Eleven Members were welcomed to the Book Club Meeting with apologies received from those unable to attend the evening. Brenda opened the meeting with a comment “that Germaine Greer would be proud of this book” and everyone agreed. It was very apparent right from the start that Members had liked or even loved this book – apart from just one Member who although liking many parts of the book, could not agree and found to be a book of issues and had problems with some of the reality of the portrayal of American housewives.
Going around the room, it was clear that Members thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it well written and a joy to read, with the right amount of humour, sadness and thought-provoking content. Several felt a little bereft and did not want to finish. Several commented it was a book for them right from the first page and wondered if the reality actually mattered. The book was set in the 1960s and most of the Members had the same stereotypical vision of an American housewife at that time anyway. Many commented on how they had felt quite horrified in respect of the chapters depicting unmarried mothers and their sad treatment leading to Members discussing the many similarities taking place in other countries, it was sadly “just that way” then. On a lighter note, everyone loved Six-Thirty, the dog, not only his name but also his paths of wisdom and him being included as quite an active and involved character too. One Member said she had a mental picture of him with a speech bubble each time!
The characters, who felt like real people, were well described and flowed comfortably with the language. Everyone found it easy to read, without having to refer back and forth. A few pointed out that they also liked how the author cleverly streamed vowels and consonants, slipping in her quirky phrases. Absolutely everyone loved Elizabeth’s name of Zott and Harriet her neighbour (with her own sad story) was a definite favourite and also a bit of a heroine. Members were pleased she also had a happy ending. A couple of Members found the timing of Wakely’s entrance a “little neat” perhaps. Members commented on how this book did 1960s American men no favours and most of those particular characters in the book got a somewhat sticky end (The Number 2 pencil comes to mind with its co-starring role!!). Many of the characters were also very likeable, including of course, although short-lived, Calvin Evans; the very intelligent daughter Mad (Madeline) Zott Walter Pine, the KCTV Producer and Dr.Mason (Obstetrician/ Rower) to name but a few.
So to summarise …………The unforgettable character, the iconic heroine Elizabeth Zott: “an extraordinary woman, a feminist who refuses to be quashed, determined to live on her own terms who unpacks the thorny questions around women’s empowerment, the need to be true to oneself and why we should refuse to accept the limitations others try to impose, ahead of her time.”
Says it all really!! Unbelievably a debut novel, a thought-provoking revenge story and to quote:
“A charming and thoroughly entertaining look at gender in the 1960s deliciously readable.”
A definite thumbs up – a brilliant book destined to be re-read and passed on to many others.