Customer Reviews

Superior Women

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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."˙

A group of intelligent young women meets at Radcliffe College in 1943 and immediately bonds, because of the proximity of their dormitory rooms. As a group, they are almost a cliche, one rich and beautiful, one overweight and very plain, another, dark, intense and Jewish, yet another, dark, intense and Catholic and the last of them, not quite beautiful, not quite stylish but with an as yet unkindled, but very strong, sexual drive. The story continues through their study years, marriages, love affairs and business successes. Of course, there is lots of drama and breast beating as the story progresses through several wars, straying husbands and recalcitrant children, but it's all a bit too much like a soapie for me to really enjoy...an ok read !

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.

This book follows the live's of these 5 women through 4 decades..how they intertwine, grow, think, and make their choice's. I finished this book in a day and very late night. I was captivated by their choice's and what made them tick, it was interesting how I could relate to all the character's in different way's; yet completely abhor some of their behavior! It's wonderful how the author capture's their human aspect along with their "woman" qualities. A fun romp.

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.

This is a real page-turner yet still very Alice Adams. The writing is terse and succinct but very juicy.

The book is about five college friends and their lives during and after college.

Because this book is so readable and so much like a best-seller type, I hope it brings more readers to Alice Adams.

"Getting of the train, on a Friday night that is also New Year's Eve, Lavinia is very beautiful. With the perfectly fitted, perfectly simple black coat (that cost more than a month salary of the Negro fitting woman), she wears perfect black suede shoes, with high thin heels, and a filmy pale pink scarf at her throat. As she steps down carefully from the high train, off and into Gordon's arms, she sees her own beauty reflected in Gordon's eyes. In his kiss."



This is my kind of book; the type of book I always long for. The women characters are so absolutely different, so terribly complicated and oh so very much like the people we know, or where some of the very personalities shown, remind us of ourselves, of the ways we were, or are.
Superior Women takes us into the lives of five women who were college students at Radcliffe together at one time, and then Ms. Adams carries us into their adult lives, so we at least read about twenty years into the lives of these females.
Meet Lavinia from Virginia, so vain, the perfect blonde who has everything going for her, or has she? She has wealth and good looks, but can these things give her what she truly wants out of life? Then we have Janet, not a favourite of Lavinia's, who does not considers Jews. But Janet is a good student and dedicated to her beau an army lad. Now let's look at Cathy who is the mysterious one, who everyone tries to figure out and no one seems to be able to do this with any luck. A very interesting person but??? Then we meet Peg who has a problem with her weight but and tends to remain on the heavy side, and sticks to Lavinia and Megan. It is in the latter part of her life that her life changes beyond belief; just wait for this surprise, and then lastly, the one woman I consider the main character of the entire novel Megan Greene. Megan hails from California but has yearned to come to the East after meeting a young man from Cape Cod whom she suspects is wealthy, and she thinks she might have a chance with. Megan pulls out all the stops to get to Radcliff in Massachusetts, eager to leave her dowdy existence and her humble parentsin California.
You will be mesmerized and entertained as the lives of these five women interlace in this amazing book. If you like Rona Jaffe's books you will certainly enjoy this one. Highly recommended!!!
A treat!!!
Reviewed by Heather Marshall Negahdar (SUGAR-CANE 15/03/06)

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.

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.