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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
Enjoyed getting the history and a story of Jane. I timed my reading to align with a trip to Hyde Park, and ended up visiting or passing by multiple name-checked spots with our host — the co-op bookstore, a cafe, and a bar. Oh, and one of my host’s friends who was at dinner with us had been a Jane. It was wild.
Anyway, I obviously loved the story and all that it stood for. I am clearly the target demographic. But it was really clear it was entirely fictional characters and storylines plopped into this real historical event. These characters were not the actual women who founded Jane or their life experiences. And that knocked it down for me. It was all too… soapy and convenient. The lack of friction experienced felt too easy, the quickness with which some people changed views or got over being hurt, the lack of complexity in resolutions, it all just felt easy and TV movie. I would’ve preferred a story of the actual Janes (although probably that’s not well documented).
Anyway, I obviously loved the story and all that it stood for. I am clearly the target demographic. But it was really clear it was entirely fictional characters and storylines plopped into this real historical event. These characters were not the actual women who founded Jane or their life experiences. And that knocked it down for me. It was all too… soapy and convenient. The lack of friction experienced felt too easy, the quickness with which some people changed views or got over being hurt, the lack of complexity in resolutions, it all just felt easy and TV movie. I would’ve preferred a story of the actual Janes (although probably that’s not well documented).
Phenomenal. Deeply explores so many facets of life as a woman. A great story, excellent character development. The premise of the book, “Jane”, is an incredibly brave, impactful group of women whose story needs telling. I LOVED this book and will read all of the author’s other books.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
Loved the message of women empowering women across all different stages of life
FULL REVIEW IN Aisha's Book World
In the late 60s and early 70s, before Roe vs. Wade gave women the right to do what they want with their bodies, there was a group of women (and some men) in Chicago helping others to get safe abortions, which was illegal back then. They were called The Jane Collective. Based on this group, All You Have to Do is Call is about how women dealt with their life choices in the beginning of the women’s liberation movement era.
Although a bit slow in the first half of the book, this story is very well written with touching moments and other difficult ones. All You Have to Do is Call is a fantastic reading all women need, no matter what you think about the topic developed here. With an excellent research work focused on humanizing the Jane Collective more than the cultural, political and social impact on the 1960-1970’s society, Ms. Maher creates an engaging, thought-provoking story about a key moment in history that changed women’s lives.
ARC given by Berkley/Penguin Random House via Netgalley. Thanks for your trust.
In the late 60s and early 70s, before Roe vs. Wade gave women the right to do what they want with their bodies, there was a group of women (and some men) in Chicago helping others to get safe abortions, which was illegal back then. They were called The Jane Collective. Based on this group, All You Have to Do is Call is about how women dealt with their life choices in the beginning of the women’s liberation movement era.
Although a bit slow in the first half of the book, this story is very well written with touching moments and other difficult ones. All You Have to Do is Call is a fantastic reading all women need, no matter what you think about the topic developed here. With an excellent research work focused on humanizing the Jane Collective more than the cultural, political and social impact on the 1960-1970’s society, Ms. Maher creates an engaging, thought-provoking story about a key moment in history that changed women’s lives.
ARC given by Berkley/Penguin Random House via Netgalley. Thanks for your trust.
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
"The counseling rooms of the Service were very often the first place in their lives where these women heard their choices validated. Their default emotions. Veronica had learned, were guilt, and shame, and devaluation. So it was a lot to take in, this notion that there was nothing wrong with them, that their feelings mattered."
"Listen, I know it might seem strange, but I think it's important for women to see that both things are possible. That pregnancy and abortion are all part of the same cycle in a woman's life and with a good abortion, women can still have children when they want to."
"She listened resentfully to Patty bustle around the kitchen, cutting paper and filling bags and opening and closing containers. Against her will, she began to feel drowsy as the sounds slowed her pulse. It felt like being a kid, being home on a sick day with her mother preparing toast with applesauce and ginger ale."
"It was amazing, Veronica mused, what this electronic box brought into their houses every day, Spaghetti-soft disney romance, like now, as well as murders and marches, footage of American boys killing vietnamese boys halfway around the globe and the National Gaurd shooting college kids hours away in Ohio. The contrast was dizzying. What kind of person would Kate- and this new little human incubating inside her - grow up to be in a world of such profound incongruity, all right there for the viewing."
"She could see why her mother had given up on her antiques shop dream, it was so easy to default to what was in front of you instead of pursuing what you had to invent."
"Maragret studied Harriet. This woman was not someone she wanted to look up to, but she was someone who could help her. I'll play the game, but only so I can change it."
"Listen, I know it might seem strange, but I think it's important for women to see that both things are possible. That pregnancy and abortion are all part of the same cycle in a woman's life and with a good abortion, women can still have children when they want to."
"She listened resentfully to Patty bustle around the kitchen, cutting paper and filling bags and opening and closing containers. Against her will, she began to feel drowsy as the sounds slowed her pulse. It felt like being a kid, being home on a sick day with her mother preparing toast with applesauce and ginger ale."
"It was amazing, Veronica mused, what this electronic box brought into their houses every day, Spaghetti-soft disney romance, like now, as well as murders and marches, footage of American boys killing vietnamese boys halfway around the globe and the National Gaurd shooting college kids hours away in Ohio. The contrast was dizzying. What kind of person would Kate- and this new little human incubating inside her - grow up to be in a world of such profound incongruity, all right there for the viewing."
"She could see why her mother had given up on her antiques shop dream, it was so easy to default to what was in front of you instead of pursuing what you had to invent."
"Maragret studied Harriet. This woman was not someone she wanted to look up to, but she was someone who could help her. I'll play the game, but only so I can change it."
love!! the first fiction i’ve read that directly tackles and centers abortion and it was so so lovely. i wanted to say it was surface level feminism at times, but it was the early 70s, so it’s with privilege and a whole lot more feminist knowledge and theory that i can say that 50 years later. really enjoyed every storyline. just a wonderful story!
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A