The Radiant Way (1987)

Thanks to the 1001 list I picked this book up. I loved it! I will read the other two soon. It follows 4 women as they meet in college during the 1950s and then go their separate ways but keep their friendship. Their personalities are created by their upbringing and social standing. It is interesting to see how they interact with each other and the changing world. The book is set in the 1980s so they go through a lot.

My one challenge was all of the political and social allusions to London and England of the 1970s and 80s. I found it interesting, but I think I missed a lot since I don't know the historical details. ( )

This novel follows the lives of three women who met at Cambridge in the 1950s as they live through the course of five years in the 1980s. Their lives intersect and play out not only in the immediate sense, but also against the backdrop of a changing England. ( )

Drabble shows us the lives of three friends who meet regularly and grow into maturity, together, but in their separate ways. When we meet them, it is the end of the 1970s. They had been friends for 25 years and know each other well. When we leave them, five years later, they have all moved on but nothing is clearly resolved in their lives. No dramatic gestures or operatic drama. In the background is life of the early 1980s in England. Riots, labor problems, murders, class stigmatization, and all the other nuances of England under Thatcher.

It was a bit slow in parts, and at times I just wanted to slap one or other of the three. But nonetheless I could relate to each of the women at different times and wanted to know how they got on.

I understand this is one of a trilogy. I may seek the others out. ( )