DeleteAs much as I love to read, I can't say that I have read a Jane Austen...or have I? Hmmm... I shall put both on my summer reading list and let you know! :)
ReplyDeleteYou should definitely review one.
DeleteI love them both (I was always such a Jo fan), but I'm an Austen girl at heart.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine anyone not being a Jo fan. I've just never found an Austen character that I could love as much I love Jo.
DeleteFunny! I am definitely Alcott over Austen. And yet, because I studied the late 18th century in grad school, people were sure I'd love Austen. I have multiple boxes of Jane Austen band aids, fancy copies of her book, and a "I'd rather be reading Jane Austen" bumper sticker. Yet, like you, I can't finish a book.
ReplyDeleteBut, truth be told, while I like Alcott, and her father Bronson, I am more of an L. M. Montgomery girl than any other.
Isn't it odd how people just decide that you like (or love) an author for whatever reason, and then just run with that?
DeleteI'm not sure how I feel about Bronson. I read one biography on Louisa that cast him in a really bad light. I probably need to read more about him
I've never been able to get into the Anne of Green Gables books, but I didn't realize she had so many other books until now. I may have to try some of the other ones.
I can't seem to find your blog. Any chance you can leave the link?
I love them both! But find it "easier" to read Alcott...I see what you're saying about Austen, it does take perseverance and determination. Gail
ReplyDeleteI guess I've just never had the perseverance to finish an Auten novel.
DeleteLate jumping on the bandwagon. Are you still reading comments here? 😊. I am actually the opposite. I have tried to read Little Women several times and never gotten very far (though I live the Winona Ryder and BBC film versions) whereas I have read all of Jane Austen‘s books and Pride and Prejudice twice. I am, however, reading some of the Louisa May Alcott’s other writings - 8 cousins, Rose in Bloom, An Old Fashioned Girl - and while I enjoy them I realize that what is missing is the humor that is present in Jane Austen‘s books. I suspect based on film versions there is more humor in Little Women and perhaps that is why it became the most popular. Also it may be a simple matter that some enjoy the atmosphere and language of England more than the atmosphere and language of the United States. I am an admitted Anglophile so anything taking place in England is going to be more fun to me than something that takes place here in the United States. There is no logic behind it - it just is what it is.
ReplyDelete