Before I begin, I must say that right now I am positively swooning over the reading I am doing! Little Women is (sadly) winding down but surely going out with a bang. At the same time, Gone with the Wind is ramping up! It's so cool reading two books about the Civil War era (my …
Motherhood, Marriage, and Keen Observations
Chapter 38 of Little Women, "On the Shelf" again showed me what a keen observer Louisa was. She never married nor bore any children yet her description of Meg and John's adjustment to parenthood was dead on. I listened to the audio book with my mouth open just about the whole time, in awe at …
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A review of The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott
This review is way overdue! The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott, the debut novel of Kelly O'Connor McNees, was the book that began my current reading binge last May. My husband, bless his heart, found this book and bought it for me and I will always be grateful. The Lost Summer of Louisa May …
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Quick preview of Susan Cheever’s new bio on Louisa May Alcott
I’m here at Barnes and Noble, killing time before I have to attend a work event (some of us are representing our real estate firm, Rutledge Properties (in Wellesley, MA), in a town-wide spelling bee – goodness, I hope we last at least one round! ). I figured I would see if Susan Cheever’s book, …
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Updates to blog pages
Be sure and check out all the new books I added to My Growing Library after I went on a shopping spree! No less than 11 new books (almost all at bargain prices, what fun!). I've put an * next to books I've either read or are in the middle of reading. Slow going but …
Setting the stage for a major disappointment
Louisa knew she was about to inflict a major blow on her fans. Countless girls had implored and demanded that Jo and Laurie be married, but the stubborn author refused to give in. She never wanted Jo to marry in the first place but figured she'd create a "funny match for her" instead (see my …
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Want to know more about Louisa? Lots of new links added to this site
Be sure and check out a new page added to the Louisa May Alcott is My Passion blog known as Other Sites of Interest. Here you will find links to brief biographies, bibliographies, commentary (both modern and from contemporaries), news articles from the NY Times archives, critical essays and even an Alcott Challenge! I can't …
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Jo’s choice
In Chapter 34, "A Friend," Jo makes not one but two choices. One is exceedingly difficult, the other flows from the first. The choice most commented upon is her decision to give up writing sensational thrillers. Modern feminist critics look to this chapter as a death of sort, of Jo's independent self (see Little Women …
Louisa creates the perfect man for Jo (and herself?)
At least that's my take on Professor Bhaer. And what a sweetheart she's created! Kind, gentle, a lover of children . . . an intellectual who can challenge her mind and create stimulating conversation . . . a confidant . . . someone with the courage to be virtuous and defend it . . . …
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A milestone – Over 100 comments!
Thank you to all the readers of this blog for such a lively and thoughtful discussion. We just surpassed 100 comments and the blog has only been in existence since August 13th! I am so thrilled with the quality of comments coming from you. It's good after all these years of being a closet Alcott …
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 