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After being sufficiently creeped out (in the best way) last week and enjoying my reward book, I’ve been enjoying digging into Little Women by Louisa May Alcott for the first time in decades!  It is just the cozy reading break I need when I’m struggling to balance all of my pressing tasks this time of year.  Join us THIS Friday to chat Little Women, definitely the book, maybe the movie(s), and we’ll see what else we can fit in on December 11 starting at 7:30 p.m. CST for those who sign up here.  

Ready for a sneak peak behind the Heart.Wants.Books curtain?  When we were plotting out our blog plans in mid-2019, we decided that birthday months meant a lot of choices for the birthday girl (woman, whatever).  So, in July, I got extra sway, and Ashley and I decided to go hard for cozy, comfort, and calm in December and I told her to run wild.  It’s been fun to watch her build out a theme month, and even select a Virtual Book Club pick to match, one that wouldn’t really should on anyone (as multiple film versions suffice and it’s likely a re-read) in this (normally more) hectic season.  

I’m really looking forward to each title and post this month more than I have for a bit because my book buddy has been given license to share deep dives into a title she loves dearly.  How is this different from usual?  Usually we select titles we’re both interested in, and while there is a lot of overlap, and we’re also open to new experiences (see also: horror), it’s fun for me to re-experience a love of my book buddy, and to do so in a way I haven’t in the past.  I’m very confident I’m going to enjoy this month and I hope you will too.  

I can hear some of you yelling at me through your screens.  Dear readers, I know Ashley’s birthday isn’t until January.  Here’s the rest of the behind the curtain:  Originally we’d planned to launch the blog July 2019 with Jane in July (or was it Austen in August, I don’t recall), but this and that happened and July became January.  I hope you’ll agree that Jane in January is far superior to Jane in July, and gives many more options than Austen in August.  So, since we decided together to let Jane dominate January, we also decided together that Ashley’s birthday privileges would move to December, so she gets extra celebration for her sacrifice!  

If you’re joining us on Friday, and I dearly hope you are, are you reading or rereading (or perhaps watching or rewatching, or a combination) in preparation for our discussion of Little Women?

~Nikki

Graphic Novels, Modern Retellings, and Novelizations about Alcott’s life
December 10

 Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Virtual Book Club Pick for Friday, December 11

March by Geraldine Brooks
December 17

Meg & Jo by Virginia Kantra
December 24

Special Feature: On Reading Goals
December 31

Darling Readers, if you talk to my mother and ask her what my favorite book is, she will tell you that it’s Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I’ve always considered myself a bookish, independent Jo, I’ve had a few moments as a conforming Meg, and lately I’ve really begun to appreciate and emulate Amy in a way I hadn’t considered before. Somewhat thanks to Florence Pugh in the Greta Gerwig 2019 film interpretation, but let’s save discussing how allowing yourself to just unapologetically BE who you are is as important as sacrificing your one vanity for the family. (Like Jo’s hair disaster.)

As per my usual habit, I have been preparing for my theme month since we agreed upon it, but I haven’t written a dang thing. During our discussion, we/I wanted it to be Holiday themed since Nikki navigates Kindle Unlimited for our December “Christmas Smut” reads and I follow along for the ride. I couldn’t think of a much more December themed comfort read to deep dive than my own personal favorite title. The first line of the book is: “Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents,” grumbled Jo, lying on the rug.” And I can feel that angst deep in my own soul. (Thankfully, I have a mom whose love language is gifts and Christmas is her favorite, too!) 

There are multiple bookish adaptations and re-interpretations on the docket, including last December’s new release, Virginia Kantra’s Meg & Jo that was a top 4 fiction title of 2019 for me. I can’t wait to bring that to you in the coming weeks, because it is glorious in how modernity doesn’t much change the issues plaguing the March sisters. We are also bringing you a Pulitzer Prize winner with Geraldine Brooks’ March. That’s only two stand-alone titles for this month because we’re going to pack in the other days with some other retellings and a slapdash of information about Alcott herself. I am so excited to talk in depth on Friday at Virtual Book Club because I don’t feel like I have ever dived as deep into this story as I have in preparation for this month and it’s itching to get out.

So, please, read or re-read the original if you like, watch a movie or two (we have a Monday post dedicated to Little Women on screen and stage), or listen to the audiobook version as Mom and I will be doing today on our drive from New Orleans to Nashville, then join us for Virtual Book Club on Friday. If you can’t join us then, please join us during the month for titles you’re curious about and interact with us on social media so I know I’m not alone with Laurie knowing “I was meant to be a part of the March family.”

~Ashley

PS: For your auditory pleasure, here is a Spotify Link to my public playlist that combines music from soundtracks and popular composers of Alcott’s time.  Y’welcome.

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