The author is trying to present all the controversial theories and argue her various opinions on the matters. I think it's biting off too much at once. ( )

Because Cheever is a writer, she brings a writer's sensibility to this biography, and is very clear about her own conclusions and research, and what she thinks about the writing life. As a result, this is an informal, very readable biography with fascinating asides about writing (vs. Writing, or WRITING). I loved it. ( )

A little tedious at times, but it sets straight a lot of the story about the author of one of my fav books - like the brownstone in NYC on MacDougal St, the one that has a plaque stating that LMA wrote some of Little Women there; she was never there and had not yet even been to NYC - so there NYU! LMA's life was harsh and yet her circle of family friends included Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry James and other luminaries...this book gives great insight into LMA's writing, especially the book she did NOT want to write. ( )

1 - both my library and nearest Half Price Books have this under "Alcott" in the fiction section. It's by Cheever and non-fiction.

2 - There are a lot of really irrelevant to Alcott but not the times historical facts in here that are definitely geared towards a reader who didn't pay attention in US History at all. It's a little patronizing sometimes and not gracefully done, they're all rather clunkily inserted.

3 - The author makes a lot of parallels between her and Alcott's life and in a way that seems to grab for attention.

4 - There are some other, historical parallels in here that detract and distract from the point.

5 - Cheever will go on about a historical tidbit, leave you wondering why it's there and then you connect it awhile later and feel like the flow of things got badly dropped.

Forced myself to finish this. ( )

Never thought to call the Transidentalist "hippies" - this provided a new insight into the group up in Concord. ( )