The fact that history repeats itself is never more obvious than when reading historical fiction. This book, The Book Club for Troublesome Women depicts the wives of 1960s middle class families and the societal pressure to keep women at home. This was a time period when women were discouraged from pursuing careers or stimulation outside of their families. Fifty years later, these regressive ideas are gaining momentum once again in the form of misguided restrictive laws based on false memory about how good this was for women.

I never would have picked up a book with this title if not highly recommended by one of my favorite book nerd friends. In fact, when she first mentioned it, I confused it with another book, The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek (https://jantramontano.com/2020/09/14/add-blue-to-our-spectrum-of-prejudice-the-book-woman-of-troublesome-creek/) This was a historical novel set in 1930s Appalachia. Calling these women troublesome didn’t bother me as much as it did in this context. 

But I’m glad I did.

That being said, this is the story of four women who form a deeply nourishing friendship through a book club. While their aspirations differ, the respect and encouragement they give one another gives each of them the courage and confidence to expand the confines of their suburban life.

It is the 1960s. Postwar America gave rise to planned suburban communities. The setting for this book is Concordia, Virginia the site of dream come true cookie cutter homes with manicured lawns in which families will thrive.

Margaret, married, mother of three loves her husband and taking care of her children but something is missing. Her interest is peaked when a new sophisticated arrival from New York, eccentric Charlotte, moves into the community. Margaret wants to get to know her better.

Along with neighbors Viv and Bitsy, they form a book club. Charlotte agrees to join if they choose serious books. Margaret chooses the perfect book for these women at this time. Long held dreams closeted away rise up. Margaret wants to be a writer, Bitsy a veterinarian, and Viv, now mother to six children was a wartime nurse and misses the work. 

Their first book is Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique. It is as life changing for these fictional characters as it was for women of the time. It struck a chord, particularly with middle class women. So much so it was credited with the second wave of feminism. 

The central thesis of the book is that confining women solely to domestic roles and putting obstacles in the way to discourage them from pursuing any activity outside their assigned role.  The whole idea of a feminine mystique was a confining, artificial ideal. In some ways Friedan’s thesis served as a blueprint for women to push back against limitations and find fulfillment through their own identities.

The characters have aptly called themselves the Bettys as they integrate what they have learned into their lives and encourage each other.

Margaret, a direct, proactive women felt stymied as a wife and mother and harbored dreams of becoming a writer. Viv is a happily married, mother of six with a seventh on the way. She found great fulfillment and confidence as a skilled war nurse. She missed that aspect of her life. Bitsy always wanted to be a veterinarian. She was refused an academic letter of recommendation from her advisor to complete her application to vet school because she was a woman and married a veterinarian instead. That, understandably, did not go well. Sometimes there is a flicker of hope that still burns that can enable change. Charlotte is a flamboyant, wealthy, unhappily married woman who finds solace in alcohol. She yearns to be a successful artist.

The conflicts along the way between the women and husbands were real and varied. The limitations women had (couldn’t open a bank account without a husband’s signature) remind us of how far we’ve come.

I found the ending disappointing. The situations that arose in the book seemed very plausible but the ending was a reach. Particularly, the trajectory of Margaret and her husband, Walt. But who says not to dream big?

I don’t know what might have been a better title but when looking up synonyms of troublesome I found these descriptions: alarming, annoying, burdensome, damaging, dangerous, difficult, inconvenient, intractable, irritating, vexing, and worrying.  No. That is not what these women were.

The best I could come up with is challenging. The whole crux of the book is about an effort to challenge the status quo. These are the synonyms: bold, demanding, visionary. It might not meet the vision of the author or publisher but I find those descriptors more appealing and appropriate. Or better still—a title more in theme with change.

Marie Bostick is a prolific writer of women’s fiction. In her after comments, she talked about how sad it was for her to leave these characters. Quite understandable. I think it’s fair to say most women would love to have these kinds of friendships. We would all be better off being part of a group of like minded women who share common goals and have your back. Men too!

If you haven’t read the Feminine Mystique, this is a  great read to remind us all of just how far we’ve come and how tightly we have to hold onto that progress.