...And Ladies of the Club

Rating:
Summary: The best book that I have ever read
Review: I was given this book in hardback when it was first published. I read the whole thing in less than a week -- I just could not put it down. AND I have read it at least 6 more times in the following years. My copy of the book has been all over the world and carried by many hands. Each person that has read the book, has given it great reviews. Each time that I read it, I find out something new about one of the numerous enchanting characters. A must read!

Rating:
Summary: Slow, cumbersome read
Review: I was shocked to see that most people gave this book a high rating. I found it to be really slow to develop and a wordy,
cumbersome read. I would NOT recommend this book. It took her fifty years to write it, it will take me at least that long to read it.

Rating:
Summary: I constantly recommend this book!
Review: I'll admit that the beginning of this novel is a little slow. It took me over 3 months to read the first 100 pages, and just over a week to read the rest. The small town life and pecularities of three generations are woven into a great tale of friendship and loyalty. I am disapointed to see that the book isn't available here, and hope that our reviews will help in finding some copies. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Cast of Characters
Review: I've just finished my second read of this outstanding book; the first time was when it first came out in the 80's. As always when I re-read something many years later, I find my reactions to be quite different.. I've lived more, experienced more, read more. My attention is drawn to sections which didn't interest me the first time around. But ONE thing remains unchanged about this book: I need a Cast of Characters and/or geneology charts! I intended to create such fifteen years ago but didn't. Has anyone out there done that???? Especially during the last third of the book, when the time line moved faster, I found myself confused about the relationships of families, marriages, offspring. If I get it done, I will so note in this space; if someone else has done it, please let us know. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would find it useful.

Rating:
Summary: Truly spectacular!
Review: One of the best books I have ever read and I have read many. The book may seem daunting in its length but after the first chapter it flies by, unfortunately as I did not want it to end. I was so caught up in the book that I could not put it down and read it in three days! This book has it all. There is plenty here for both men and women. Santmyer makes both her male and female characters multi-dimensional and compelling. I loved all the characters and the Amercian history. I would have liked to live in this town and know the individuals portrayed. My only complaint is that there is no sequel. Take the time to read this book. It is truly magnificant.

Rating:
Summary: an epic american historical novel
Review: One of the best books I have read in a long time! Set in Ohio between 1868 and 1930 it revolves around a women's book club and the daily life of it's members and family. Although long at 1433 pages,
when you are through reading it you feel as if you are part of their lives!

Rating:
Summary: An Enormously Worthwhile Re-issue
Review: Santmyer manages to create a work that has enormous breadth, covering many decades and an large cast of characters, and yet doing so with the gentleness and intimacy of a chamber piece. This book lets you feel what the sweep of American history felt like for ordinary folks in ordinary towns. The detail is extraordinary yet not distracting, the drama moving yet cut from the events of ordinary lives. There are no great literary ambitions here-- Santmyer has no great point to hammer home other than, "This is how it was." But when the end of the book arrives, I felt sad to leave behind these people that I had come to know so well. It's not very often that you pick up a book this lengthy and leave it feeling that it was somehow too short. Not a beach book, but a winter novel, to be read wrapped up in a comforter with a mug of hot chocolate next to the fire. If you missed this the first time it appeared, grab it now.

Rating:
Summary: Men will enjoy this book!
Review: The title of this magnificent book has undoubtedly deterred countless legions of male readers from reading what appears to be a "Chick-Flick" type of book. In actuality it is a fascinating historical novel of mid-America from the post-Civil War era to the Great Depression. Both men and women will find it delightful reading and worth keeping on the shelf for re-reading every 5 years...

Rating:
Summary: Men will enjoy this book!
Review: The title of this magnificent book has undoubtedly deterred countless legions of male readers from reading what appears to be a "Chick-Flick" type of book. In actuality it is a fascinating historical novel of mid-America from the post-Civil War era to the Great Depression. Both men and women will find it delightful reading and worth keeping on the shelf for re-reading every 5 years...

Rating:
Summary: A definate classic.
Review: There are a handfull of books I like to reread and this book is at the top of my list. The portrait of friends, families and small town life is absorbing, and the characters have stayed with me over the years. This is definately a book worth tracking down.