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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
There were parts of this I really enjoyed and parts I found that dragged. March’s voice was very whining, I thought, which I personally didn’t particularly like..
I enjoyed this book a lot. Using letters and journals about Louisa May Alcott's father Bronson Alcott, Brooks imagines and recounts the adventures of Mr. March, the absent father in Alcott's Little Women. It's not necessary to read Little Women before reading March, but it would definitely be beneficial. Events and characters from the former book are referred to quite frequently in the latter book. If you don't know who Beth or Laurie are, you may have a bit of trouble.
First, Brooks is a good writer. This novel can be classified as historical fiction. There are a lot of details and facts about the Civil War. Yet Brooks is skillful enough and her writing is so engaging that I never felt like I was being bogged down with facts but was instead reading an entertaining story.
Second, though Brooks may have taken some liberties, the character of Mr. March is clearly based on Bronson Alcott. I had the chance to visit the charming town of Concord a few years ago and was able to see the homes of some of its distinguished literary inhabitants such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Louisa May Alcott. A lot of the information provided on these home tours coincided with Brooks' book. A lot of historical events that occurred during this time are also mentioned. You can tell that she really did her research. And if you're a literary nerd like me, you can't help but be excited that a lot of the people of this time--particularly Emerson and Thoreau--are featured as characters in this book.
First, Brooks is a good writer. This novel can be classified as historical fiction. There are a lot of details and facts about the Civil War. Yet Brooks is skillful enough and her writing is so engaging that I never felt like I was being bogged down with facts but was instead reading an entertaining story.
Second, though Brooks may have taken some liberties, the character of Mr. March is clearly based on Bronson Alcott. I had the chance to visit the charming town of Concord a few years ago and was able to see the homes of some of its distinguished literary inhabitants such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Louisa May Alcott. A lot of the information provided on these home tours coincided with Brooks' book. A lot of historical events that occurred during this time are also mentioned. You can tell that she really did her research. And if you're a literary nerd like me, you can't help but be excited that a lot of the people of this time--particularly Emerson and Thoreau--are featured as characters in this book.
I picked this up in order to read along with The Book Cougars and their summer of Little Women. I finished it too late to comment on for their recording, which was okay as I really did not love this story. I first read March 10 years ago for one of my book groups and I remember that I really enjoyed it. This time around, I found it very graphic and I found Mr. March to be a dense idiot. He seemed to keep blundering about, without really learning from his mistakes. Also, for a preacher, he was very self centered, unable to read a room and realize what the people he was purporting to serve really needed from him. I am glad I finished it, but there will be no 3rd time reading this novel. Geraldine Brooks is a good writer and I have read another book by her, but March was not for me.
Most researched fiction book I have ever read. I feel like I lived through the story.
I'm not sure what to write here.
It was interesting and I liked that Brooks used Louisa May Alcott's father (his journals and writings) as the template for fleshing out the story of Mr. March. That gave the character a depth that would be hard to understand. Brooks wrote him as extremely complex, flaws and all, and the internal dialogue he has allows the reader to feel like they are dealing with complicated issues of the Civil War, slavery, etc. firsthand.
I did not care for the blending of fictional character (March) and real person (Thoreau), even though Alcott's father knew Thoreau well. I did like the portrayal of John Brown and Harper's Ferry because it gave a more than one-sided view to that event.
The book was graphic and shocking at times but never unnecessary.
I'm just not even sure. I look forward to discussing it at Work Book Club (hopefully someone read it...)
It was interesting and I liked that Brooks used Louisa May Alcott's father (his journals and writings) as the template for fleshing out the story of Mr. March. That gave the character a depth that would be hard to understand. Brooks wrote him as extremely complex, flaws and all, and the internal dialogue he has allows the reader to feel like they are dealing with complicated issues of the Civil War, slavery, etc. firsthand.
I did not care for the blending of fictional character (March) and real person (Thoreau), even though Alcott's father knew Thoreau well. I did like the portrayal of John Brown and Harper's Ferry because it gave a more than one-sided view to that event.
The book was graphic and shocking at times but never unnecessary.
I'm just not even sure. I look forward to discussing it at Work Book Club (hopefully someone read it...)
Read my full thoughts on this book and hundreds more over at Read.Write.Repeat.
A nice re-imagination of one of America's favorite literary families and what happened to them off the pages of Alcott's classic novel.
Though I did struggle to get through parts of this book and did not enjoy it as much as I have some of Brooks' other work, it was still well worth the read. My skepticism over the premise melted quickly and I found Brooks' handling of the beloved family to be tender and generous. I love how she added so much development to Marmee's character; there are many echoes of Jo in her here. Brooks obviously loves Alcott's original work and this book feels like a love letter to it. Even if you are unfamiliar with the classic, there is plenty here to enjoy for most any reader.
A nice re-imagination of one of America's favorite literary families and what happened to them off the pages of Alcott's classic novel.
Though I did struggle to get through parts of this book and did not enjoy it as much as I have some of Brooks' other work, it was still well worth the read. My skepticism over the premise melted quickly and I found Brooks' handling of the beloved family to be tender and generous. I love how she added so much development to Marmee's character; there are many echoes of Jo in her here. Brooks obviously loves Alcott's original work and this book feels like a love letter to it. Even if you are unfamiliar with the classic, there is plenty here to enjoy for most any reader.