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She Took to the Woods: A Biography and Selected Writings of Louise Dickinson Rich
Longtime fans of Rich's writing will welcome this engaging and thoughtful biography of her life. There is also a wonderful section that includes many of Rich's essays and stories -- which were published in magazines but never appeared in book form -- as well as excerpts from her journal and letters.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
1 person is currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Alice Arlen
6 books1 followerAlice Arlen is a poet, writer, and registered Maine Guide.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 10, 2014
This is a fascinating biography of a hearty soul who carves out a marvelous rustic life in the backwoods of Maine and finances the whole thing through her writings. I had serendipitously discovered Mrs. Rich through her first person account, We Took to the Woods. She reminds me of my departed friend, Mary Jane. This book also inspired me to begin writing short accounts of each day in a journal as the author of this book included pages and pages of Mrs. Rich's short journal entries, and I found it uber interesting!
June 8, 2017
I read LDR's "We Took To the Woods" 20+ years ago after serendipitously finding it on a shelf at a library discard sale and being irresistibly drawn to it. It was one of those magical book finds. It has been on my favorite books shelf ever since (digitally and physically!)
So, I was very happy to find LDR's biography so that I could get to know the woman who wrote so engagingly about her life in the Maine woods. I found out everything I would have wanted to know and more. However, I didn't really care for Arlen's writing style. On one hand, she presented LDR in a very real way, both lights and darks. Yet, every once in awhile, Arlen would inject her own personal opinion or perspective on something, vigorously coming to LDR's defense about something.... and that was jarring and seemed unprofessional to me.
Also, I was shocked at how much of the book was nothing more than LDR's diary. In one way, it was interesting to read how LDR wrote when she wrote for herself. It is, indeed, an insight into the writer's mind. However, most anyone can collect diary accounts, interject a few intros to the accounts here and there, publish them and call it a biography. And it seems like that is nearly what this book was.
(from here on out, this review may contain spoilers)
However, I am glad I read the book and feel fully satisfied with having learned everything I would have wanted to know about LDR. Alice Arlen did a good job of presenting LDR in a real way, instead of a whitewashed way. She made no bones about people either loving LDR or taking a dislike to her. And like all of us, LDR harbored both light and dark sides within her psyche. Like, LDR's bouts with drinking as a way to cope with loneliness and unhappiness.
Her personal life: What a fascinating childhood. Like so many creative geniuses, Louise and her sister Alice were left very much to themselves. LDR came of age with a very strong mind. Opinionated, out spoken, not afraid to differ or flout authority. Early on in the book is an interview with a girlhood friend that is fun to read.
I was also surprised to learn that she was married before Ralph. Again, a very firm minded young woman for those days to get a divorce! It was sad to find out how short L and R's marriage was due to R's untimely death. Ideal unions such as theirs are so few and far between, it is sad that it was so short lived. Then to find that she and R were never married! (why?) And to find that she had a failed and unhappy marriage post-R.
Mothering: the author does not beat around the bush in saying that LDR's mothering instincts left a bit to be desired. But perhaps that is why LDR left us so much written material? Yet her bond with her children seemed to be strong all throughout their lives. So, to each her own!
Her creative process was fascinating. She wrote very consistently in the mornings and her family knew not to interrupt her mornings. She would mentally work on ideas and then write them down. One of her idea "notes" of a story that she never wrote is included in the book and I really enjoyed seeing that.
And I enjoyed reading some of her writings at the back of the book. Having only read WTTTW, it was interesting to read LDR's fiction. And I enjoyed the paragraphs telling the background of the pieces by Arlen before each piece.
I also enjoyed finding out that I can go and find Forest Lodge and visit it today. Maybe I will!
While this book was not the best writing in the world, it is definitely worth reading if you are interested in Louise Dickinson Rich.
One more little tidbit that I LOVED learning about LDR: she was indeed related to Emily Dickinson. So writing genius and a commitment to writing was definitely in LDR's genetic code.
So, I was very happy to find LDR's biography so that I could get to know the woman who wrote so engagingly about her life in the Maine woods. I found out everything I would have wanted to know and more. However, I didn't really care for Arlen's writing style. On one hand, she presented LDR in a very real way, both lights and darks. Yet, every once in awhile, Arlen would inject her own personal opinion or perspective on something, vigorously coming to LDR's defense about something.... and that was jarring and seemed unprofessional to me.
Also, I was shocked at how much of the book was nothing more than LDR's diary. In one way, it was interesting to read how LDR wrote when she wrote for herself. It is, indeed, an insight into the writer's mind. However, most anyone can collect diary accounts, interject a few intros to the accounts here and there, publish them and call it a biography. And it seems like that is nearly what this book was.
(from here on out, this review may contain spoilers)
However, I am glad I read the book and feel fully satisfied with having learned everything I would have wanted to know about LDR. Alice Arlen did a good job of presenting LDR in a real way, instead of a whitewashed way. She made no bones about people either loving LDR or taking a dislike to her. And like all of us, LDR harbored both light and dark sides within her psyche. Like, LDR's bouts with drinking as a way to cope with loneliness and unhappiness.
Her personal life: What a fascinating childhood. Like so many creative geniuses, Louise and her sister Alice were left very much to themselves. LDR came of age with a very strong mind. Opinionated, out spoken, not afraid to differ or flout authority. Early on in the book is an interview with a girlhood friend that is fun to read.
I was also surprised to learn that she was married before Ralph. Again, a very firm minded young woman for those days to get a divorce! It was sad to find out how short L and R's marriage was due to R's untimely death. Ideal unions such as theirs are so few and far between, it is sad that it was so short lived. Then to find that she and R were never married! (why?) And to find that she had a failed and unhappy marriage post-R.
Mothering: the author does not beat around the bush in saying that LDR's mothering instincts left a bit to be desired. But perhaps that is why LDR left us so much written material? Yet her bond with her children seemed to be strong all throughout their lives. So, to each her own!
Her creative process was fascinating. She wrote very consistently in the mornings and her family knew not to interrupt her mornings. She would mentally work on ideas and then write them down. One of her idea "notes" of a story that she never wrote is included in the book and I really enjoyed seeing that.
And I enjoyed reading some of her writings at the back of the book. Having only read WTTTW, it was interesting to read LDR's fiction. And I enjoyed the paragraphs telling the background of the pieces by Arlen before each piece.
I also enjoyed finding out that I can go and find Forest Lodge and visit it today. Maybe I will!
While this book was not the best writing in the world, it is definitely worth reading if you are interested in Louise Dickinson Rich.
One more little tidbit that I LOVED learning about LDR: she was indeed related to Emily Dickinson. So writing genius and a commitment to writing was definitely in LDR's genetic code.
September 14, 2022
I love this book. It's well researched and informative about a very intriguing subject. Written in engaging and vibrant prose. A must read!
July 10, 2018
Very interesting biography. I'd never heard of Louise Rich, but now that I've read this bio, I am going to search for her work. My favorite part of the book was the selected writings by LDR.
October 6, 2020
3.5 but only because it incorporates so much of Louise Dickinson Rich’s writings. It was substantially below the quality I had hoped for.
Want to read
April 27, 2009About 1/2 of the way through. Annoyed by biographical errors on the part of the biographer.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews