The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick
Author
Describing her childhood as an “overweight and socially awkward child” she said in her website bio, that she created imaginary friends to help her cope.
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she was constantly in trouble for reading too much. Is there such a thing?
Like most parents, her mother banned books at the dinner table. Marie found a way around her reading ban by seeking out the words on the back of cereal boxes during breakfast time.
She grew up with access to a collection of antique books and even though the fell in love with the vintage illustrations, she listed her favourite childhood book to include some of the classics. Roald Dahl, Laura Ingalls and Jean Craighead listed as amongst her favourite authors.
Throughout her writing career, Marie’s mother has been a person who has always inspired her especially for Foodie Book Clubs August book choice, The Book Club for Troublesome Women.
Growing up in a 1960s household, where women were traditionally expected to keep their mouth shut, have no opinion, be submissive and play peacemakers, her mother spoke to her about her stifled expectations. These chats heavily influenced Marie’s position on family history and female resilience.
Even though Marie would write for her own amusement, it wasn’t until she attended a writing workshop in her 30s did she shift her perspective to start to think about writing as a career.
With three sons, now grown, she married her husband at a young age.
Soon after marrying, her family began a nomad life and moved across American and Mexico eighteen times. This wandering lifestyle inspired community focused settings for her later novels.
She now lives happily in Washington state with her husband and dog.
Marie enjoys traveling around speaking at libraries, bookstores and quilt guilds, she also runs her lifestyle blog, Fiercely Marie.
In any spare time she has, she enjoys not only reading, but cooking and any crafting she can get her hands on.
A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, she has more than 20 books out there in the world.
Her books have been translated into fourteen languages and adapted into a films for the hallmark channel.
Marie Bostwick
Book
Set in 1963, The Book Club for Troublesome Women follows four housewives from the fictional town of Concordia, as they come together to start a mini revolution in their community.
This shiny new planned community in North Virginia, on the surface looks like the ultimate 1960s American dream, filled with the traditional successful husbands, well behaved children and perfect new built homes.
If anyone looked into these perfect homes, they would see the houses hid a confusing sense of dissatisfaction and imperfections, and a character, Margaret Ryan, starts a book club in order to get closer to her neighbour.
The first book they read is highly controversial, Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique. This ground-breaking book lit the match under the book club women when they started to share their secrets and longings for their unfulfilled life.
Calling themselves ‘The Bettys’ they form an unbreakable sisterhood and begin to change and reach out for what they want.
There are four main book club characters.
Margaret Ryan, a 33-year-old mother of three who to the outside world has everything she wants. Yet with all the world sees, she’s left questioning her own identity and intelligence.
She is the one who gathers the rest of the women into the group.
Charlotte Gustafson, Margaret’s artistic and outspoken new neighbour moved straight from Manhattan into a town whose builders dictate the colour of the house shutters and the type of trees planted in their gardens.
Looking to the world as a wealthy couple, it soon becomes apparent to ‘The Bettys’, that she has no control over the wealth. She is left frustrated and yearning for an independent and creative life.
There is Viv Buschetti, a former World War II military nurse who chose to have a large family of six and loves being a mother. Viv undergoes major personal growth through the book club when she becomes pregnant for the seventh time but wants to resurrect her nursing career.
Lastly there is Bitsy Cobb, the youngest of the group. At 23 she is academically thwarted and restricted by the 1960s limitations on married women. Married to a much older man, who because of his age, is in a hurry to get Bitsy pregnant.
Set over the course on one year, the book explores themes of the domestic, financial and legal hurdles women face at that time, such as needing a husbands permission to open a bank account or even the obstacles faced when wanting to work outside the home.
Over the year the book club becomes a place that empowers each of the women and gives them the courage to confront their past and look forward with plans to reshape their future.
The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick
My Thoughts
After reading this book I’m now a convert to Marie Bostwick books.
For me, this book was a combination of fun, great characters and great writing.
Of course, it may be that I just love the setting of a book club as a backdrop to a book, but even if that was the case, I felt there was enough about this book to keep me interested until the end.
Each of the characters, even the once skirting around the edges, were detailed enough to be interesting, bringing a lot to the movement of the story, pushing it forward to a nice little ending too.
I would recommend it to others to read, and if you do read it , send me an email to tell mw your thoughts.
I give it a 4 ½ egg rating
I give it a 4 1/2 egg rating
Recipe
Butterscotch & Macadamia Nut Cookies by Charlie Donelly
3 oz. dry roasted macadamia nuts, chopped
1 5.5 oz package Werther’s Original Hard Candies (about 30 pieces)
1 ½ cups Plain flour
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 stick butter, softened
¼ cup white sugar
¼ cup light brown sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350. Unwrap the candies and place into heavy-duty zipper top plastic bag. Using a rolling pin, hit the bag to break up candies, then roll with the rolling pin to break into smaller, pebble-sized bits. Set aside.
Place flour, salt, baking soda into a small bowl and set aside. Using mixer, cream butter with sugars, add vanilla and egg. Mix until smooth. Add flour mixture in thirds, beating after each addition. Dough will be fairly stiff. Mix the nuts and candies into the dough, using a wooden spoon to blend.
Line a baking pan with parchment paper and drop rounded teaspoons of cookie dough onto pan. Bake 13 to 15 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool slightly before moving to wire cooling rack. Makes 2½ dozen cookies.
