Why Little Women Is Still Popular

Yesterday I went to hear Katharine Weber speak. Katharine has written a book called The Little Women, which I actually liked and you all know how cranky and hypercritical I am. The Little Women is a modern day story with characters who are sort of familiar to anyone who has read Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. But you shouldn't think of it as a modern day version. Think of it as a modern day...variation.

Anyway, Katharine said something interesting. She said many interesting things, actually, but I'm only going to tell you about one of them. She said that perhaps Alcott's Little Women is still beloved because it is rarely taught. Very few people are forced to read it. Very few people have a teacher's analysis forced upon them. People read Little Women for pleasure.

Well, I thought it was an interesting suggestion, anyway.