Re-Reading Little Women As An Adult

Today I'm walking through misty peatlands, talking about a classic novel all while wearing a dress inspired by the era of that novel. Some people might think this is all terribly old-fashioned, but I usually prefer to think of it as classic or even timeless (and perhaps a bit romantic). Certain stories are so good and true we return to them generation after generation--fashion can have that same quality with pieces passed down or at the very least made to last and not be thrown away whenever a new trend emerges. I appreciate how historically things were so well made; it wouldn't be unusual for someone to alter a dress multiple times or pass it down, companies had success not by creating a need for the latest gadget, but customer loyalty because their work was solid and endured. Lately it's also what draws me to new clothes when shopping--I feel far more drawn to something that seems well made even at a higher price point, than something cheap that feels flimsy.  Even the new copy of Little Women I received recently from Abrams & Chronicle has the feel of a proper vintage book; in a sea of books with flashy graphic covers it's a throwback that (to me at least) will never go out of style. I feel the same about my linen dresses from Little Women Atelier; they're modeled after vintage styles and there's definitely a romantic, vintage-look to them, but I also feel that there's something completely timeless about a well-made dress. Rendered in rust with long sleeves I feel this dress has the potential to become a real staple for me, it doesn't hurt that it's named after one of my favorite characters in Little Women either! It's been years since I've read Little Women, so I'm intrigued to re-read it this Christmas and see what characters and moments stand out to me as an adult. Books never change, but we as readers are changed when we return to familiar books after several years away and it has the potential to make a story completely fresh. I wonder if I'll empathize more with Meg as an adult or have greater sympathy for Amy, or if I'll still be drawn to Jo's impetuous anger and Beth's timidity...
“There are many Beths in the world, shy and quiet, sitting in corners till needed, and living for others so cheerfully that no one sees the sacrifices till the little cricket on the hearth stops chirping, and the sweet, sunshiny presence vanishes, leaving silence and shadow behind.” ―Louisa May Alcott, Little Women “Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success.”