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I thought this book was pretty derivative. A few years ago, I read a nonfiction book called The Peabody Sisters about the intellectual scene in New England in the 1850s and it felt like she was almost lifting passages out of the journals and letters of the time period. I like historical fiction that teaches me something and this one didn't. It felt formulaic.
On top of it feeling too derivative, it took me something like 2 weeks to finish this book, which is ridiculous because it's only 200 pa ...more
On top of it feeling too derivative, it took me something like 2 weeks to finish this book, which is ridiculous because it's only 200 pa ...more
Nov 21, 2010
Graceann
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-fiction
Geraldine Brooks takes the framework of the children's classic "Little Women," as her starting point for a look at what Mr. March was doing down South during the American Civil War. Make no mistake; though Little Women is a standard in literature for children, the story Miss Brooks has fashioned here is anything but childish.
Brooks takes us through March's courtship of Marmee and the birth of their four daughters, and shows us their rise and fall in fortunes. When the Civil War breaks out, Marc ...more
Brooks takes us through March's courtship of Marmee and the birth of their four daughters, and shows us their rise and fall in fortunes. When the Civil War breaks out, Marc ...more
I went into this knowing that March was based on Bronson Alcott, who is not my favorite authorial parent (to say the least!) I'm actually pretty shocked that I not only finished this, but enjoyed the journey.
I feel like I found personal letters & journals of people I'd only known as a child, with all the good & bad that seeing them through adult eyes implies. ...more
I feel like I found personal letters & journals of people I'd only known as a child, with all the good & bad that seeing them through adult eyes implies. ...more
After the first few pages, I thought I wasn't going to like it at all. But it ended up being an excellent book. I appreciated that she took the sheen off of Marmee a little bit because she does seem unnaturally good in Little Women.
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I love this author's writing style. She tells great stories, but as with her other book Year of Wonders, the ending is always mediocure after the greatness of the rest of the book. Overall, I really liked it and loved the characters.
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I enjoyed this book a lot, even though some suspension of disbelief was required. For example, Mr. March meeting the gal from the plantation again at the hospital was a little too coincidental.
But, I enjoyed seeing events unfold and learning more about Mr. March - even if he wasn't as likeable as expected.
I read Little Women so long ago that I don't remember much. This book makes me want to re-read Little Women. ...more
But, I enjoyed seeing events unfold and learning more about Mr. March - even if he wasn't as likeable as expected.
I read Little Women so long ago that I don't remember much. This book makes me want to re-read Little Women. ...more
This book didn't grab me. BUT, I usually don't like books that are sequels written by a modern day authors to classics. The author tries to write in a very old time descriptive style which really makes this book slow to read. Also Mr. March is not at all portrayed the way you think he would be in reading Little Women. He is a real jerk in this book and someone I would be ashamed to be married to.
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This is a well-written historical novel. Geraldine Brooks imagines the father of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy (Little Women) as a chaplain in the Union Army. Mr. March, an abolitionist and pacifist, faces the realities of war. He recounts his youthful experiences as a peddler in the south and as a supporter of John Brown. We also have the story of Mr. March meeting and marrying Marmee.
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Brooks expands the life of March,the father of the 'Little Women,' by using details of the life of Bronson Alcott, the father of Louisa May Alcott, plus other historical sources.
March is portrayed as a complex being: idealistic, impractical, visionary, and self-centered.
This novel is well-written, well-researched, and engrossing. ...more
March is portrayed as a complex being: idealistic, impractical, visionary, and self-centered.
This novel is well-written, well-researched, and engrossing. ...more
Little Women was the first "real" novel I read and remains one of my favorite classics; this brought back fond memories. I was not disappointed.
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Nov 01, 2007
Lucinda
marked it as to-read
Apr 13, 2009
Christy McKenna
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction,
historical-fiction
Jun 25, 2009
AmyMK Kuhlman
added it
Dec 20, 2009
Catherine
added it
Feb 06, 2016
Jen
marked it as to-read
