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colorfulleo92's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of the best nonfiction I have read in a long time and was so easily getting absorbed by the women's lives and stories. I never really understood the fascination of the 50's. Like the astesthic is cool and all. And I absolutely don't understand it after reading this. I feelt so bad for women in the 50's. The writing and research was superb and even if I have had problems focusing on "heavier" reads this was definitely a great read
feglet98's review against another edition
3.0
I can't quite decide if it's a 2 or a 3, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. The topic is fascinating but this is a rather repetitive and irritating read. I read it as a reading for pleasure book, and there it is lacking, but I think if I was using it for an academic study, dipping in and out or focusing on one or a few particular things, then I wouldn't have got so annoyed with it.
There were too many women's stories to keep track of and the author seems to expect us to remember individual women's stories that were first mentioned on page 100 at page 300 with little reminders about the women. Almost impossible to do without using the index. People and topics would also come out of nowhere, expecting prior knowledge, that I just didn't have and I don't think all people reading this book would have. The narrative was also a little confused hopping very quickly from one topic to another, making it difficult to follow. It was a bit too long, and without the repetition, sometimes of direct quotes, it could have easily been 100 pages shorter, and better for it. It also at times felt a little patronising.
Although, it did strike me that although a lot of things have changed since the 1950s, many have not.
There were too many women's stories to keep track of and the author seems to expect us to remember individual women's stories that were first mentioned on page 100 at page 300 with little reminders about the women. Almost impossible to do without using the index. People and topics would also come out of nowhere, expecting prior knowledge, that I just didn't have and I don't think all people reading this book would have. The narrative was also a little confused hopping very quickly from one topic to another, making it difficult to follow. It was a bit too long, and without the repetition, sometimes of direct quotes, it could have easily been 100 pages shorter, and better for it. It also at times felt a little patronising.
Although, it did strike me that although a lot of things have changed since the 1950s, many have not.
heidi97's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely Amazing, very well written and extremely enjoyable.
Was so interesting and covered an amazing range of topics, real peoples lives and there was never a dull moment.
I couldn't put this book down!!!
Was so interesting and covered an amazing range of topics, real peoples lives and there was never a dull moment.
I couldn't put this book down!!!
azivkovicc's review against another edition
While there was interesting information at times, this book meandered so much and seemed to have very little flow making it difficult to follow along and easy to lose focus.
schnauzermum's review
4.0
Another readable and well-researched book by Virginia Nicholson exploring women’s lives, this time in the 1950s. She includes a wide range of women from all parts of society but the common theme is how constraining life was for so many of them.
cmbhusker's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't realize this was about Britain when I ordered it, but decided to read it anyway to see how that decade differed from the US. It was interesting to see what was similar, and what was different due to the proximity to WWII and austerity.
Nicholson's writing style is extremely meandering, and honestly, that bugged the hell out of me.
Nicholson's writing style is extremely meandering, and honestly, that bugged the hell out of me.
hattiereadssomanybooks_x's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
broadreads's review against another edition
4.0
This was great, like sitting down with a dozen old ladies to hear about their fascinating lives in the 50's