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3.5. This book is important and does a good job putting together a narrative of this story, but it has some issues. The one that stands out the most is the author incorrectly claiming Dr. Flinn’s PhD was in philosophy when it was in physiology (although this certainly doesn’t make him any less of a monster) which is a pretty ridiculous mistake to miss in editing for such an important part of the narrative. Moore claims she cut over 60,000 words from her initial draft, but somehow didn’t catch that she doesn’t know what a PhD is and thinks they all mean “Dr. of Philosophy”? Seriously?
There’s also a lot of repeating information that was stated 2 paragraphs back as if it were new (the multiple times Moore clarifies where Grace Fryer was buried stood out), and a lot of overwrought prose that went beyond painting a picture and into assuming the thoughts and feelings of these women in moments that could not possibly have been on record. This, in my opinion, is an EXTREMELY problematic thing to do with any account of women’s history—speaking over the women and assuming far too many uncited things about their characters is not the move, and is especially disappointing to see from a female author. It comes off as almost parasocial vs caring.
Overall, I think this needed a couple more rounds of editing, but it’s still a worthwhile read bearing its issues in mind, and is borderline required reading for anyone interested in women’s history. Easily the most digestible written work about The Radium Girls.
There’s also a lot of repeating information that was stated 2 paragraphs back as if it were new (the multiple times Moore clarifies where Grace Fryer was buried stood out), and a lot of overwrought prose that went beyond painting a picture and into assuming the thoughts and feelings of these women in moments that could not possibly have been on record. This, in my opinion, is an EXTREMELY problematic thing to do with any account of women’s history—speaking over the women and assuming far too many uncited things about their characters is not the move, and is especially disappointing to see from a female author. It comes off as almost parasocial vs caring.
Overall, I think this needed a couple more rounds of editing, but it’s still a worthwhile read bearing its issues in mind, and is borderline required reading for anyone interested in women’s history. Easily the most digestible written work about The Radium Girls.