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bookbelle5_17's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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
5.0
Review of March
By: Geraldine Brooks
Many are familiar with the classic coming of age, during Civil War, story of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. Little Women is a domestic, sentimental story of these four girls growing up during of time of unrest for America, and being raised by their strong-willed mother, whom they call Marmee. Their father is away at war as Chaplain fighting for the freedom of black slaves while simultaneously trying to give these soldiers absolution, but struggles, because his values and methods aren’t agreed with. It is Geraldine Brooks’ novel that dives into that story. I attempted to read Little Women when I was either in my late teens or early twenties, but couldn’t appreciate the story, though I adored the 1994 adaptation and now the 2019 one. I have thought of picking it up again, but I would most likely feel the same way. Never say never as I do have a niece that might read it when she’s a preteen. March by Brooks, isn’t so saccharine as the original, but does have strong morals as the main character, Mr. March, is a Chaplain who tries to take the moral high ground and fights for the rights of all human beings. He is flawed and puts others before himself almost to a fault as it gets him into troublesome situations that effect his friends and family, as well as himself. March highlights how divided we were, particularly on the slave issue and how the Southerners saw the black slaves as no better than animals. Mr. March tries to help them and fight for them in the only way he knows, by educating them on how to read and write. March shows the brutality of war and slavery as even Mr. March’s Northern ally, Mr. Canning, for creating a school, owns and is as at times harsh to his slaves as me makes them work tirelessly. He forms friendships and intimate bonds with them seeing as human beings, but doesn’t seem to realize there are limits to what he can do to help them. He is also fighting against a system that has been around for years and stubbornly refuses to change. He often debates what to tell Marmee and his girls about what is going while he’s at war and fails to mention to his wife the history he has with the black nurse, who took care of him while he’s at the hospital. The story goes back and forth between the war and Mr. March a young man meeting his wife. We get hints of how Marmee is like Jo in temper, but this actually shows that side of her as a young woman fighting back against societal norms. Fair warning, the book uses the “N” word and doesn’t sugar code what was going on at this time. His family is sheltered mostly from the ugliness of the world while Mr. March is in the thick of it and feels it is his responsibility to do what he can to help. March shows what the original story only touched on, and gives an unglorified view of one of the many wars America has fought over the years. You loved Little Women growing up you might enjoy this story about the father’s time during the war.
By: Geraldine Brooks
Many are familiar with the classic coming of age, during Civil War, story of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. Little Women is a domestic, sentimental story of these four girls growing up during of time of unrest for America, and being raised by their strong-willed mother, whom they call Marmee. Their father is away at war as Chaplain fighting for the freedom of black slaves while simultaneously trying to give these soldiers absolution, but struggles, because his values and methods aren’t agreed with. It is Geraldine Brooks’ novel that dives into that story. I attempted to read Little Women when I was either in my late teens or early twenties, but couldn’t appreciate the story, though I adored the 1994 adaptation and now the 2019 one. I have thought of picking it up again, but I would most likely feel the same way. Never say never as I do have a niece that might read it when she’s a preteen. March by Brooks, isn’t so saccharine as the original, but does have strong morals as the main character, Mr. March, is a Chaplain who tries to take the moral high ground and fights for the rights of all human beings. He is flawed and puts others before himself almost to a fault as it gets him into troublesome situations that effect his friends and family, as well as himself. March highlights how divided we were, particularly on the slave issue and how the Southerners saw the black slaves as no better than animals. Mr. March tries to help them and fight for them in the only way he knows, by educating them on how to read and write. March shows the brutality of war and slavery as even Mr. March’s Northern ally, Mr. Canning, for creating a school, owns and is as at times harsh to his slaves as me makes them work tirelessly. He forms friendships and intimate bonds with them seeing as human beings, but doesn’t seem to realize there are limits to what he can do to help them. He is also fighting against a system that has been around for years and stubbornly refuses to change. He often debates what to tell Marmee and his girls about what is going while he’s at war and fails to mention to his wife the history he has with the black nurse, who took care of him while he’s at the hospital. The story goes back and forth between the war and Mr. March a young man meeting his wife. We get hints of how Marmee is like Jo in temper, but this actually shows that side of her as a young woman fighting back against societal norms. Fair warning, the book uses the “N” word and doesn’t sugar code what was going on at this time. His family is sheltered mostly from the ugliness of the world while Mr. March is in the thick of it and feels it is his responsibility to do what he can to help. March shows what the original story only touched on, and gives an unglorified view of one of the many wars America has fought over the years. You loved Little Women growing up you might enjoy this story about the father’s time during the war.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, and War
waytoomanybooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The first half of the book was really enjoyable because I found the premise of the novel to be enticing. But as the story went on, the plotlines became more and more convoluted and ridiculous, and the characters became more and more insufferable. By the end of the novel, I didn't have any sympathy for either Robert or Marmee. I would've been more interested to read a book from Brooks' original character, Grace, instead.
Nothing can ruin my childhood love of Little Women, but Brooks' made a valiant attempt.
Spoilers below:
Marmee and Robert March were borne from a solid foundation from both Alcott and Brooks' novels, but their relationship was in ruins by the end of the novel. How and why on earth would someone write something so stupid?
Nothing can ruin my childhood love of Little Women, but Brooks' made a valiant attempt.
Spoilers below:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Don't read this book.klschicago's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime and Racism