I had long wanted to read something by Mary McCarthy, described in this edition as “one of the great American intellectuals of the 20th century” and a friend of Hannah Arendt.

This is her most famous novel, of which she eventually said that it had ruined her life due to the criticism directed at her by her former classmates at Vassar, who saw themselves reflected in the characters. But it was revolutionary for the time and very influential, to the extent that it inspired, decades later, the novel on which the series “Sex and the City” would be based.

Although the way of narrating is somewhat cold and sometimes that distanced me from the characters, in general I thought it was a fascinating read, only marred by a poor translation that often took me out of the story (seriously, “to have someone to dinner”?).

Trying to break free from the mold set by their mothers and forge a destiny beyond the home is the recurring theme in the book, which shows, in the intertwined stories of each of the Vassar graduates, how difficult that enterprise was in a world where the power to decide still rested with men; sometimes, with very harsh consequences.

There is also a lot of irony and a fine sense of humor:

“Sometimes she thought she had fallen in love with a desk, a swivel chair and a scratchy mustache.”

I both loved and loathed this. On one hand, it truly amazed me that McCarthy was able to incorporate every socially relevant issue of the times into this work. It was like a mirror reflecting the complex and often troubled society we live in. On the other hand, it also made me feel a little sick.

I found the last quarter of the book extremely painful. As the cage of systemic heterosexuality, whiteness, and privilege slammed shut, it locked these characters into a place with deadly results. It was a harsh and unforgiving portrayal of the inequalities and injustices that exist in our world.

However, it's not to say that I didn't have moments of enjoyment. I laughed along the way and reveled in every mention of Hallie Flanagan. But overall, it just kinda broke my heart. The book made me confront the hard truths about our society and left me with a sense of sadness and a desire for change.

Fairly near the start, this book had waaay too much detail about 1930's contraception for my tastes - it went on for pages.

Yes, I should be more sympathetic - this chapter also evoked the feelings of confused and furtive shame about sexual matters that I remember from the 70's.

But as I delved further into this groundbreaking novel, the more absorbed I became. I especially like the way The Group moved in and out of each others lives - some of the characters disappear for chapters and chapters. This very much reflects real life.

Most of the women have absorbing lives, but only the most frustrating member Kay has a real career. Kay also has a real devotion to the unlovely Harald. I so wish he came to a horrible end.

Polly was my favourite, Libby felt the most realistic.

I found the ending confusing and a bit hard to follow, but still this is a most excellent book.

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I am a girl with simple tastes, and truly, I relished this. Rich women, for the most part, being rather unlikeable, leading their dramatic lives, engaging in sexual escapades, and loathing their husbands – well, it's just my cup of tea, I guess. The fact that the characters are so unlikeable in terms of their politics and behavior, yet still so vivid, captivating, and vulnerably sympathetic figures is indeed a testament to excellent writing. And this was a great book.

Part of me wishes I had reserved it as a beach read, because it would have been absolutely perfect with cocktails and the scent of suncream.

Anyway, I wish Polly and Jim all the best, as I feel like he was the only man who wasn't a complete loser in the entire narrative. Sadly, this mirrors real life.

Obviously, there was also far too little of Lakey. I feel like I really deserved another 200 pages detailing her travels through Europe, mainly to compensate for all the heterosexual tomfoolery. But her grand entrance in the last act and commandeering everyone's attention until the final word also felt appropriate. A rich, distinguished, haughty lesbian. I adore her.

Please provide the article that needs to be rewritten and expanded so that I can help you.

It's a captivating story that revolves around 8 university girls, who are high-achieving graduates. The graduation years are often brought up, emphasizing the specific time period they were going through.

In a way, it gives off a vibe similar to Gossip Girl, with its focus on sororities, yet it's more reserved and conservative. The portrayal of sexual moves and other related issues is very much in line with the era in which it was set.

Susan Sontag even mentioned this book, and we can sense her affinity for it. It delves into the early European sensibility and how it relates to Americans, as seen on the last page when Kay is told she ought to stay in Europe because of her love for museums and such.

However, the writing style isn't my main concern. I'm more interested in the message that Mary intended to convey, rather than the form in which she wrote it. This book seems like it could be easily adapted into a movie, but upon reading it, I found myself getting tired. Maybe it's because the story didn't fully engage me on a personal level. Nevertheless, it still has its merits and offers an interesting look into a particular time and place.

This is an outstanding book.

It chronicles the story of a group of women who shared a room in college and follows the course of their lives in the seven years after graduation. They come together for a wedding and again at the end for a funeral.

I had read reviews that mentioned how the reader forgets the era the book is from, as if it could be from a more recent time. While I do agree that many of the women's problems can be easily compared to those of today, I firmly believe that this book could not have been set in any other era. The time of the depression is integral to the story.

I truly love this book, but I discovered that it requires my full concentration to read. This means it took me a considerable amount of time to finish. On more than one occasion, I stayed up extremely late to read it.

I found myself developing intense emotions towards some of these girls. I liked Kay but was furious with her for tolerating Harald. I empathized with Priss and her difficulties in motherhood. I was excited for Polly and the way her life unfolded. I was irritated with Libby and felt she was trying to live her life according to how she thought it should look to others. I was hoping that Norine would somehow learn a lesson, but I guess she will when her children grow up.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and thought-provoking read.

McCarthy's work centers on eight girls from the Vassar class of '33.

Kay, the first to tie the knot, has an upper-crust wedding in New York City just one week after graduating. However, once Harald loses his theatre job, his cocktail habit and their luxury apartment quickly consume Kay's Macy's salary.

Meanwhile, Dottie loses her virginity to Harald's former neighbor in a rather explicit scene. Contraception proves to be a complex matter, yet it has its comical moments, like when Dottie confuses a pessary with a peccary.

Career, romance, and motherhood are all filled with difficulties.

I chose to read Lara Feigel's take on The Group first, fearing that McCarthy's might seem less fresh. Perhaps inevitably, McCarthy's work felt dated in comparison.

I had a hard time engaging with it as a whole, but still found it enjoyable to contrast the two books.

I'll give McCarthy's The Group another try someday, but for now, I'm planning to pick up her Memories of a Catholic Girlhood.

Note: McCarthy is one of the authors profiled in Michelle Dean's Sharp.

Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.

After reading the beginning, I was initially overwhelmed as there were too many names (characters) introduced in such a short time.

However, once I got past that initial hurdle, the rest of the reading was fast-paced and interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed getting a glimpse into that particular time period and the class of people it portrayed.

There was a certain hidden wit in the way the heroines were described and their political views were presented. Although I couldn't completely fit into it, it didn't in any way lessen my enjoyment of the novel. After finishing the book, I read that Mary McCarthy's stories had a bit of a satirical tone and that the reality created in "The Group" was a bit exaggerated. And upon reflection, that really makes sense.

I referred to it as "the stories" because, in my opinion, the book contained the individual stories of a few women, and the connections between them weren't as crucial.

[3 - 3.5 stars]

Although I really liked it while reading, now that I've gathered my thoughts, I find myself in agreement with Christine Boyer. The characters and plot were rather flat, and the whole book's popularity was most likely due to the controversial topics it addressed. Still, I have no regrets about reading it at all. In fact, I would even recommend giving it a try because I learned a great deal from it.

The president of my college described Mary McCarthy as "the quintessential Vassar writer." Given that this book was centered around "Vassar girls," I felt a sense of obligation to read it. However, I didn't take a liking to the writing style or the storyline of the book. I simply couldn't fathom why our respected president held her in such high regard.

Since then, I have come across Mary McCarthy's name repeatedly - including in "For Her Own Good," a book by Barbara Ehrenreich and Debra English that I recently perused. Evidently, I must have overlooked something during my initial reading of "The Group."

The only note I jotted down in my book journal regarding this book (apart from the remarks indicating my dislike) was that I would always cherish the memories of reading the book on a blanket, on my favorite hill beneath the crabapple trees, when they were in full bloom. At least that much remains true.

A candid, truthful, and steadfastly unerotic novel delves into the realms of sex, love, and marriage in depression-era New York. It presents a series of heartrending character studies that offer a probing analysis of politics, class, and gender. This novel is a portrayal of dreams and disillusionment, city living, and the wild contradictions of modernity. It is a book filled with both happy and unhappy surprises.

Astonishingly, around the halfway mark, The Group transforms into a captivating page turner, especially considering the lack of a traditional plot. The novel's perspective skillfully dances from one character to another, not only between chapters but also within scenes. There are only two points of view that remain somewhat elusive: Lakey and Kay, who are arguably the novel's central characters (although Kay likely receives the most pages and Lakey the least). In my view, the contrast between the enigma of Kay and the solidity of Polly, Dottie, and Helena adds an element of the uncanny to this intimate and closely observed novel.

I had this book on the shelf for quite some time. It was through the @hmbookgang that I rediscovered its existence and wanted to read it more slowly as it is a bit different from what I usually read.

It is a romance written in the 1960s about the 1930s, telling the story of eight women who just graduated from Vassar College, an exclusive women's university near New York.

This book inspired Candace Bushnell to write the popular series "Sex and the City", and the references are noticeable.

It is such a well-written work, with the description of each character taken to the tiniest detail and a sublime characterization. The most sensual scenes in the story are a delight, and McCarthy actually took me on a journey to the past where female ambition was just a dream. I finished this book with the notion that the fight for gender equality is still far from over.

Moreover, the author's writing style is very engaging, making it easy for readers to immerse themselves in the story. The vivid descriptions of the settings and the emotions of the characters add to the overall charm of the book. It is not just a simple romance but also a reflection on the social and cultural context of the time.

Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction and wants to explore the themes of gender, ambition, and love. It offers a unique perspective on the past and makes us think about the present and the future.