The Perfect Thanksgiving Read: Little Women

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! 

When I asked my mom what book reminded her of Thanksgiving, she said The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, because it reminded her to be thankful for what she has…. And according to my mother, Katniss can teach you how to shoot a turkey. 

I definitely see that as a tough love reminder, but it’s effective. Reading about such a horrifying dystopia can certainly shock you into gratitude. 

However, if you want a gentler lesson, I’d recommend Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Of course, you can always pick up a nonfiction book specifically about gratitude, but if you’re anything like me, you like to be taught through example rather than through cookie-cutter phrases. 

For those of you not familiar with the story of Little Women, it is the quintessential family story, following four sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy, and their mother, Ms. March. Through destitution, war, disease, and the inevitable struggles of maturation, they manage to find strength in family and remain grateful for what little they have. The novel doesn’t involve a huge disaster or catastrophic event. It’s entirely domestic, detailing everyday struggles and discussing everyday values. For me, that is what Thanksgiving is all about: family and gratitude, in spite of the struggles.

I’ve been reading Little Women ever since I was a child, starting with the children’s abridged version and graduating to Alcott’s novel. Like many others, I fell in love with the sisters (particularly Jo and Beth) and related to them deeper than I could with other books whose characters battled outlandish situations (like the Hunger Games, for example). 

So if you’re struggling with feeling grateful during these trying times or you simply want to read a beautiful story that will make you laugh, cry, and reflect, pick up Little Women to read (or reread) this Thanksgiving. And/or watch any of the film renditions (I recommend the 2019 version; what they did with the ending is spectacular).