Review: This book has it all
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 3, 2011
Modern Women mainly tells the story of 3 women, Elly, Jane, and Lincky.  The formula followed a few chapters for one character, and then it would move on to another.  Just as I was getting comfortable with one character, it would switch.  However, this wasn't annoying or unsettling.  It kept the story fresh.  Yet not so much time would pass in between chapters that you were able to forget about a previous character and her story.  In the beginning there were bits of crossover, but by the end it was a merge of the characters and I totally enjoyed that.This story opens with the assassination of JFK, where each of the women were and what they were doing. We get to peek in on what they were doing, what they were thinking, and how they and the world around them reacted when it happened.  Then the story jumps backwards to give us some history and leads us up to that point and then moves forward all the way up into the eighties (although the majority of the story is in the 60s)Lincky is/was my favorite character.  She wasn't a pushover, she was strong, and she went after what she wanted.  At the same time she wasn't a b***h about it.  There is a scene with her and her boss, Hank Greene, where he is pounding on the door that is just full of so much emotion between the two... Affair or not, you can't deny the passion they have for each other.  I could have read a whole book just about these two people.  I'm crossing my fingers that their story will take the turn I am hoping for, but time will tell...I really loved how these women were all so different; raised different, felt different, looked and acted different.  But they are similar.  They wanted to live differently, see differently, and be seen differently.  And that is a major struggle that I feel any woman can relate to.  They all went about their goals in separate ways.  They became successes, and I think they could be good role models.This is a book I really don't want to give any spoilers away because if you look at how Lincky's life turns out, you find out about Jane's.  And if you look at Jane's, you know about Elly's.  You also learn about all the men that come and go in their lives, in whichever capacity they are.  But the characters are very rich and full of life.  You really get the feeling that you get to know them.This story is an honest look at life.  I found myself getting mad, and rejoicing, worrying that this situation or that wouldn't work out.  After it was finished, my favorite character remains Lincky.  But even Lincky had faults, every character in this book did.  Some of them were gigantic huge faults.  But you keep living.  You make the best of what you got, you get over it and you move on.  Sometimes a gamble will work, sometimes it won't.  This book isn't one success for the characters after another.  They make mistakes.  Some they learn from, some they don't. But it is very real, and that was refreshing.I would definitely recommend this book to my friends.  Especially love those who are interested in midcentury history, women and their stories, and just life in general.(Book provided by author for purpose of honest review)