Over the past month I re-read one of my favorite books of all-time, Little Women. The book, which was written in 1868  by Louisa May Alcott, tells the story of four sisters living in Massachusetts during the Civil War. The story takes place over a series of years capturing the girls as they grow up and eventually start families of their own. The book isn’t the easiest read, but in my opinion it is well worth it.
The book, which I originally read in the seventh grade, is unlike most novels being written today. There are no vampires, or wizards, or games revolved around killing other children. Instead, there are just four sisters, each one completely ordinary. This isn’t the type of book you will fall in love with from page one, it is gradual, with your affection for the sisters growing ever so slightly each page. The book simply takes you through their lives, telling you about both their accomplishments and their losses. It is truthful. It shows the beauty in an ordinary life. I’ve always thought that to have a truly valuable life you need to accomplish something extraordinary, but what Little Women taught me is that as long as you love those around you your life will have meaning.