22. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (PART ONE)

Kayla and Taylor discuss the themes and major beats of the first part of Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 novel, Little Women. Topics include the importance of depicting everyday occurrences in literature, how Louisa may have been Team Lesbian, and how birth order may or may not show up in our personalities. Also, Kayla accidentally reveals a MASSIVE spoiler, much to Taylor’s chagrin. Ah, sisters!

This week’s drink: The Apple Pie-tini via The Literary Vegan

INGREDIENTS:

Apple juice liquid (1 oz apple cider, ¼ tsp brown sugar, sprinkle of cinnamon, sprinkle of nutmeg)

1 oz vanilla vodka

1 oz ginger ale

Cinnamon stick and/or apple slice, to garnish

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In a cocktail shaker, shake together apple juice liquid, vodka, and ice

2. Pour into a cocktail glass and top with ginger ale

3. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and/or apple slice

Current Reads and Recommendations:

• The Gene: An Intimate History by Siddhartha Mukherjee

• Crime and Poetry by Amanda Flower (Magical Bookshop cozy mystery series)

• Books Can Be Deceiving by Jenn McKinlay (Library Lovers cozy mystery series)`

• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

• The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

• Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

Follow us on Instagram @literatureandlibationspod.

Visit our website: literatureandlibationspod.com to submit feedback, questions, or your own takes on what we are reading. You can also see what we are reading for future episodes! You can email us at literatureandlibationspod@gmail.com.

Please leave us a review and/or rating! It really helps others find our podcast…and it makes us happy!

Purchase books via bookshop.org or check them out from your local public library. 

Join us next time as we discuss Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (pt. 2)

Here is the cocktail recipe for the upcoming episode if you want to drink along with us!

Spiced Maple Bourbon Fizz via Half Baked HarvestINGREDIENTS:

Spiced Maple Syrup:

• ½ cup maple syrup

• 2 cinnamon sticks

• 1 TB cardamom pods

• 1 star anise

• 1 inch fresh ginger, sliced

• Zest of 1 orange

Maple Fizz:

• 1 ½ oz (3 TB) bourbon

• 1 oz (2 TB) lemon juice

• 1-2 dashes orange bitters

• 1 oz (2 TB) spiced syrup

• Champagne, for topping

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. To make the spiced maple syrup. In a medium pot, bring 1/2 cup water, the maple, cinnamon, cardamom, star anise, and ginger to a boil over high heat. Boil 2-3 minutes, then remove from the heat. Stir in the orange zest. Let cool, then strain the syrup into a glass jar. This syrup makes enough for about 6 drinks.

2. In a cocktail shaker, combine 1-2 tablespoons spiced maple syrup, the bourbon, lemon juice, and orange bitters. Add ice and shake. Strain into a glass. Top off with champagne. Garnish with an orange slice and star anise, if desired.