Hospital Sketches - Louissa May Alcott

I read this book last year for LMRC, but didn't blog about it then. As it is in my Classics Club List, I am writing about it now. This is a novella where the author writes about her experiences as a nurse during the civil war. Alcott fictionalizes her short career as a nurse and gives herself a pseudonym, Tribulation Periwinkle.
Tribulation Periwinkle looking for something to do follows her brother Tom's advice and decides to become a nurse for the union army. She does get an appointment, not at her desired place, but at Hurly-burly hotel which is running as a temporary hospital. She goes on to describe her hardship in reaching the hospital at Washington DC. She then describes her job as a nurse. She was called upon to wash the wounded, immediately on arriving. Though she was embarrassed at first, she masters the art of nursing. Soon, she was promoted as head nurse of the night shift. She calls her patients, her boys and treats them motherly. She tells about her boys and the process of nursing. I was moved particularly by the story of John, a blacksmith from Virginia. Though the horror of war is felt, the narrator's tone alleviates the depressing mood.  Nurse Periwinkle was forced to leave the hospital when she falls ill and her father brings her home. In the last chapter, "A postscript," she answers the questions her readers had raised.
In her own words, Hospital sketches showed her what she called "her style", the telling, with heart and humor, of life as she lived it.
 

A Read Along of The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens

A Read Along of The Pickwick Papers is hosted by O@beholdthestars. The uniqueness of this read along schedules is that it follows the schedule in which it was originally published in series. So this read along runs for more than a year. I love this idea and thanks to O for hosting this.

The Pickwick Papers is Charles Dickens first novel. The original title was "The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, containing a faithful record of the Perambulations, Perils, Travels, Adventures and Sporting Transactions of the corresponding members." Such a long title!!!
It was published in series, 19 issues over 20 months from March 1836 - November 1837. Dickens missed a deadline in mourning for his sister-in-law Mary Hogarth, and consequently there was no issue in May 1837.
Charles Dickens was four and twenty and was writing under the pseudonym "Boyz". He was actually called in to supply the letterpress- that is, the description necessary to explain the plates and connect them into a sort of picture novel (Picture Novel was then the fashion). Initially he adjusted his narrative to the plates that had been prepared for him, but later he himself led the way with an installment of his story and the artist was compelled to illustrate what Dickens had already written.
Robert Seymour provided the illustrations for the first two installments. After his suicide, Robert Buss illustrated the third installment, but his work was not liked by Dickens and the remaining installments were illustrated by "Phiz" (Hablot Knight Browne) who went on to illustrate most of Dickens novels. (Source - Wikipedia)

Little Women - Part II

I finished the book almost three weeks back. I thought of posting part II after watching the movie and hence the delay. I haven't watched the movie yet and I felt I should complete the readalong discussions without anymore delay. I enjoyed the read along by Jenni, Kami and Suey and my heartfelt thanks to the trios.
We find the March sisters growing into young women as their father had desired. Meg gets married and we see her joys and struggles as a young wife and mother. She seeks Marmee's advice and learns to manage her role as a mother and wife. Jo rejects Laurie's proposal and goes to New York as a governess for a family friend. We see Jo's struggle as a writer. Her friendship with Baher blossom into love and she eventually marries him. Aunt March leaves Plumfield to Jo in her will. Jo plans to open a school for boys at Plumfield. The saddest part is losing Beth to Scarlet fever, almost six years after she contracted the infection. The youngest of March sisters, charming Amy gets to travel with Aunt Carol and cousin Flo to Europe. She leaves her artistic pursuits after learning that she is not really genius at art. When Laurie meets her, they both fall in love and get married before they return home. All the March sisters are settled happily and the novel ends at Plumfield where the Marches and their extended family are celebrating Marmees 60th birthday.

It was joy reading Little Women. Though I enjoyed both parts, my favourite is part I, where I enjoyed the various adventures of the little March sisters, their friendship with their neighbor Laurie, and Mr. Laurence. In part II, I enjoyed reading about Meg's wedding and Amy's account of her travel.
Now, coming to the discussion questions:

1. What do you think about the girls now? Has your opinion of them changed since the beginning or even the middle of the story?
I like all the girls. They really had worked hard to grow into women as their father had desired.

2. At the end of the book, which character do you relate to most? Is it a different character than at the beginning?
As I said earlier I can find a bit of me in each of the March sisters. But I think I relate most to Jo as I love to be independent.

3. Do you think Beth should’ve died when and in the way she did?
It was sad to lose Beth. She was such a kind hearted girl. It is a semi-autobiography novel and one of Alcott's sister died at a very young age.

4. How do you feel about Laurie’s romantic decisions? Did his relationship with Amy seem developed enough to be sincere?
Though Laurie is trying to replace Amy in Jo's position, I think his relationship with Amy is sincere.

5. How do you feel about Jo’s romantic decisions? Do you think they were consistent with her character?
 Her friendship, respect and affection for Prof. Baher turn into love. (It is quiet natural for friendship blossoming into love. But it would have been nice if her friendship with Laurie had blossomed into love.) Though it is not consistent with her tomboyish character, she changes and is willing to settle in marriage as girls of 19th century did. People do change after all.

6. What do you think about the names the girls and their husbands gave to their children?
Meg's twins were named Daisy and Demijohn. These names were suggested by Laurie. Daisy was named after Meg (Margaret). Daisy is a derivative of the name Margaret and to avoid confusion the twin girl was named Daisy. Demijohn was named after John Brooke. I think Daisy and Demi  rhyme well enough. Amy's daughter was named after Beth. Jo's boys were named Rob and Teddy after her father and her friend Teddy. I didn't give it a thought, but I think it all cute.

7. If this was your first time reading Little Women, what do you think? Did it meet your expectations? Would you read it again? If this was a reread, do you feel the same as you did when you read it the first time? Or, has your opinion changed?
I loved it again and it has become one of my favourite books.

8. Do you have a favorite quote or passage from Little Women?

There are many quotes and passages. I will just quote two of them.

"Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success."

"He does not let business wean hem from the little cares and duties that affect us all, and I try
 not to let domestic worries destroy my interest in his pursuits. Each do our part alone
 in many things, but at home we work together, always."


9. Would you change anything about the story if you could? If so, what?
I would not change the story. I think it is good as it is.

10. Even though the setting for Little Women is quite different from today’s world, do you think we can learn anything from this story? If so, what?
Even though the setting of the story is 19th century, the moral principles, families, love, relationship portrayed in the novel are not bound by time. I really didn't mind March family portrayed unrealistically good and I love it for being portrayed so.