Ms. Hen reviews Jo's Boys

Ms. Hen breaks one of Mrs Jo's rules 

 

Jo's Boys

Louisa May Alcott

Roberts Brothers

1886

Ms. Hen decided to read this because she found it at a Little Free Library near where she lives. She had read other books by Ms. Alcott, and enjoyed them. She didn't realize that when she started reading this book, that she had not read LITTLE MEN, and that is the second book, and this is the third in the LITTLE WOMEN series.

This novel follows the characters in the college that Jo and her husband founded with the help of Laurie's donation. The three sisters, Jo, Amy and Meg, work in the college and help the young people to find their way in the world. They all have children, and there are lots of characters in this book. There are so many that Ms. Hen got a little confused at first, but each chapter focuses on one or two characters, and she got them straight by the end.

Jo and her sisters like to preach morals to the young people, especially the boys. Ms. Hen found this kind of superior talking down to people a little annoying. She understand that Jo wants to teach the boys and girls right from wrong, but Ms. Hen doesn't think those morals transfer to to this day and age. She thinks this book is a little old-fashioned and stuffy, and is acceptable for children, but not adults. She did not feel that way when she read LITTLE WOMEN, however, and she does not like to read about people being taught morals, because they are a gray area.

Ms. Hen found herself very distracted while she was reading this book, because she has things going on in her life, and she found the book a little boring. She needs to find something exciting to read to catch her attention, and this is not the book to do that.

Ms. Hen did not like this novel as much as others by Louisa May Alcott. Ms. Hen understands this is one of the last books she published in her life, and she thinks Louisa may have gotten a little "high and mighty" in her advanced age. Nevertheless, it's a good book for children, but not grown children.