Thursday, February 27, 2025
Review - The Book Club for Troublesome Women
AUTHOR: Marie Bostwick
NARRATOR: Lisa Flanagan
RATING: ★★★
RELEASE DATE: April 22nd, 2025
Summary (from Goodreads): Four dissatisfied sixties-era housewives form a book club turned sisterhood that will hold fast amid the turmoil of a rapidly changing world and alter the course of each of their lives.
By early 1960s standards, Margaret Ryan, Viv Buschetti, and Bitsy Cobb, suburban housewives in a brand-new "planned community" in Northern Virginia, appear to have it all. The fact that "all" doesn't feel like enough leaves them feeling confused and guilty, certain the fault must lie with them. Things begin to change when they form a book club with Charlotte Gustafson--the eccentric and artsy "new neighbor" from Manhattan--and read Betty Friedan's just-released book, The Feminine Mystique.
Controversial and groundbreaking, the book struck a chord with an entire generation of women, helping them realize that they weren't alone in their dissatisfactions, or their longings, lifting their eyes to new horizons of possibility and achievement. Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy, and Viv are among them. But is it really the book that alters the lives of these four very different women? Or is it the bond of sisterhood that helps them find courage to confront the past, navigate turmoil in a rapidly changing world, and see themselves in a new and limitless light?
REVIEW: I’ve come to the realization that any book with “library” and “book” in the title is immediately going on my to-be-read list. (Hazards of being a librarian, I guess). That was the case when I first laid eyes on this book. A story about a book club? Yes, please! With troublemakers in the club? Definitely sign me up! One thing I know for certain after reading this story is I could never have been a housewife in the 1960’s. I’m much too stubborn to conform to the standards from that era where a woman’s place was supposedly in the home and nowhere else. Oh yes…I would’ve rebelled against every bit of that nonsense.
This was my first time reading Marie Bostwick’s work, and I really enjoyed it. The four main characters - Margaret, Viv, Charlotte, and Bitsy - are unique individuals with very different personalities, and I liked that I was able to get to know all of them. There’s not a prominent character here. Each woman has their own personal struggles, and they each play a special part in weaving this beautiful story together. I have to say that Charlotte was my favorite, and Christine Baranski lived rent-free in my head the whole time I listened to this audiobook because the narrator sounded just like her. If someone turns this book into a movie and they don’t have Christine Baranski playing Charlotte I will be highly disappointed. If you enjoy stories about the power of friendship and solidarity between women, then you’ll love The Book Club for Troublesome Women.
(DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this title from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.)
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They really need to make this into a movie. I hope you have a great day.
ReplyDeletewww.rsrue.blogspot.com
I agree! It would make for an awesome movie.
DeleteI'm always drawn to books that have bookshop, books, book club, or library in the title, too! :D
ReplyDeleteMe too! Thank you for visiting, Lark!
DeleteI'm not sure if this one would work for me, but I'm glad you enjoyed it! I also feel like I gravitate towards books with or about libraries and bookshops. They're just fun!
ReplyDeleteI agree! Thank you for visiting, Lindsi!
DeleteI love books about books but I don't always end up loving them. I have read a book by this author before.. The Restoration of Ceilia.. something.. I don't remember the whole name but I do remember liking it.
ReplyDeleteI’ll definitely look for it! Thank you for visiting, Hena!
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