Better Late than Never Minutes: March by Geraldine Brooks

I think this qualifies as the latest minutes ever posted for bookgroup, but better late than never...

Book: March by Geraldine Brooks
Date: November 2, 2006
Location: Zaftig's in Brookline
Who was there: Wendy, Anne, Beth, Paula, Donna, Manda, Rachel
Who was not there: Cynthia (alas)
Who finished the book: Just kidding, we don't record that!

General group overtone/opinion of the book: No one really loved the book because of the writing but the story helped carry the book along so that it readable. Some of us recoiled at the description of Mrs. March's temperament and efforts to control her anger but Paula was astute enough to point out the connection to Jo's temperament and the writing style of the era that Geraldine Brooks emulated.

Some of us enjoyed the second half more with the quickened storyline pace, and some of us preferred the first half and the descriptions of Concord. We agreed that Mr. March was not sympathetic (he lost the family money, he put his ideals above his family, and he generally continued to make the wrong decisions throughout the book).

We could not remember if the book had won a Pulitzer but then agreed that it must not have. We were wrong.

-Rachel