Reviews

Fruitlands: Louisa May Alcott Made Perfect by Gloria Whelan

19paws's review

4.0

In the spirit of [b:Transcendental Wild Oats|170578|Transcendental Wild Oats|Louisa May Alcott|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172379055s/170578.jpg|164718], this is an account of the Alcott family's attempt to build a utopian community at Fruitlands, as told through Louisa’s fictional diary entries. The Alcott girls all kept diaries which their parents read. That’s a problem for Louisa, though: “Mother says our diaries ought to be a record of pure thoughts and good actions. She and Father often peek into our diaries to see that it is so. Yet Father tells us that we must be honest in our thoughts. I don’t see how the two fit together.” She solves the problem by keeping two diaries--her usual public one and a hilarious private and more honest one. A very funny book.