This is the second of Kate Quinn's books that we have read. The first, The Alice Network, was quite good and generally was well-received among our group. This one had an equally interesting premise - a double murder in a Washington D.C. boarding house for women and on Thanksgiving!
The book takes each character in the boarding house in turn with a deep dive into how they became who they are in this mix of struggling women in the early 1950's. Each story is well told enough, with the backdrop of the McCarthy era and the political realities of the time.
While the stories eventually wound their way back to the murders, it took a long time. And much of the book was generally best taken on faith. For example, at what point did the house become a character of its own? It just seemed to happen as if it always had but it wasn't immediately involved. And how did the Thursday dinners go on for so long in Grace's room, with ten people or so when the room was described a barely as large as a broom closet? And how exactly did Grace get the support of all when she was also breaking all the house rules and telling nothing of her own life?
And really, was the beautiful, elegant Sydney Sutherland black and passing with a violent husband, the Senator's son, who controlled her every move?
Still, it is a novel, and it doesn't have to be realistic but it was a bit too overblown in places for me to really buy in. However, most of us liked it, and I was really happy to have listened to it, as the narration was pretty good. I can't say the Soviet spy twist was much of a surprise, since given the era, it was the worst thing possible to have in your past.
And so on we go - our next meeting is our annual Christmas book swap and Julie Joyce has offered to host so she can put up her Christmas tree(s). I hear there will only be two, which seems like lots to me but not to Julie. We will meet on December 15 at 6:30, bring a wrapped book that you want others to read, with a note as to why but don't sign it!
See you all then!
