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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
dark
reflective
tense
medium-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:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Of course I grew up loving Little Women, having read the book, watching a couple choice adaptations every fall and Christmas season (I'll let you guess which aligns with which), and I recently played Meg in the stage musical. We had a lot of jokes backstage about the absent Mr. March, especially with the several mentions but no appearance in the musical. When I embarked on this read, I had no idea what to expect and this took me by surprise. Geraldine Brooks' portrayal of an idealist awash in the brutal and hideous landscape of the Civil War is lovely, challenging, and deeply touching. She writes with such a compelling and emotional style. It was perfectly suited to expand the world of this previously neglected character and bring rich and beautiful dimension to the matriarch of this family we love so dearly.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
I confess I went into this book grudgingly; I have zero interest in the Civil War. Battle narratives just aren't my thing. And yet, March gripped me. Mr. March of the [b:Little Women|1934|Little Women|Louisa May Alcott|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1562690475l/1934._SY75_.jpg|3244642] family is off to serve as a chaplain in the Union army.
The book is told from both the POV of Mr. March and Marmee, aka Mrs. March. The writing is breathtaking. Brooks handles description evocatively yet with a subtle touch. "I had been there, on a spring morning, when the fog stood so thick on the river that it looked as though the bowl of the sky had spilled all its milky clouds into the valley."
Many parts of this book were quite difficult to read, as can be expected in a battle story. But this goes beyond that, watching the suffering of the enslaved and vulnerable. But those portions are an important part of the narrative. This novel is a great reminder that I can't immediately dismiss books because of the subject matter. It's clear why this novel won a Pulitzer!
The book is told from both the POV of Mr. March and Marmee, aka Mrs. March. The writing is breathtaking. Brooks handles description evocatively yet with a subtle touch. "I had been there, on a spring morning, when the fog stood so thick on the river that it looked as though the bowl of the sky had spilled all its milky clouds into the valley."
Many parts of this book were quite difficult to read, as can be expected in a battle story. But this goes beyond that, watching the suffering of the enslaved and vulnerable. But those portions are an important part of the narrative. This novel is a great reminder that I can't immediately dismiss books because of the subject matter. It's clear why this novel won a Pulitzer!
I loved this book. It is a short, quick read. An enthralling look at marriage, even though it is not one of the major themes.
A beautiful voice in this book that hearkens back to LITTLE WOMEN in a way that will delight hardcore Alcott fans. The idea of a hardcore Alcott fan just made me laugh. Anyways, this book was quick and interesting and had a few unexpected turns and a sobering perspective on the Civil War. Worth a read, especially if you're a fan.
This wasn't nearly as good as her other book Year of Wonders. I found this boring and very hard to get through and consequently disappointing. But, I will continue to give her books a shot. I think she is a brilliant writer.
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
March is the recasting of Little Women from the father’s POV while he was away at war.
The man himself comes across as an insufferable idiot with a white savior complex who, at every turn. made things far worse for the people around him. His character felt at odds with the version of him in the chapters that tie back to the original source material making the overall experience disjointed.
Mostly, it left me wondering how this won a Pulitzer Prize?
The man himself comes across as an insufferable idiot with a white savior complex who, at every turn. made things far worse for the people around him. His character felt at odds with the version of him in the chapters that tie back to the original source material making the overall experience disjointed.
Mostly, it left me wondering how this won a Pulitzer Prize?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Murder