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May 18, 2006
March by Geraldine Brooks
Geraldine Brooks cleverly takes Peter March, the invisible father in Little Women, who was off serving in the Civil War and explodes him into a full blown main character. This she does by resourcefully using Bronson Alcott, Louisa May’s real life father and diligently researching the period. March is a foil for Brooks in expressing her antiwar sentiments. As a relatively older, naive and idealistic Union recruit, he serves as a chaplain attempting to save soldiers and teach free slaves to read. Blaming himself for not being able to do more, in the face of the ravages of war, he is disillusioned and his idealism is shattered.
While difficult to read at times, March is well written and the crafting of Peter March as a character is singularly impressive. While Brooks' inventiveness in manufacturing March is clearly a notable achievement, is he a logical personality fit for the little women and Mrs. March?
Posted by marianne at May 18, 2006 09:35 AM
Comments
I think your reading group would like to read "Widow of the South" which would follow nicely with this book. I am sorry I can't remember the author while writing this.
Posted by: Jane Becker at June 25, 2006 10:07 AM