"Them harum-scarum boys will certainly be the death of that delicate little creter!"
In Louisa May Alcott's Eight Cousins, we meet a charming young girl who has suffered a great tragedy. Rose Campbell is thirteen when her widower father passes away, leaving her in the care of her Uncle Alec. Unfortunately, when she arrives at his Boston home, Uncle Alec is nowhere to be found! In his place are a handful of aunts who have very decided ideas about raising a young girl. Though these substitute mothers will insist on coddling her, Rose is far more interested in her clan of eccentric cousins. These eight boys tromp around in Scottish regalia, making mischief and going on marvelous adventures. When Uncle Alec returns from his travels, Rose's escapades become even more incredible; but with great pleasure comes great risk, and if Rose isn't careful, she could get seriously hurt--and so could her cousins.
Eight Cousins is as much about the boys as it is about the girl. These rascals love to romp about outdoors, and as they drag their charming young cousin along, she begins to appreciate such activities as well. This, of course, is most upsetting to her aunts, who worry constantly after her health. To balance out her time with the lads, Rose also strikes up a friendship with the loveable housemaid, Phoebe. Phoebe brings out a softer, more girl-like side of Rose we would never see otherwise, which rounds them both out and adds a much-needed variable to the pacing.
With a cast this large, it's only to be expected that making every personality unique and rounded will be next to impossible. However, Alcott handles this task with incredible ease, shaping her heroes into strong individuals in their own rights, each just as distinct as the last. While there are a few moments when the boys' voices blend together, they are generally well-grounded in their own sense of self, creating believable heroes in this exciting world. Rose carries the same life-like quality, and together they balance each other out, shoring up weaknesses and becoming a strong, loving family.
There isn't much of a plot in Alcott's novel. For the most part, it simply catalogs Rose's adventures with her family, from journeys to the beach to a "trip to China". However, each installment brings with it new obstacles, new opportunities for drama and misfortune, and as the children grow older these conflicts become all the more adult and relatable. Uncle Alec is determined to prove to all that the common practices for making a girl into a lady are rubbish, and does so with fresh air, exercise, and a great deal more freedom than the old-fashioned aunts would like. This creates a sense of tension as the adults and readers wait to see if young Rose will turn out well, for how she ends the novel will determine her lifestyle for the rest of the trilogy.
Readers should not worry about the content of any Alcott story. There is no cursing, graphic violence, or heated romance. The only thing worth noting in this category is that, as a girl living in the 1800s with her sailor uncle, Rose is not accustomed to the modern notion of political correctness. It follows, then, that Uncle Alec's attempts to bring his darling niece a piece of the Orient result in a few comments about ethnicity that, were they said in a different tone or time, might spark a bit of offense. However, Rose is well-meaning and does not desire to affront anyone, and forgiving audiences will find quite a bit of fun in her exploits.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a lovable cast of characters determined to make the most out of life. Although Rose Campbell, Phoebe, and Rose's cousins are not caught up in a central conflict, the evolution of their personalities, values, and dreams is wonderful to behold. Together, they set out to prove that girls can turn out well by spending time outdoors just as much as they can inside, and have a grand time doing it. All in all, Louisa May Alcott did a great job with Eight Cousins, a lovely little novel deserving five stars.
In Louisa May Alcott's Eight Cousins, we meet a charming young girl who has suffered a great tragedy. Rose Campbell is thirteen when her widower father passes away, leaving her in the care of her Uncle Alec. Unfortunately, when she arrives at his Boston home, Uncle Alec is nowhere to be found! In his place are a handful of aunts who have very decided ideas about raising a young girl. Though these substitute mothers will insist on coddling her, Rose is far more interested in her clan of eccentric cousins. These eight boys tromp around in Scottish regalia, making mischief and going on marvelous adventures. When Uncle Alec returns from his travels, Rose's escapades become even more incredible; but with great pleasure comes great risk, and if Rose isn't careful, she could get seriously hurt--and so could her cousins.
Eight Cousins is as much about the boys as it is about the girl. These rascals love to romp about outdoors, and as they drag their charming young cousin along, she begins to appreciate such activities as well. This, of course, is most upsetting to her aunts, who worry constantly after her health. To balance out her time with the lads, Rose also strikes up a friendship with the loveable housemaid, Phoebe. Phoebe brings out a softer, more girl-like side of Rose we would never see otherwise, which rounds them both out and adds a much-needed variable to the pacing.
With a cast this large, it's only to be expected that making every personality unique and rounded will be next to impossible. However, Alcott handles this task with incredible ease, shaping her heroes into strong individuals in their own rights, each just as distinct as the last. While there are a few moments when the boys' voices blend together, they are generally well-grounded in their own sense of self, creating believable heroes in this exciting world. Rose carries the same life-like quality, and together they balance each other out, shoring up weaknesses and becoming a strong, loving family.
There isn't much of a plot in Alcott's novel. For the most part, it simply catalogs Rose's adventures with her family, from journeys to the beach to a "trip to China". However, each installment brings with it new obstacles, new opportunities for drama and misfortune, and as the children grow older these conflicts become all the more adult and relatable. Uncle Alec is determined to prove to all that the common practices for making a girl into a lady are rubbish, and does so with fresh air, exercise, and a great deal more freedom than the old-fashioned aunts would like. This creates a sense of tension as the adults and readers wait to see if young Rose will turn out well, for how she ends the novel will determine her lifestyle for the rest of the trilogy.
Readers should not worry about the content of any Alcott story. There is no cursing, graphic violence, or heated romance. The only thing worth noting in this category is that, as a girl living in the 1800s with her sailor uncle, Rose is not accustomed to the modern notion of political correctness. It follows, then, that Uncle Alec's attempts to bring his darling niece a piece of the Orient result in a few comments about ethnicity that, were they said in a different tone or time, might spark a bit of offense. However, Rose is well-meaning and does not desire to affront anyone, and forgiving audiences will find quite a bit of fun in her exploits.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a lovable cast of characters determined to make the most out of life. Although Rose Campbell, Phoebe, and Rose's cousins are not caught up in a central conflict, the evolution of their personalities, values, and dreams is wonderful to behold. Together, they set out to prove that girls can turn out well by spending time outdoors just as much as they can inside, and have a grand time doing it. All in all, Louisa May Alcott did a great job with Eight Cousins, a lovely little novel deserving five stars.
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