Katherine
It is always hard to rate nonfiction. I typically rate it based on how effectively the book communicated its message or information, if it was accessible to the average person, and if it was “enjoyable” to read on a line level- nonfiction can be written very dryly. This book nailed it on all three criteria.
This is a ROUGH book to read. The story relayed shows some of the most depraved horrors of capitalism and greed. The dial painters represented here should be talked about in the same breath as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire- these women, who were only girls at the time of their employment and so, so young at the time of their deaths, had to claw and fight to receive ANY compensation for the horrific suffering they endured. These cases were landmarks for establishing more laws around workplace safety, and even helped establish OSHA.
While it remains clinical in tone in the passages around what happened to the dial painters medically, the details are not sugar-coated. Moore tells you exactly how much these women suffered by describing their symptoms, their pain, and how they deteriorated due to the radium poisoning. It’s never overly graphic or used for shock value, but it IS horrific. Proceed with caution for those without a strong stomach.
This is simultaneously an infuriating and deeply sad read. The tragedy that unfolds does have some moments of triumph- but how much triumph is it really, when they were doomed from the very moment they began working with the luminous paint. Their courage and determination is clearly evident in their tale, and they truly deserve to be recognized for it. Kate Moore did a great service to them by writing their story, from THEIR perspective, not the legal and medical professionals, so it could be remembered in the 21st century.
It is always hard to rate nonfiction. I typically rate it based on how effectively the book communicated its message or information, if it was accessible to the average person, and if it was “enjoyable” to read on a line level- nonfiction can be written very dryly. This book nailed it on all three criteria.
This is a ROUGH book to read. The story relayed shows some of the most depraved horrors of capitalism and greed. The dial painters represented here should be talked about in the same breath as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire- these women, who were only girls at the time of their employment and so, so young at the time of their deaths, had to claw and fight to receive ANY compensation for the horrific suffering they endured. These cases were landmarks for establishing more laws around workplace safety, and even helped establish OSHA.
While it remains clinical in tone in the passages around what happened to the dial painters medically, the details are not sugar-coated. Moore tells you exactly how much these women suffered by describing their symptoms, their pain, and how they deteriorated due to the radium poisoning. It’s never overly graphic or used for shock value, but it IS horrific. Proceed with caution for those without a strong stomach.
This is simultaneously an infuriating and deeply sad read. The tragedy that unfolds does have some moments of triumph- but how much triumph is it really, when they were doomed from the very moment they began working with the luminous paint. Their courage and determination is clearly evident in their tale, and they truly deserve to be recognized for it. Kate Moore did a great service to them by writing their story, from THEIR perspective, not the legal and medical professionals, so it could be remembered in the 21st century.