Rating: 
Summary: All women should read this and men too
Review: i have read some of the responses to this book...Women who see themselves as only a mother and not a women as well, can't get this book. All the characters are three-dimensional representations of very different women. I recommend this book for anyone not trapped in the fifties "perfect life" scenario. This complex book is great fiction with a feminist undertone.
Rating:
Summary: This book changed my life. A must read.
Review: I own 3 well worn copies of this book. I first saw it as a movie on a FOX midnight matinee. I have been searching for it in movie form for 4 years. If anyone can help me with this please contact me.
Rating: 
Summary: presents issues that people need to think about
Review: I picked this up for 50 cents at a thrift store. It wasn't the easiest book to begin reading. I'd say the first two pages drew me in, then the next 20 or so pages were not as interesting. But as you continue to read, you start to really get drawn in. I think that Marilyn French does a really good job with character development, and so caring for these gals is not all too difficult. Whether you agree with the ideas that she puts forth is unimportant. It does make you think about issues that are pretty much timeless, since I believe that the struggles of the women's movement in the 70's were not that long ago, nor have we made so much progress in this realm that renders these topics dated. Oh, if only that were the case!Throughout the novel, I found myself feeling many different things - pain, despair, annoyance, disgust, pity, boredom, sympathy, empathy, and at times, a total inability to relate, but many times, I put the book down to really think about either the issues that were being discussed, or to simply transport myself into these situations to consider what I would do in such cases. In the end, I had a lot of admiration for the women depicted in this novel, and ultimately, I felt inspired. This isn't Shakespeare, but it's interesting reading.
Rating:
Summary: presents issues that people need to think about
Review: I picked this up for 50 cents at a thrift store. It wasn't the easiest book to begin reading. I'd say the first two pages drew me in, then the next 20 or so pages were not as interesting. But as you continue to read, you start to really get drawn in. I think that Marilyn French does a really good job with character development, and so caring for these gals is not all too difficult. Whether you agree with the ideas that she puts forth is unimportant. It does make you think about issues that are pretty much timeless, since I believe that the struggles of the women's movement in the 70's were not that long ago, nor have we made so much progress in this realm that renders these topics dated. Oh, if only that were the case! Throughout the novel, I found myself feeling many different things - pain, despair, annoyance, disgust, pity, boredom, sympathy, empathy, and at times, a total inability to relate, but many times, I put the book down to really think about either the issues that were being discussed, or to simply transport myself into these situations to consider what I would do in such cases. In the end, I had a lot of admiration for the women depicted in this novel, and ultimately, I felt inspired. This isn't Shakespeare, but it's interesting reading.
Rating:
Summary: This book profoundly influenced me..
Review: I read it while in college, probably about ~1979. I gave it to my boyfriend's mother, who I pictured as Mira. ;-) and who was a very typical 50's stay-at-home wife. I don't think she ever gave me her impressions of the book... but this book remains with me even today, as sort of a 'think out of the box' bell-ringing epiphany. My mother was much the same way, you grew up, you got married, and your life was taken care of. Divorce hit her like a nuclear bomb, it was definitely NOT a part of the plan. I can still remember the line from the book "it never even occurred to her she had a choice". Great feminist novel. A must read for anyone wanting to understand women's position in the middle of this century.
Rating:
Summary: This book changed my life.
Review: I read this book eight years ago. It forever changed my life. It caused me to rethink the way I related to women. I do not have the words to accurately describe the depth of change that occured for me. I'll be forever grateful to Marylin French and, though they will never know it, so will the women who can today trust me and call me friend. I'd recommend this book for any young man with an attitude--especially a bad attitude like the one I used to have.
Rating: 
Summary: Sadly dated
Review: I recall this being a big deal when it first came out, but the world has (fortunately) gone marching on and it isn't relevant anymore. Even when it was fresh and new, I do recall hearing women who had gone on to college after having raised families saying things like, "That never happened to me!" or "I never had those feelings!" or "I was never that neurotic about my so-called role in life!" Reading it now, there is a distinctly whiney tone to it and I believe that it exagerrates women's problems (even for the time it encapsulates). Plus -- Something that has always driven me crazy -- The character Val believed Myra was shallow, but revised her opinion when she found out Myra had tried to commit suicide. Gee, is that what it takes to get Val's approval? It bothered me because Val was the archetype of the Warrior Woman that the book was promoting and, apparently, attempting to take your own life was, to her, a sign that you've got something going on intellectually.
Rating:
Summary: Feminist treatise, powerful novel, and great read
Review: I'm not sure I could (or would want to) put aside the feminist message of this book. Even though I'm in my 20s and come from a different generation, I was able to empathize Mira's struggles of trying to be a good wife in the 50s and 60s, and then rebelling in the 70s to reclaim her identity and role. At the time this was published, these ideas were probably more revolutionary than they are today, but I still think they are just as important. There were many moments in this book that were happy, many more that were sad, and it was always touching. I recommend this book to many of my women friends of all ages, and always consider it to be one of the best books to read if you're frustrated with your life and need to think about going in a new direction.
Rating:
Summary: YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK
Review: If you are a male or a female over the age of 12, you need to read this book. If it doesn't make you furious, you aren't paying attention.
Rating: 
Summary: Prepare to be BORED!
Review: If you like reading a book with no direction, then you're going to love this one. I felt like I was lost the whole time! I'm not kidding! DONT WASTE YOUR TIME, please.
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