Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott

I struggled with whether or not this should be included as a “flashback,” mostly because I make it a habit to read this one just about every time I fall into a book rut.  I do count this, though, as one of the books that really made me fall in love with reading, so I think that it is perfect flashback material.

I grew up with an older brother and a younger brother.  I love them both dearly, but have always dreamed of what it would have been like to grow up with sisters.  In my dreams, my sisters are the March girls.  Also, in my dreams, I am Jo.  I just absolutely loved their plays and their creativity and their get-through-it-ness during tough times.  I loved how they encouraged each other and were just good sisters.  This, for whatever reason, still makes me a little teary eyed to think about. I just love it.

Reading it as and adult, I see things that I completely missed as a kid: the undercurrent of “the goal of a woman’s life is to marry” and how they totally ignore the effect that the Civil War would have had on a family of the time.  But this is a flashback, so there.  When I was a kid, I really just saw this innocence and a family that was fully functional, which mine was not.

I remember reading this one over and over and over when I was growing up.  The story never got old for me. Since then I’ve read a few “spin-offs” of the book, and have to say that March by Geraldine Brooks is truly a great book, and I’m not just saying that because I’m a Little Women fan. It’s good stuff.

To participate in Flashback Friday, head over here to get the info on what’s going on.  After posting your flashback, come back here and comment with a link to your blog so everyone can enjoy!

” ‘There are books full of great writing that don’t have very good stories. Read sometimes for the story, Bobby.  Don’t be like the book-snobs who won’t do that.  Read sometimes for the words- the language.  Don’t be like the play-it-safers that won’t do that. But when you find a book that has both a good story and a good words, treasure that book.’

‘Are there many of those, do you think?’ Bobby asked.

‘More than the book-snobs and play-it-safers think. Many more.’ ”

Good stuff, huh?

I was trying to think of, for me, books that have had both. Tough question.

Off the top of my head I thought of The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, The Stand by Stephen King, and (of course) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.  Maybe there are more, but these are the ones that immediately came to mind.

What books, for you, have both?