I know I said I would not finish American Bloomsbury but I really do enjoy Susan Cheever's writing style despite the problems her books pose. This is the second non-fiction book I've read by Cheever and it's frustrating that her work is so uneven. She is either utterly brilliant or totally inane. Despite several factual …
The American Library Association Louisa May Alcott Project: A DVD and Book Start a Movement
In May of 1868, a publisher asked an author to write a book specifically targeted "for girls." His plan was twofold: to capitalize on this up-and-coming author's growing popularity, and to capture a corner of a brand new genre of children's literature. The author begrudgingly obliged, and ended up producing one of the best selling, …
Finally saw the 1994 film of Little Women
I suppose if I'm going to be so long in reading Little Women , I might as well be long in seeing the film too! My lovely husband, keenly aware of my interest, set the DVR to tape Little Women on the Oprah Winfrey Network so I could watch it (awfully nice, thanks Rich!). I …
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First Report from the ALA Workshop on Louisa May Alcott: strictly from a fan’s perspective
Today was such an amazing day that I am asking you to please indulge me. I want to file two reports but the first one needs to be from a gushing fan; the more informative report will come later over the weekend. I started this blog with the express purpose of meeting other fans of …
Moods: Sylvia’s Choice
I enjoy how Louisa describes Geoffrey Moor and Adam Warwick, the two love interests of heroine Sylvia Yule through comparing and contrasting how they respond to similar situations. Here's one scenario: Sylvia lost her mother at an early age and she has grieved throughout her young life over that loss. She first meets Adam Warwick …
Ever pictured Louisa May Alcott as a Lego? This and other fun tidbits
I have a Google alert set up that sends me new links every week to anything relating to Louisa May Alcott. Just for fun, I thought I'd share some of the interesting links with you. The Vintage Book of American Women Writers It, of course, includes our own LMA . . . this looks like …
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Book Review: Louisa May Alcott A Personal Biography by Susan Cheever
Susan Cheever has offered the latest in a flurry of books about Louisa May Alcott; hers is titled Louisa May Alcott A Personal Biography. In a little over 250 pages, she sketches out the life of the popular author of Little Women. Cheever's book is an easy read, with a writing style that is very …
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Little Women – the grand accident
I really loved what Susan Cheever had to say in her chapter on Little Women in Louisa May Alcott A Personal Biography. I had found myself wondering why Little Women was the standout book from this prolific author, seeing that it was written under such duress, and I think Cheever really hit on it. Here's …
Getting to know the principal characters in “Moods”
The 1882 version of Moods includes 3 interesting chapters which develop the principal characters of the novel and their interaction with each other. Geoffrey Moor Chapter 2 gives us a glimpse into Geoffrey Moor, based upon the loyal, lifelong friend of Bronson Alcott, and the Good Samaritan who quietly and discreetly helped the Alcott family …
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“Moods” so far
Moods was Louisa May Alcott's first serious novel and her"baby," most likely the book that Jo referred to in Chapter 27 of Little Women, "Literary Lessons." Louisa describes Jo's writing process which likely mirrors her own. "Falling into a vortex," as she calls it, it's like Louisa/Jo steps into another dimension, oblivious to the outside …
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 