Seventeen years after The Help, Kathryn Stockett is back. And The Calamity Club was worth the wait.
Set in 1933 Oxford, Mississippi, at the height of the Great Depression, the story is told from two perspectives. Meg is an 11-year-old orphan. Birdie is an “old maid” doing whatever she can to save her family’s home, and her sister’s home, from foreclosure. Together they anchor a story full of brave, surprising women finding ways to stay afloat when everything is working against them.
I don’t read much set in this era, so that alone felt fresh. The characters are really good. The plot is unique. And Stockett’s voice is as warm and propulsive as ever.
My one complaint: at 656 pages, this book is too long. And the ending felt rushed, which is a strange combination. But it didn’t stop me from loving it.
Heartily recommended. One of the best books I’ve read this year. I read it in print, though I’ve heard the audio is excellent too. Here’s hoping we don’t have to wait another 17 years for what comes next.
