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A review by onlyfictionsworld
The Radcliffe Ladies' Reading Club by Julia Bryan Thomas
3.0
Set in 1954, the story follows four girls from different socioeconomic backgrounds in their first year at Radcliffe College. Women had fewer job options during that time compared to today. Despite the differences among them, these young women learn how to resolve conflicts and who to turn to for support. The bookstore has a Book Club for girls to read books by well-known authors. The owner mentors the girls while they read and discuss books. A tragedy that threatens either to unite them or separate them challenges them.
It captured my attention. The story lacked depth because of too many storylines and undeveloped characters.
The book club didn’t have any other members. Why wasn’t there anyone else? When the four girls joined, did she just stop advertising it? Was there nobody else in Cambridge interested? Book club meetings themselves seem to be little more than a vehicle for learning clichéd lessons about women in men’s worlds.
One character suffers a terrible tragedy that gets worse. I’m not saying it’s never happened before, but did the author need to pile it so high? Then something completely bizarre happens near the end to make the whole situation seem implausible and absurd.
Overall, a good book exploring themes of friendship, coming-of-age, and expectations.
It captured my attention. The story lacked depth because of too many storylines and undeveloped characters.
The book club didn’t have any other members. Why wasn’t there anyone else? When the four girls joined, did she just stop advertising it? Was there nobody else in Cambridge interested? Book club meetings themselves seem to be little more than a vehicle for learning clichéd lessons about women in men’s worlds.
One character suffers a terrible tragedy that gets worse. I’m not saying it’s never happened before, but did the author need to pile it so high? Then something completely bizarre happens near the end to make the whole situation seem implausible and absurd.
Overall, a good book exploring themes of friendship, coming-of-age, and expectations.