Yeah, I'd say that Eight Cousins and Rose in Bloom are my fave Alcotts, followed by Little Men . I never really got into Little Women as much. I would have to say I prefer Alcott to other children's authors of the past, for example Frances Hodgson Burnett- who was more blatantly classist. For example comparing Phebe's fate in Alcott to the little maid girl in A Little Princess who IIRC still ends up as a maid, but it's somehow her happy ending: she's still a servant, but at least they're rich, oh... and nice to her and stuff.

Looks like I killed the thread... oops. I just have to say that I recently finished one of the best books I've read in a LONG time, Unless by Carol Shields. I was surprised because when I've read her before I've found her boring and pretentious. This book is just so subtle, and moving, and the language is wonderful... I could go on. Needless to say it's been added to my "list of all-time favourite books by Canadian authors" which includes (off the top of my head):

The Wars by Timothy Findley- it was required reading in grade 12 English, and I think I was the only person in the class who loved it. I also loved his The Piano Man's Daughter

Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood- I don't know what it is about this particular book which stands out in my mind from her other stuff, maybe the historical aspect. The Handmaid's Tale was good as well, but I think it scared me too much for me to love thoroughly.

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje- also required reading for a course I took on Canadian fiction in film, but nevertheless really really good (as was the movie, a rarity in this class).

Anyways, as I said, I could go on, but I won't. Also, it's not that I have anything against authors from other countries, far from it. There's just something about finding a book that I love so much, that when it's by a Canadian it's just that much more shiny.

My Side Of the Mountain

Oh! I had forgotten about this book! I loved it. One of the best side effects of Literary is that you not only get new book recs, but are reminded of those you loved and have forgotten about.

Little Men was my favorite Alcott as a young girl, but rereading it earlier this year, the preachiness drove me batty. I really enjoyed rereading Eight Cousins/Rose in Bloom though, very nostalgic. I have Jo's Boys on my shelf; I'm pretty sure I never read it before.

I just finished Ford Madox Ford's the Good Soldier, which I thought was great. It felt a little slow, but was such an interesting narrative. It's not long (which is probably why it seemed slow to read; I thought I'd finish it faster), but the words are so precisely chosen; each sentence has weight.

NEW YORK - No word yet on when the next Harry Potter book comes out, but at least there's a title: "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince."

"Well the door opened at last and I showed you the title of book six — the genuine title, the title that will appear on the published book, the title I have been using in my head for ages and ages," author J.K. Rowling wrote on her Web site.

The British author's U.S. publisher, Scholastic, confirmed the title on Tuesday

(And let the fic speculation begin)

The Half-Blood Prince? Please tell me that's a joke.

The Half-Blood Prince

Maybe it's the Half Blood-Prince, who was largely dismembered in a freak accident.

(I believe I mentioned my hypenation issues. Apparently they haven't gone away.)

Nope, that's a story from Yahoo News.

Yarg. CNN confirms it too. I can't pinpoint why, exactly, but that strikes me as a really dumb title.

She also said that "Half-Blood Prince" refers to neither Harry nor Voldemort.

I'm guessing Hagrid, for some reason.