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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
The characters are unremarkable and so is the plot. I didn’t give up on it, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
Wow I loved this book. The characters were interesting and honest and felt so so real. The passion behind the story felt authentic and true. My only wish is that the author had interwoven the various stories a bit more. They came together a bit at the end but it was missing that extra push that a book with many perspectives requires. This book gives such an interesting perspective on the war and reminds you of the people behind the bombs.
The Atomic City Girls is set in the town of Oak Ridge which thrived during the second world war. It housed one of the main operations that contributed to the atomic bomb under the Manhattan Project. This novels follows the story of common people who moved from their hometowns in search for work or on major projects to Oak Ridge. While the scientists knew exactly why they were there, other people had next to no clue about the role their work played in the big picture. We follow June, an eighteen year old as one of the girls working in Y-12. She is a sweet girl with little ambition. Her roommate, Cici, is adamant to find herself a good match amongst the men in the town. Sam is a scientist who is overseeing operations of the Y-12 where June works. Joe is an African American who is involved in construction.
I felt that the book did a great job of showing what Oak Ridge functioned like, providing support with pictures. The characters were relatable and I found June to be a great protagonist - down to earth and playing her role of a woman coming of age in these trying times. The situations that she is put in are genuine and I liked that all characters were humans, meaning the war affected them all in ways that were good and bad. The book was clearly thoroughly researched, with pictures and the emphasis on security that must have been in place then.
My only disappointment is that the book tried to do too much. June and Sam were the main characters while Cici's storyline on the side made sense. Joe's role, though provided another facet to the war, was good to read, but it was quite minimal. I would have liked to see his storyline explored more in detail. His connection to the rest of the characters should have more concrete. Apart from that, I really enjoyed it and learned a lot!
Would recommend it to anyone who likes stories about top-secret projects and war.
I felt that the book did a great job of showing what Oak Ridge functioned like, providing support with pictures. The characters were relatable and I found June to be a great protagonist - down to earth and playing her role of a woman coming of age in these trying times. The situations that she is put in are genuine and I liked that all characters were humans, meaning the war affected them all in ways that were good and bad. The book was clearly thoroughly researched, with pictures and the emphasis on security that must have been in place then.
My only disappointment is that the book tried to do too much. June and Sam were the main characters while Cici's storyline on the side made sense. Joe's role, though provided another facet to the war, was good to read, but it was quite minimal. I would have liked to see his storyline explored more in detail. His connection to the rest of the characters should have more concrete. Apart from that, I really enjoyed it and learned a lot!
Would recommend it to anyone who likes stories about top-secret projects and war.
2.5/5 stars for this historical fiction
I'm not sure if I just wasn't in the mood for a historical fiction, or if this book just didn't hold my attention. I didn't connect to any of the characters.
The narration was good, just didn't love the story.
I'm not sure if I just wasn't in the mood for a historical fiction, or if this book just didn't hold my attention. I didn't connect to any of the characters.
The narration was good, just didn't love the story.
While I enjoyed the book, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, like we were on the precipice of something happening and then nothing. After I finished the book I realized that must have been how everyone involved felt at the time. I’m not sure if that was intentional or a happy accident but it certainly added some dimension to the story. I’m not typically a big fan of stories with switching perspectives but in this instance I think it helped to build the experience of what the true Atomic City must have been like. I also really appreciate the playlists at the back.
It's clear that Janet Beard did her homework; the research is impeccable. What I enjoyed most about this work of fiction is that in her storyline, the author takes a close look at gender and racial inequality based on actual events.
This was a solid read but didn't blow me away. The setting is richly described, and I loved the time period. The book follows the Clinton Engineer Works (CEW) portion of the Manhattan Project and takes place in Oak Ridge, TN. Country girl June secures a job operating a factory machine in Oak Ridge, but she isn't allowed to inquire as to what her job is exactly because no one is allowed to discuss their work - with each other or with family back home. June makes friends with her new roommate, Cici, and begins to see Dr. Cantor, a young physicist working in town. The primary downfall of this book for me is that there were only one or two characters I even somewhat liked, so it was difficult to become invested.
To say that The Atomic City Girls is disappointing is to mildly understand the sentiment. I had high hopes of an intimate glimpse into life in Oak Ridge with its layers of secrets. I thought it would be another war novel that is both educational and entertaining. Unfortunately, it is neither of those things, in my opinion, which only compounds my longing for what could have been instead of what is.
For the amount of time we see June and her girlfriends actually working, the story could literally take place anywhere. Seriously, we see June at her station doing mysterious things for all of a page or two. That is all that ties June to the Manhattan Project. She shows curiosity but only after she meets and begins to date the physicist. Even then, we do not get specifics on what these so-called Atomic City girls were actually doing for the project. To me, it makes the title feel like a misnomer in a way because we don’t get to see what they are doing to help win the war.
Instead, Ms. Beard chooses to focus on what happens when the girls do not work. There is a lot of flirting, more dancing, shopping, going to movies, and really living the high life. In a way, it is a bit disturbing just how much June enjoys her life in Oak Ridge and the luxuries to which she has access while the rest of the country is on strict rationing. Cici, the roommate, proves to be a money-grubbing socialite wannabe who is willing to do just about whatever it takes to find herself a wealthy husband. She is the cold-hearted bitch to Jane’s country girl wholesomeness, and both are more than a little sickening in their self-righteousness.
Because focusing on the girls’ social life is not enough apparently, Ms. Beard also throws in the addition of Joe Brewer. If I were a cynical person – and I am – I would surmise that Joe appears in the book in an effort to diversify it and so she can show that while the girls were living large, the African-American workers were stuck in little more than cardboard shanties with fewer available amenities and much more difficult labor. He provides an opportunity to show the racial divide in Tennessee in the 1940s, which is neither a surprise nor shocking in its ugliness. While there is an attempt to connect all of the characters, the connection is flimsy at best and is a convenient plot device at worst.
The Atomic City Girls is supposed to show the morality issues associated with building the first nuclear weapon and the lengths to which the government was willing to go to not only keep it a secret but also to keep its workers happy so that they would stay on the job and finish the task. The morality though comes across as very black and white. You have those who celebrate the weapon, once it becomes public knowledge, knowing it is the best way to end the war. Then you have those who are so appalled at what they built that they struggle live with the guilt. Ms. Beard shows almost nothing in-between the two opinions, even though you would think that is where most of the workers on the Manhattan Project would fall into that middle gray area.
The whole story comes across as soap operatic, complete with fights over men and women backstabbing each other. The connections between all characters remain nebulous no matter how much Ms. Beard tries to bring them together into a cohesive cast. Any connections make no difference because no of the characters are ones that tug on your emotions. They are all flat, relatively insipid and uninteresting. Worst of all though is the utter lack of information I learned from reading this novel. I wanted to learn what these Atomic City girls did for the project and learned nothing. Instead, I got a doomed, wartime love story crossed with a forced morality tale about the dangers of blindly following orders with an added glimpse at the racial injustices that existed in the day. Were it well-written with compelling characters, it might be easier to overlook the lack of atomic anything in The Atomic City Girls. Instead, I closed the last page knowing this is one I should have DNF’d but was too stubborn to do so.
For the amount of time we see June and her girlfriends actually working, the story could literally take place anywhere. Seriously, we see June at her station doing mysterious things for all of a page or two. That is all that ties June to the Manhattan Project. She shows curiosity but only after she meets and begins to date the physicist. Even then, we do not get specifics on what these so-called Atomic City girls were actually doing for the project. To me, it makes the title feel like a misnomer in a way because we don’t get to see what they are doing to help win the war.
Instead, Ms. Beard chooses to focus on what happens when the girls do not work. There is a lot of flirting, more dancing, shopping, going to movies, and really living the high life. In a way, it is a bit disturbing just how much June enjoys her life in Oak Ridge and the luxuries to which she has access while the rest of the country is on strict rationing. Cici, the roommate, proves to be a money-grubbing socialite wannabe who is willing to do just about whatever it takes to find herself a wealthy husband. She is the cold-hearted bitch to Jane’s country girl wholesomeness, and both are more than a little sickening in their self-righteousness.
Because focusing on the girls’ social life is not enough apparently, Ms. Beard also throws in the addition of Joe Brewer. If I were a cynical person – and I am – I would surmise that Joe appears in the book in an effort to diversify it and so she can show that while the girls were living large, the African-American workers were stuck in little more than cardboard shanties with fewer available amenities and much more difficult labor. He provides an opportunity to show the racial divide in Tennessee in the 1940s, which is neither a surprise nor shocking in its ugliness. While there is an attempt to connect all of the characters, the connection is flimsy at best and is a convenient plot device at worst.
The Atomic City Girls is supposed to show the morality issues associated with building the first nuclear weapon and the lengths to which the government was willing to go to not only keep it a secret but also to keep its workers happy so that they would stay on the job and finish the task. The morality though comes across as very black and white. You have those who celebrate the weapon, once it becomes public knowledge, knowing it is the best way to end the war. Then you have those who are so appalled at what they built that they struggle live with the guilt. Ms. Beard shows almost nothing in-between the two opinions, even though you would think that is where most of the workers on the Manhattan Project would fall into that middle gray area.
The whole story comes across as soap operatic, complete with fights over men and women backstabbing each other. The connections between all characters remain nebulous no matter how much Ms. Beard tries to bring them together into a cohesive cast. Any connections make no difference because no of the characters are ones that tug on your emotions. They are all flat, relatively insipid and uninteresting. Worst of all though is the utter lack of information I learned from reading this novel. I wanted to learn what these Atomic City girls did for the project and learned nothing. Instead, I got a doomed, wartime love story crossed with a forced morality tale about the dangers of blindly following orders with an added glimpse at the racial injustices that existed in the day. Were it well-written with compelling characters, it might be easier to overlook the lack of atomic anything in The Atomic City Girls. Instead, I closed the last page knowing this is one I should have DNF’d but was too stubborn to do so.
2.5 stars
TW: Racism, Non-consensual sex, Alchohol Abuse, Domestic Violence
As I sit down to write my review of this book I am very conflicted. For the first third of the book I was invested, I loved learning about these characters. But then I reached 75% and I could start to see the cracks in this story.
First off the positives:
- I love the amount of research that must have gone into this novel. Because, as far as I can tell most of the story is historically accurate
- I loved it when it was Joe and Ralph's perspective I found them really interesting characters and I haven't read that many historical fiction books that have the perspective of African Americans, (by the way if anyone knows any other books that centre around African Americans please let me know)
- I liked the description (for the most part) I felt like I was in Oak Ridge seeing all this unfold so that is another positive.
- I loved that June and Sam didn't end up together if they had then that would have lowered the rating even more
- The epilogue was my favourite part of this book
Now for the negatives:
- The romance. I honestly could not care for the romance that was in this book. Especially the romance between June and Sam honestly that was my biggest gripe with this book and since most of the story centers around June and Sam's romance it was really a struggle.
- The way that alcohol abuse is portrayed in this book is not very well executed in this book (in my opinion). I really think that the way they have portrayed violent men in this book due to alcohol was not handled well and it could be harmful to some readers.
- Now for the most controversial part. The book was boring. After the 75% mark, I felt like I was trudging through the mud until we got to the Epilogue.
- Even though the epilogue was my favourite part of the book I didn't like that everyone (with the exception of Ralph and Shirley) ended up with a happy ending. I really think that Janet Beard should have taken some more risks and killed off some more characters (that is just my opinion).
Anyways, that is my thoughts on The Atomic City Girls by Janet Beard. I do have to say if I was reading this book physically then I would have definitely DNF'd it. The narrator for this book was fantastic, it is just a shame that the story didn't meet my expectations.
TW: Racism, Non-consensual sex, Alchohol Abuse, Domestic Violence
As I sit down to write my review of this book I am very conflicted. For the first third of the book I was invested, I loved learning about these characters. But then I reached 75% and I could start to see the cracks in this story.
First off the positives:
- I love the amount of research that must have gone into this novel. Because, as far as I can tell most of the story is historically accurate
- I loved it when it was Joe and Ralph's perspective I found them really interesting characters and I haven't read that many historical fiction books that have the perspective of African Americans, (by the way if anyone knows any other books that centre around African Americans please let me know)
- I liked the description (for the most part) I felt like I was in Oak Ridge seeing all this unfold so that is another positive.
- I loved that June and Sam didn't end up together if they had then that would have lowered the rating even more
- The epilogue was my favourite part of this book
Now for the negatives:
- The romance. I honestly could not care for the romance that was in this book. Especially the romance between June and Sam honestly that was my biggest gripe with this book and since most of the story centers around June and Sam's romance it was really a struggle.
- The way that alcohol abuse is portrayed in this book is not very well executed in this book (in my opinion). I really think that the way they have portrayed violent men in this book due to alcohol was not handled well and it could be harmful to some readers.
- Now for the most controversial part. The book was boring. After the 75% mark, I felt like I was trudging through the mud until we got to the Epilogue.
- Even though the epilogue was my favourite part of the book I didn't like that everyone (with the exception of Ralph and Shirley) ended up with a happy ending. I really think that Janet Beard should have taken some more risks and killed off some more characters (that is just my opinion).
Anyways, that is my thoughts on The Atomic City Girls by Janet Beard. I do have to say if I was reading this book physically then I would have definitely DNF'd it. The narrator for this book was fantastic, it is just a shame that the story didn't meet my expectations.