serendipitysbooks 's review for:

The Eights by Joanna Miller

4.0

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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The Eights is a readable and enjoyable piece of historical fiction set at Oxford Univeristy in 1920, the first year women were formally admitted. It was clearly well-researched, but the facts were folded in seamlessly, so I felt I fully immersed in the Oxford experience alongside Marianne, Dora, Otto, and Beatrice. The facts never felt like an info-dump. Oxford specific vocabulary was used, but a glossary was helpfully provided. The physical setting was depicted in cinematic detail, but the chronological setting was also expertly handled, particularly the ongoing imapcts of World War I and the work of the suffragettes. The characterisation was excellent. Otto may have been the over-the-top show stealer, but all four women were distinct fully fleshed out personalites with interesting back stories. The themes of female friendship, female empowerment, and equality were well explored. I especially appreciated seeing some of the obstacles these trail blazing women faced and had to overcome.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, War