Reader's Ink discussion

When I asked about what other Alcott books y'all read prior to Lost Summer, I should have asked if anybody had read Geraldine Brooks's "March," which won the Pulitzer a few years ago. (Side note: I saw Brooks speak at the National Book Festival in DC, and she's utterly adorable and brilliant.)

Anyway, "March" is a novel about the dad in Little Women (Mr. March, remember), who is, as you'll recall, quite (physcially) absent throughout the novel. So Brooks's novel explores what he was doing all the time he was away. I absolutely ADORED "March," and I highly recommend it. Although Brooks's Mr. March is a doubly fictionalized version of Bronson Alcott, her novel gives him a voice I found more compelling than O'Connor's Bronson Alcott/Mr. March.

Thoughts?March

If one were to choose between rereading Little Women or reading March for the first time, which would you pick?

MARCH! Really, it's just a fabulous book.

I haven't read March, sounds interesting. By the way, my library system did not have our July book available, so I had to "Kindle" it. Are you gals having any better luck with your library system. I started reading it yesterday, and though just getting started, am enjoying it so far....

I have cards to two local library systems and both have the books - although, to be fair, they're massive systems. That said, Lost Summer is apparently popular out here - both systems have active hold lists for it - while the majority of copies of March were also checked out. Are a lot of people joining this group that we don't know about?

Our library system has about 15 libraries in the Albuquerque area. So we have lots of places to look. I did a library/web search, and there was not a copy to be found. I don't know of any more joining from my end. I don't mind a smallish group. I do belong to another group, but I haven't been very happy with it, so I'm going to tell them about you guys too. Are you all thinking about reading March for July? If possible, I kind of like to know what book is selected for the next session so that if I finish the one for the current month, I can get started on the next one. Anyone else agree?

March sounds interesting for sure. In reality, I'll probably end up reading both though, because it's been so long since I have read Little Women

Huh, interesting. My library system (Montgomery County) had oodles of copies available. Sorry about that--I thought I had picked a fairly accessible book.

March was just a book I mentioned for (nerdy) fun. In the meantime, Meghan HAS picked the book for July (remember, she gets to pick because she was the very first person to sign up for this here book club!). I'll send out an announcement today, but separately so it doesn't get lost in the Louisa May discussion strings. That way, y'all can get it on your library holds lists.

I just checked on March, (you all got my curiosity up), and we have 8 copies of it in our System here...one never knows.

I'm glad other people will be reading March - it'll be nice to be able to discuss and compare.

Hi Guys---By reading some of your threads, I get the feeling most of you know each other, and I'm the odd man out. I've read your profiles (and your blog), but could you each tell me/us a little something about yourselves. Here's me. I'm 54 years old, live in Albuquerque, NM. Am the oldest of three children. Lived here most of my life, graduated from Brigham Young University in Business Education, received my Masters from University of Phoenix in Human Relations and Organizational Behavior. Have worked for several companies, and been the product of layoffs over the last 25 plus years. Am currently working part time for a Financial planning computer software company, where we write and sell the software. I work in customer service and sales. Am a two-time breast cancer survivor, and have been clean for 15 years. Have had some bad side effects from the chemotherapy, radiation, and steriods used in treatment, etc, that has caused me to need three hip replacements, two shoulder replacements, and last year I had to have all my teeth extracted, and am getting used to some new choppers. I was a late bloomer in life, and I got married 8 years ago for the first time to my husband Mark, we are buying a home, and are very involved in our church group. I love reading, gardening, traveling, hand crafts, card making, yarn works, helping with charity groups, and all kinds of stuff. I try to keep busy, some days this old body just doesn't do as well as others. But reading has been a real Godsend to keep me in touch with new authors and people that like to read. I forgot to mention my four legged kitty friend Frisco, an 11 1/2 year old cat that is the love of my life and I have 4 hermit crabs that are an interesting dynamic. My husband is not the best "pet" person, so Mom has to do all the dirty work. But I wouldn't trade them. Let me know a little about you if you don't mind.

That’s a good idea, Carol—and welcome! I hope you find this book club fun and lively and utterly erudite and insightful. (Well, we’ll try . . . .)

Not everybody knows everybody, but most of the members know at least one other person in the book club. Meg and Lauren know each other (we went to college together) and Julie and Alisha know each other (we grew up together in the same church). Cheryl is my super cool aunt (“Auntie Cheryl” to me!) The point of the book club is to get a diverse group of readers reading the same book each month, so you’re in the right place!

You probably got the gist of who I am via my blog, but here’s the reader’s digest version: I’m 30 years old, grew up outside Seattle, attended Occidental College in L.A. where I got a degree in women’s studies with a minor in English, attended the University of Virginia for my master’s degree in English, and now here I am in Maryland. I married my main squeeze in 2007, had my first child 16 exhausting months ago, and currently work as an editor for a nonprofit. My interests? I love reading (duh), writing, decorating, wrapping presents (I have a well-documented ribbon fetish), and setting the table (I kid you not—I got that from Auntie Cheryl, actually).

The book club started several weeks ago at a previous forum site—it was tragically fraught with technical glitches, and we were all getting pretty fed up. Lauren (politely) suggested we move it to Goodreads. A good move, I think!

I'll chime in:

As Ashley said, I attended Occidental, where I studied politics and tried to see how many extracurricular activities I could do in four years (Ashley was the unfortunate person I sometimes guilt-tripped into joining with me - luckily, she's patient and possesses a dry sense of humor). After graduating, I stayed in Los Angeles, where I briefly worked for an Internet start up before doing some freelance work and traveling. Once back in L.A., I got a job at a coffee shop and decided to apply to law school. I then spent the next three years becoming good friends with the law library.

I love creating things - whether that be in a kitchen, on a canvas, on paper, or with yarn - and, by extension, enjoy museums, books, the theatre, author events, you name it. On the flip side, I am one of those odd people who actually enjoys working out, partially because it allows me to take advantage of LA's weather. My current goal is to be 10K ready - with my barefoot running shoes (which is why I no longer get pedicures) - by July 31. Fingers crossed for no weird injuries, wild fires, or long, drawn-out heat waves in the next couple of months.

Next!

my turn my turn!
Like Lauren and Ashers I also went to Occidental (where we all met) and majored in economics. I am originally from the Bay Area of CA and after school fled LA and returned North. I am married to my high school sweet heart/best friend/complicated (how exactly do we describe him?) and now live in the Gold Country foothills of CA. I work for a local probation department and get to enjoy the company of criminals ( literally) most of my days. It keeps my job very interesting. No kids yet, but have two canine children who are the most spoiled creatures on the planet. Seriously when I die I want to be reincarnated as my dog. I have been a swimmer my entire life (literally since 4 wks old) and swam competitively for years. Now I prefer to spend my aquatic time on the lake wakeboarding and surfing. I think L and A will concur that I tend to have the most sarcastic sense of humor of the group and a little dark (hence Skippy Dies next month). Oh and my entire life is plagued by Murphy's Law-you can name just about any freakishly weird illness, accident, occurence, and it has happened to me-twice.
Cheers!

Ok- my turn now. I lived near Seattle until my family moved to CA when I was 17. I stuck around for college while my family continued on their way to Houston. I went to Azusa Pacific University and majored in Psychology. For the past 7 years I've been doing behavior intervention and floortime therapy (a type of play therapy) with kids with autism. I moved to Long Beach soon after college and met and married my husband just over 4 years ago. No kids yet, but we've got two sweet little kitties that we love. Outside of work I like crafting- mostly sewing and knitting, baking (love to bake for others, because I am gluten/dairy free), and swimming. I've been on an adult masters swim team for the past year that kicks my butt, but is always a good time. I've always had a passionate hate for running, so to mix things up and challenge myself (or maybe it was a moment of insanity- who knows) i registered for a half marathon later in the year. Training has been slow to start- but actually, much more enjoyable than I expected!

Okay here goes! I have known Ashley and Alisha since I was nine, growing up in Renton, Washington. I currently live in Salem, Oregon with my husband of six weeks and my 11 y/o stepdaughter. I majored in Creative Writing with a minor in English Literature, and love reading and writing. My career this far has been in hospitality (worked in hotels in positions from breakfast server up to General Manager) but am now enjoying a deliberate bout of unemployment. Just finished the first quilt I've made since high school, and enjoying reading all sorts of stuff. And mentally preparing myself to have a middle schooler!

Well, here goes. I've known Ashley since birth because, well, I'm her mom. Auntie Cheryl is my older sister, and I've known Ashley's friends Julie and Alisha for years and Meghan and Lauren since her days at Oxy. I live in the Seattle area and enjoy spending time with my granddaughter whenever I can (she's 2500 miles away!), outings with my girlfriends, movies, watching sports (I only watch now, as I retired from softball 2 years ago), and curling up with a good book. LOVE that. I survived an FDIC takeover at a bank a year ago, and now work in the "Special Assets" area (translation: crappy loans) of that fine establishment doing workouts and foreclosures while also "enjoying" a 90-mile roundtrip commute every day. Maybe I can get the August book on a CD and listen to it to and from work! This is my first book club, so I hope y'all will bear with me as I stumble through. Ashley is broadening dear old mom's horizons as well as being my "go to" Martha Stewart and fashion police. I hope to retire in 5 years, and then I can read whenever I want, whatever I want. Glad to be part of the group. NEXT?

Thank you ladies for taking some time out of your busy days to tell me/us something about you. I feel a little closer to you now, and a lot of us have things in common. Julie (oops sorry), congrats on being a new bride. Hospitality sounds like a fun career. Enjoy your time off, new hubby & creative time. Lauren--Politics huh. Brave girl, and law school too. Kudos to you. Good thing you have your creative and athletic side to balance off your professional life. Good luck on your 10K--lets both stay healthy. Alisha--Psychology, and working with Autistic kids. My hat is off to you, you have a gift I was not blessed with. Half a marathon--WOW, go girl!! Auntie Cheryl--Amazing lady. Actor, singer, dancer, and keeping track of these people too. We are probably about a similar age, so can relate on different levels. But 37 years as an English high school teacher WHEW! Now that's impressive. Sounds like you know most if not all these folks, and you all appear to be a close knit group. I treasure that. Ashley--a good leader, that I can tell, and a pretty good organizer too. Being a new Mom and a relatively new wife have to be pretty awesome for you. Ribbon fettish, huh. My Mom used to have boxes and boxes of ribbon. Took me down memory lane. Thanks for your efforts in getting the crazy group of people together with something we all enjoy. Nancy--Mom, sister, friend. I guess I'm a tiny bit jealous, because my mother was murdered 11 years ago, and we were very close. Mom/daughter relationships are very special. I sure treasured mine. I love movies and watching sports too!! Meghan--economics and probation department. What a mix, and a swimmer to boot. Nice for your hubby and high school honey to be the love of your life. I'd put my kitty up to your pups any day as most spoiled 4-leggeds around.

Have a great weekend, and thanks again for giving me some insights into you all. Carol

I GUESS IT'S MY TURN. I'M AUNTIE CHERYL, AND I'VE RECENTLY RETIRED FROM TEACHING ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION FOR 37 YEARS. MY ACTOR/SINGER/ DANCER /COLLEGE PROFESSOR HUSBAND GOT A WILD HAIR, AND WE BOUGHT A 12 ACRE RANCH IN ATASCADERO, CALIFORNIA. I HAVE MOVED TO THE RANCH WHILE MY HUBBY COMMUTES FROM HERE TO LOS ANGELES AND BACK EVERY WEEK. I AM CURRENTLY IN CULINARY SCHOOL IN PASO ROBLES AND TUTORING AT CUESTA COLLEGE. CHEF WILL BE MY THIRD CAREER. MY DEGREES ARE IN ENGLISH AND THEATRE WITH A MASTERS IN THEATRE FROM CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE. WE HAVE TWO DOGS, A GERIATRIC HALF AKITA AND HALF CHOW WHO THINKS SHE CAN SEE AND HEAR, AND A SIX YEAR OLD BRITTANY. WE HAVE NO CHILDREN; NANCY WAS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO LOAN ME ASHLEY AND TYLER FROM TIME TO TIME. HUBBY BRENT AND I HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR A RECORD 34 YEARS. AMAZING!

OH! I ALWAYS TYPE IN CAPS AS I GO FASTER THAT WAY. NANCY TYPED MY UNDERGRAD WORK, AND BRENT TYPED MY MASTER'S THESIS. WHILE I WAS WORKING, I ALWAYS HAD TA'S WHO TYPED. NOW YOU ARE GETTING THE REAL ME.

THAT'S IT!

AUNTIE CHERYL

Just out of curiosity, already has, is, or will be reading March?

I'm reading it now...

I'm going to get it from the library over the weekend and read it while I'm waiting for Skippy Dies to show up.

I'm going to read it after I finish Little Women. I finished Lost Summer yesterday.

Also, because I had never heard of The Jacobite, I manage to find a copy online (trying to find a hard copy was a joke). It's a quick 35-page read, and I couldn't believe what a perfect choice of play it was for Lost Summer.

Here's the very, very long link:

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&...

Thanks for looking that up Lauren! :) I was pretty curious about it myself.

Thanks for your efforts and initiative in this. I'm just about done with it. Good job. It really does fit in perfectly with our book.

Just finished March today. I've asked several friends of mine that like this author what they thought of March, and most all of them said they liked her other works more than this one. It wasn't my favorite book ever, but I learned more about the family, and I felt she chose an interesting take on what might have been.

PS - found out my Skippy is in town, hope they deliver it tomorrow.