Marie Bostwick

The Book Club for Troublesome Women showed up in my Hoopla recommendations. Four women in the new suburbs of Northern Virginia come together to read Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique even as the world and their lives are changing irrevocably in the early 1960s. Bostwick's story was heart wrenching in many ways as we see women belittled by the world, in many cases, their own husbands. But Bostwick also explores ideas about how the enforced roles of women required enforced roles for men show more who may not find bread winning to be their real desire. Of course, there are pretty petty men as well, and I found myself shouting "a*****e" a few times along the way.

She weaves history into the story as the women in Concordia, Virginia, were right on the doorstep of the March on Washington and lived through the assassination of Kennedy. We see them grappling with their changing roles, come to understand the importance not just of friendship but also mentorship. And, I am a huge fan of Katherine Graham who shows up as herself and provides some support for one of the characters in the novel. It felt a little "Forrest Gumpy" but helped underline the turmoil of those years. show less

I received a free ALC for this book. All thoughts presented here are 100% my own!

This is my first time reading for Marie Bostwick but I am hooked!

'The Book Club for Troublesome Women' is a historical fiction book set in the 1960s in a Virginia suburb featuring four housewives from different backgrounds at different stages of life. What starts off as an awkward, haphazardly thrown together, book club ends up not only bringing them together but changing the projections of their lives show more altogether.

While at the beginning the group starts by reading 'The Feminine Mystique' by Betty Friedan, the reactions of each of the Bettys and what they make of what they read is the actual focus of the book. Feminism, motherhood, community support, societal pressures, working mothers, financial independence and many more topics get explored through the Bettys' journeys.

I was surprised to find myself relating to not only one or two of the ladies, but all of them. They are all distinct, relatable and very likeable once you get to know them more. Even the secondary characters were memorable and well-done.

The pacing was pretty good! I didn't feel like any particular part overstayed its welcome. I found myself just breezing through the book which is an impressive feat while juggling four different POVs.

Regarding the subject matter, I thought the book covered the struggles women faced then (and now) very respectfully. I took down many notes about further topics and other books recommended by the characters in the book. I especially appreciated the characters (I believe it was Viv) pointing out that many of the conversations being had at the time (again, and now) are limited to women with privilege. That we need to bring in voices from all backgrounds and walks of life to the table if we truly wish to achieve true equality.

I think the only thing I wish we saw more of is more agency for one of the Bettys, Bitsy. While Charlotte and Viv were active drivers in how their lives turned around in my opinion, I can't help but feel that Bitsy's life change was more the result of a decision by her husband. While many women can find themselves in her shoes and perhaps even make the same choices, I think I was still rooting for her to be an active decision maker in her life considering the message of the rest of the book.

For Margaret, I feel she did speak up for herself and was actively balancing her life goals and pleasing her husband. I was a bit surprised by her husband's transformation feeling it a bit sudden despite the circumstances that led to them. Perhaps it's the cynic in me but I think I didn't expect him to change that fast. But still, it was refreshing seeing a husband like him choosing to change for the sake of his mother, wife and daughters.

Specifically for the audiobook, I want to applaud Lisa Flanagan for her narration. She did a fantastic job bringing all four ladies and all the secondary characters to life giving them each a distinctive voice that makes you sometimes forget they're all voiced by the same narrator! I am actually currently looking for other audiobooks specifically narrated by her because she's THAT good!

Overall, I really loved the book and have been recommending it to everyone I know! While going through the book, and now that I'm done, I have found myself constantly thinking about moments from it. Similar to what the Bettys themselves say in the book, while this book in itself won't dramatically change your life, it offers an enjoyable story that will leave you relating and thinking. Changing you in small but meaningful ways. show less

While chick lit can be entertaining, this genre with a southern bent is just a touch above all the others, especially when tackled by an insightful author. Marie Bostwick has given us characters to loathe, admire, love and cheer for.

Everything was a plus, setting, dialog, plot and execution - I really enjoyed this book - how much? When I realized my water bottle had leaked and soaked the last third of the book there I was at 3 A.M. using my hair dryer to dry each page so I could finish the show more book. That’s how much I liked this book.

Thank you LibraryThing and William Morrow for a copy show less

A heartwarming story of family and trust with a bit of romance, plus a dollop of quilting and a dab of horse training too.

I enjoyed the optimistic attitude of main character Mary Dell Templeton, a single mother of an adult son with Down syndrome who created a TV show based on her skill as a quilter. Her positive perspective propels the story, for example when she thinks, “You never knew what might happen or who might come out on top. The sun rose anew every morning, and when it did, you show more might be about to have the best day of your life. Even on days when it was too dark to see clearly, there was a plan, and if you just kept going, you were bound to find it.”

The novel has realistic characters with real-world problems, and a thread of hope running through the story. It was this hopefulness that kept me turning the pages of this inspirational tale full of heartfelt connections and sprinkled with humor.

Relationships are front and center in this novel, both mother-daughter kinship as well as friendships between women. Even with the normal friction of day-to-day relationships, the author writes with warmth and honesty, as her main character explains, “That was the trick to life: to cling to family and the people you love. People, Mary Dell had discovered, far more than any particular longitude or latitude, were the anchors of the heart’s true home.”

This is my third novel by author Marie Bostwick, and I’ve just discovered she’s written nearly 30. Looks like I’ll be adding her books to my TBR list.

If you’re looking for a satisfying, encouraging, feel-good novel about family, friendship, trust, and hope, this is the book for you. show less