After a supremely enjoyable read spread over a couple of weeks of this nearly 600-page book, described by The New York Times reviewer Dwight Garner, as “a largely shapeless narrative spanning the entire life of Canada’s pre-eminent novelist,” I want to protest his characterization.
Reviewed by Jane Tompkins This novel is supremely readable, its momentum strong and unstoppable. It’s also full of new information. New to us, that is. The narrator is a midwife in post-Revolutionary America. As readers, we have no reason to know whether she’s telling the truth, since who of us has seen the world from…
Jane is glad she read this book – it gives her food for thought.
This novel is based on a biography of the real Martha Ballard, with some changes introduced for aesthetic reasons
The Briar Club, a novel that makes you feel good as you read it, dramatizes something women do well that is generally acknowledged but not much looked into, namely, the ability to create an atmosphere that is safe, relaxing, and congenial that serves as a temporary home for people in need of comfort and companionship.
After watching several TV series dealing with a whole spectrum of cults and then writing reviews for this publication (February and April 2024), Judy’s curiosity still wasn’t appeased.
