Welcome to Imaginary Book Stack!
To start this off, I had to begin with one of my all time favorite characters: Jo March from Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. Despite, or perhaps because of, her flaws, Jo is the character almost all of us wanted to be. She is prickly and brash, independent and headstrong, smart and loyal, adventurous and high-spirited. Jo represents the possibility of a life in which we can be ourselves and achieve our highest dreams. She doesn’t live life in half measure, but embraces living to the fullest, and, with that whole-hearted passion, continues to make readers unable to resist her unconventional charms.
Here’s what I imagine might be in Jo’s book stack:
Jo’s Book Stack
84 Charing Cross Road
Helene Hanff
I think Jo would adore feisty Hanff and nod along with her bookish enthusiasm. She’d read this in a single afternoon sitting up in a tree with an apple, happily satisfied by the end.
The Penderwicks
Jeanne Birdsall
Four quirky sisters, wholesome hijinks with the mysterious boy next door, adventures around the atmospheric Arundel Estate…that’s got to be a fun one for Jo to read, right?
Bad Feminist
Roxanne Gay
Jo was a feminist before we had the word. Roxanne Gay’s essays are an approachable and insightful look into how our culture shapes our perspective.
The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins
I mean, this is about a girl who kicks butt and is adored despite being prickly and stubborn and completely unconventional. Jo would totally be Katniss if she lived in District 12…and we all know the best friend wouldn’t be chosen that time, either.
Big Little Lies
Liane Moriarty
I wanted to think of an equivalent to the gothic stories Jo reads and writes, and this dramatic page turner might just suck Jo in, even if she did feel a bit sheepish about it.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee
Join us in our undying love for Atticus, Jo. (Just don’t read that first draft.) Jo would deeply admire Atticus’s unwavering morality and I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t be able to resist tomboy Scout, either.
Braving the Wilderness
Brené Brown
With the March sisters’ devotion to John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, I wanted to find a modern Christian book that Jo would enjoy. Brown’s message of authenticity and the idea that “we can find sacredness both in being a part of something and in standing alone when necessary” seems to echo Marmee’s teachings and Bunyan’s words: “Better, though difficult, the right way to go; than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe.”
New and Selected Poems
Mary Oliver
Another one to be read outside. I think Jo would absolutely click with Oliver’s philosophies and can see this copy becoming quite dog-eared.
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Love this! Love you! Superb selection.
Thank you so much, Laura! It was a lot of fun to think about. Have you been up to the Alcott’s house in Concord? I think you’d love it.
Erin, this is amazing and you are spot on with Jo’s choices! Wishing you much success with this endeavor!
Thank you so much, Lisa! I really appreciate it. There’s definitely so much that would catch Jo’s attention.
Love your new site!!! Congratulations!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much, Amy! It’s been a lot of fun to do!
Oh yes, I can definitely see Jo getting into any one of these books, great choices! Did you happen to see that PBS is airing a three-part adaptation of Little Women in May?
Thanks, Susan! Yes, I am so excited for the adaptation. I grew up with the version starring Winona Ryder and am very fond of it, so I’m not sure if anything can live up to it, but I’m definitely eager to see it. Do you plan on watching?
Will definitely watch. My favorite version so far, is the old one with Katherine Hepburn.
I still need to watch it! Katherine Hepburn is incredible.
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