2018 marks the 150th anniversary of the publication of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. For devoted fans of the March sisters, I can think of no better book to add to your shelf than a new title by Anne Boyd Rioux– Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story Of Little Women and Why It Still Matters.  The book comes out  on Tuesday, August 21st.

Anne Boyd Rioux appeared on a panel I attended at the annual Summer Conversations series put on by Orchard House in Concord, Massachusetts. Rioux, a writer and professor at the University of New Orleans, offered insights on the relevance of Little Women in today’s world and one of my favorite topics– where the Alcotts end and the Marches begin. Although Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy isn’t officially available yet, I was thrilled to be able to pick up one of the early copies being sold at Orchard House.

As a lifelong Little Women fan, Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy was pure joy to read.  If you spent your childhood struggling to decide who got to be Jo and who was Beth, this is the book for you.

Interview with Anne Boyd Rioux

Anne Boyd Rioux and I spoke about the book earlier this month.  I’m excited to be able to share our conversation as the first episode of the new “A Bookish Home” podcast. 

We discussed how fiction meets reality in the March sisters, Marmee’s relevance to mothers today, Jo’s impact on American women writers and much more. I hope you enjoy hearing Anne’s insights as much as I did!

Episode 1: A Conversation with Anne Boy Rioux, Author of Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy

I think you will really love Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story Of Little Women and Why It Still Matters. Get your library holds and bookstore orders ready! Anne Boyd Rioux is also offering some very exciting preorder giveways on her website.  You could win copies of Anne’s previous books, Little Women swag from Orchard House, and more. If you are looking for your next book club pick, there is also a special opportunity to have Anne virtually visit your book club if you order six or more books.

For more ways to embrace all things Alcott, check out my post: 18 Ways to Celebrate Little Women’s 150th Anniversary Year. Anne also mentioned that Little Women is a choice in the Great American Read from PBS. To learn more and find out how to vote visit another post Vote for “The Great American Read”!

I will have more interviews with authors, booksellers, librarians and more coming up soon on A Bookish Home, the podcast. You can subscribe in the iTunes Store to make sure you never miss an episode. And if you like the podcast, I would really appreciate it if you could submit a review to help people find it.

If you read Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy and enjoy delving into the world of the Marches as much as I did, reach out. You can find me on Twitter @ABookishHome.

Happy reading!

Are you looking for a bookish event to attend this summer? Add an author reading to your calendar!

Check the events calendar at your local bookstores, libraries, and museums to find authors coming to your area. You can also follow favorite authors on social media or visit their website to see if they have any upcoming events. Attend on your own or bring your child along to experience the magic of hearing from an author in person!

If like me, you are in the Massachusetts area, here is a round-up of some of the great author events for kids and adults alike coming soon:

Grace Dane Mazur, The Garden Party

Wednesday, July 11th – 7:00pm at Harvard Bookstore

“Harvard Book Store welcomes writer, artist, and biologist GRACE DANE MAZUR—author of Trespass: A Novel, Silk: Stories, and Hinges: Meditations on the Portals of the Imagination—for a discussion of her latest novel, The Garden Party.”

Christina Uss, The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle

Thursday, July 12th – 4:00pm at Book Ends Bookstore, Winchester

“Please join us on Thursday, July 12th as we welcome author Christina Uss in to discuss her new middle grade novel The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle. Introverted Bicycle has lived most of her life at the Mostly Silent Monastery in Washington, D.C. When her guardian, Sister Wanda, announces that Bicycle is going to attend a camp where she will learn to make friends, Bicycle says no way and sets off on her bike for San Francisco to meet her idol, a famous cyclist, certain he will be her first true friend.”

For more information, visit Book Ends Event

Scott Magoon, Misunderstood Shark

Friday, July 13th – 10:30am at the Eric Carle Museum

Illustrator Scott Magoon will have a special storytime at the Eric Carle Museum to share this very funny picture book. “Every beachgoer knows that there’s nothing more terrifying than a…SHARRRK! But this shark is just misunderstood, or is he? Join illustrator Scott Magoon as he reads from his new picture book Misunderstood Shark by Ame Dyckman. Funny, extraordinarily clever, and full of fun shark facts, this surprisingly endearing story gets to the heart of what it feels like to be misunderstood by the people around you. And with a surprise twist ending, Misunderstood Shark will have kids rolling with laughter!”

Friday, July 13th – 11:30am at Belmont Books

 “Our story hour in the children’s room will be hosted by local author Annemarie Riley Guertin. She’ll be reading her debut picture book, How the Finch Got His Colors.

Many years ago, before the world bloomed in magnificent colors, the Earth lay stark and gray.

The animals that graced its skies and roamed its lands were the colors of dirt, clay, and stone . . .

. . . until Rainbow descended to bestow her colors on the creatures of the world. Each bird asked for a bright and beautiful color: green for Parrot, red for Cardinal, and yellow for Canary. But will there be any colors left for little Gouldian Finch? He soon learns the power of patience and the beauty of all creatures.

Based on a Belgian folktale, this beautifully told and illustrated tale is a timeless treasure for every collection.”

For more information, visit Belmont Bookstore Event

Katherine Reynolds Lewis, The Good News About Bad Behavior

Friday, July 13th – 7:00pm at Porter Square Books

Tui Sutherland, Wings of Fire #11: The Lost Continent

Sunday, July 15th – 1:00pm at Belmont Books

Young fans of the incredibly popular Wings of Fire series will be excited that author Tui Sutherland is coming to Belmont Books on July 15h! I know the students in my library adore these books.

“We are thrilled to have bestselling author Tui Sutherland join us to read from her latest novel and eleventh book in the Wings of Fire series, The Lost Continent.

For centuries there have been rumors of another continent on the dragons’ planet — another land far across the ocean, populated by tribes of dragons very different from those we know. But there’s never been any evidence, and most dragons dismissed the rumors as fairy tales. Until now. Because it turns out the stories are true. And the other tribes are coming.”

For more information, visit Belmont Books Event.

Calling all Alcott fans: Orchard House in Concord is offering their annual Summer Conversational series featuring Little Women scholars and authors! The week of sessions kicks off with a panel discussion at Trinity Episcopal Church with authors Anne Boyd Rioux (Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters), Megan Marshall (Margaret Fuller: A New American Life), John Matteson (Eden’s Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father and The Annotated Little Women), Joel Myerson (The Collected Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson), and Daniel Shealy (Little Women Abroad: The Alcott Sisters’ Letters from Europe).

“A century and a half has passed since Louisa May Alcott took up her pen in May of 1868, wrote “Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents,” and the classic American novel, Little Women, was born. Although Alcott initially had doubts this book would find a readership, publisher Thomas Niles persuaded her to try her hand at a “girls’ story,” and the gamble paid off:  Little Women has endured the test of time, having never been out of print, translated into more than 50 languages, and transformed into countless stage plays, musicals, films, a television series, opera, ballet, and even anime.

The book’s lasting universal appeal is testament to the vital way it tackles issues that define the human condition:  coming of age, dealing with loss, the importance of family, struggles of conscience — jealousy, anger, pride, vanity — loyalty, friendship and love, charity, independence, social responsibility, and personal empowerment.  Distinguished presenters in this year’s Series will guide participants in an examination of the difference Little Women has made over time in the world of literature, what it means to readers today, and why it is still important.”

Other session highlights include “Little Women at 150: A Conversation” with John Matteson, Anne Boyd Rioux’s “Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters” with a book signing, and  “Dateline Ireland: Behind the Scenes of the Little Women Miniseries” with Alcott expert and Orchard House Executive Director Jan Turnquist.

Debbi Michiko, Jasmine Toguchi: Flamingo Keeper

Tuesday, July 17th – 4:00pm at Eight Cousins Bookstore, Falmouth

Debbi Michiko Florence will be at Eight Cousins Bookstore on July 17th to discuss the newest book in her popular Jasmine Toguchi series for young readers: “Jasmine’s best friend, Linnie, has just gotten a puppy. And now Jasmine wants a pet of her own—a flamingo! So when her grandmother sends Jasmine a daruma doll as a surprise gift, Jasmine colors in one doll eye and wishes for a flamingo to keep.Next, Jasmine tries to convince her parents that she’s responsible enough for a pet. She cleans her room, brushes her teeth, takes out the trash, and, most importantly, researches everything she can about flamingos. But soon it becomes clear that her wish may never come true! Will Jasmine’s daruma doll ever get its second eye? Luckily her big sister, Sophie, has a surprise planned that fulfills Jasmine’s wish beyond her wildest dreams. Debbi Michiko Florence is at her best in this sweet, special story of sisterhood and new responsibilities!”

For more information visit Eight Cousins Event

Louise Miller, The Late Bloomer’s Club 

Wednesday, July 18th – 7:00pm at Brookline Booksmith

Louise Miller will be at Brookline Booksmith on July 18th to discuss her new book. A review of the Late Bloomers’ Club from Library Journal declares,  “As warm and cozy as buttered brioche and tea next to the fireplace on a winter morning, Miller’s second novel (after The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living) features two sisters with night-and-day personalities -living in small-town Vermont…A novel about sisterly bonds and the ties that bind a community…will appeal to fans of Jan Karon’s “Mitford” books and Jennifer Chiaverini’s “Elm Creek Quilts” series.”

For more information visit Brookline Booksmith Event

Author Literary Luncheon with Mira T. Lee, Madeline Miller, and Julia Glass

Thursday, July 19th – 12:00pm at Wequasset Resort, Chatham

“Join us on the Wequassett Resort’s Garden Terrace on Thursday, July 19th at 12pm for a special luncheon with authors Mira T. Lee, Madeline Miller, and Julia Glass, whose respective books Everything Here is Beautiful, Circe, and A House Among the Trees will all be featured.”

 For more information and to purchase tickets visit Where the Sidewalk Ends Event

Rachel Slade, Into the Raging Sea

Thursday, July 19th – 7:00pm at Belmont Books

“On October 1, 2015, Hurricane Joaquin barreled into the Bermuda Triangle and swallowed the container ship El Faro whole, resulting in the worst American shipping disaster in thirty-five years. No one could fathom how a vessel equipped with satellite communications, a sophisticated navigation system, and cutting-edge weather forecasting could suddenly vanish—until now.

Relying on hundreds of exclusive interviews with family members and maritime experts, as well as the words of the crew members themselves—whose conversations were captured by the ship’s data recorder—journalist Rachel Slade unravels the mystery of the sinking of El Faro.”

For more information visit Belmont Books Event

Casey Robinson, Iver & Ellsworth

Saturday, July 28th – 2:00pm at the Eric Carle Museum

“From a factory rooftop, Iver and his good friend Ellsworth (a rooftop bear) are content to watch the busy world below. ‘Everyone’s going somewhere,’ Iver says. ‘We can see the whole world from up here. That’s enough somewhere for me.’ But after Iver retires, the friends must venture out in search of a new somewhere. Of course, the very best views are those you share with an old pal. Join author Casey Robinson as she reads from her debut picture book Iver & Ellsworth!”

For more information visit Eric Carle Museum Event

Jeff Mack, Mr. Monkey Bakes a Cake

Friday, August 3rd – 1:00pm at the Eric Carle Museum

“Mr. Monkey bakes a cake. He can’t wait to win a ribbon! But first he has to carry it to the contest. What could possibly go wrong?

Join author and illustrator Jeff Mack as he reads from Mr. Monkey Bakes a Cake and other titles from his hilarious new picture book series about the lovable Mr. Monkey and his wacky adventures.”

For more information visit Upcoming Eric Carle Museum Events

Zach Schonbrun, The Performance Cortex

Friday, August 3rd – 7:00pm at Porter Square Books

Maryanne Wolf, Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World

Wednesday, August 8th – 7:00pm at Harvard Bookstore

“Harvard Book Store welcomes MARYANNE WOLF—acclaimed researcher, professor, and author of Proust and the Squid—for a discussion of her latest book, Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World.

A decade ago, Maryanne Wolf’s Proust and the Squid revealed what we know about how the brain learns to read and how reading changes the way we think and feel. Since then, the ways we process written language have changed dramatically with many concerned about both their own changes and that of children. New research on the reading brain chronicles these changes in the brains of children and adults as they learn to read while immersed in a digitally dominated medium.”

Keith O’Brien, Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds And Made Aviation History

Thursday, August 9th – 7:00pm at Brookline Booksmith

“The untold story of five women who fought to compete against men in the high-stakes national air races of the 1920s and 1930s — and won.
Between the world wars, no sport was more popular, or more dangerous, than airplane racing. Thousands of fans flocked to multi‑day events, and cities vied with one another to host them. The pilots themselves were hailed as dashing heroes who cheerfully stared death in the face. Well, the men were hailed. Female pilots were more often ridiculed than praised for what the press portrayed as silly efforts to horn in on a manly, and deadly, pursuit. Fly Girls recounts how a cadre of women banded together to break the original glass ceiling: the entrenched prejudice that conspired to keep them out of the sky.”

For more information visit Brookline Booksmith Event

What author events are on your calendars this summer?