Between the Flowers is one of the best books I have ever read! I came across it in a library, thinking I would take it home, read a little bit, and see how I liked it. From the moment I got into it, I was hooked! I think that part of the reason I enjoyed it so much was that I could identify with the characters. I am a young woman asking some of the same questions about myself that Arnow sets forth in her book. Another strength is that the characters and situations are totally believable. I would definitely recommend it to anyone, especially those who are interested in Appalachian literature.

The main focus of this book is the conflict that exists between the appeal of a wandering life and the appeal of establishing roots. Delph and Marsh want different things from life, but they want each other, too. Delph wants to travel for once in her life and Marsh wants to settle down for once in his. As was typical of the time, the will of the husband wins out and Delph and Marsh settle down to a life of farming. I think one of the most heartbreaking aspects of this struggle between wandering and settling is how Delph and Marsh lose sight of each other. They throw themselves into the farming, Delph to forget what her life could have been and Marsh to make a success of himself. Between the Flowers is a story mixed with the triumps that Delph and Marsh have together, and it is also the story of how they fail each other. It is a wonderful study of everday life.

After having languished unpublished for over half a century, Harriette Simpson Arnow's magnificent "Between the Flowers" will rightfully restore her reputation as one of the twentieth-century's finest writers. Compared favorably with John Steinbeck at the onset of her literary career, Arnow's second novel, "Between the Flowers," failed to inspire publishers. The novel's dark naturalism and intricately detailed descriptions of the Cumberland River region of eastern Kentucky, now seen as extraordinarily rich qualities, appeared excessively regional and fatalistic to editors in Depression America. Fortunately, the Michigan State University Press has brought this book to a new generation of Americans, a generation which can appreciate the feminist slant to Arnow's characterization of Delph, the anguished and inarticulate conflicts in her husband Marsh and the exquisite detailing of a region of the United States either ignored or stereotyped by modern society.

Arnow's novel combines an overwhelming and frightening naturalism, two admirable, miserable characters who rage against their own flaws, social restrictions and elusive love and a sense of place that exalts the people who reside therein. Arnow's nature is not some beneficent prop; it is an indifferent overpowering force which mocks human attempts at control. Marsh and Delph's attempts to scratch out of a living in the midst of drought, heat and flooding appear small and futile in the face of the relentless battering factors of nature. One of the remarkable facets of this novel is the author's ability to make puny humans appear large in the face of overwhelming odds.

The greatest achievement of "Between the Flowers," however, is the creation of one of the most tormented and sympathetic couples in American literature. Bound to each other by hunger -- a deep and unfulfilled yearning for completion and self-respect, Delph and Marsh are ironically ill-suited for each other. Their passionate needs, which kindled their romance, ultimately cripple their possibilities for mutual happiness. Delph, the orphaned child of a family known for its rebelliousness, yearns for pesonal libeation, for travel, education and experience. Frustrated by the isolation of the Cumberland, she envisions an unbound future, kissed by urban experiences and inellectual growth. Rootless Marsh, a wandering oil-man, seeks place, solidity and permanence; he senses that land -- owning it, bending it to his will, husbanding it to produce -- will be his salvation. "Between the Flowers" is brilliant in its rendering of these two complicated, sympathetic people. The conflicts and tensions over "the having of things or the holding" advance both the narrative and the philosophical underpinnings of the novel.

Readers should not expect an easy time with this novel. Arnow's style is detailed, relishing in the opportunities to expound on the rugged beauty of the Cumberland, probing the consciousness and consciences of Delph and Marsh as they attempt to understand and live with their relationship. Arnow's themes of self understanding, family coherence, marital frustrations and disappointments, personal disappointment and self-hatred are given serious, thorough treatment. What publishers scorned as dense descriptive detail today appears as not only necessary, but enlightening. "Between the Flowers" deserves its belated praise.

Based on her fieldwork among the Miao, an ethnic minority group in China, Schein describes the process of constructing identity in late modern China. This text is greatly helpful for scholars interested in Chinese history and culture, since it engages deeply with the historical materials, locating the central thesis within historical conjuncture between Chinese modernity and late global capitalism. Here, Schein argues that construction of the Miao as an identity cannot be understood without considering the state policy which liberalizes economic structure, in an attempt to grasp foreign cash flows. The commoditization of the ethnic identity, however, does not only mean that the ethnic group exists only for the economic gain. For those involved, especially for the Miao themselves, the process of claiming the ethnic identity themselves is constituted of contradictory moments. Schein here points to the gendered dimension of this phenomenon, noting that the "image" of the Miao, coveted and sentimentalized by both Chinese majority and foreigners, is, in fact, feminine body. An interesting study. I would like to recommend this book to those interested in learning more about modern China.

Throughout the twentieth century, Chinese recognition of and tolerance for ethnic minorities (non-Han) has waxed and waned. Very early in the century, sociologists conducted research on non-Han groups. After the revolution, there were attempts to eliminate minority religious practices, such as shamanism. During the period of industrialization, minority provinces were neglected, and depicted as backward. From the 1980's on, there seems to have been an attempt to capitalize on the existence of minorities by promoting tourism to exotic areas such as Guizhou, where many Miao live. Minorities enjoy some privileges that Han do not, such as larger permissible family size, and some linguistic accommodation in education and book production.

Schein makes use of Edward Said's notion of 'orientalism,' that process of exotifying representations of other peoples in hegemonic fashion, that serves to privilege the culture of the representer. Orientalism is not solely a practice of Westerners-the urban Han Chinese indulge in 'internal orientalism,' producing representations of non-Han minority people, especially of women, in a way that makes them exotic, erotic, infantilized foils to urban Han male selves. Schein documents several instances of this taking place in Xijiang, a large village known as a Miao center. There are also instances of performances of Miao ethnicity in Beijing.

Yet the Han are not alone in their portrayal of the Hmong as exotic: Miao performers contribute to this orientalistic portrayal by choreographing performances that seem "ethnic," and some performers have made careers based on these performances. Miao ethnicity becomes constructed under outsider-like gaze even by insiders. The entire process of performing exoticized, feminized portrayals of the Miao serves to reinforce the hierarchies of cultural dominance, in which Han is superior to ethnic minority ethnicity, male is superior to female, urban is superior to rural. Thus, ethnicity is not only performed, but also changed, tinged by the performance.

I found this ethnography quite fascinating and informative. I would really be curious what Hmong-American readers might think.

This book is truly a good read. The only thing I didn't really like about it was that the girls in the book got a little too over enthusiastic over every little thing. The book is about a little girl who stutters and one day she meets neighbors. They make a school and area for their followers, Fruitland. The new neighbors are odd in the girl's poppa's point of view, but they are kind and help the girl over her stuttering problem.

Shy, stammering Susan lives with her strict, conservative Pa and her Aunt Nell. When strange new neighbors move in next to their farm, Aunt Nell takes Susan to pay a welcoming call with a gift of apple butter and cheese. To their amazement, the new people appreciate the offer but turn down the cheese since they don't eat any animal products. That's just the first of many different things about the communal group that has moved in at "Fruitlands." Part of the group includes eleven-year old Louisa May Alcott. They become great friends. Susan goes to school there with Mr. Alcott as the teacher. It's a wonderful new world for her and she loses most of her stutter and much of her shyness. Read to learn about some of the new ideas the group has and how long they live at Fruitlands. Fictional and historical characters are used in this interesting account of a slice of the famous author's childhood. A great read, especially for any student who has read Little Women.

This book was good for a short read. It was not as good as the original little women. The book was about 4 sisters Joe, Meg, Beth, and Amy and what their life was like. If you are looking for a good short read this is one I would sugest.

Read the tale of four sisters Meg, Jo, Beth, & Amy as they grow up together. Learn about their hardships as they face each problem thrown at them side by side. This is a wonderfull book and is beautifully writen. I teches someone a lot about the value of family, friends, and true love. This book is more than what others amount to and would reccomend this author to anyone.

I enjoyed Under the Lilacs immensely. It is a wonderful story of children and how they mature. The characters at times seemed rather flat and uninteresting yet the story is a very fun one. It is full of laughter and tears and eventually a happy ending. I would recommend this book to people who have enjoyed Louisa May Alcott in the past or those who enjoy a relatively juvenile book yet will be able to understand references to relatively older literature.

I was asked to read this book over the summer of 2000 and it was great. This is the first book I have read by Louisa May Alcott. I really enjoyed this book and it was sometimes boring but great. I would recommend this book to some that has lost touch with life.................

Under the Lilacs is one of LMA most wonderful novels. I thought it was brilliant and outstanding. I loved all the charecters, and how they delt with their own problems and ways. Be sure to read Under the Lilacs.

When I picked this book up off my library shelf I didn't even read the back. Having no real idea what it was about I checked it out because of the teaser about Doreen listening to the Pixies on the inside cover.
Once I got home, I read it in three days. It usually takes me a while but the pages just flew. I would open the book and the next thing I knew it would be three hours later and I'd be another third or quarter of the way through!
In fact, this book was so good that I was very surprised to see the MTV logo on the last page. Because in general, I hate MTV. This book, however, pushed me to read more of the reccomended reads. None of which have truly lived up to my experience with Brave New Girl.
Still, I didn't feel the depth of Doreen's relationship to her father. Even towards the end of the book. Thats the only draw back of this young adult novel, because the ending really made up for it.
In short, read it. And then wait for Luna's next book.

I saw this on a coule of different web sites as a recommended book. I got it and read it in a couple of ours the same day it arrived. I was struck b the powerful story of Doreen. Some other reviewers said that this was a depressing story full of depressed or evil people with no redemptive values, but I disagree. Doreen grows in maturity considerably due to her experinces and truly cries out for help even before her experience with her sister's boyfriend. Parents...if you have a child, especially a young girl, who is acting aloof and seems depressed, this story may tell you a little of what your child may be thinking. The character of Doreen shows us that there can be hope in light of horrible experinces and that people can come out of those experiences stronger and wiser. It also shows that parents aren't perfect, but sometimes they can redeem themselves by really looking at their children and believing in them. I loved this book and the only reason I didn't give it five stars was because I wanted it to tell us even more about doreen and her family. I hope someone makes this into a great movie soon, in the likeness of "Welcome To The Dollhouse."

With only one friend and a family who doesn't understand her, Doreen faces the challenges of being a teenager and trying to discover who she is and where she belongs. She longs for connection with an older brother she never knew and develops an interest in her sister's boyfriend. When the actions of one night force her into adulthood forever, she must confront the people who she has held at a distance resulting in an ending that is raw, believable and touching. Told in a first person narrative style, readers will empathize with Doreen's anger and frustration. Also, the vivid descriptions of how Doreen uses music to escape is something to which many teens can relate. This edgy, realistic first novel by Louisa Luna uses uncensored language and situations that provide a reflection of a teen culture desperate for attention, understanding and love. Recommended for readers in grades 10-12

As a library school student focusing on young adult literature and services, I felt the strength of this book was the credibility given to the readers. Luna trusts teens to be able to handle tough dialog, feelings and situations. The angst that is portrayed is not overdramatic or misplaced, but strikingly honest.Doreen is a captivating protagonist whose inner struggles are translated by a very gifted new author. I am excited to read other MTV books and hope to hear more from this author in the future.

1897 was the year of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. It was also the year that the Duchess of Devonshire held the fancy dress party of the century in her London mansion.

This book gives us a glimpse into a now legendary party. The cream of London society took place in this event - if you weren't invited your were not part of the "in" crowd. This party involved months of planning and the aristocracy of the time spent small fortunes to re-create "authentic" outfits of the characters of their choosing.

This book gives you short, but well written biographies of all the main participants of the ball, what they wore, and where it is available their memoirs of the occasion. The book is also sprinkled with photographs of the participants all dressed for the night. My only complaint is that some of these photos are too small to clearly see the fantastic outfits and jewels the people are wearing.

This book also has a number of rare photos of the interior of Devonshire house before it was demolished, with the furniture intact. Most photos you see of the interior of the house show it stripped of it's fittings and ready for demolition, so these are interesting to see. For a glimpse of late Victorian high society this book is a must, as it contains many bits of information on the ball's participants not available from many other sources.

Joanna Drayton, child of privilege, adores her governess, Miss Cathcart. Life on the Drayton ancestral Welsh estate is not, however, the conventional existence that it seems. Her parents, Henry and Barbara Drayton, are selfish, preoccupied with their own interests and totally uninterested in Joanna and her beloved 18-year-old brother, James.

When the elder Draytons discover that Miss Cathcart and James are having an affair, their reaction is predictable. They dismiss her and Joanna, who knows nothing about all this, is packed off to boarding school. James disappears.

Bewildered and frightened, trying to understand her parents, Joanna searches for her brother. The quest yields answers to questions she never thought to ask.

Louisa Hawkins is the pen name of an American who writes authoritatively about country life among the upper-class English. The original Louisa, an Englishwoman who lived 3 centuries ago, was the author's great-grandmother.

CHASING SHADOWS is a glimpse into useless lives of self-indulgence but that glimpse is romantic, original and entertaining.

I love Louisa May Alcott's work, from her dark delvings into the human soul to her revenge tales to the wholesome family chronicles. Sadly, I could not love this book. Anyone who reads it will be unsurprised that Alcott wrote it at the age of seventeen -- it reads like the summertime fantasies of a teen longing for love and a Tall Dark Handsome Man with a Tragic Past.

The heroine, Edith Adelon, is a penniless Italian orphan who lives on a rambling estate belonging to the Hamiltons, filthy rich aristocrats. Edith's humility and goodness make her a favorite in that place, of everyone except Lady Ida. Ida is not wealthy, though she is an aristocrat, and (by the standards of the day) is aging to old-maid-hood. Enter Lord Percy, a friend of the family, and a Tall Dark Handsome Man with a Tragic Past. He and Edith fall in love, until a hidden secret threatens to change all of their lives.

I can see why this dripping-with-sentiment little novel was buried away for so long. Alcott would never have been able to stand it being read when she was a serious writer; it reads almost like a parody, but with the dead seriousness of the bad work. It is also saddled with terrible characterization and a storyline that would make a seasoned reader cry. There is also a rather alarming message about social classes and whether they should be defied.

The main problems are the characters. They are pretty much two-dimensional stereotypes; the good ones are completely devoted to one another because of random acts of utter goodness that they did in the past, or simply because they say or do something that seems selfless and noble. The bad ones lurk in the background, making not-so-devious plans out of sheer malice. Edith is beautiful, self-sacrificial, humble, sweet, virtuous, brave -- essentially, she's all good things. She never so much as trips on her skirt, and we're even treated to the stereotypical "bringing soup to the sick."

Percy is the male counterpart in every way: handsome in a wussy kind of way, chivalrous, sensitive, tragic, willing to shatter class boundaries for the one he loves, virtuous, self-sacrificial, strong'n'silent, brave -- yep, he's all good things as well. Both of them are so good and saintly that it's difficult to sympathize with them. Lady Ida is cartoonish in her badness, but she's also the most three-dimensional character in that she has a reason for acting as she does, even if we're not supposed to care because it's her own fault. Lord and Lady Hamilton are the usual stiff uppa-clahss parents; Amy is pretty dull in her relentless enthusiasm and girlishness.

The plotline itself is like an update of Cinderella with a few improbable twists. When Edith discovers The Secret, her response is so unrealistic and saintly that you'll have to swallow a groan; so is her protection of the ridiculously-tempted boy Louis. Likewise, Lady Hamilton's response to Edith's saving Amy's life is simply ludicrous. The book lacks her trademark humor, wit, and passion, the little quirks and embarrassments and snatches of humor that make her characters human. They blush, they shed tears, they flit around or glide or stride. But they don't emote. The dialogue is earnestly comedic, using phrases and words that no one would actually use. (Percy's comment about a Edith's love "sanctifying" a scarf is particularly funny)

Why two stars? One is because Louisa is Louisa -- she gets an extra star for that alone. The second is because there is some truly breathtaking descriptive scenes in this book. But if you read this book, then "Long Fatal Love Chase," then "Behind a Mask," then "Little Women," then you will get an idea of how her writing changes.

My recommendation? Read it if you're a die-hard fan of Louisa's works. Otherwise, pass it by and watch the TV movie, or read "Little Women."

Written nearly 20 years before "Little Women", when Louisa May Alcott was only 17-years-old at the time, "The Inheritance" is supposedly her first novel, although it was never published until five years ago in 1997 (and was later made into a TV movie the same year). The two editors (Joel Myerson and Daniel Shealy) briefly talk about Louisa's literary accomplishments in the afterward of this book, remarking on what a rare find "The Inheritance" is, as well as it being a steppingstone in her writing career. It is notable since it is her first novel, but I wouldn't consider it her best work. However, I've only read one other book by Miss Alcott: "A Long Fatal Love Chase". That one I liked much better, because it was more adventurous and suspenseful than "The Inheritance", even though it still followed the same romantic path.

This sentimental 19th century romance novel is set in the rich English countryside. It follows the Hamilton family (the stoical mother: Lady Hamilton; the obedient son: Arthur; the naive 16-year-old daughter: Amy; and the envious cousin: Lady Ida) and Lord Percy, a friend of Arthur's, as they all fawn over beautiful Edith Avelon, an orphaned Italian young woman who had been brought to England from Italy when she was ten. Ever since, Edith has been a playmate and governess for Amy, but recently she's become the love interest of Lord Percy, to Lady Ida's dismay. Already devoted to the Hamiltons, Edith will soon learn of a secret that will further bind her to the family.

Probably the most unappealing thing about this book is Edith. She's so nauseatingly good, she seems unreal; she could have been a nun. She's extremely loyal to everybody, even her enemies (Lady Ida, for instance); she's kindhearted toward the sick and elderly; she's a beautiful singer; she's incredibly attractive, self-denying, gentle, pure... Gag. The one good feature about this book, though, is its brevity; it's just under 200 pages. It's worth a try if you're a Louisa May Alcott fan or really into 19th century romantic literature.

According to a note on the text in the Penguin Classics edition, "The Inheritance" was written by Louisa May Alcott when she was only 17 years old. This novel tells the story of Edith Adelon, an Italian orphan who lives with the aristocratic Hamilton family. This is a sentimental, romantic story about love, treachery, and a family secret. Class stratification is a significant theme.

Yes, the characters are fairly shallow, the plot is predictable, and the dialogue is often very stiff and corny. But I found "The Inheritance" quite charming and enjoyable. The mild suspense leads ultimately to a satisfying conclusion. Along the way are some memorable scenes, such as a sequence involving the creation of historical tableaux.

The Penguin Classics edition includes an excellent, substantial introduction by Joel Myerson and Daniel Shealy. They discuss Alcott's remarkable life and career and place "The Inheritance" in literary and cultural context.

'Jack and Jill' is as far from the entertaining March family as L.M.Alcott could possibly get. The story of the two friends never rises above the mediocre.The characters are so roughly sketched in that they certainly do not live in the book though the reader may be able to find similar characters in Alcott's other works. Rates high on my list only for the good, old fashioned values it tries to express but would probably be rejected by todays readers as being too preachy, a fault that does not plague Alcott's better efforts. On the whole a must only if you are a staunch fan.

This book is an interesting improvement on the clasic nursery rhyme.With its twist of humor and sadness, Jack and Jill emphasises the value of friendship and the comfort that simple creativity can give.In spite of all these good qualities, I would rate this book as far from Alcott's best. It is too predictable and rather disapointing. Although less "preachy" than many of Alcott's books, the sermons are more direct and lack the pleasing maturity that gives such works as Little Women, An Old Fashoned Girl, and Eight Cousins their originality.All considered it is still a sweet, cuddle-up-by-the-fire book. I recommend to any of Louisa's most-devoted fans, esp those between 9 and 12.

I'm sorry to see that this book has been so poorly received by other reviewers. It is not a family book like Little Women or the Rose Duo, but this is a Louisa May Alcott classic that should not be ignored. If nothing else, the interaction between social classes in America, represented by the mothers of Jack and Jill is endlessly fascinating. Also, this book could appeal to both genders. Both boys and girls will be entranced with the train and mechanical images, and it's unusual to read a child's book and have such fresh descriptions...something perhaps owing to the newness of trains at the time. The three girls, Jill, Molly and Merry, and their plans for self-improvement can be seen in almost every young adult book marketed towards girls. What's refreshing about this one is that they're self-improvement is not for the benefit of their peers or to "get a boy", but rather, Louisa May Alcott has them develop for their own personal growth. In an age when self-help books are on the best seller list, this book shows how it was done before it was a science. In addition, it's novel for it's intrerest in health fads and regiments, new school ideas, and the imporance of an American youth culture. Give this book a chance.