MJS

17 de julio de 2026

Wonderful, Moving, and Throughly Engaging Story

The Calamity Club drew me in from the very start. What a rich, beautifully written story, filled with pathos (sometimes heart-wrenchingly so) and even humor in the face of difficulties. The embedded historical facts that affected women in particular are unconscionable. The strength of Meg, Birdie, Charlie, and others while navigating one calamitous challenge after another is inspiring. The characters are so multifaceted and wonderfully developed, I felt almost as though I knew them personally. I even found myself thinking a lot about them each time I put the book down (which was hard to!). I was sorry when finally finished. Thank you, Kathryn, for writing this utterly engaging story. I fully expect to see it brought to the screen some day, as with The Help!!Ver más

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NONNA of 8

18 de junio de 2026

This will become a movie, just like THE HELP. At a time when it’s sorely needed too.

You will not find a single spoiler in this review. You will not even find many facts about the plot, because you have already seen those from the publisher, the author, or the bookseller. All the people whose job is to convince you to buy the book, as they convinced me. My only vested interest is to let you know whether or not this is in my humble opinion worth reading, worth your time. Let me assure you, this is well worth your time. I will also share the truth from a reader who does not regret spending the money on this hardcover. In fact, compared to some recent reads, this one comes in under the mark for money. Is it that good. That is for you to decide as far as stories go. As far as storytelling goes, Kathryn Stockett has officially landed in my top five favorite authors.She can spin a tale, keep you turning pages, and braid multiple storylines together so they meet cleanly in the end. She handles a large cast of characters with depth, history, and personality, and somehow you remember every single one because they are written to be exactly that. Memorable. She takes you on a ride that is equal parts sharp, funny, painful, and honest. She throws truths in your face that you may not want to look at, and if you are old enough to remember the echoes of the time she is writing about, you will feel them. I am 65, and while I was too young to understand it then, I know now that fiction is sometimes the closest thing we have to the truth. This novel may be labeled fiction, but it is as close to fact as a story can get, wrapped in humor, heart, and those Southern idioms that hit harder than they first appear. The first time I read “She is like a one armed wallpaper hanger,” I laughed, then stopped and thought about how much weight that little phrase carried. While I didn’t read that one here, it’s the same kind of funny and somewhat true phrases she turns.I will not say this is the best story I have ever read, because it is not. But it is absolutely worth reading, and it is entertaining enough that even compared to the best books I have ever held in my hands, this one earns a place in my top ten. For a woman who has been reading for well over 60 years, that is saying something.The first thing that stands out is what I call readability. It flows. You sit down with this six hundred page brick of a book, and before your first bathroom break you are already a third of the way through and half the day has disappeared. I may be from New York, but somewhere along the way this book gave me a Mississippi accent in my writing. Not in my voice, but in the rhythm of the words. I keep reminding myself that speaking properly and turning a verse are not the same thing.And six hundred pages is not enough. I wanted more. I wanted every character to keep going, to get what they deserved, good or bad. But I suspect the author had given all she had to give by the time the final truths came to light. This is light reading on a deep level. If that does not make sense now, it will once you finish. It is deep in the way that gives your mind something to chew on long after you close the book.In today’s political climate, this story will matter even more. Future writers will do what Stockett has done here. They will tell the truth about times that textbooks prefer to soften or skip. If you read this book and do not enjoy it for its storytelling but also do not feel the sting of the injustices woven through it, then plainly speaking, you are part of the problem and not part of the solution.Kathryn Stockett knows how to turn a phrase. Maybe it is because she grew up in Mississippi, or maybe she is simply gifted at her craft. Either way, it works. This story twists, turns, entertains, and reminds you that your twenty dollars were well spent. A right fine read!Ver más

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Karen Lawler

25 de julio de 2026

Great Historical Fiction read

The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett was a great read. It is the second book by Stockett, The Help was a great book before this one. I don't know why the long wait in between but this had much of the same Southern taste of The Help. I gave it 4 and 1/2 stars because it is 641 pages and they are page turners for the most part. I don't want to give anything away but one the desperate things they are involved with takes so many details that I think that part could have been narrowed a bit. Any way, the book is during the 1930's and a very difficult time for most people financially but also Women's rights and segregation. This is a story about a single mother and all the terrible problems she faces trying to raise her daughter. The characters are many and very well developed and interesting. The story is multi layered with several great characters. I really enjoyed this book and hope the wait is not so long for the next book by Stockett.Ver más

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Chazza Everafter

24 de mayo de 2026

Stunning Storytelling

Excellent. I read The Help on a whim all those years ago and was spellbound by the author's ability to weave a complex story across multiple narrators. When I'd heard that her second novel was coming out, I added it to my library wishlist as fast as I could. Then, the second I got word it was available, I couldn't help but immediately dive in... and, because her first novel made such an impression upon me, I had so much trust in the author's ability to deliver a story that I hadn't even bothered to read the blurb.Going in blind into the Calamity Club was a discovery! I was charmed, entertained, amused, and once again, spellbound by Stockett's ability to shift between narrators. One, a somewhat sheltered but very bright and kindhearted woman Birdie. And the other, a charming and very intelligent 11-year-old seemingly orphaned girl, Meg. But beyond this, her ability to weave together a story featuring the fringes of society, giving people -- women, of various walks of life -- a voice in an era where women might have the vote, but are still subjected to a variety of society norms, laws, and double standards, is still very compelling.I adored Meg, and I was so invested in seeing how things would turn out for her. And the strong female cast that Stockett features here only adds to the story's strengths.Having read a few comments here on length, while I agree the story is a little long and the try-fail cycle of getting the underground business off the ground may feel pointless for some, it didn't bother me and only served to showcase the strength of the women. There were so many characters in this book that one could examine closer, from the aching pain of Rory's story to the quiet pain of the accidental loss of someone struggling with emotional struggles and alcoholism to the desperation of destitution, and the lengths one might go just to survive. There's so much within these pages to mine and consider, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.My only critique is that I felt it ended so abruptly! I wanted just one further chapter, a glimpse of Meg's future...Still: an excellent read, and the Acknowledgements/Author's Note on the research involved in this one was one that made me think about how far we've come... and the direction of where we might go in the future.Ver más

Dunndeal

22 de julio de 2026

A fantastic, incredibly entertaining read!

I went into The Calamity Club with high expectations, and it absolutely delivered! From the very first chapter, I was completely hooked. The author does a brilliant job of balancing sharp, engaging character dynamics with a fast-paced, unpredictable plot.A few things that made this such a standout book for me:The Characters: The cast is wonderfully written—flawed, witty, and deeply relatable. The way they play off one another is the absolute heart of the story.Excellent Pacing: True to its title, the story is full of twists, turns, and well-timed "calamities" that kept me turning the pages late into the night. There is truly never a dull moment.Immersive Writing: The setting and dialogue are crafted so well that it is incredibly easy to get completely lost in the narrative.If you are looking for a clever, well-written, and thoroughly enjoyable novel, I cannot recommend this highly enough. It’s easily one of the best books I’ve picked up recently. Grab a copy—you won't regret it!Ver más

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Racy Tracy

12 de julio de 2026

The Long and Short of It

Enjoyed reading a story about family, life’s up and downs, love, faith, and trust. Hard to put down, because the book made you feel as if you were really there in the story. Well-written and hard to put down, until you knew the ending. Characters are well-developed and realistically portrayed. Recommend for individuals and Bookclubs.Ver más

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