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There are currently 32 member reviews
for The Divorcees
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Lucy S. (Westford, MA)
How Personality Governs Fitting In
I did not realize there were such things as Divorce Camps in the 50's - how things have changed. The author wrote in such detail about the relationships among the girls with their individual personalities and their need to get along. The author described how some individuals can influence and have such a strong hold on others. The author was able to create personality differences among the characters in such a way that there might have been a character one could relate to. Time was a factor as they only had a number of weeks to live at the ranch and you could feel the drama unfold. I think the book would be a good choice for book group members to see how events, effects from the past, and personalities govern behavior.
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Dawn G. (Lake in the Hills, IL)
Great Read!
Thanks to Book Browse for sending me this book! I really enjoyed it! Having never heard of the divorce ranches of the 1950's, it was an interesting read! I also liked how the book centered on women's friendships, and the ability to forge their own way when needed. I think this would be a great book for book clubs. A lot of good conversations could stem from it. I will definitely be suggesting it to my book club!
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Patricia H. (Santa Clarita, CA)
Who do you trust?
The story is about a group of women with a similar goal and it was interesting to see how the author provided different solutions/options to each.
There were scary moments, funny moments, and sad moments. I liked Anna, Bailey, Rita and her kids. Some of the ladies not so much but then that is good writing when you can make someone dislike a fictional character just because of how she or he acts and it's believable.
It wasn't until page 33 that I felt like I wanted to read the rest of the book and then I was hooked and finished it in one day. I think it's because the print seemed small and in those first pages there are lot of people with only names and very little detail so it's hard to keep track of who is who, but that does come later as we get to know everyone and start to get drawn in to their lives.
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Susan R. (Greensboro, NC)
Divorce in the 1950s
In the early 1950s, there was only one way for a woman to get a divorce if she had the money. She would stay at a ranch in Nevada for 6 weeks to establish residency and then go before a judge and tell him that she intended to stay there - even though most of them didn't stay. This book is a look at one of those ranches and the group of women who are staying there.
Lois is a rather pathetic character and I had to keep reminding myself that it was the 1950s and women had fewer choices in their lives but really - even in that time period she could have stood up for herself and quit trying to make people like her by telling lies about her life. The author gave a lot of insight on Lois and I think the reason that I didn't really like her had more to do with her reflection of the time period she lived in. I wish we'd have learned more about the other women who were at the ranch with Lois other than the fact that they all drank and partied too much. I thought that the middle of the book was rather slow but once Greer arrived and June became more 'alive', the story picked up.
Overall, I enjoyed this look at women's lives during this time period. This was a debut novel for this author and I look forward to future books from her.
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Elizabeth V. (Bellbrook, OH)
Midcentury Modern Divorce
The Divorcees is a fictionalized account about the "divorce ranches" in midcentury Reno, Nevada. It is well written and the story is engaging. My only criticism is the lack of depth in the women's stories. The difficulties women faced in trying to asset their independence in a male dominated culture at a time when they couldn't even get a credit card in their own name, is mentioned but not fleshed out as fully as I would have liked. I would have liked to have had more in depth in exploring the circumstances that lead the various women to the ranch and how they dealt with the aftermath. More focus on Lois and the other women and less on Greer would have made for a better book.
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Cynthia V. (New York, NY)
Divorce Ranches...Who Knew?
I had never heard of Reno divorce ranches in the 1950s. The most compelling part of this novel for me was simply learning about them and the reasons they existed. The shame and stigma of divorce at that time...what courage it took to even go down the divorce path! As a novel I found it very readable and quite a page-turner...well written with intriguing story lines. I didn't relate to any of the characters, but that is not a necessity. The many characters had quite the character flaws and varying insecurities to keep the story moving. Was it an exceptional work? I didn't think so, but quite solid. I look forward to reading more from this author.
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BookWormBecky
Loneliness, quickie divorce, independence…
4.2
Thank you to Book Browse and Flatiron books for this unique read!
Loneliness, quickie divorce, independence…
Lois is one of several women staying at the Golden Yarrow Ranch, a divorce ranch in Reno, Nevada. All of the women are wannabe divorcees, living at the ranch for six weeks, in order to meet Reno's 1951 residency requirements for obtaining a divorce.
The women have diverse backgrounds and varying reasons for wanting a divorce. Mysterious Greer appears in the middle of the night, and proceeds to change everything. She influences the others in both good and bad ways, but definitely "toppling the scales" of the ranch format. They will all "enter a world Greer has willed into existence ."
Not all is as it seems…
Available March 28, 2024
Thoughts / comments:
A good debut set in the 1950s razzle dazzle of Reno. A unique storyline of female friendships, secrets, starting over, self-discovery, and consequences. I would read future books by this author.
Descriptive writing of desert scenes and casinos! I could behold the sights and sounds!
Liked the cover!
Somewhat abrupt ending - not what I expected.
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