This hefty novel, by the author of The Help (blog review here) took me two weeks to read, but it was worth it.
It is an atmospheric, engrossing, immersive read set in Mississippi during the depression. She took over a decade writing it and it shows in complex, memorable characters, and multiple interwoven storylines, masterfully overlapping, complete with a satisfying ending. And no, at 656 pages, it was not too long.
I’m hard-pressed to tell you about The Calamity Club without revealing any spoilers. Those were desperate, unfair times. The story starts in an orphanage, but does not end there. Along the way, there is fake morality on the one side, and loosely flexible morality on another; the ones that would impose morals on others are the ones who come out looking bad. Everyone is just trying to get what they need– to be fed and to be loved.
There is destitution, adultery, prostitution, homophobia, theft, alcoholism, suicide, forced sterilization, and anti-miscegenation, but also there is brave risk-taking, solidarity, loyalty, found family, self-determination, improvisation, expediency, moxie, survival, and love. Most women band together to help one another, but not all do. I want to keep following these characters and see where they go from here.
This will be one of the best books I read this year; you might want to read it too. I give it five stars.
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