Book #47: March

Title: March


Author: Geraldine Brooks


March is the best book I've read in a long time. For any girl who grew up loving Little Women, March provides the backstory that fleshes out the story of the four March sisters for adult readers. If you've read Little Women you'll probably remember that the girls' father has left to fight in the Civil War shortly before the book begins. He returns to the novel on Christmas morning, about halfway through the book. Geraldine Brooks's March tells the story of what happened to Mr. March in the year he was gone from the family, as well as explaining how the March family went from riches to rags shortly before the novel opens.


In order to write the book, Brooks researched the life of Bronson Alcott (Louisa May's father) and based the character of Mr. March on Alcott. Since we're led to belive that the character of Jo is based on Louisa May, I think it's fitting that her father's character would be based on Bronson Alcott. Brooks also researched the path the war took during 1861, and put March in or near some of the pivotal events. All in all, it's a very well researched, well written, moving book. I think it would be a perfect book club read because it's relatively short (270 pages) but very meaty, especially with the themes of choosing to live when your ideals have been shattered. It received the Pulitzer Prize for literature last year and I think it was an award well bestowed.


--originally published 7/15/06