Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our November 2010 selection:

Marchby Geraldine Brooks

Below is a summary of the group's collective observations of this work.

March seeks to augment Louisa May Alcott's Little Women by creating an account of the absent father's Civil War experiences.

The discussion generated some lively debate concerning how accurately the novel portrays Mr. March, a fictional character in Alcott's Little Women who is based on the Alcott's father, Amos Bronson Alcott. There was also much discussion on whether or not Mr. March should have even enlisted given his family's financial circumstances as well as discussion about the historical impact of John Brown and the fictional Mr. March's support of his cause. March provided some contrast with other titles read by the group that are more truly docu-novels while Marchis a work of fiction based on a semi-autobiographical work of fiction.

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our October 2010 selection:

A Northern Lightby Jennifer Donnelly

Below is a summary of the group's collective observations of this work.

A Northern Light incorporates the sensational 1906 murder of Grace Brown that really happened with the fictional struggle of Mattie Gorkie growing up in poverty in the North Woods of New York State.

Although this work is targeted toward young adults, the historical facts provided of the Grace Brown murder interested the group. The discussion ranged from the treatment of blacks, even in the North, to the moral dilemma posed by deathbed promises. The story highlights the extreme difficulty of girls mired in poverty trying to seek higher education and how difficult it is to resist the temptation to just do what is expected. We all thought the book would be especially good for young adults, and several members expressed interest in learning more about the Grace Brown-Chester Gillette murder case.