to think that Amy March is one of the most irritating literary characters ever.

[squoosh]

God she annoys me, throwing Jo's book in the fire, being a general brat and then sin of sins marrying Laurie when she had no business do any such thing.

I don't care what the subsequent books may say the Amy/Laurie union was a stupid idea.

They should have left her to drown in the icy river.

[YouTheCat]

She was my least favourite character too.

[NoelHeadbands]

At least she had a bit of gumption.

Beth was a right sap.

Yeah I said it!

[TheHerringScreams]

Amy?

She was stuck up and annoying and I had to act her in a school play when I was 11 because, apparently, I looked similar to how she was meant to look. It was terrible.

She got away with EVERYTHING. I mean, she went to that icy river ANYWAY, and expected to be forgiven and all that for chucking Jo's precious book in the fire, she generally acted awfully and I don't know how anyone could stand her!

[Mumof3men]

I never quite got the Amy/Laurie thing-it just doesn't make sense that Laurie would settle for a spoilt brat rather than spirited Jo!

[alistron1]

I don't know if you've read jo's boys, but I was hoping Amy's daughter Bess would get knocked up by ne'er do well Dan.

As if Jo preferred Prof Bhaer to Laurie. Meh.

[jamaisjedors]

Oh god I quite empathised with Amy (I think...) because I was a bit like her.

But I desperately wanted to be like Beth who everyone loved

[squoosh]

NoelHeadBands Yes, Beth was a bit of a sap but at least she gave us a nice death bed scene. Always gives me a bit of a lump in my throat.

[CocacolaMum]

she does come across as a brat in the film but shes a great character in the book!

[EduCated]

I shouldn't have opened this thread. I knew there'd be spoilers*

*In fairness I have been reading it for over a year now And it's hardly new. How I've not found out the plot before now I do not know.

[NoelHeadbands]

Aye but there wasnt much to miss after she died though was there. She just swanned around being all gentle and shit.

Agree with everyone about the Laurie/Amy thing though

[Mumof3men]

Oh I remember Jo's Boys, it was wonderful. I loved Nat and I always felt so terribly sorry for the very clever boy who had been pushed by his parents until he had a break down and became 'feeble minded', then was packed off to the school as his parents could no longer bear to look at him-sob!

[Mumof3men]

and yes, Beth when she can no longer hold her needle-makes me sob every time!

[squoosh]

I've just remembered the episode of Friends where Rachel makes Joey read Little Women, he falls apart when Beth dies

[BestIsWest]

Amy married Laurie? YANBU OP.

[ImperialBlether]

I could never understand why Laurie would marry Amy, nor why Amy would want to marry him.

[rainbowslollipops]

I love that film. Not keen on Amy either. Jo is my favourite and Beth. I always cry when she dies.

[MushroomSoup]

Amy wanted him just to spite Jo, I reckon.

And Laurie wanted Amy because, after all of those nights spent with a peg on her nose, she looked aristocratic enough to trot around Europe two steps behind him.

[Francagoestohollywood]

YANBU!

[5Foot5]

Mumof3men I think that is in Little Men isn't it. I thought Jo's Boys is when the "boys" have all grown up. But it is many years since I read them so I could be getting it wrong.

[Francagoestohollywood]

Beth's death is much better in the 1949 movie, btw

[Chandon]

Originally it was 2 books, the first one ends with meg's marriage and Laurie smiling at Jo in te mirror.

The book was a huge success, which took the writer by surprise. Pressurised by her editor she agrred to write another book with "moral pap for te young"(dsdainful emoticon).

She almost took revenge on her fans for liking it so much, by anding Laurie to Amy (no!!!!!) and making Jo all spinsterish and ending up with a fat German called Bear.

A bit like Radiohead, hating those fans who loved Creep, and then writing a song about how pathetic people are who loved that song.

Still, little women is the book I read when I am sick or depressed, it is hearwarming (sigh)

[KitchenandJumble]

I agree. It's so unfair that Amy gets everything Jo should have. She travels to Europe when Jo should have been the one to go. And for Amy to marry Laurie is just ridiculous. I was always so glad he wouldn't allow her to call him Teddy, since it was Jo's pet name for him. I think he carries a torch for Jo throughout the later books, and Amy is just the consolation prize.

[Mumof3men]

5feet5, you might be right! (I had Little Men as a Sunday School prize).
Have now been thinking of the other books I loved, What Katie did and What Katie did next!
Might have to see if I can find them on the internet!

[Chandon]

Oh, are we talking about movies....

[squoosh]

Could not stand What Katy Did, she was an insufferable prig. Remember when she broke her back and her broken backed Aunt Helen told her never to complain, just to sit there sweetly smiling at everyone.

I know it was of its time but even when I was 10 I gave it a big eye roll.