Book #14: "The Quiet Little Woman"

This is actually three short stories by Louisa May Alcott, and I would have read it before the two biographies but I forgot it was there. Which pretty much sums up the book. There's nothing wrong with it; it's just...there. Honestly, I prefer the short stories she has some of her characters tell.

Author: Louisa May Alcott

Potentially objectionable content: Really, none

Book #13: "Marmee and Louisa"

Time for today's installment of "Gossip about people who have been dead for approximately 150 years"! (It's a new thing I'm trying to make happen.)

Y'all. The author of book #12, Ednah Cheney, was rumored to have an affair with Bronson Alcott. When he was at least twice her age. I...don't know what else to say about that, except that it explains a lot about the remarkably deferential tone of her book.

So. That book was written by someone who knew the Alcott family (some of them better than others. Which is as innuendo-laden as I'm willing to get here) and this book was written by someone related to the Alcott family. A descendant of Louisa's maternal uncle, Samuel Joseph May, Eve LaPlante focuses not just on Louisa, but on Louisa's greatest inspiration: her "Marmee", Abigail May Alcott.

And it is fascinating reading. Not married until she was thirty and possessing a strong belief in some fairly radical opinions for her time, Abigail was a born writer and revolutionary who was stifled by her society, culture and (at least from what I read here) husband. And seeing Louisa's upbringing in this new light  leads me to the conclusion that her famous "Little Women" heroine Jo is based not on herself (as is usually supposed) but on Abigail.

People often ask you to name a person, alive or dead, you would most want to meet. I (to the surprise of absolutely no one, I'm sure) have a long list of such people, headed by my paternal grandfather and including Mary Todd Lincoln, Douglas Adams, Julie Andrews and Hugh Jackman. And after reading this book, I'll add Abigail May Alcott to that list.

Author: Eve LaPlante

Potentially objectionable content: Nothing comes to mind

Book #12: "Louisa May Alcott: Life, Letters and Journals"

First, a bit of housekeeping: all biographies in my library are filed alphabetically according to subject, to make them easier to find. Ergo they will appear in this blog as though the subject (in this case Louisa May Alcott) were the author. And now for something completely different.

This book was compiled by Ednah D. Cheney not long after Alcott's death, and Cheney actually knew her, which makes it that much more interesting to me. (It also means the book has 19th-century punctuation, which makes the writing somewhat stilted.)

I have to say, after reading about her life, that I feel a little bad about my unkind treatment of "Jo's Boys". Louisa May Alcott was a strong, loving and dutiful person who worked all her life with one goal: to support her family, free from debt. She worked so hard, in fact, that she nearly drove herself mad, and did lose her health. I admire her stoicism in times of trial (which were pretty much constant) and her fierce loyalty to those she loved, a trait possessed by my own baby sister.

Moreover, she did what I have always wanted to do: make a living as a writer. I am in her debt for her stories and her inspiration.

Editor: Ednah D. Cheney

Potentially objectionable content: Hard to imagine.

Book #11: "Jo's Boys"

I never read the last third of this trilogy without wanting to throw it across the room. Louisa May Alcott is supposed to have said that, regardless of what anyone else thought, she wouldn't let Jo marry Laurie, and that sentiment carries over here. In fact, Jo herself goes as far as to say that if one of her students-bright, ambitious Nan, who aspires to be a doctor-"relents" to her ardent suitor, she "will never forgive her", and the epilogue tells us that Nan remains "a busy, cheerful, independant spinster". Because, of course, having goals and dreams and finding love are mutually exclusive. If this drive and ambition were all Nan's, it would be okay, but one wonders how much of it has been bred into her.

That much would be all right with me, if it weren't for the other thwarted love story in the book: Dan. Despite maintaining that love and kindness can tame their "firebrand", and "Mothers can forgive anything", Jo truly believes Dan isn't good enough to marry into her family, and it makes me crazy.

If you absolutely must know how "Jo's Boys" grow up, or can't stand leaving a series unfinished, then by all means go ahead; as for me, I doubt I'll read this book ever again.

Author: Louisa May Alcott

Potentially objectionable content: What I said before

Book #10: "Little Men"

There's not a lot to say about this one that I didn't already say about "Little Women". It covers considerably less time (roughly six months, if my calculations are correct) and is also much narrower in scope. Both of these differences might be attributed to a larger cast of characters, since in addition to the March family we now have the boys at Jo's boarding school. Sensitive, musical Nat; impetuous tomboy Nan; happy-go-lucky Tommy; and wild firebrand Dan (along with smaller players) join the third-generation Marches in the school stories here.

I would also venture to say that this volume is the sweetest part of the trilogy, given that its focus is children. There are some wonderful adventures, delightful antics and a few truly tender moments in this installment, and in certain ways I think it actually eclipses its predecessor. Do yourself a favor and read this one too.

Author: Louisa May Alcott

Potentially objectionable content: See previous entry

Book #9: "Little Women"

When I was almost thirteen (as in maybe four or five days before my birthday) my mom found me reading a manual to a video game (the one that came in the box. Probably a Sega Genesis game, which tells you roughly how old I am which is not really part of this story.) She said to me, "What in the world are you doing?" I replied, "I've read everything I own a bunch of times." (Not true anymore, but this was a long time ago and I didn't own nearly as many. Which IS a part of this story-in general, anyway-but not so much this particular installment.)

ANYWAY. My birthday rolled around and my mother handed me three books: "Dr. Zhivago" by Boris Pasternak; "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens; and "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott. She then said, "I figured as long as you were reading everything you could get your hands on, you might as well be reading something worthwhile."

So I went to work. I couldn't get into "Dr. Zhivago" and eventually gave up-I don't even know what happened to that copy. I tried and tried to read "Great Expectations" (more on that story later) and couldn't get more than halfway through.

But "Little Women"-that became a lifelong love affair for me. I had actually read a Reader's Digest-esque version of the story in elementary school, so I was at least familiar with the story. Imagine my delight when I discovered those familiar passages, surrounded by much more! I identified mostly with Jo (the reader and writer) and Beth (the musician), and I read it so much that I wore out my copy and had to replace it (a few times. My current copy is hardbound and therefore sturdier.)

My sophomore year of high school, a girl in my Spanish class told me the drama department was holding open auditions for the stage production of "Little Women". I auditioned for Jo, would have played Beth, and was surprised to be cast as Meg, whose sweetness and docility had certainly never been MY defining characteristics! But it was nonetheless a thoroughly delightful and educational experience, and if ever I was to make a list of titles that really made me who I am today, this would be near the top of the list.

Author: Louisa May Alcott

Potentially objectionable content: If you don't like references to God and the Bible every tenth page, this is really not the book for you.