March Sisters: On Life, Death, and Little Women

by Kate Bolick, Jenny Zhang, Carmen Maria Machado, Jane Smiley Narrated by Cassandra Campbell

Overview

For the 150th anniversary of the publication of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, Kate Bolick, Jenny Zhang, Carmen Maria Machado, and Jane Smiley explore their strong lifelong personal engagement with Alcott's novel-what it has meant to them and why it still matters. Each takes as her subject one of the four March sisters, reflecting on their stories and what they have to teach us about life. Kate Bolick finds parallels in oldest sister Meg's brush with glamour at the Moffats' ball and her own complicated relationship with clothes. Jenny Zhang confesses to liking Jo least among the sisters when she first read the novel as a girl, uncomfortable in finding so much of herself in a character she feared was too unfeminine. Carmen Maria Machado writes about the real-life tragedy of Lizzie Alcott, the inspiration for third sister Beth, and the horror story that can result from not being the author of your own life's narrative. And Jane Smiley rehabilitates the reputation of youngest sister Amy, whom she sees as a modern feminist role model for those of us who are, well, not like the fiery Jo. These four voices come together to form a deep, funny, far-ranging meditation on the power of great literature to shape our lives.

Editorial Reviews

JANUARY 2020 - AudioFile

Narrator Cassandra Campell brings her considerable talents to this collection of essays about the impact of the semiautobiographical novel LITTLE WOMEN on four contemporary authors. Each writer tackles a different March sister, exploring various facets of her fictional personality and the real-life person she was based on. Kate Bolick contemplates her relationship with clothes through Meg; Jenny Zhang confronts her childhood dislike of Jo; Carmen Maria Machado recounts the real-life sickness of Lizzie Alcott, Louisa May’s sister, whom Beth is based on; and Smiley reexamines Amy through a 21st-century feminist lens. Campbell’s narration is steady, inviting, and perfectly paced, making it easy for listeners to sink into each essay. She doesn’t alter her voice as she narrates, allowing the authors’ words to stand on their own merit. Listeners—especially fans of LITTLE WOMEN—will find much to enjoy in this absorbing audiobook. L.S. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

JANUARY 2020 - AudioFile

Narrator Cassandra Campell brings her considerable talents to this collection of essays about the impact of the semiautobiographical novel LITTLE WOMEN on four contemporary authors. Each writer tackles a different March sister, exploring various facets of her fictional personality and the real-life person she was based on. Kate Bolick contemplates her relationship with clothes through Meg; Jenny Zhang confronts her childhood dislike of Jo; Carmen Maria Machado recounts the real-life sickness of Lizzie Alcott, Louisa May’s sister, whom Beth is based on; and Smiley reexamines Amy through a 21st-century feminist lens. Campbell’s narration is steady, inviting, and perfectly paced, making it easy for listeners to sink into each essay. She doesn’t alter her voice as she narrates, allowing the authors’ words to stand on their own merit. Listeners—especially fans of LITTLE WOMEN—will find much to enjoy in this absorbing audiobook. L.S. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940173539816
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	09/30/2019
Edition description:	Unabridged

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