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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
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
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well conceived and written extension of the ‘Little Women’ tale from Mr. March’s perspective. It counters the idealism of Alcott’s ‘Little Women’ with some rough-hewn, muddy, and refreshingly flawed humanity. Brooks’ research for this novel was extensive and it shows, flowing as easily as if she were writing from the time period. Her observations of March—a humanist ‘Yankee’ ministering in the confederate South during the Civil War and early Reconstruction Era—were transportive. She picked at the seams of the white savior narrative, but never fully unraveled it, which worked to let the reader independently think and decide.
The creative and restrained precision of this novel is, I think, what earned it the Pulitzer in 2006. It honors the original work well. I struggled with how many stars to give it and landed on three-and-a-half. I’m still torn. It probably deserves four, certainly for ‘Little Women’ enthusiasts. But for me, it felt familiar—interesting, instructive, but by no means new or earth-shattering. It confirmed what is often told about the brutality of the Civil War and those who lived through it, with its well-trodden view of a nation in turmoil and one man’s naive journey through it.
The creative and restrained precision of this novel is, I think, what earned it the Pulitzer in 2006. It honors the original work well. I struggled with how many stars to give it and landed on three-and-a-half. I’m still torn. It probably deserves four, certainly for ‘Little Women’ enthusiasts. But for me, it felt familiar—interesting, instructive, but by no means new or earth-shattering. It confirmed what is often told about the brutality of the Civil War and those who lived through it, with its well-trodden view of a nation in turmoil and one man’s naive journey through it.
Beautifully crafted. Based on Little Women but seen from the father’s perspective. Situated in the time of slavery abolitionists in Deep South of America and the hardships endured by everyone.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
So much description, but it doesn't say anything. If there was a bit more substance and faster pacing, this book would have been fabulous.
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
dark
emotional
hopeful
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:
No
March by Geraldine Brooks~
In 1861 Mr. March sets off to join the Civil War as chaplain in an effort to help the cause and offer solace to those in need. His story is told from past to present, written through letters to his loved ones and experienced in the day to day. During the year he will face many challenges, find lost love, become the teacher he had always dreamed of being, see death in many forms and finally find the strength to fight the cowardice within himself. Through it all his wife and their little women wait patiently for him to return to home.
Written as a sort of prequel to the well known “Little Women”, this book explains what the father was up to when he was away. While I enjoyed the story and the history of the Civil War, I also at times felt that this Mr. March didn’t exactly fit the one in the original version. His attitude towards his family was loving and also infuriating as his behavior in one chapter was just not what you’d expect. But above it all what truly made the book a worthy read is the relationship he builds with the former slaves and how he sees them as equals. I wish others during that time had the same empathy and love for others as he did.
In 1861 Mr. March sets off to join the Civil War as chaplain in an effort to help the cause and offer solace to those in need. His story is told from past to present, written through letters to his loved ones and experienced in the day to day. During the year he will face many challenges, find lost love, become the teacher he had always dreamed of being, see death in many forms and finally find the strength to fight the cowardice within himself. Through it all his wife and their little women wait patiently for him to return to home.
Written as a sort of prequel to the well known “Little Women”, this book explains what the father was up to when he was away. While I enjoyed the story and the history of the Civil War, I also at times felt that this Mr. March didn’t exactly fit the one in the original version. His attitude towards his family was loving and also infuriating as his behavior in one chapter was just not what you’d expect. But above it all what truly made the book a worthy read is the relationship he builds with the former slaves and how he sees them as equals. I wish others during that time had the same empathy and love for others as he did.
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced