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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I couldn't finish this one. I'm not finding it enjoyable at all. I don't care for the main character, nor the gratuitous name-dropping of famous people. I'm releasing myself from the goal of reading the Pulitzer Prize winners starting right now.
An excellent book about the absent father (March) in Little Women with accounts of the Civil War that were based on real events. Especially powerful was the way in which the author wrote most of the book from March's perspective, and then switched over to Marmee's perspective for the end. This provided the reader with the ability to sympathize with both characters and better understand their complex marriage. I enjoyed this book much more than Brooks' People of the Book, which I read first.
slow-paced
This is the kind of fiction I wish I could find more often -- beautiful, vivid prose combined with fascinating moral complexity! At one point, within minutes of opening it up during a relatively short metro ride, I found myself weeping.
Interestingly, my experience with this novel was quite similar to that with one of my other all-time favorites, Ahab's Wife, another contemporary spin-off of a well-known 19th century literary work. I don't have especially strong attachments to either of the novels upon which these were based, but these authors have added another layer of humanity to the original works.
Interestingly, my experience with this novel was quite similar to that with one of my other all-time favorites, Ahab's Wife, another contemporary spin-off of a well-known 19th century literary work. I don't have especially strong attachments to either of the novels upon which these were based, but these authors have added another layer of humanity to the original works.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A must read in an era of racial tensions and historical revisionism. The true terrors of war are aptly portrayed without restraint.
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
2.5
This didn't really work for me as an expansion into the world of Little Women nor did I think it was a satisfying piece of historical fiction about the Civil War.
This didn't really work for me as an expansion into the world of Little Women nor did I think it was a satisfying piece of historical fiction about the Civil War.
[spoilers in here]
an okay read… not a huge fan of the overall tone, nor of the white saviorism i was picking up on (which is kind of offhandedly & perfunctorily addressed in the last 2 pages… idk). would i recommend this book? probably not. some parts were okay but i was overall not a huge fan. definitely not as good as i had hoped.
also, not a big fan of the trend of adding a (real or potential/misunderstood) affair to classic lit either tbh.
an okay read… not a huge fan of the overall tone, nor of the white saviorism i was picking up on (which is kind of offhandedly & perfunctorily addressed in the last 2 pages… idk). would i recommend this book? probably not. some parts were okay but i was overall not a huge fan. definitely not as good as i had hoped.
As a general rule, I don't like Historical Fiction. I hardly ever make it through because I find myself usually bored to tears. The two exceptions to that rule? Both were written by Geraldine Brooks. She is an incredible storyteller, drawing you completely in to a time other than your own.
I'm glad I branched out and gave this one a try. I think I enjoyed it even more than I did Year of Wonders.
I'm glad I branched out and gave this one a try. I think I enjoyed it even more than I did Year of Wonders.