I had no clue this was a movie 🤣🤷🏻♀️ whelp now I have entertainment to do laundry by🧺
I had no clue this was a movie 🤣🤷🏻♀️ whelp now I have entertainment to do laundry by🧺
This was my latest bookclub pick. It generated fantastic conversation. It‘s strange to enjoy a book when you don‘t like most of the characters.
It made me incredibly sad that it is set 90 years ago in the 1930‘s and we as women are still facing a lot of the same issues and struggles.
Gosh! The last 3 months have flown for me (getting married is a task for sure 🤪), with almost zero reading in it. This book didn't help, either. I did like the themes it portrayed – marriage, career, motherhood, friendship, feminism, New York in 1930s, horrible men (seriously, most were repulsive!) – but it felt unnecessarily long. That said, i liked how Mary made it funny and witty though. I'd say that's the primary reason i stuck to it.
I may not have finished the book, but this was my impression of the first two chapters. #bestbuddyread #galentinesbuddyread @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB
I‘m not sure if I should review this, as admittedly, I skimmed through some portion of the book. The writing style took a bit of getting used to & I can see how this book has a reputation when first published. It was interesting (but tedious) to read about these women during that period in time..& their struggles, & the old fashioned ideas on some topics. I appreciate the satire & themes McCarthy was dealing with.
My February reading has slowed to a trickle, & I'm embarrassed to say that I've been reading The Group for slightly over two weeks. This book makes me understand how a novel's style is as distinctive as a personality; I didn't get on with McCarthy's style. It was like attending a party filled with acquaintances I didn't like & having that one garrulous, self-absorbed person corner me for a length of time to breathlessly gossip about the others.
One of my favorite things about this novel is the idea at its core - what happens when you follow a group of eight friends after college graduation, but focus on each separately as individuals? I struggle with long novels that lack a central plot but McCarthy's vivid characterizations kept me engaged. It was revealing to witness the seeds of modern feminism in the 1930s, even as all the negative "-isms" were thriving in New York high society.
So glad I joined the #bestbuddyread — I absolutely loved this. I thought her writing was fantastic, masterful. I became completely engrossed in the characters, even the ones I hated like Norine and Harald. Such a revealing look at women‘s lives (a select group of women) at a time in history I have no desire to revisit. This was no doubt sensational at the time but it does not romanticize or pull punches. 5⭐️
Photo = Vassar Daisy Chain see link⤵️
#bookspinbingo #february #23
This one was part of the #galentines buddy read. Although I wasn‘t a big fan of the book, I am glad to be done with it. I don‘t like leaving a book halfway.
The book itself is monotonous. You can‘t miss the satirical tone of the author as she describes the lives of the characters. Tbh I felt she hated people in general to give the characters such devastating lives. 😅😂
Rating: 3/5
Book description ⬇️
This is the worst book I‘ve ever loved. Yes you read that right. I hated them all, especially the male characters. Yet, I couldn‘t stop reading. Ok I liked Polly, and Dr Ridgeley seemed safe and, Lakey was kick-ass. Not an easy read due to the neurotic, self absorbed characters but I also sympathized with their lack of agency even with their Vassar education. Great buddy read @BarbaraBB @Cinfhen Has anyone seen the movie?
I didn‘t know anything about this before I started reading it, and we didn‘t get a good start. In the forward it was compared to Sex and the City and I‘m not a fan of that show. I watched 11 ep of the first season and got so mad that I had to stop watching. And that first page in the book, I really didn‘t like the writing style there. The first chapter was a little confusing introducing all the characters. (Cont in comments)
Question 6 of 6
#Galentine #BestBuddyRead
Question 5 of 6
#Galentine #Bestbuddyread
Question 4 of 6
#Galentine #BestBuddyRead
Question 3 of 6
#Galentine #BestBuddyRead
Question 2 of 6
#Galentine #BestBuddyRead
#GalsAndPals, thank you all for participating in our #Galentine weekend. We we are now starting our #BestBuddyread discussion👯♂️👯♀️👯♂️
This is question 1 of 6 about The Group.
#weekendreads
1. Tagged -literally finished it about an hour ago.
2. Ebook every time
3. Calling all Witches (A book about all the female wizards/witches in Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts.
@rachelsbrittain
I finished it.....I may differ in opinion with some of you but I really enjoyed this book. It had its faults but I was really interested in how the women were treated during the 1920/30s. From wearing make up in labour to losing everything. Complicated in parts but a compelling read. An outspoken novel for when it was published but a classic today.
#Galentine #BestBuddyRead
Join us today....Sunday, Feb 7 at 2pm EST 8pm CET to discuss The Group by Mary McCarthy🎉
All questions will be posted on @barbarabb page
Thanks to everyone who‘s been celebrating #GalsAndPals #BestBuddyRead with us 🎶👯♀️👯👯♀️
And tune in for our next buddy read😁
#Galentine Part II:
Dug out the old photo albums and here‘s me with my college “Group” back when we were froshies in 1986-87 surrounded by the names of some of the artists and songs we were “bustin‘ a move” to from ‘86-‘90. Fun trip down memory lane! #Galentine ❤️
I liked the main themes of the story and I think that the woman‘s question/ role of that time is very well captured through those eight girls, as well as political and economic atmosphere. What I didn‘t like so much is descriptiveness in McCarthy‘s prose. Some parts are just so suffocating wordy. ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Sorry for the exciting cover. It‘s 1972 edition, time when the attractive cover has not been appreciated.🤷♀️ #bestbuddyread #galentine
I love music, but my husband is the real enthusiast. He listens to just about everything, but since he worked for DefJam for years, hip hop is his true passion. ?
When we first started dating about 10 years ago he wooed me by making me playlists every few months- 1 hip hop and 1 “other". At the end of last year we made it to his 50th round of playlists for me ? He was quite excited as you can see in the title ?
#galentine #bestbuddyread
I‘m a day behind but joining in for #galantine #bestbuddyread anyways!!
Some of my favorite peeps starting at the top... my best friends at my wedding👰🏻♀️, my hubs and me on our last vacation exactly 1 year ago 🥲, sisters!, mom & dad, my sweet nieces, and of course little Herbie 🐶
Yearning for the days when I can travel again to see all of my friends, most of whom are still in NY ❤️
#BestBuddyRead #galentine
Of course you know I‘m always late to the party. Also It‘s been😬a week & I‘m only 3 chapters in & still mostly want to throat punch most of these women, so we‘ll see where I end up by Sunday.🤷🏻♀️
I had to go with photos on my phone already because I‘m lazy. From top left & across is my Max🐱best buddy ever. We‘re slowing down after 17 years but hoping for more.🙏🏼Then my long-time SBUX work friend, my sisters ⬇️
Sorry this is late - I‘m always 12 hours after everyone else! (Time zones!) #galentine #bestbuddyread #galsandpals These are a few of the people who have my heart! Top row is my neighbour/friends who have become best buddies - middle row is my hub and kids along with our friends of 16 years that we usually travel with somewhere each year - bottom row, me with my brother and sisters.
One of my two “feline-tines,” Nicky. 😻 #bestbuddyread #galentine #catsoflitsy
I‘m really enjoying this book, even though I had a bit of trouble getting into it. After I finish, I‘m going to watch the movie on Amazon Prime.
These two are my ❤️
(Along with MrKVanRead and Zeus and Lord Byron of course 😊)
#galpals #galentinesbuddyread #galentine #galsandpals #bestbuddyread
My friend and I have been hanging out for 39 years now. In the picture (taken few years ago) are me and her kids, those two are my rent-a-kids and I love them dearly♥️. #galsandpals #galentine
I don‘t know if I will finished the book till Sunday for the #bestbuddyread debate ... I‘m barely on one quarter, but so far I like it very much.
Just a so-so read for me... It seemed too sprawling, and trying to do to much. I loved the setting but found characters almost not distinct enough, which took me out of the story....
#bestbuddyread @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB
Family, friends, Mr Numan and the lovely Sansa (obviously family 🐶❤️). Missing some of these a lot!!
#galsandpals #galentinesbuddyread
Spot the odd one out! 😂😂😂
#galsandpals #galentinesbuddyread
Not sure how much of the book will be read by Sunday, but I'll try my best!
@Cinfhen @BarbaraBB
I was very engaged as I read about these people and the lives they led , such a ‘ privileged‘ world , or was it. What struck me was the lacking in their lives .. very little seemed sacred. I was interested in the women , the time 1930‘s , their wealthy backgrounds, their pain. Psychoanalysis was in full flight. I would like to read more Mary McCarthy.. A five star read for me.
#Galentine #BestBuddyRead
I‘m getting there! Had to write notes to remind of who, where and what! #Galentine #Thegroup
It‘s taken me a while to get into, the language is somewhat dated and characters are likeable but flawed.
What a soap opera this book is! The social mores were fascinating (and such a contrast with those of 1930's Britain the #FurrowedMiddlebrowGang have been enjoying) but I can't say I particularly liked or felt sympathy for any of the characters (except the babies). I suppose the women's backgrounds made it difficult for them to be anything but what they were. The men were just detestable. Looking forward to discussing.
#Galentine #BestBuddyRead
Yes, I‘m sorry, but I can do no more!!
I‘m struggling at 25% and I can‘t wait for 75% for something to happen.
I shall look forward to discussion to see what I missed. I did just read plot summary online though.
I did also vote for this one so assume full responsibility.
Feelings are very mixed on this one 🥴
I loved the atmosphere of 1930‘s NYC and found some of the character storylines fun to follow... but boy were there a LOT!
I skimmed through much of the second half, but the ending almost made me wish I hadn‘t 😆 Eager to discuss this weekend!
#galentine #bestbuddyread
On the struggle bus just two chapters in but I really look forward to the chat on #galentine weekend for the #bestbuddyread so I will keep at it. @Cinfhen and @BarbaraBB
My “currently reading” stack.
#BestBuddyRead
I‘m lost down the rabbit hole of reading about the author!!
Started this morning. Only 9%. That basically means only 9%!!! That bodes well.
Halfway through this book, very avant garde for the time it was written!
Problem though I kept falling asleep because I was sitting in my sunroom keeping warm by the woodstove!
#Galentine #BestBuddyRead @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB
Considering the time this was published, I‘m pretty impressed by what McCarthy did. She tackled subjects which must have been scandalous at the time. However, it could have been a tighter, more focused book, if she had focused on fewer characters. The subtle humour and wit got lost in all the details, and I‘m left feeling #MoreMehThanYeah
I‘m excited for the discussion next weekend!
#GalsAndPals #Galentine #BuddyRead
#weeklyforecast @Cinfhen
Tagged book is priority - for some reason I thought #galsandpals was the weekend of 14th! 😂
The last few chapters saved this book for me. It mostly felt very scattered, I still don‘t see why the story couldn‘t focus on a few less characters instead of the whole group. Some of the girls were interesting but a lot of pages dealt witch stuff I didn‘t care for. Yet the ending made sense. Suddenly the pieces fell into place. And the group.
There is a lot to discuss I‘m sure. Looking forward to our #Galentine weekend and #Bestbuddyread 👯♀️
#bestbuddyread #galentine Reading in the sun on this side of the world ☀️😍👍
What a great way to end what has seemed like the longest month ever. I have a lot of others things to accomplish but will be joining in when I can. I am going to shoot for 10 hours focusing on the tagged book for #bestbuddyread.
Thanks Andrew for the #20in4 readathon!
At first I found this book rather irritating - a group of privileged girls in thrall to what ‘Mumsy‘ would think. After a while though I started to get the spiky humour and to understand the girls‘ feelings and motivations.
It did feel a bit bloated in places but overall a good read and I‘m looking forward to our discussions over the #galentine weekend - there‘s a lot to talk about! #bestbuddyread