The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O'Connor McNees — 384 pgs

In this interesting and enigmatic fictional account, the reader embarks on a journey through the life of one of the world's most loved authors, Louisa May Alcott. After landing in a spot of financial difficulty, the Alcott family has just moved into a deserted cabin owned by a friend in Walpole, New Hampshire. The family, which consists of four girls and their parents, are no strangers to domestic disturbance and poverty, due to Mr. Alcott's refusal to engage himself in gainful employment. Though his family disagrees, Mr. Alcott feels it is his duty to shun all material pleasures, focusing instead on his philosophical interests, a behavior which Louisa in particular finds abhorrent. As the family becomes immersed in their new surroundings, Louisa meets the local merchant's son, Joesph Singer, who immediately takes a curious interest in her. Louisa's only dream is to escape her family and move to Boston, where she hopes to have success as an author; so this new attention by Joseph Singer is not only unwelcome but strongly rejected by her, a fact that doesn't deter the young Mr. Singer in the least. Louisa grows more adamant and resistant to the charms of the young man but finds herself curiously drawn to his bright mind and eager advances. When Joesph finally begins to get past Louisa's prickly exterior, the two find themselves enamored of each other and ready to take their relationship to the next level. But then an unforeseen hinge drops a door on the couple's new-found happiness: Joesph may not be free to promise himself to the woman he loves. Louisa, for her part, struggles mightily between her desires for Joseph and her dream of a new life as a successful writer in Boston. The young lovers find themselves in the midst of a confusing and troubling set of events that threatens to overtake their dreams of the future. In this touching and reverent tale, the life of Louisa May Alcott is re-spun and re-imagined into a tale of deep love and disappointing heartbreak.

I know it's a terrible thing to admit, but as of yet, I have not read Little Women. Oh, I’ve always planned to, but I’ve never made the reading time to invest in this classic of literature, despite all the glowing things I’ve heard about it. I had initially been a little skeptical about reading this book, and figured that having not read Little Women, this tale would surely fly right over my head. I was pleased to discover that this was not the case, and found myself very interested and absorbed in this fictional account of Alcott's life.

I have to say that this portrayal of Louisa was very eye-opening. For most of the story, she’s quite aloof and bad-tempered. I might even say that she bordered on rude at times, which made me feel a little distanced from her character. I think the real reason for her coldness was her intense desire to leave everything behind and embark on her writing career, which, by necessity kept getting shoved to the back burner time and time again. She was a very spirited heroine, but most of her drive came in the form of gruff proclamations and retorts about the dissatisfaction of her life. Joesph was truly in for a hard time when he set his sights on her, because it seemed that she had no time for love and affection and would rather spend her time in pursuits of the mind. I think that’s what finally cracked her shell in regards to the young man. When she discovered that he, too, longed for intellectual companionship, a bond between the two was formed, with eagerness on both sides.

I had a hard time with Louisa's father, Bronson Alcott. I thought it was extremely selfish that he would not work to support his family and basically left their fates to the mercy of friends and acquaintances. It was frustrating to see the women of the house working endlessly to keep things going while he spent most of his time reading in his study or entertaining philosophical debates with his friends. When the girls and their mother objected to his laziness, he would begin to spout off rhetoric about leaving himself free to entertain the world of the mind and would object to doing even basic work for his family's sustenance. I’m actually surprised that the family fared so well because it must have been tiring for his friends to always have to come to their rescue. Bronson was by turns arrogant, shiftless, and distant, which really frustrated me. I do believe that these parts of the story were based on historical fact, and as I was reading, I imagined that living under his rule must have been horrific at times. In a roundabout way, Louisa's behavior towards her work sometimes mirrored her father's, for she was endlessly pursuing creativity at all costs.

The love story between Joseph and Louisa felt very organic to me, and it formed the majority of the plot. At first, I was very upset that Louisa kept denying the young man, but when the battle was finally won, the progression of the love story seemed that much sweeter. One of the main things that caused distance between the two was Louisa's fierce drive for independence. Nothing else mattered to her, and it took tremendous effort on the part of Joseph to make her see another way. I really liked Joseph and thought that his courting of Louisa was almost regal in its sincerity. He was doggedly persistent in his courtship, which made me hold him in high regard. As the story wound toward its conclusion, I found that I was getting upset with Louisa's staunch attitude of defeat when it came to their love. It could have been so much easier than she was making it for the two of them! But Louisa was Louisa, and this was not to be.

The dramatic turn at the conclusion of the story was heartbreaking. Just when all was going well, things took a turn, and I was saddened by the fate that the lovers gave into. For Louisa, things went on as she had planned, but there was a lot of hurt along that path. It seemed that circumstance coupled with Louisa's desire to be free was the stronger of the imperatives. But lest you think I spoiled the book for you, there was much that was unforeseen in the conclusion of this story. Just when you think things are going to be played out in one direction, an unexpected turn is divulged. The door between the lovers does not close as abruptly expected.

I got unexpectedly caught up in this book and think that the author did a wonderful job of making her characters well rounded and sympathetic individuals. The story had a lot of immediacy, which is funny to think about, considering it occurred such a long time ago. The author admits that the love story portrayed here is a work of fiction, as are other aspects of the tale, but questionable gaps in the record of Alcott's life may lead the reader to believe that this story may not be all that far-fetched. I definitely think that those readers who have enjoyed Alcott's body of work would do well to pick up this book, and for those who have not read anything by the author, do not fear! There’s enough grist in this story for it to stand alone beautifully. It was a very interesting read, and I’ll be doing my best to start giving Alcott's work the attention that it deserves!

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This book was provided as a complimentary review copy.

I Am Forbidden by Anouk Markovits — 320 pgs

In this multi-generational saga, the lives of a family of an extremely devout Jewish sect range from extreme joy to unmitigated tragedy as one transgression sets off an unstoppable chain of events. When two young children, Josef and Mila, are left orphaned by the horrendous events of the Holocaust, they travel a great distance to join the family of the religiously extreme Torah scholar Zalman Stern. Their new caretaker has a large brood of children, including a free thinking daughter named Atara. As time marches forward, Josef eventually leaves the Sterns to become a Torah scholar as well, while Atara and Mila become as close as sisters. When Zalman begins to look for prospective mates for both his ward and his daughter, the two young women are parted under very unusual circumstances. But it’s Mila’s destiny to be married to Josef, who hasn’t forgotten the young girl he left behind. Though the two are very much in love, Mila will shatter Josef’s heart and destroy the futures of her children and grandchildren with one misguided act—an act that she believes has been consecrated by God and the Torah. But redemption will come from an unlikely place, though it may not be enough to save what has been so tragically torn asunder. Will the silken cords of belief be unbound to prevent further heartbreak, or will they continue to tighten and strangle this loyal yet hopelessly estranged family?

Powerful, haunting and tragic, this novel elegantly weaves its narrative with precision and care, and creates a dark look into the lives of a family who’s religion seems to strangle them. The ferocity of the Judaism in this book was almost frightening, and each character living within this community seemed to lack the freedom to even think for themselves. All were bound to the writing of the Torah and its interpretation by a man with total control and questionable ethics. The Rebbe who ruled this particular sect was a man that dominated not only the Sterns but a whole community that looked to him for guidance. The only character who seemed to be suspicious of the Rebbe was Atara, who paid the ultimate price for going against the wishes of her pious father.

Many reviewers have mentioned the fact that the religious ritual was both fascinating and oddly striking, and I would have to agree with that assessment. I’ve read a fair amount about Hasidic Judaism, but the details that Markovits captures in her tale were not only new to me but sometimes shocking in their severity. There are fringe groups within every religious denomination, but never before has each rule and idiosyncrasy been documented with such clarity and care. I grew both angry and stricken while I read, knowing that one false step could result in complete isolation from the group, and that one's every action had to be thoroughly examined in order not to break the rules and guidelines that the Torah specifies.

Though the love story between Josef and Mila was romantic and beautiful, it was also full of pathos and pain. I won’t reveal the crux of the situation for fear of spoilers, but it was saddening to see the rose of their love bloom so beautifully, only to painfully wither away in an instant. What was maddening to me was that there was no redemption to be had. Though the two loved each other beyond compare, there was nothing they could do to erase the stain on their relationship. Though Mila acted in a completely rational and acceptable way, the rules set down by the Torah and the Rebbe forbade her forgiveness to an extreme degree. The impact that her act had was so far reaching and horrible that I felt my heart shrivel in my chest as I read the book’s final pages.

Forgiveness is a major theme in this book, and those seeking it never have the satisfaction of receiving it fully. There is a measure of redemption given to Atara, Mila and her offspring, and Josef, but there is never complete absolution for any of the characters. Suffering and pain is masked as religious adherence and filial duty, but there is no reprieve. In my opinion, Atara is the only character who ever really found a measure of peace, though even that is tainted by Mila’s unwise action.

This was a brilliant and beautiful book that sought to explain a way of life which is unfamiliar to most, populated by vivid characters who were placed under severe duress amidst stolen moments of joy. An incredible read that will leave an impression on even the most severe critic. Highly recommended.

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About the Author Anouk Markovits was raised in France, one of fifteen children of Hasidic Jewish parents. She was sent to a religious seminary in lieu of high school. After she left home at the age of nineteen to avoid an arranged marriage, she attended Columbia University’s School of General Studies and graduated with a Bachelor of Science. She has a Master of Architecture from Harvard and a PhD in Romance studies from Cornell. Her first novel, Pur Coton, written in French, was published by Gallimard. I Am Forbidden is her English-language debut.

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A warm thanks to TLC Book Tours for providing this book for me to read and review. Please continue to follow the tour by visiting these other blogs: Monday, May 7th: Unabridged Chick Tuesday, May 8th: Dolce Bellezza Wednesday, May 9th: nomadreader Thursday, May 10th: Life in Review Friday, May 11th: Peeking Between the Pages Monday, May 14th: Diary of an Eccentric Tuesday, May 15th: The Literate Housewife Review Wednesday, May 16th: Jenn’s Bookshelves Thursday, May 17th: A Bookish Affair Monday, May 21st: Raging Bibliomania Wednesday, May 23rd: The 3 R’s Blog Thursday, May 24th: Stiletto Storytime Tuesday, May 29th: Luxury Reading Monday, June 4th: Suko’s Notebook Date TBD: Melody & Words Date TBD: She is Too Fond of Books - guest post

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This book was provided as a complimentary review copy.

The Hunger Games Trilogy Mini-Reviews

*WARNING: Some small spoilers may abound.*

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins — 384 pgs

I know I'm probably one of the last people in the blogosphere to jump on The Hunger Games bandwagon, but here I am all the same! Though I've resisted the impulse to pick up these books, when Mockingjay was finally released, I realized I couldn't wait any longer and gave in. Actually, everyone in my house is reading these books simultaneously. My husband and I are listening to the trilogy on audio and my kids are passing the books back and forth among themselves. When I finally got started, I was excited to find that I loved the book and found it constantly thrilling and exciting. Collins has unusual talent and a superb mastery of her plot, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Narrative aside, I found the characters and their plights to be quite genuine, though I did wonder at Katniss' thick-headedness at times. I was eager to push forward through the book, and easily gulped down chapter after chapter. For the most part, the plot twists came as a surprise to me, though there were a few that I saw coming—like the unfortunate fate of Rue and the relationship that eventually develops between the two main characters. There were some things that I didn't see coming at all and was shocked to learn about, particularly towards the end. I really loved the world that Collins created and found that she was extremely good at world building and stage setting. When I finally came to the end, I was wondering where this series was going next, what the fate of Peeta and Katniss be, and just what would happen in District 12. I started the second book right away, knowing that I couldn't leave these questions unanswered for long!

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Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins — 400 pgs

The second book in this trilogy met with a little less success with my husband and me. For the most part, I felt that a lot of the first section seemed directionless, and it took me awhile to warm up to the fact that this book was not going to be the action packed thrill ride that The Hunger Games was. I got used to the meandering way of the plot, but I felt that the love triangle was a little awkward and the sections about life in District 12 after the games was a little plodding. It's not that I thought that this was a bad book, it's just that it was very different from what I had come to expect from Collins. Just when I had gotten used to the fact that this was going to be a more sedate and functional story, the tables turned on me and we were back in the Hunger Games again. I must say that while interesting, the games didn't have the same bite or originality as they did in the first book, and a lot of the time I was wondering why Collins had such trouble recreating the thrilling and original bits that kept me excited and engrossed in the first book. These games seemed more like a plot contrivance, and while I did find them interesting, my excitement just wasn't at the same sustained level as it had been in the previous book. Don't get me wrong, there were some really good moments, but overall we felt a little underwhelmed with it all and I began to fear what was coming in the final installment. I think if this book was plotted a little more tightly and the action was more riveting I would have had a better time with it. As it was, I would probably have to give it a C in terms of plot, narration, and character development.

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Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins — 400 pgs

Oh boy! What to say about this book? I dreaded the time I had to spend listening to it and often made a mockery of all the ansgty drama in the audio production.  It was terrible, and most nights, I would fall asleep and have my husband recap it the next morning. The narrative was all over the place, and I felt it didn't really know what type of story it wanted to be. Evil Peeta? Soldier Everdeen? C'mon, really? Sometimes intriguing premises would pop up, never to be mentioned again, and what the book did chose to focus on was repetitive, boring and really of no interest to me. I didn't want a revolution and military story, and would have much preferred a personal tale that dealt with the fallout of having been a Hunger Games survivor. I even would have taken another Hunger Games. As it was, this book was filled with all kinds of violence that wasn't only unnecessary but felt forced just for shock value. And what was up with District 13? It was all just so much dreck, and I found myself becoming hardened to the plight of most of the characters. Sometimes it seemed that the book had lost all direction and focus and was just a random jumble of scenes placed together in some sort of puzzling arrangement that really turned me off. My husband didn't like it either but felt we must push through, no matter what. The book put me in a bad mood and I started getting very angry when it was time to settle down and listen, creating all sorts of tension and negative feelings. As good as the first book was, this one was just as equally bad, and I was so glad when we had finally reached the last chapter that I danced around the room in joy.

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All in all, this series was hit and miss for me. I definitely felt that the books went downhill as they went on, and whereas I loved and gulped down the first book, by the time the third book rolled around I was a lot less enamored of what Collins had done with the series. In the audiobook production there was a brief interview with Collins after the end, and she mentioned the fact that she had written an overarching outline for all three books at one time. This seems rather strange to me, because the latter books, especially the third, felt like it was a very forced and rushed affair, and it was hard for me to imagine that Collins had done it this way on purpose. In my opinion, I think we should have stopped after the first book, or perhaps even the second, as by the time I finished the third book, I was just wrung out and in a very unhappy state of mind.