Superior Women

Rating:
Summary: A beautiful book, an accurate rendering.
Review: Alice Adams draws the reader into the lives of five college women and then leads us through to their old age. The writing in this book is masterful. It shows us the interior lives of women -- the need for love, for lust, for career success, for acceptance. I could see parts of myself in each of the girls. Adams renders the relationship of women so accurately. Most books try to make female relationships too slap happy or too backstabbing. This is a gentle balance of both. The girls don't really like each other, but they do. It's real. And, the girls are real, too. I once had a literature professor who said that women can be categorized into three cubbyholes -- the black widow, the sea cow, and the ladybug. The black widow was sexiness, the sea cow was motherliness, and the ladybug was girlishness. Well, Alice Adams defies those stereotypes and creates five women who are not just surface pretty pictures of what women should be, but complete women who are as capable of sin as they are of kindness -- superior women.

Rating:
Summary: Ambitious, but flawed novel about the lives of five women.
Review: Alice Adams produced a good book in "Superior Women". It is good enough to recommend reading, but it has some flaws that prevent it from being great. Adams's books tend to be feminist, which this book definately is. I do like Megan and Peg, who both become rather feminizied by the end. Adams also likes to portray sex. Lots and lots of sex. This book doesn't disappoint, that way. I did find Megan a bit annoyingly neurotic. Peg has the best transformation: from overweight, unsure girl to confident lesbian activist. The "bitchy" one, Lavinia, reaps the whirlwind, which is satisying. And Cathy wrestles with her faith, and is deal a bad hand. The ending was fitting, and I did like how some of the friends got together to help others. Unfortunely, these women may be "superior", but this novel is sadly mundane.

Rating:
Summary: Ambitious, but flawed novel about the lives of five women.
Review: Alice Adams produced a good book in "Superior Women". It is good enough to recommend reading, but it has some flaws that prevent it from being great. Adams's books tend to be feminist, which this book definately is. I do like Megan and Peg, who both become rather feminizied by the end. Adams also likes to portray sex. Lots and lots of sex. This book doesn't disappoint, that way. I did find Megan a bit annoyingly neurotic. Peg has the best transformation: from overweight, unsure girl to confident lesbian activist. The "bitchy" one, Lavinia, reaps the whirlwind, which is satisying. And Cathy wrestles with her faith, and is deal a bad hand. The ending was fitting, and I did like how some of the friends got together to help others. Unfortunely, these women may be "superior", but this novel is sadly mundane.

Rating:
Summary: Adams is very skilled. I will miss her.
Review: As one of the previous reviewers said, the story is "lite" yet compelling. That is true. But what makes this story much better than other stories of friendships and change is Adams' impressive writing skill. She can plumb the grey areas of character and motivation while maintaining a lean, readable style. There are no seeds of parody in this story. The events are interesting, the relationships are realistic and the author has an elegant way of displaying the characters' mistakes and foibles without heavy handed judgement.

And if that does not convince you, try this: My wife was reading a book on coming of age among women. I asked her how she rated the book. Her response: "This author is trying to be Alice Adams."ÿ

Rating:
Summary: INTRIGUING TALE OF FIVE WOMEN TOLD BY GIFTED AUTHOR
Review: Being allowed into the lives of intersting people is the goal of every reader. Alice Adams, a truly gifted writer, hands the reader this gift on a silver platter by the presentation of such compelling and interesting characters.

Rating:
Summary: INTRIGUING TALE OF FIVE WOMEN TOLD BY GIFTED AUTHOR
Review: Being allowed into the lives of intersting people is the goal of every reader. Alice Adams, a truly gifted writer, hands the reader this gift on a silver platter by the presentation of such compelling and interesting characters.

Rating:
Summary: Superior indeed
Review: Reading anything by Alice Adams is a treat. Vivid characters, compelling storylines--she's a master (or should it be mistress?). This is one of my favorite books.

Rating:
Summary: Perfect novel to take on a vacation
Review: Women will especially enjoy the tale of women who grow up and grow apart and together again. Perfect to take to the beach or on any trip as a well written but "lite" story.