THIS IS A TOUCHING AND SENSITIVE PORTRAYAL OF THE LIVES OF FOUR YOUNG GIRLS LIVING WITH THEIR MOTHER WHEN THEIR FATHER GOES TO WAR.IT TAKES PLACE DURING THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR AND IS A HEART WARMING EXPERIENCE. DESPITE ALL THE STUGGLES THE MARCH FAMILY HAS TO BYPASS TO MAKE ENDS MEET,THEY SHOW NOTHING BUT ENDURING COMPASSION FOR ONE ANOTHER AND THIS DISPLAYS AN IDEAL FAMILY. THIS IS AN UNFORGETTABLE STORY THAT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN PUT TOGETHER ANY BETTER.IT IS TRULY INSPIRATIONAL AND WILL STAY WITH ME FOR LIFE. NO MATTER WHAT IS TAKEN FROM ME, MY MEMORY WILL ALWAYS REMAIN AND SO WILL MY HEART.

LITTLE WOMEN was absolutely wonderful! I would suggest it to anyone.

Little Women is a long book, throughly describing the March sisters' life during the Civil War. Louisa May Alcott has an excellent way of bringing the girls' real personalities to life, even 130 years later!!!! Little Women is a riveting book that propels the reader back in time to the Victorian era with its anti-woman tendencies. Even at the ripe old age of 11 or 12, this book will never leave you. Take my advice: man or woman, boy or girl, this should be one book you read in your lifetime.

In Little Women, remember the stories that Professor Bhaer convinces Jo aren't worthy of her? These stories, written under the pseudonym A.M. Barnard, are sort of those, just as Jo was "sort of" Alcott's alter ego... Alcott loved these short stories, considered quite scandalous, and she felt they were better work than the "moral pap for children" (her words, not mine) for which she is more famous.

While I love Little Women (read it a million times), and am really glad she wrote that "moral stuff," these stories have a darker edge than the happy March home-- thrillingly scandalous. Some of the short stories are a little bit less finely crafted than others, but all of the ones in this collection are fabulous. Actresses! Poisoners! Exotic Locales! Revenge-seeking scorned women! Wicked Women in general! This is one of many collected by Stern-- so get them all, and learn about the darker persona of the famous "girl's writer."

Every story in this book is a page-turner! You will boo the villains and cheer the heroines -- who sometimes happen to be one and the same. Three cheers for Madeleine Stern for resurrecting these rousing tales.

In this collection of four short stories, Louisa May Alcott reveals herself as a racy, infinately readable author. Each story features strong women, with sharp tongues and sharper wits. Every plot has an unexpected twist, and a decidedly dark touch of irony. If you couldn't read Little Women because of its flowery prose, here is a second chance to aquaint yourself with an incredible American author. Every story is a page turner to the very end, and each short enough to be read in an evening.

Beth's Story is about a young girl named Beth March. When Beth and her sisters find out that there Marmee and Father are going to New York for business, but when the four March sisters find out that one of them can go to New York, Amy is the youngest and says that she sould go, for she will not get to go to New York as Marmee said, she would like to go now. But then the troble starts, Jo says that Beth sould go and so does Meg, Amy was not so willing to let Beth have her vote, but Beth went to New York and there she meat Mr. Lincoln, they had a very nice little chat, and when Beth got home and back to school, she was asked to tell the class about her vist to New York. She let her meeting with Mr. Lincoln slip, and so Amy was left out of everything. The whole class did not belive the simple old Beth March had met Mr. Lincoln. The next night and for the whole week Amy would not talk to Beth. I will not give away the ending so I must stop here. This is a very good book, and I hope you will read it.

This book review is by: Lindsay Tanguay

This book is simply wonderful and the best story in the "Portraits of Little Women" series. I couldn't put this book down and read it in four hours! Beth's Story is very well written and filled with emotion and fun. I could understand and relate to it because once I was in a situation like Beth's. A must read!

This is a cool new series about the Little Women when they are 10 years old. This one is about Beth and her trip to New York City where she meets Abraham Lincoln. The other books were cool, too. I can't wait for the new ones, MEG MAKES A FRIEND and BETH MAKES A FRIEND.

The March girls all await to see who Aunt March will give the cameo brooch to. Meg longs to give her father a special gift for Christmas, but will she ever have the money to buy it? Jo has a heated duel with Aunt March. Will a jurney with a few unexpected visitors show her a thing or two? Beth feels she will amount to nothing. But will St. Nicholas will give her a change of mind? Amy attends Aunt March on a dazziling trip to New York, but will Amy overcome her selfish streak and be kind to those less fortunate? Who shall own the brooch? What will happen to it? These and other questions will be answerd in this edition of: Portaits of Little women, a truly fun book for the young reader.

I love the book Little Women so when I saw this book at the library I checked it out.Let's just say I wasn't disappointed.I liked reading how they dealt with Aunt March.It was so touching what Amy did with her gift.Read this book to find out!!

This special holiday Portraits of Little Women book features four stories, each one about a different March sister's Christmas dream. Meg wants to buy her father a special gift, but she has no way to afford it. Jo must learn the true spirit of Christmas. Beth, who believes her family does not appreciate her, realizes just how much she means to them. And Amy, who is always wants presents, surprises everyone when she gives a gift to a poor, starving little girl on Christmas day. At the center of these stories is a family heirloom, an old cameo brooch, that teaches each girl the lessons she must learn about the holidays. I highly reccomend this book, especially if you liked previous Portraits of Little Women books.

The Dover Thrift Edition of "Short Stories" by Louisa May Alcott contains 5 pieces: "Obtaining Supplies," "A Night," "My Contraband," "Happy Women," and "How I Went Out to Service." The book includes a brief introductory note on the life and career of Alcott.

The first two stories are from Alcott's "Hospital Sketches"; together with the third story, they deal with protagonists who work as nurses for Civil War soldiers. "My Contraband" has as a key theme the legacy of slavery. "Happy Women" is more of a sketch celebrating single women, and the final piece tells the "serio-comico experience" of a young woman who goes to work as a domestic companion.

I read this book shortly after reading Alcott's novel "The Inheritance," written when she was only 17; that simple but charming work makes for a fascinating contrast with the polished maturity of the pieces in this volume. Overall, this collection shows Alcott's wit, humor, compassion for humanity, attentive eye, and particular concern for women's issues. This short (55 + vii pages) book is a wonderful collection by one of the most remarkable figures in American literature.

Even though Miss Alcott didn't have as much writing experience when she wrote these short stories, they are still a wonderful read. The first two stories are from 'Hospital Sketches'and are wonderful. "A Night" is a gripping acount based on her experience as a Civil War nurse. In the story a nurse is staying up all night with a dying soldier. The story is beautiful. "My Contraband" is a sad tale of how the war and slavery tore apart families. The last two stories are an enjoyable read also. Hey, for 90 cents this book is more than worth the price. If you like Louisa May Alcott, you won't be dissapointed with these stories, so give this book a try.

Many of these brief but captivating stories are lovely, but one in particular captured my interest, and that was about the secret lives of silverware. There are other nonsensical but entertaining stories in this volume, all of which are perfect to read aloud to young children. The fact that these are lesser known makes it an all the more intriguing addition to your library. Simply enchanting!

Amy March loves to draw. She wants to become a world famous painter. But she believes there is one problem. The March family is too poor to pay for art lesons for Amy. Amy's sister Meg tells her that her friend Annabell is given art lesons, and that Amy might be able to join in. Annabells little sister Jenny is in the same class as Amy. Amy decides she has to befriend snoby Jenny to get art lesons, but it is hopeless.

When rich Diana Hughes comes to Concord, Amy befriends her, thinking she can get art lesons with Diana. Jenny and Jenny's best friend Susie try to befriend Diana too. But Amy soon finds out that friendship is worth more than art lesons.

Amy March loves to draw. She wants to become a famous painter someday. She believes she has the talent, and all she needs are professional art lessons. One of Amy's snobby classmates gets private art lessons, and Amy's dearest wish is that Jenny will invite her to them. And Jenny does invite Amy - on the condition that Amy betray a friend's carefully guarded secret. Will Amy prove herself worthy of her true friend's trust?

This was the most enchanting book I think that I have ever read. Such beautiful illustrations.

This discovery of unpublished fables by Louisa May Alcott should be read by children during their important impressionable years. The illustrations are beautiful and complimentary to the text. While classics of Louisa May Alcott, Little Women and Little Men, are for the early teens, these fables for the preteens tease the imagination in a magical way. This sort of alternative to the upbringing of children by the video media is sorely needed and provided by Flower Fables.

The unusual approach taken by Delamar here, is to give a biography of Louisa May Alcott, but then follow it up with an entire section devoted to Alcott's most famous book, "Little Women" as it was viewed from 1868 on, and then take both scholars' and average readers' assessments of it's place today. I liked that. It gave dimension. I think it shows scholarly research, but is written in language the average reader can read.

This triple-look at author Louisa May Alcott presents information I'd not seen in many of the other biographies. The special "finds" are a real contribution to literature. The book overall is scholarly, yet quite accessible in readability.

This sequel to "Eight Cousins" is one of Louisa May Alcott's masterpieces. I loved it as a girl, I loved it as a teenager, and I love it now. Even though it was written in Victorian times, it has a truth and honesty to it that survives into today--and the problems that Rose encounters as a young woman will be familiar to any modern reader.

Why are women fascinated by--and drawn to--the bad boys of this world? That question did not originate with James Dean or "The Leader of the Pack." It is very much alive in this book, as Rose returns from Europe to find her eight cousins very much grown up--and very, very interesting. In particular, her wild and handsome cousin Charlie, now grown into a wild and handsome man, captures Rose's heart. But Charlie is on a dangerous path to alcoholism and self-destruction. Will Rose see this in time, and will she turn to the man who really loves her with all his heart and soul? And what of her dear friend Phoebe, whose ethnic background might keep her from the man she loves?

Sounds like a 2002 soap opera. But it isn't--and it is written with such depth, such love, and such talent that it has survived over a century. Alcott was so much more than "Little Women" and this book, among others, proves it.

For all those who thought that Rose's story ended with Eight Cousins here is the truth about what happened to these beloved characters.

The innocence found in the first book is slowly lifted here as Rose enters into the real world after her return from Europe. All but one of the characters from the first book make a return in this charming sequel.

The cousins are older as well and have found love. The heartwarming challeneges these lovers go through are refreshing in their innocence. Even Jamie is not immune to the talk of love and his innocene candor on the matter is very amusing.

Rose In Bloom answers many questions one has at the end of cousins. Yet like any fan will know not everyone can be happy with all the outcomes of the sequel.

A great book for fans of Eight Cousins.

Growing up as a classic bookworm, my two favorite literary friends were Anne Shirley and Rose Campbell. While I also read the Little Women Series (how could I not?) Eight Cousins and Rose in Bloom struck a chord in me that Jo and her sisters did not (except maybe in Little Men.) These were the books that I read and re-read, and since I never owned Rose in Bloom, I doubt that anyone else in town had a chance to read it in between times that I had it checked out of the library. In fact, the books engaged me emotionally to such a degree that I found I had to put Rose in Bloom down for a while mid-book because one incident upset me so, which is something that I rarely do. If you are looking for the kind of book that you will get good use out of for many years, this is it.

Polly, a poor, old-fashioned girl from the country, comes up tothe city for a long visit with her friend Fanny. Over the basicframework of country mouse/city mouse, Alcott embroiders extensively, adding the themes of peer pressure, societal pressure, riches and their relation to happiness, the rights and proper roles of women, love, 'proper' behaviour vs. right behaviour, and vice-versa. But the story reads like a story, not a dissertation on philosophy. Polly is very human, and her family, though less-well drawn, is collectively a very human family. Tom, Fanny's brother, is the star of the book. "An Old-Fashioned Girl" is filled with humourous incidents, the number of which increases as one grows older. I first read this book when I was seven. I loved it then, when I only got a small part of it. I love it even more now. Those readers who dislike Alcott's moralizing will not love this book, but they will find it better than, say, "Little Men." Ignore the character of Grandma, through whom Alcott voices most of her morals, and concentrate on Polly and Tom, and even the most cantankerous reader would surely, if grudgingly, admit that this book isn't half bad.

"An Old Fashioned Girl" is a wonderful and wholesome read. It is about a 14-22 year old girl named Polly Milton, who is a shy, quiet, but very sweet and sunshiny lass. She goes to visit her friend Fanny in the city, and learns that you don't need money to make you happy-in fact, quite the contrary. She realizes that however glamorous Fanny's home and family may be, she and her family share more love than the Shaw's, (Fanny's family,) ever could. The only person that Polly really feels at home with is Fan's grandmother, a sweet old lady with a very pretty past.
Louisa May Alcott origonally wrote "An Old Fashioned Girl" with only seven chapters, but, as was the case with "Little Women", she presently added the remainder. As with almost asll of Louisa's books, I like the beginning the best, although the end is certainly not bad. In the latter part of "An Old Fashioned Girl", Polly comes back to the city to give music lessons, so that she can support herself and so that her younger brother Will can go to college. She meets several new friens, Becky, Bess, Kate, Miss Mills, and Jenny. Mr. Sydney plays an important role, and so does Tom, Fan's brother. I also really liked Maud, Fanny's little sister. At the end of the book, there is a difference in the Shaw's family fourtunes, but the Shaw's battle through their difficulties with Polly's help. At the very end, Polly and Fanny both are rewarded.
As I said, I didn't like the end quite as much as the beginning, because I thought that it was a little to mushy for my taste. Anyway, my favorite characters were Polly, of course, Fanny's father, Mr. Shaw, Grandma, Mr. Shaw's mother, Maud, Jane, Becky, Bess, Kate, Miss Mills, and Will. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially girls. However, boys may like it too. I felt like Polly and her friends became a part of me as I read and reread the book. It is well described, and fantastic.

I love all Louisa May Alcott's books. I already read Little Women, Little Men, Jo's boys and I mean to read all the other books by Louisa May Alcott. Her books are so charming. An Old Fashioned Girl is about this girl named Polly who gives joy to everybody around her. She is so sensible and hopeful. It seems like the sun is fallowing her wherever she goes. Wherever she goes, she brightens up the place and brings joy, hope and love to everyone. I love Polly for it and I would like to be like her. Everybody knows Little Women, but not many people know Polly. But I think An Old Fashioned Girl is just as good and will bring happiness to everyone who reads it. I would recommend this book to every girls.