⭐⭐⭐⭐ ¼ (Goodreads: 4.62)
GENRE: Historical Fiction
PART OF A SERIES? No
WORTH READING? Yes
SUMMARY:
In 1933, The Great Depression has wreaked havoc on the Delta, and everyone in Oxford is scrambling to hold onto what little they have left. When a group of women find themselves drawn together by circumstances none of them could have predicted, an unlikely friendship begins to take shape. They may have little in common on the surface, but each is carrying her own troubles, secrets and hopes for something better.
Opening lines: “Downtown Drugstore had a bell on the door that made a single tink sound when you opened it.”
The Calamity Club has many strong women. The two main characters are Meg and Birdie.
Meg is delightfully spunky. For example, when someone makes her wear a dress she doesn’t like, she hopes the woman’s own outfit is itchy. Another example is: “’It’s alright… you can tell me. I have seen things.’ I have not seen things, but I want to hear the rest of this story.” Moments like these give her a distinctive voice and make her easy to root for.
Birdie, meanwhile, is resourceful, caring and loyal. She’s exactly the sort of person you’d want in your corner.
I love how Stockett writes. One line that particularly stood out to me was:
“The ache in her voice had muscle, sinew.”
My main criticism of this book is that it was long-winded at times, so I wasn’t completely hooked from start to finish, and I felt some sections could have benefited from tighter editing. I got the feeling that Stockett just tried to jam too much in and the book suffered for that. Perhaps because it’s been so long since her previous book (The Help) she felt she had a lot to say.
My other reservation is that, about halfway through, a large number of new characters are introduced and the plot takes a turn that I found a little difficult to believe, particularly the actions and responses of the older woman who owns the house (without venturing into spoiler territory).
Despite those criticisms, I thoroughly enjoyed The Calamity Club and would happily recommend it. I still think there was something extra special about The Help, which remains my preferred Stockett novel. Even so, The Calamity Club is a warm, witty story of friendship and resilience that will stay with me for a long time.
Click here if you’d like to check out The Help (incidentally, the movie of this book is also well worth the watch, if you haven’t seen it yet)
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