Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

** spoiler alert ** I don't often read books that make me swear out loud but here we are.

Good Wives is well written but so hard to read - not because of it's grammar but by how preachy and unsatisfying every message and plot point is. Every character you love from Little Women becomes an awful unsatisfying cliche. Meg marries boring, controlling Mr Brooke (who's been hounding after her since she was 16) and becomes a submissive mother and wife and that's it full-stop. The idea that women should apologize first to men is a creepy and is basically Meg's whole marriage and life summarized. I respect the early portrayal of sleep training children in the 1860s and I'm all for women who love being mothers and respect and care for their partners - but to see sweet Meg turn into a doting robot is just so yikes.

Amy probably has the best lot in life but she gives up her dreams of being an artist to become a rich wife because she says "talent isn't genius" well obviously!!! But that doesn't mean we should all quit just because you might meet people who are more skilled than you. Bad message to send - especially to young girls who are the likely audience after reading and loving Little Women.

Jo is such a disappointment- giving up her dreams of writing (in this book at least haven't and won't be reading the sequels) marrying old (40 years old to her 25) Mr Bhaer. What a fantastic message to send young girls!!!

Beth just straight up dies - sending the reader the message that little girls with no ambition have no future either so you may as well just pass away.

I hate the romances of this book with all my heart, they're boring, have no chemistry and revolve around the "submissive wife, strong husband archetype which is just!!!! So hard to read and bare.
I get that the 1870 was a different time and I know I can't expect a feminist revolution in one book but holy shit I just hated this.

Would never reread and would never recommend unless you're really really traditional, not a feminist, or a hardcore Christian - not because you can't be a feminist and Christian ofc, but because this book preaches so so so much, it might appeal a bit more than it did to me (not a Christian).