The group

I'm not even sure what I loved about this so much. The characters and their stories are all connected, but only vaguely in that the women all know each other. Their stories seemed so true and heartfelt. McCarthy's writing is so... easy, which I'm sure means it wasn't to write. It's just so well done.

My only complaints are due to the times in which it was written and take place, and I don't think we can hold a book that was written 60 years ago, written about people 80-90 years ago, to the standards of today, so I'll leave that at that.

I loved it. The women. The settings. The various lives the women have.

It's important to know that the copyright on this book is 1954. Also, I should share that the story takes place during America's Great Depression.

If you didn't know these two facts, you might think this is just another book of contemporary women's fiction.

The Group is the story of seven college friends and what happens to them over a ten year period. (See what I told you...Does that sound like a contemporary women's fiction novel, or what?)

But this book was much, much better than any contemporary women's fiction novel I've read. It could be because it was the first of its kind, but I think it's a little more than that. It's literate with fascinating characters. And there is the time travel factor....I really felt like I was back in 1932 with these women. I would be thinking, Gee, these women are just like me, and then Whump! The author would put in a little dialogue or a little subplot and I'd remember, No, these are women who never had the opportunities I have despite their first-rate educations and affluent backgrounds.

I'm not sure whether to classify it as a must-read. I'm terribly happy I read it and I'd encourage others to read it, but it is soap-y here and there.