Author Houses I've Visited

I've gone to a number of Author Houses:

Chawton - Jane Austen

The Mount - Edith Wharton

Orchard House - Lousia May Alcott 

Green Gables: the home that inspired Anne's books form L.M. Montgomery

Mark Twain 

Stephen King - this was more of tour of Bangor than the inside of his house. But it was fascinating! 

Many of these were before social media, so there are no posts.

Come back next week for houses I want to visit.

Picture Book Biographies

 Last week, I talked about our visit to Lousia May Alcott's Orchard House. 

And ironically, I had two books checked out from the library that I had forgotten about that fit with the day perfectly!

This picture book biography shares a lot of information about Louisa May Alcott- but not in an overwhelming way.  It's a lovely book that's needed in libraries - especially those in New England.

* I ordered this from another library to see if I wanted to purchase it for my library. And I do.

Daniel Chester French was a student of May Alcott's. He created the Minuteman Monument at Old North Bridge in Concord, MA. He also created the statue of Lincoln in Washington DC. This book shares his start as an artist, his teachings, and how he created art. 

While this book is a bit long, it's also not overwhelming. There's a significant amount of information. I love the black and white illustration. There's a timeline at the end of the book.

It's funny how life works out sometimes. 

Visiting Orchard House

 Last Weekend, we visited the Orchard House as a day trip and it was lovely. I had been previously when I was 17, so a very long time ago.

Orchard House was the home of Louisa May Alcott, who wrote Little Women. You're not allowed to take pictures inside, which makes sense but also is a shame. Louisa May Aclott's sister May was a talented artist. She drew all through the family home - on windowsills, doors, and fireplace covers. It's really neat to see the drawings.

You can also see the desk in Louisa May Alcott's room where the wrote Little Women, part one. Once that was published, readers begged for a second book to see if the sisters got married. She was forced to make them marry, but she knew that Jo couldn't end up with Laurie. Louisa May Alcott made up a man, similar to her father, for Jo. During the time of publication of the first book, her address was printed. Many fans showed up at the house, forcing her to find a place in Boston where she could write. 

The sign outside

The House

Me in front of the house

Her father's school. Mr. Alcott was a Transcendentalist. He believed that Everyone should have an education, just not white men. 

 

The back side of the house. The house was made up of several buildings on the property cobbled together.

A recreation of a photo from the first time I was there.

The sisters' garden

Making a wish

A lovely tree

Me on the steps 

Other facts about the house:

Beth never lived in it. She died before it was ready

Louisa paid for May to travel to Europe to study art

May had a picture in the Salon, you can see that picture in the house

Besides the portraits in the house, most of the artwork is May's work

Anna (Meg in the books) was married in the house

The floors in the house slope something fierce. And the doorways are very crooked. It's a charming old house.

So many items in the house belonged to the Alcott's. It's very impressive.

There is a shocking lack of books except for in Mr. Alcott's study and Louisa May Alcott's room.

The Alcotts are buried in the local cemetery. 

Because we were in Concord, we stopped by the Old North Bridge where the "shot heard round the world" was fired. It's the place where 'American' soldiers were ordered to fire upon the Redcoats. 

Here's the bridge

 

Views from the bridge.

The bridge is NOT the original bridge. It's the seventh bridge since it was built. 

The Minuteman Statue is by Daniel Chester French who had ties to the Alcott's and who created the Lincoln memorial statue.

All in all, it was a gorgeous day, just perfect for an adventure. 

Booklist: Happy Birthday Louisa May Alcott

 

* picture source * Louisa May Alcott

I've been a fan of Little Women since Middle School. I remember reading the books and then reading Little Men and Jo's Boys

It was just around the time that this movie came out:

And I loved it.

I then discovered her other books:

Years later, I loved reading adaptations of her works.

Here's a booklist about Little Women:

Books Mentioned:

Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy

Jo

The Penderwicks: I loved this book and am embarrassed that I didn't make the connection (that I remember. It's been a long time since I've read this book): No Review

So Many Beginnings: No review

Little Women and Me

Littlest Women: Not read

More to the Story

Jo & Laurie: Not read

The Mother Daughter Book Club: No review, but review of some of the series

Beth is Dead

Little Monsters: Not ready but in my TBR pile

Are you a fan of Little Women? Have you read any good adaptations?

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors

 This week's topic is authors I would love a new book from.

I don't have 10, just the big three:

Jane Austen

Louisa May Alcott

LM Montgomery 

Wouldn't it be amazing to have a new book discovered by these authors? 

Book Lists: Little Women

I'm a HUGE fan of Little Women.

This is the movie from my childhood:

I enjoyed this mini series

But this is the Little Women perfection

Read why here

And I'm SO Happy we are getting more book adaptions!

Here's the Book List:

Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy:

This is a great graphic novel. There are some sad parts here.

Read my review here.

Jo:

Another graphic novel - where Jo writes for the school newspaper. Not the usual sad parts...

Review here.

More to the Story:

This is a middle grade novel with a Muslim American family. There are sad parts and amazing parts.

Review here

So Many Beginnings:

I'm excited to read this one.

See it on Goodreads

Little Witches:

I'm waiting for this one to come into the library.

Another graphic novel.

See it on Goodreads.

Similar Reads:

YA Book: The Mother-Daughter Book Club

Adult Book:

Meg and Jo

Movie Review: Little Women

While technically not a movie, I was so happy to hear about the remaking of Little Women. I loved the book, enjoyed the 1994 movie, and have visited Orchard House with my parents when I was in high school.

My Thoughts:

I loved it - and it was so sad. I cried through the last 45 minutes of it. So much emotion.

I thought they did an excellent job with:

* The costumes

* The set design

* The sisterly bond

* The cast was excellent, I had a hard time choosing my favorite.

I wish they included the time in the garret with the four sisters - either with the Pickwick Papers or the plays they used to act out.

There were some differences between the book and the mini series.
It seems like Amy was older in the mini series. She's the worst sister, but the actress played her beautifully.

PBS had a wonderful site for additional information.

I enjoyed looking at the On Set Secrets

I didn't realize the actress who plays Jo March was Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman's daughter. And that this is her first movie role. She was wonderful and I look forward to seeing her in more roles.

Did you watch the mini series? What did you think?
It said Season 1 on my DVR, could it be possible they will create Little Men and Jo's Boys too?