Have you read the book March?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382412)
Rockingham, Australia
September 9, 2021 7:49pm CST
I’ve just finished reading a book called March by Geraldine Brooks. It is historical fiction but the author has done an immense amount of research into the period she writes about.
March is a chaplain and father to the girls in the book Little Women. There isn't much mention of the father in Little Women but, from time to time, there are quotes from his letters and we know that he becomes very ill and eventually returns home.
March, the book, tells of his experiences while he is away. It is fascinating reading. Brooks uses the language of the day so I learnt a few new words, among them coruscating and handkin. Always good to learn a new word or three.
Another of her books I read was Caleb’s Crossing and I thought I might have written about it but it seems I haven’t. However, a search for Geraldine Brooks revealed that back in 2008, a myLotter wrote about March.
Brooks won the Pullitzer Prize for Fiction with this book and was the first Australian to do so.
20 people like this
19 responses
@FourWalls (86828)
• United States
10 Sep 21
I haven’t read that. I did have to read a number of historical fiction works in young adult literature in college. It’s quite fascinating how much research goes into the books.
One of my favorite novels from the YA Lit class was Hatchet, a survival novel by Gary Paulsen. It won a Newberry Award (American young adult literature award). Paulsen said he tried everything in the book before he had his protagonist actually employ it in the book. That’s pretty heavy research!! A little harder than studying. 
5 people like this
@sallypup (69212)
• Centralia, Washington
10 Sep 21
@FourWalls Gary Paulsen is an excellent writer. I love his farm descriptions. I've read those Hatchet books.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (382412)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Sep 21
It would have added authenticity to his book. My pet hate is reading a book that involves horses and it's obvious the author has no experience with them. They might write, 'he patted it on the flank' which is about the most ticklish place and not really somewhere where you'd pat them.
2 people like this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
10 Sep 21
@JudyEv Too long a list I will have to check. I have a huge library
3 people like this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
10 Sep 21
i have not read her works. I am so far behind on reading now it is impossible for me to catch up until I can retire and read all day!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382412)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Sep 21
@DocAndersen I think sometimes I like collecting books rather than reading them! lol
2 people like this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
12 Sep 21
@JudyEv i am always somewhere in a book, i love reading!
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169534)
• United States
11 Sep 21
Both of those books might be interesting. I need to figure out how to work reading into a priority spot in my schedule.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382412)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Sep 21
It can be hard to find time to read, that's for sure.
@changjiangzhibin89 (17243)
• China
10 Sep 21
I haven't read any of Geraldine Brooks' books.However my English isn't up to read original works in English.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (17243)
• China
13 Sep 21
@JudyEv You are a studious person !
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
10 Sep 21
I have read the beginnings of it and never got to finish it..maybe I should some day Judy.
Little Women and all to do with them is and was my favorite book.
I read it when I was around 10-12 yrs old and was highly influenced by Jo in the book.
Glad you enjoyed it Judy.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
10 Sep 21
@JudyEv Yes she was and yes they were..
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11327)
• Australia
13 Sep 21
I would love to read that book.. Especially that it is written by an Australian ..
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174658)
• United States
10 Sep 21
No, I've never read that book... it doesn't sound very interesting to me.
1 person likes this
He was chaplain through the Civil War and it details a lot about the plight of the slaves and the 'underground railway' etc.@DaddyEvil (174658)
• United States
10 Sep 21
@JudyEv I've read books like that and found it interesting but it's not something I'd bother reading now. It's nobody's "fault". I used to read those type of books when I was in school...
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382412)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Sep 21
I haven't seen the film and only read the book a long time ago.
@snowy22315 (209105)
• United States
10 Sep 21
Never heard of it but it sounds good. I just found out maybe a year or two ago that PL Travers was Australian.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (36796)
• Philippines
10 Sep 21
Sounds like you had a good read. Learning a new or two words would be fun.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382412)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Sep 21
She's won a lot of awards - not that that necessarily means anything but they are 'meaty' books.
@LindaOHio (222728)
• United States
10 Sep 21
Sounds like a good book to read. I enjoy a good historical fiction book.
1 person likes this
