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Review: “Little Women and Werewolves” by Louisa May Alcott & Porter Grand

I was wandering through the library when a title leapt off the table at me. It was one of the recent parodies – genre benders I’ve heard them called. I had found “Little Women and Werewolves” by Porter Grand (& Louisa May Alcott).  I was hesitant.  Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a good vampire or werewolf story. I just didn’t see the point of spoiling a beloved classic.  And “Little Women” is definitely a personal beloved classic. But a combination of morbid curiosity and boredom tipped me over the edge.

“Little Women and Werewolves” wasn’t a complete devastation like I halfway expected. All the important characters and events were present, more often than not, verbatim to the original. Meg’s experience of being dressed up at the ball had an extra twist. Beth’s death was much more, well, dramatic. Amy and Laurie’s engagement involved a little extra incident.  But the werewolf element felt forced. It read like the result of a junior high English assignment: “How would you have written a classic literary piece differently?”  I know; it’s a parody. Subtlety and originality are not requirements.  I’m generally not a fan of parodies in any format which SHOULD have been reason enough to have left the book where I found it.

At best, I hoped to find a clever combination of my two favorite things – a literary version of Reese’s Peanut Butter cups – something I wouldn’t partake of daily but is a nice little treat on occasion. At worst I figured I’d finish off a terrible story and could bemoan the butchering of the poor little women. Instead I found a boring, awkward hodgepodge.  In the future, I will stick with pure genres for my reading indulgences.  If I want werewolves, I’ll find an original story. And if I start missing the March family, Ms. Alcott provided more than enough to satisfy.

1. by melissa

   On June 5, 2010 at 11:04 am

   I was wondering about these kind of books – I also LOVE Little Women and get defensive if I feel someone is trying to mock it. It seems like the addition of werewolves didn’t add to the story much haha.

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