Archive for April 2012

Most Wanted: Week Ending April 29

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2. Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games) by Suzanne Collins

3. Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games) by Suzanne Collins

4. The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

5. The Marriage Bargain (Marriage to a Billionaire) by Jennifer Probst

6. On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves

7. The Vow: The True Events that Inspired the Movie by Krickitt Carpenter, Kim Carpenter

8. Weekend Agreement by Barbara Wallace

9. The Marriage Pact by M.J. Pullen

10. Existence by Abbi Glines

11. Predestined (Existence) by Abbi Glines

12. Defiance (A Significance Novel) by Shelly Crane

13. Because of Low (Sea Breeze) by Abbi Glines

14. Golden Lies by Barbara Freethy

15. Bared to You: A Crossfire Novel by Sylvia Day

16. A Week at the Beach by Virginia Jewel

17. Superman’s Cape by Brian Spangler

18. More Than Memories by Kristen James

19. The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1) by Rick Riordan

20. A Soft Place to Fall (Shelter Rock Cove) by Barbara Bretton

21. The Maze Runner (Maze Runner Trilogy, Book 1) by James Dashner

22. That Wedding (That Boy) by Jillian Dodd

23. The Baby Trap by Sibel Hodge

24. Having My Baby by Theresa Ragan

25. BLOOD STAINED (Lucy Guardino FBI Thrillers, Book #2) by CJ Lyons

Free Classics: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is an 1868-1869 American novel (published initially as two volumes) about a mother and four daughters waiting for their soldier to return from the Civil War.

This book is much beloved and widely read by adolescent girls. Fair warning, from the reviews on Amazon, first time adult readers may not enjoy this Victorian classic. However, those of us who read it as children are likely to enjoy revisiting the March family and may even be surprised. It turns out that many editions were “updated,” so you may never have read the original.

The beginning makes me smile with the masterful delineation of each personality.

“Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents,” grumbled Jo, lying on the rug.

“It’s so dreadful to be poor!” sighed Meg, looking down at her old dress.

“I don’t think it’s fair for some girls to have plenty of pretty things, and other girls nothing at all,” added little Amy, with an injured sniff.

“We’ve got Father and Mother, and each other,” said Beth contentedly from her corner.

The four young faces on which the firelight shone brightened at the cheerful words, but darkened again as Jo said sadly, “We haven’t got Father, and shall not have him for a long time.” She didn’t say “perhaps never,” but each silently added it, thinking of Father far away, where the fighting was.

Here the March girls are a little later, speculating on a future that will be made clear before the end of the book

“If we are all alive ten years hence, let’s meet, and see how many of us have got our wishes, or how much nearer we are then than now,” said Jo, always ready with a plan.

“Bless me! How old I shall be, twenty-seven!” exclaimed Meg, who felt grown up already, having just reached seventeen.

“You and I will be twenty-six, Teddy, Beth twenty-four, and Amy twenty-two. What a venerable party!” said Jo.

“I hope I shall have done something to be proud of by that time, but I’m such a lazy dog, I’m afraid I shall dawdle, Jo.”

“You need a motive, Mother says, and when you get it, she is sure you’ll work splendidly.”

“Is she? By Jupiter, I will, if I only get the chance!” cried Laurie, sitting up with sudden energy. “I ought to be satisfied to please Grandfather, and I do try, but it’s working against the grain, you see, and comes hard. He wants me to be an India merchant, as he was, and I’d rather be shot. I hate tea and silk and spices, and every sort of rubbish his old ships bring, and I don’t care how soon they go to the bottom when I own them. Going to college ought to satisfy him, for if I give him four years he ought to let me off from the business. But he’s set, and I’ve got to do just as he did, unless I break away and please myself, as my father did. If there was anyone left to stay with the old gentleman, I’d do it tomorrow.”

Laurie spoke excitedly, and looked ready to carry his threat into execution on the slightest provocation, for he was growing up very fast and, in spite of his indolent ways, had a young man’s hatred of subjection, a young man’s restless longing to try the world for himself.

“I advise you to sail away in one of your ships, and never come home again till you have tried your own way,” said Jo, whose imagination was fired by the thought of such a daring exploit, and whose sympathy was excited by what she called ‘Teddy’s Wrongs’.

“That’s not right, Jo. You mustn’t talk in that way, and Laurie mustn’t take your bad advice. You should do just what your grandfather wishes, my dear boy,” said Meg in her most maternal tone.

As an adult, I was shocked to learn there were women who did not want to be Jo and did not consider her the best role model of all the sisters. My view of this book was such that it could have been titled “Jo and the Rest of the March Family.” So, please, feel free to read or re-read and pick your favorite!

Click here to get your free copy of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott >>>

Most Wanted: Week Ending April 22

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2. Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games) by Suzanne Collins

3. The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

4. A Year to Remember by Shelly Bell

5. The Marriage Bargain (Marriage to a Billionaire) by Jennifer Probst

6. On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves

7. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

8. Always the Designer, Never the Bride (Another Emma Rae Creation) by Sandra D. Bricker

9. The Marriage Pact by M.J. Pullen

10. Tiger (New Species, Book Seven) by Laurann Dohner

11. On One Condition by Diane Alberts

12. A Week at the Beach by Virginia Jewel

11. Growing Up Amish by Ira Wagler

12. In Too Deep (The Kincaid Brides) by Mary Connealy

13. Rally ‘Round Green (The Green Series) by Judy Pace Christie

14. The Maze Runner (Maze Runner Trilogy, Book 1) by James Dashner

15. Moon Spell (The Tale of Lunarmorte #1) by Samantha Young

16. F in Exams pb: The Very Best Totally Wrong Test Answers by Richard Benson

17. Please Don’t Tell by Kelly Mooney

18. Sleeping with Paris Juliette Sobanet

19. Sweet Dreams by Kristen Ashley

20. The Baby Thief (A Romantic Thriller) by L.J. Sellers

21. Tempted (Dark Protectors) by Rebecca Zanetti

22. Claimed (Dark Protectors) byRebecca Zanetti

23. Taking Chase (The Chase Brothers, Book 2) by Lauren Dane

24. Trading Up by Sandra Edwards

25 Chasing Nikki byLacey Weatherford

 

 

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