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madincrafts 's review for:
March
by Geraldine Brooks
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is the story of Mr. March, the father in the Little Women novel. Most of the story is told from his perspective and touches on transcendental philosophy, the zeal of Northern abolitionists, the horrors of the Civil War, the treatment of recently enslaved people, and the awful physical and emotional wounds of war.
The book is very well written and obviously well researched. I really liked the realism of Mr. March’s experiences. Unfortunately, I didn’t like Mr. March very much. He is the insufferable kind of idealist, and I don’t respond well to characters like that. Fortunately, when I was almost sick of him, the book switches to Mrs. March (Marmee’s) POV. I much preferred her outlook on the story, even though it was equally, and realistically, flawed.
Not everything in the book was perfect, which is why my review isn’t 5 stars. I’m always a little skeptical of a white person writing the experience of African-American slaves. Also, the fact that the March family would have been so closely acquainted with huge names of the time period (Thoreau, Emerson, John Brown, etc.) strains credibility. But overall, this is a great book and well worth the read, especially if you have any interest in American history.
The book is very well written and obviously well researched. I really liked the realism of Mr. March’s experiences. Unfortunately, I didn’t like Mr. March very much. He is the insufferable kind of idealist, and I don’t respond well to characters like that. Fortunately, when I was almost sick of him, the book switches to Mrs. March (Marmee’s) POV. I much preferred her outlook on the story, even though it was equally, and realistically, flawed.
Not everything in the book was perfect, which is why my review isn’t 5 stars. I’m always a little skeptical of a white person writing the experience of African-American slaves. Also, the fact that the March family would have been so closely acquainted with huge names of the time period (Thoreau, Emerson, John Brown, etc.) strains credibility. But overall, this is a great book and well worth the read, especially if you have any interest in American history.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Infidelity, Racism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Fire/Fire injury