Interesting story told from the perspective of Mr. March, father of the Little Women, as Ms. Brooks imagines it. This covers his year serving the Union during the Civil War.

had with my book group - they loved it, I cannot say I loved it. The idea of writing a book about the father of Little Women was intriguing. I learned a lot about aspects of the Civil War I didn't know. She is a good writer, but a lot of it seemed very self-conscious writing. Not sure how to critique what I didn't like about her prose style. Glad to have read it though.

"Little Women" sets a huge precident for someone to try to write into, but Brooks manages to weave a great story that stands alone, but also references the classic in a creative and expansive way. "Little Women" is something of a children's novel, but "March" helps show the more adult concepts and struggles behind the relatively sweet and innocent world of "Little Women". It also provides a more detailed look at bigger concepts like Civil War-era politics and the intellectual community of New England. The mix of characteristics from the fictional March family and real Alcott family
are intriguing and the characters produced are engaging and colorful. "March" was a great read and definitely makes me want to pick up "Little Women" again and reread one of my childhood favorites.

A fictitious account of the lives of fictitious characters -
the father & mother from Louisa May Alcott's Little Women books
(which were based upon her real family). I devoured Alcott as a kid,
but we recently reread Little Women in book club and it was quite saccharine. Brooks has expanded upon the father's stint in the Civil War,
and fleshed out the parents' characters as abolitionists and idealists in a tumultuous time. I admire her writing, and was really impressed with how she wove in elements of Louisa May Alcott's writing with her own gritty vision.

This is a must read for anyone that is a fan of Little Women. It is a startling portrayal of the Mr. March - who, if you recall, went off to the Civil War. The passages describing the horrors of slavery and war will stay with you for such a long time. Brooks intertwines the great thinkers of the day - Thoreau, Emerson, etc. - who were neighbors of the Alcotts in real life and if you are familiar with their writings, you will smile at the references to Walden Pond and Concord!

At the same time, this book is an intimate look at the inner life of a man and woman - who love each other - are separated by war but are bound by their beliefs and ideals.

Truly worth it - (even if you haven't read Little Women!!)

Once I started reading this re-telling of the story of Little Women from the perspective of the absent Mr. March, I couldn't put it down!

I definitely enjoyed this novel, told from the perspective of Colonel March, the father in Alcott's Little Women (and a bit from Marmee's persepctive as well). It is strongest when pondering the nature of marriage and weakest when philosophizing about liberal motives and guilt (though also at times perceptive and embarrassingly accurate).

It was also enjoyable to hear obliquely about characters from Little Women whom I hold so dear to my heart and childhood.