Review

What a rollicking good read. Interesting, informative, and sheet fun. This is a yarn about a small group of women who live together in a boarding house. Each one of whom is both flawed, and yet very compelling. While the book is 'billed" as a historical novel, most of the history consists of fleeting references to historical people and events, particularly Senator Joe McCarthy, and also Senator Margaret Chase Smith, and getting out of Germany in time. The real history comes after the end of the novel in the Historical Note, as background for the seven women who are the essence of the romp. In discussing America versus communism, someone observes that while the latter may look good on paper, it doesn't work because: "...it doesn't account for the fact that humanity thrives on imperfection." And when someone accuses another of not listening, but she escaped from Russia, she explains; "When you live in fear, you're always listening." Although this is a novel about women, and arguably for women, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Without belaboring its manifest vantage point, some of the insights and observations struck home. Here is but one: "Violent men who are also smart and strong are not completely lost causes. They can learn different ways if they choose. It's the weak ones who cause the most damage. Nothing wreaks havoc like a weak man--because they never learn, so they just go blithely on, leaving pain and wreckage behind them." Many things happen in this story, and all of them are very interesting. The reader is brought to care about the characters--perhaps not in spite, but because of, their flaws. The novel also is about--albeit to a lesser extent--two murders; but this reviewer didn't really care about the two homicides. Rather, it is the women and their challenges, fears, triumphs, friendships, mysteries, and ultimately their adventures that propel this wonderful story. The Briar Club is chock full of surprises--some seem logical, but many are really true surprises and that makes the plot and characters even more engrossing. Also, a nice aspect of the book is that the boarding house itself acts like/in effect is a "chorus" to give an independent, third part point-of-view narrative and running commentary--a charming and original conceit. This is simply a wonderful, compelling, delightful novel. You may even wish you were part of their Club!

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