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A review by rosepoints
The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore
5.0
this is a nonfiction book i think most people would enjoy reading, and that’s high praise for a nonfiction book in my opinion. moore does such a good job of situating the reader in the emotional grip and the sheer injustice of the situation, and that’s a rare talent.
the radium girls refer to the women who got radium poisoning from painting watches with luminous, radioactive paint. they used small, delicate brushes that they pointed with their lips, in order to waste less material, and that caused them to ingest powdered radium. they lost bones, teeth, and their livelihoods to this occupational hazard, and it took years and years for them to finally get some legal justice for the company's negligence.
but the thing i appreciate so much about this book is the dedication towards depicting each woman’s character, their bravery and strength, and the lives that they lived. most nonfiction books tend to focus on the political or legal ramifications of the situation, which can be informative, but in those cases, i feel like we lose out on the humanity and the emotional weight of it all. excellent book and would recommend if you are looking to dip your toes into the nonfiction genre.
the radium girls refer to the women who got radium poisoning from painting watches with luminous, radioactive paint. they used small, delicate brushes that they pointed with their lips, in order to waste less material, and that caused them to ingest powdered radium. they lost bones, teeth, and their livelihoods to this occupational hazard, and it took years and years for them to finally get some legal justice for the company's negligence.
but the thing i appreciate so much about this book is the dedication towards depicting each woman’s character, their bravery and strength, and the lives that they lived. most nonfiction books tend to focus on the political or legal ramifications of the situation, which can be informative, but in those cases, i feel like we lose out on the humanity and the emotional weight of it all. excellent book and would recommend if you are looking to dip your toes into the nonfiction genre.