I loved this quiet, but powerful, novel about a group of four Radcliffe students who join a book club devoted to discussing the classics — particularly those focused on the roles, experiences, and opportunities for women. Set in 1955, the discussions of historical classics such as Jane Eyre, The Age of Innocence, A Room of One’s Own, Anna Karenina, and others are superimposed on each girl’s individual background, goals, and experiences. This leads to some well written dialog, reflection (always my favorite), and action, all revolving around the evolution and personal impact of social norms for women. I’m not introducing the four girls here, as I like the way author introduced each. I’m also not describing some of the events that took place — they are important, but best left unintroduced IMHO.
The writing is straightforward, but never simplistic. For me personally, being only one generation behind the students in the book, the stark contrast between the lives and opportunities for the women in the book club selections, the 1955 Radcliffe students, and myself was illuminating. Social norms are embedded in us at an early age, and it is sometimes difficult to have an awareness of how our thoughts and beliefs are forged before we aware of the process. As an aside, I was impressed by how the various male characters were portrayed. The narrative was never strident, and the men ran the gamut from pretty awful to quite decent. It became clear to me that the men, too, were a product of the expectations of the time — not as an excuse for any behavior, but as an understanding of how it might have evolved. The whole thing was fascinating and (for me) never dipped into cliche or melodrama. It simply focussed on the life each girl chose, why she chose it, and how she made it happen.
For the younger among you, Radcliffe was a woman’s liberal arts college in Cambridge founded in 1879 and absorbed into Harvard in 1999.
Some great quotes — some from the classics the girls read:
From the discussion of Anna Karenina: “She had more temptations than an ordinary girl would have had. A handsome count was never going to fall in love with someone less beautiful and exciting than Anna. Which makes me think it wasn’t her fault as much as some might think.” I never thought about it that way.
From Virginia Woolf’s Orlando: ”As long as she thinks of a man, nobody objects to a woman thinking.” Ha!
“Jane Eyre was meant to be read at all stages of life, and each reader must glean what she could from her own study of the book.“
“Ah, but you see, there are no right or wrong answers in book club. It’s all about how a book affects you and how it makes you feel.”
From Virginia Woolf’s Orlando: ”As long as she thinks of a man, nobody objects to a woman thinking.” Ha!
“Jane Eyre was meant to be read at all stages of life, and each reader must glean what she could from her own study of the book.“
“Ah, but you see, there are no right or wrong answers in book club. It’s all about how a book affects you and how it makes you feel.”
Books to look forward to ... 