Jennifer's review
In the Name of Friendship (Classic Feminist Writers) by Marilyn French
Decided to read this because of her history, it even says on the left hand corner of the book, "Classic Feminist Writers." I found it hard to read at times, sometimes the dialogue was a little stiff so that was distracting. It's a story about four friends who live in the Berkshires; two women are in their seventies, one in her fifties and one in her thirties. I felt like the men were portrayed badly and the focus for the women was either on how society limited their choices, due to the times they lived in, or how men limited their choices by their neediness or selfishness. So in some ways, it's probably a good window into a world that most women in their forties, thirties, and twenties do not have to deal with, thanks to the women and men who changed our societal views on women, but I think that relationships between men and women are more complex than those portrayed in this novel.
I read this book because I remember how much I loved the Women's Room when it came out in the 70's but like you, I found that although I think she writes well, she is too intent on the lecture. I ended up skimming the last 100 pages since by then it was obvious I wasn't going to be hooked by anything in this story.
