Ashamed to admit I haven’t read Little Women at my age … have seen the movies only. You have renewed my desire to read it…thanks! Love this entire list :-)
I love this essay! I've read quite a few of your choices. Little Women and Judy's Blume's books are some of my favourites - and I like that you've included your personal connection to these books. Eat Pray Love is one that I might come to a little later in life. I love that you resonated with Elizabeth Gilbert's words, despite being in a different stage in your life when you read the book. Thank you for sharing :)
Thank you for sharing Kate's essay, Matthew. I, too, love reading about women and their stories, such as Sue Monk Kidd's The Invention of Wings about Sarah Grimke, who was ahead of her time and fought for women's rights and abolition in the 1800s.
I also wrote about Virginia Woolf's quote, "A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction," for my Quiet Day essay earlier this year.
I had never heard of The Awakening by Kate Chopin, which reminds me of Anne Tyler's book Ladder of Years, which I adored. Imagine being on vacation with your family and deciding to take a walk along the beach—and just keep walking! Chopin's book is now on my reading list!
Thanks again for sharing Kate's work! I really enjoyed it.
Thank you for reading, Mary! I have also read Anne Tyler's Ladder of Years, and now that you have mentioned it, realise I maybe liked it so much because of the connections to Kate Chopin's book! Highly recommend reading that one :)
Thanking Matthew for giving us this opportunity to learn more about your life as a reader and a writer, Kate. ‘Little Women’ was also a very important book to me as a young child. It Is so interesting to hear of Mary Borden. My interest in WWI nursing developed after I read the autobiography of a matron at the hospital I trained at in the 70’s. She was born the same year as Mary Borden and as a young trained nurse, served in France during WW1. I also read Professor Yvonne McEwen’s excellent books on the history of WWI nursing, ‘Its a long way to Tipperary’ and ‘In The Company of Nurses’. You may already know that she was a trained trauma nurse before she entered academia. The writings of Kate Luard of her time as a trained nurse in WW1 are heartbreakingly accurate. For my group of retired nurses, using information from the Imperial War Museum, I was able to trace the lives and deaths in WWI service of two of our training hospital’s nurses.
How interesting, Maureen! Some of those books sound fascinating and I haven't come across them. It's an area I come back to in my research into women's stories. Thank you for reading 😀
This is pretty eclectic. I don't think Gilbert is in Chopin's league. BTW check out Diary of a Mad Housewife by Sue Kaufman. Kaufman's in Chopin's league.
I'm not sure Liz Gilbert's many fans would agree with you there, Richard! But they are certainly two very different writers, but who have both written about women's place in society at very different times in history. I haven't read Kaufman's book so will check that one out. Thanks.
Do you use your library's extension service? You can borrow about any book in the world, although Kaufman's is well worth owning. It will blow your mind, I don't understand why it's not taught, but then I got plenty to say about academia : )
I just read The Awakening (and wrote a post about it) and Edna was not punished by some outside force, she made foolish choices. She couldn't handle not getting exactly what she wanted, when she wanted it and instead of persevering, she threw her life away. She had so much to live for but she chose to quit.
Thanks for reading, Kailani. Whilst I would agree that Edna P makes some dubious choices in the book, I think Chopin is reflecting the time and position of women and how trapped many of them must have felt. It's a fascinating book, as is much of Chopin's work.
I'd like to hear your specific reasons why Edna was trapped. She had wealth, health, a non-abusive husband, a big house, someone else to take care of her kids, a personality that a lot of people liked, the option to travel...many women today would love to have even half of what she had.
What a gorgeous list of books and the ways you have encountered them, Kate! What we've read tells our stories. This is one of many reasons I keep so many books on my shelves ;) It's wonderful to hear your story about earning your BA later than 'normal.' It reminds me of the wonderful mum in Derry Girls.
I love so many of these books. I grew up not far from the Alcott house and have a similar feeling about Little Women. Gilbert is one of the most underrated or misunderstood writers out there. I've come across people who think they know her work from watching the film of Eat, Pray, Love. City of Girls, for example, was phenomenal. And of course you have added a couple other books to my to-be-read list. Kate, you are making my pile of books into an infinite stalagmite of impending joy.
Thank you, Kate! 💕 I agree on Gilbert, of course. She is wise and one of the most hard working writers out there who has done a lot for the promotion and support of other women.
I must get around to watching Derry Girls; my daughter has also told me that it reminds her of the mum! Thanks for reading 📚 and sorry-not-sorry for adding to your pile ❤
An absolutely wonderful list, Kate. And we have quite a few childhood reading crossovers. Do you still have your children’s books? As a child, and as an adult, a bookshelf was/is an exciting portal…
Thank you, Victoria, and it doesn't surprise me we grew up with similar reading tastes! Sadly, I don't have many of my old children's books, although I do have a few which I passed onto my two children (some of the Blume ones, Little Women and My Naughty Little Sister, in particular). I think the others must have got passed down to my many cousins. I did find myself re-purchasing many of them though as my kids got into reading, though I wish I had the originals!
Sadly, I’m the same. Still have a few, but others have gone… I don’t know where. I’ve repurchased some if I’ve seen them in second hand bookshops. I had a set of hardbacks with plain dark red covers and just a simple black type for the title. I loved those!
What I love about this essay is getting to know you, Kate, through the books that have influenced you. Our paths are somewhat similar. I've been entranced with books all my life, especially fiction. As a teen, I loved Judy Blume's books, as well as those of Robert Cormier and Gary Paulson. I got my bachelor's in English at the age of 47. I've only had a few articles published in print magazines/newsletters, and now, at 59, am sharing my writing on Substack wholeheartedly!
I really enjoyed reading about how you were inspired by Eat, Pray, Love. I've been wanting to read that but haven't gotten to it yet!.My journalism professor was always singing its praises.
Thanks to Matthew, who also gave me a chance to be seen on his publication, in interview form, a little while back. You're doing great work, Matthew!
Thank you, Don! I remember reading your interview with Matthew a little while ago. It's nice to hear from another mature lit student 😀 Although I sometimes regret not having the student experience when I was younger, I often wonder if I maybe appreciated the experience more as a mature student. Whatever, I can't imagine my life without books and reading in it!
I loved being an adult student! Sometimes it was awkward being in a room full of super young people (I did two years at the community college, which was more diverse, and two at the state university, which was a much younger student body). Just reading and writing for four years! I was lucky to be able to devote that much time, since I had just sold some property, but then had to get straight back to work :-)
I really admire what you're doing, devoting your writing to women and women writers.
What a pleasure it was to read your reflections on the books of your life! You remind me so much of my own mother when she was younger. Mom loved "Little Women" and as a child she and her sisters always 'acted' as if they were the March sisters. Mom was Jo when they put on plays, or if they were just playing.
Matthew, do you remember mom writing about Aunt Nelie when she passed away. She played Beth. It's a very touching story!
Mom, yes, I do remember her writing about it and talking about that book often. It is amazing how a story can connect people and lives across the world.
Thank you, Therese! And what a lovely story that is. I think that book has meant a lot to so many, especially young girls. Thank you for sharing these memories :)
I read “Little Women” and Judy Blume as a kid; and I am currently reading “The Secret Garden to my kids. It is a wonderful book. Thank you for sharing, it was a pleasure to read!
My Wee Irish Mother gifted me the illustrated Little Women and for repeated Christmases of my childhood I would steal away with it and read it in annual homage. And yes, I also immediately identified with Jo. Thanks for sharing all this, Kate.
This was fascinating! Kate, I love understanding how each book impacted you at various stages of your life, each shaping you as a reader and writer. I can't help but wonder if you've read Ann Napolitano's Hello Beautiful and what you thought as a fan of Little Women. Thanks to you and Matthew for sharing this interview. I really enjoyed it!
Thank you, Maria! Oh, you are the second person today who has recommended Hello Beautiful! No, I haven't read it but now I'm even more convinced I should if it has relevance to LW! I shall be checking it out 😀
Thank you so much for inviting me to reflect on the books of my life, Matthew, and for sharing them with your readers :)
Absolutely Kate! Grateful for the opportunity and it appears it was a hit with readers as well!
This is such an excellent summary of each book that form part of your life story. Excellent read.
Thank you! It was hard to narrow it down to just a few… :)
Ashamed to admit I haven’t read Little Women at my age … have seen the movies only. You have renewed my desire to read it…thanks! Love this entire list :-)
Oh, I'm glad to have inspired you! Although the movies are also great 😀
I love this essay! I've read quite a few of your choices. Little Women and Judy's Blume's books are some of my favourites - and I like that you've included your personal connection to these books. Eat Pray Love is one that I might come to a little later in life. I love that you resonated with Elizabeth Gilbert's words, despite being in a different stage in your life when you read the book. Thank you for sharing :)
Thank you! I think both Louisa May Alcott and Judy Blume were influential writers and advocates for women, in their own, individual ways 😀
Thank you for sharing Kate's essay, Matthew. I, too, love reading about women and their stories, such as Sue Monk Kidd's The Invention of Wings about Sarah Grimke, who was ahead of her time and fought for women's rights and abolition in the 1800s.
I also wrote about Virginia Woolf's quote, "A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction," for my Quiet Day essay earlier this year.
I had never heard of The Awakening by Kate Chopin, which reminds me of Anne Tyler's book Ladder of Years, which I adored. Imagine being on vacation with your family and deciding to take a walk along the beach—and just keep walking! Chopin's book is now on my reading list!
Thanks again for sharing Kate's work! I really enjoyed it.
Thank you for reading, Mary! I have also read Anne Tyler's Ladder of Years, and now that you have mentioned it, realise I maybe liked it so much because of the connections to Kate Chopin's book! Highly recommend reading that one :)
Yes, I plan on doing just that and looking forward to it. So happy you mentioned it.
Thanking Matthew for giving us this opportunity to learn more about your life as a reader and a writer, Kate. ‘Little Women’ was also a very important book to me as a young child. It Is so interesting to hear of Mary Borden. My interest in WWI nursing developed after I read the autobiography of a matron at the hospital I trained at in the 70’s. She was born the same year as Mary Borden and as a young trained nurse, served in France during WW1. I also read Professor Yvonne McEwen’s excellent books on the history of WWI nursing, ‘Its a long way to Tipperary’ and ‘In The Company of Nurses’. You may already know that she was a trained trauma nurse before she entered academia. The writings of Kate Luard of her time as a trained nurse in WW1 are heartbreakingly accurate. For my group of retired nurses, using information from the Imperial War Museum, I was able to trace the lives and deaths in WWI service of two of our training hospital’s nurses.
How interesting, Maureen! Some of those books sound fascinating and I haven't come across them. It's an area I come back to in my research into women's stories. Thank you for reading 😀
This is pretty eclectic. I don't think Gilbert is in Chopin's league. BTW check out Diary of a Mad Housewife by Sue Kaufman. Kaufman's in Chopin's league.
I'm not sure Liz Gilbert's many fans would agree with you there, Richard! But they are certainly two very different writers, but who have both written about women's place in society at very different times in history. I haven't read Kaufman's book so will check that one out. Thanks.
Do you use your library's extension service? You can borrow about any book in the world, although Kaufman's is well worth owning. It will blow your mind, I don't understand why it's not taught, but then I got plenty to say about academia : )
I just read The Awakening (and wrote a post about it) and Edna was not punished by some outside force, she made foolish choices. She couldn't handle not getting exactly what she wanted, when she wanted it and instead of persevering, she threw her life away. She had so much to live for but she chose to quit.
Thanks for reading, Kailani. Whilst I would agree that Edna P makes some dubious choices in the book, I think Chopin is reflecting the time and position of women and how trapped many of them must have felt. It's a fascinating book, as is much of Chopin's work.
I'd like to hear your specific reasons why Edna was trapped. She had wealth, health, a non-abusive husband, a big house, someone else to take care of her kids, a personality that a lot of people liked, the option to travel...many women today would love to have even half of what she had.
What a gorgeous list of books and the ways you have encountered them, Kate! What we've read tells our stories. This is one of many reasons I keep so many books on my shelves ;) It's wonderful to hear your story about earning your BA later than 'normal.' It reminds me of the wonderful mum in Derry Girls.
I love so many of these books. I grew up not far from the Alcott house and have a similar feeling about Little Women. Gilbert is one of the most underrated or misunderstood writers out there. I've come across people who think they know her work from watching the film of Eat, Pray, Love. City of Girls, for example, was phenomenal. And of course you have added a couple other books to my to-be-read list. Kate, you are making my pile of books into an infinite stalagmite of impending joy.
Thank you, Kate! 💕 I agree on Gilbert, of course. She is wise and one of the most hard working writers out there who has done a lot for the promotion and support of other women.
I must get around to watching Derry Girls; my daughter has also told me that it reminds her of the mum! Thanks for reading 📚 and sorry-not-sorry for adding to your pile ❤
An absolutely wonderful list, Kate. And we have quite a few childhood reading crossovers. Do you still have your children’s books? As a child, and as an adult, a bookshelf was/is an exciting portal…
Thank you, Victoria, and it doesn't surprise me we grew up with similar reading tastes! Sadly, I don't have many of my old children's books, although I do have a few which I passed onto my two children (some of the Blume ones, Little Women and My Naughty Little Sister, in particular). I think the others must have got passed down to my many cousins. I did find myself re-purchasing many of them though as my kids got into reading, though I wish I had the originals!
Sadly, I’m the same. Still have a few, but others have gone… I don’t know where. I’ve repurchased some if I’ve seen them in second hand bookshops. I had a set of hardbacks with plain dark red covers and just a simple black type for the title. I loved those!
What I love about this essay is getting to know you, Kate, through the books that have influenced you. Our paths are somewhat similar. I've been entranced with books all my life, especially fiction. As a teen, I loved Judy Blume's books, as well as those of Robert Cormier and Gary Paulson. I got my bachelor's in English at the age of 47. I've only had a few articles published in print magazines/newsletters, and now, at 59, am sharing my writing on Substack wholeheartedly!
I really enjoyed reading about how you were inspired by Eat, Pray, Love. I've been wanting to read that but haven't gotten to it yet!.My journalism professor was always singing its praises.
Thanks to Matthew, who also gave me a chance to be seen on his publication, in interview form, a little while back. You're doing great work, Matthew!
Thank you, Don! I remember reading your interview with Matthew a little while ago. It's nice to hear from another mature lit student 😀 Although I sometimes regret not having the student experience when I was younger, I often wonder if I maybe appreciated the experience more as a mature student. Whatever, I can't imagine my life without books and reading in it!
I loved being an adult student! Sometimes it was awkward being in a room full of super young people (I did two years at the community college, which was more diverse, and two at the state university, which was a much younger student body). Just reading and writing for four years! I was lucky to be able to devote that much time, since I had just sold some property, but then had to get straight back to work :-)
I really admire what you're doing, devoting your writing to women and women writers.
I know! What heaven it was to have an excuse to read and write!
And thank you, I'm doing my best to expose the world to some brilliant books and writers 😀
What a pleasure it was to read your reflections on the books of your life! You remind me so much of my own mother when she was younger. Mom loved "Little Women" and as a child she and her sisters always 'acted' as if they were the March sisters. Mom was Jo when they put on plays, or if they were just playing.
Matthew, do you remember mom writing about Aunt Nelie when she passed away. She played Beth. It's a very touching story!
Thank you both for sharing such wonderful work!
Mom, yes, I do remember her writing about it and talking about that book often. It is amazing how a story can connect people and lives across the world.
Thank you, Therese! And what a lovely story that is. I think that book has meant a lot to so many, especially young girls. Thank you for sharing these memories :)
I read “Little Women” and Judy Blume as a kid; and I am currently reading “The Secret Garden to my kids. It is a wonderful book. Thank you for sharing, it was a pleasure to read!
Thanks, Jenn! The Secret Garden is a beautiful book. I miss reading stories to my kids now they're older; it's such a simple pleasure 📚
It is a wonderful experience sharing books with your children ❤️
My Wee Irish Mother gifted me the illustrated Little Women and for repeated Christmases of my childhood I would steal away with it and read it in annual homage. And yes, I also immediately identified with Jo. Thanks for sharing all this, Kate.
How lovely! I think it's definitely a book to savour in the Christmas period ❤
This was fascinating! Kate, I love understanding how each book impacted you at various stages of your life, each shaping you as a reader and writer. I can't help but wonder if you've read Ann Napolitano's Hello Beautiful and what you thought as a fan of Little Women. Thanks to you and Matthew for sharing this interview. I really enjoyed it!
Thank you, Maria! Oh, you are the second person today who has recommended Hello Beautiful! No, I haven't read it but now I'm even more convinced I should if it has relevance to LW! I shall be checking it out 😀