Ryanne Molinari

An Active & Imaginative Life

Little Women

May 8, 2026

Lessons from My Favorite Fictional Mother

Throughout Little Women, Mrs. Margaret March—fondly called “Marmee” by her daughters—seems to be a background character. We are told about the appearances, idiosyncrasies, aspirations, relationships, and weaknesses of the four March sisters, but are given very little information about Marmee. Instead, whatever glimpses we catch of her come through conversations with and among her daughters.… Continue reading

Scribblings

book review, book reviews, books, family, Little Women
November 12, 2021

November

In Little Women, Meg March complains about November, declaring it “the most disagreeable month in the whole year.” As a November baby, this passage stuck with me. I first read it as a child living in sunny suburban Arizona, so could not understand why Meg hated November for the simple reason that I had never… Continue reading

literary living, Musings

Little Women, November, seasonal, seasons, writer, writing
August 28, 2016

Well-read and Caffeinated: 10 Ideal Coffee/Tea and Book Pairings

It is a truth universally acknowledged that all readers in possession of a good book are in want of a delicious beverage to sip. But why settle for just any latte? In my opinion, books and coffee are like fine wine and cheese; you must pair them properly so as to derive the fullest enjoyment… Continue reading

literary living

Anna Karenina, author, authors, Book, book review, books, bookworm, character, coffee, Fiction, literature, Little Women, novel, poetry, Reading, romance, writer, writing
March 1, 2015

7 Steps to Overcoming a Haircut Crisis: by Rapunzel, Anne, Jo, and Me

“It looks so good!” gushes the stylist. You nod vaguely, but inside you’re screaming, “Since when does ‘two inches’ mean ‘take it all’?” You came in wanting a simple trim (freshen up the layers, cut the split-ends, the usual), but one ambitious beautician and several pairs of scissors later you’re sitting open-mouthed in a nest… Continue reading

Bookish Style

Anne of Green Gables, bad haircut, Book, bookish, bookish style, bookworm, characters, Disney, fictional, hair, haircut, hairstyle, jo march, literature, Little Women, rapunzel, Reading, style, tangled
September 5, 2014

Grave con Brio: On Pianos in Literature

I feel a bit guilty admitting this, but I love writing essays. Really. My classmates- if any of them actually are reading this- are probably rolling their eyes and groaning, but call me a nerd, I don’t care and I’ll say it again: I love writing essays. I especially love writing them when they are… Continue reading

Literature, Musings

analyzing, AP Lit, AP Literature, author, beethoven, books, booworm, chopin, composer, essay, fitzgerald, Jane Austen, lit, literature, Little Women, Louisa May Alcott, motif, Music, musical passion, musician, nerd, performer, phantom of the opera, pianist, pianisti, piano, sense and sensibility, the great gatsby, writer
May 19, 2014

Writer’s Despair, the discouraging cousin of Writer’s Block

Have you ever been filled with despair because a book is too amazing to be true? Because the author’s wit flows effortlessly? Because the imagery bubbles from the pen as naturally as water from a spring? Because you just know that no matter how hard you try, nothing as profoundly simple, as beautifully tragic, or… Continue reading

Literature, Musings

Alcott, author, books, Jo, literature, little men, Little Women, write, writer’s block
May 9, 2014

“For love is a …

“For love is a flower that grows in any soil, works its sweet miracles undaunted by autumn frost or winter snow, blooming fait and fragrant all the year, and blessing those who give and those who receive.” Louisa May Alcott, Little Men Continue reading

Literature

Book, literature, little men, Little Women, Louisa May Alcott, love, Read, Reading