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mtomchek's review against another edition
4.5
"Maybe we have to lose ourselves to find ourselves."
What a lovely read! Such a unique novel about a girl with an overbearing and demanding mother. A tall and awkward girl who loved to read and learn. She grew into a female science student during the 1960s and we join Margot during her journey as she discovers herself, attempting to understand life and the chromosomes it is comprised of.
Really enjoyed this...it was a slice of history paired with an awesome story about an intelligent woman dealing with the complexities of life. We are made up of genes given to us by our parents, we are raised with expectations, but we are our own people with our own minds. We can do as we please despite the DNA inside of us.
Be strong and find who you are regardless of the expectations and the genetics.
What a lovely read! Such a unique novel about a girl with an overbearing and demanding mother. A tall and awkward girl who loved to read and learn. She grew into a female science student during the 1960s and we join Margot during her journey as she discovers herself, attempting to understand life and the chromosomes it is comprised of.
Really enjoyed this...it was a slice of history paired with an awesome story about an intelligent woman dealing with the complexities of life. We are made up of genes given to us by our parents, we are raised with expectations, but we are our own people with our own minds. We can do as we please despite the DNA inside of us.
Be strong and find who you are regardless of the expectations and the genetics.
bourquesbookshelf's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
segallf's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
janamacrim's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bookedwithmel's review against another edition
4.5
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this audiobook from NetGalley and Tantor Audio. I thoroughly enjoyed the single POV narration by Karissa Vacker and I would like to listen to more by her.
I’m not really sure what I expected when I chose this book. I guess I should have expected the sexual content considering it was about the ‘sexual revolution’. It wasn’t a turn off for me though. I spent the whole book wondering who Margot was going to end up with. I was rooting for her and her imperfect soldier.
I thought the book ended abruptly. Like all of a sudden graduation happens and her life is completely changed after parts of the story dragged.
lonestarwords's review against another edition
2.0
"...I wish I were born a man," she said simply.
"We all do," said her mother.
Margot
Wendell Steavenson
•
So. Much. Promise.
•
After a friend, whose book taste I shared, reviewed Margot the other day, I was incredibly intrigued by the plot and tracked down an audio copy so that I could decide for myself.
•
Margot's summary rang a lot of bells for me -- a coming of age novel that opens in 1950s NYC and migrated to college in Cambridge MA. Ding ding.
•
Margot is the privileged daughter of a wealthy NYC couple (Park Avenue, boarding school and summers on Oyster Bay). Her mother's every expectation is that Margot will marry well and Margot ends up, as many women of the time did, confined by the expectations of her generation.
•
There was LOTS of promise in the first half of this story and I was totally absorbed in her "poor little rich girl" drama. Margot is however, smart enough to find her way to Radcliffe College and wants to carve out another path for herself because of her passion for science. Her college years during the sexual revolution, while probably ringing very true, began to feel awkward and a bit forced and I started to struggle with the book there.
•
I will insert that I do not recommend this via audio - I think I might have stayed more connected had I read the physical copy and kept voices to my own imagination. The narrator starts out well but both her attempts at Margot's childhood voice and her portrayal of men (one of my pet peeves) were cringe worthy.
•
The book follows Margot through college, through sexual experimentation and success in her field - it should have all come together, right? Nope. The ending totally fell apart and and was so absolutely bonkers that it tainted my entire view of the book. I've said before that many people can write a book, but it's being able to END a book that really shows an author's skill.
"We all do," said her mother.
Margot
Wendell Steavenson
•
So. Much. Promise.
•
After a friend, whose book taste I shared, reviewed Margot the other day, I was incredibly intrigued by the plot and tracked down an audio copy so that I could decide for myself.
•
Margot's summary rang a lot of bells for me -- a coming of age novel that opens in 1950s NYC and migrated to college in Cambridge MA. Ding ding.
•
Margot is the privileged daughter of a wealthy NYC couple (Park Avenue, boarding school and summers on Oyster Bay). Her mother's every expectation is that Margot will marry well and Margot ends up, as many women of the time did, confined by the expectations of her generation.
•
There was LOTS of promise in the first half of this story and I was totally absorbed in her "poor little rich girl" drama. Margot is however, smart enough to find her way to Radcliffe College and wants to carve out another path for herself because of her passion for science. Her college years during the sexual revolution, while probably ringing very true, began to feel awkward and a bit forced and I started to struggle with the book there.
•
I will insert that I do not recommend this via audio - I think I might have stayed more connected had I read the physical copy and kept voices to my own imagination. The narrator starts out well but both her attempts at Margot's childhood voice and her portrayal of men (one of my pet peeves) were cringe worthy.
•
The book follows Margot through college, through sexual experimentation and success in her field - it should have all come together, right? Nope. The ending totally fell apart and and was so absolutely bonkers that it tainted my entire view of the book. I've said before that many people can write a book, but it's being able to END a book that really shows an author's skill.
teddyreads2's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
kirachandlerreads's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed reading this book. I love any books about introverted women navigating the world, their mothers and sex lives, experimentation and radicalization, possibly because they remind me of myself and I am nothing if not driven by self-posession. Sorry sorry.
The author allowed me to really get there in terms of the setting.
I wish it had delved more deeply into the racism that existed (and continues to exist) during this period of time especially when it comes to academics.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the e-arc.
The author allowed me to really get there in terms of the setting.
I wish it had delved more deeply into the racism that existed (and continues to exist) during this period of time especially when it comes to academics.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the e-arc.
arrakistowesteros's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
noladawnreads's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Margot Thornsen is raised in a life of privilege in post-WWII NYC. Her overpowering mother has expectations of Margot to marry well as the heir to her grandfather's steel fortune. However, Margot only wants to go on to pursue an education in microbiology... uncommon in the 50s. A fire changes everything and the world is open to her as she heads to Radcliffe; right as the dawn of a new age is opening up in 1960s, one of cultural and sexual freedom.
Margot is funny at times, but mostly poignant and a touchstone of the epic times in the 60s. The journey of a introverted young girl to a woman becoming aware of her sexuality at a time when women didn't have a voice~ rings especially true in the current politcal climate.
The narration by Karissa Vacker is on point, as always. From achingly tender and innocent to demonstrating self discovery and pain, she once again proves she's a master with her voice.
Thank you Tantor Audio for the gifted audio! Available NOW!
Margot is funny at times, but mostly poignant and a touchstone of the epic times in the 60s. The journey of a introverted young girl to a woman becoming aware of her sexuality at a time when women didn't have a voice~ rings especially true in the current politcal climate.
The narration by Karissa Vacker is on point, as always. From achingly tender and innocent to demonstrating self discovery and pain, she once again proves she's a master with her voice.
Thank you Tantor Audio for the gifted audio! Available NOW!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: War and Abortion