| Title | : | The Saturday Evening Girls Club |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 250 |
| Publication | : | First published April 25, 2017 |
In Boston’s North End, four immigrant women leave childhood behind—but never one another.
For four young immigrant women living in Boston’s North End in the early 1900s, escaping tradition doesn’t come easy. But at least they have one another and the Saturday Evening Girls Club, a social pottery-making group offering respite from their hectic home lives—and hope for a better future.
Ambitious Caprice dreams of opening her own hat shop, which clashes with the expectations of her Sicilian-born parents. Brilliant Ada secretly takes college classes despite the disapproval of her Russian Jewish father. Stunning Maria could marry anyone yet guards her heart to avoid the fate of her Italian Catholic mother, broken down by an alcoholic husband. And shy Thea is torn between asserting herself and embracing an antiquated Jewish tradition.
The friends face family clashes and romantic entanglements, career struggles and cultural prejudice. But through their unfailing bond, forged through their weekly gathering, they’ll draw strength—and the courage to transform their immigrant stories into the American lives of their dreams.
The Saturday Evening Girls Club Reviews
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The setting is Boston at the turn of the 20th century. Some historical figures are central to the story- wealthy women who had projects to support immigrant young women.The main character Caprice is from a very traditional Sicilian immigrant family. There were so many details that this book got wrong which is something I loath is a book that purports to be historical fiction. Sicilians of the time spoke Sicilian and though some might call it a dialect, each region of Italy had its own language, and they were not necessarily mutually intelligible. So every time Caprice mentions her parents speak Italian, it is more likely they spoke Sicilian. Also she wants to open a hat shop - and says the obstacle is banks won't lend to immigrants. No, the issue was that in most of the US of the time, women couldn't have their own bank accounts. In fact, in some states women didn't get that right until some time in the 1970's. Caprice works and socializes with young women of different backgrounds. She has a Jewish friend and she and other Catholic friends go to her wedding. Before the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) Catholics weren't allowed to attend services in places of worship that were not Catholic. My mother was a rebel in the late 50's when she let me go to an ice cream social in the basement of a Protestant church, saying it was OK because I wasn't "going to church".
Do all these details really matter? I'd argue that they do because readers add these misunderstandings and misinterpretations of times, places, cultures and religions to their concepts of the world. They perpetuate and reinforce stereotypes and reduce historical and cultural complexity to creations that make the author's job easier (why do any research other than the names of a few streets, and historical figures). -
I must state that if this had not been a choice of my book club, I would not have read it. The book was not so unbearable that I had to abandon it, but I did not view it as having great merit, nor was it unique for my interests.
Healey has set out to tell a rather oft-told tale of immigrant young ladies in the North End of Boston in the 1900's. As was usual at that time, the multi-national group of people existed in varying levels of poverty amidst crowding and in most cases, lack of proper education. These girls were fortunate to belong to the Saturday Evening Girls Club, which provided friendship, some education, a semblance of exposure to American life and some provisions for their diets.
The novel evokes others which I have read. Specifically, there is
The Boston Girl and
Beguiled, both of which are focused on early 20th century Boston. Also familiar there are,
Away,
The Triangle Fire: A Brief History with Documents and
Manhattan Beach . The latter offers a novel approach to the new immigrant situation.
I had thought this book would provide greater interest to me, a Suburban Bostonian, and one quite aware of the North End. Many of the sites and streets mentioned are still familiar to me, but there were some inaccuracies, such as North Station, which supposedly has trains traveling to Providence and New York. The author should have realized that this would be South Station. I also felt that much of the dialog was language which would not have been familiar to that time and place.
Despite all of this, it was interesting to discover that the title named group actually existed! Perhaps the book would be best suited to a YA level. -
Four women forged a friendship that changed their lives one week at a time.
****
Let me start by writing while reading THE SATURDAY EVENING GIRLS CLUB, I kept hearing in my head, "nevertheless, she persisted." It's the battle cry for Women standing together today as part the Women's March. We will not be silenced.
Escaping tradition and trying to become their own women in the 1900s doesn't come easy for four young immigrants living in Boston’s North End. In Jane Healey's debut novel, THE SATURDAY EVENING GIRLS CLUB (LakeUnionPublishing), it's the turn of the century when women don't have the right to vote, nor is much expected from them by a society determined to keep them "in their place." But at least Caprice, Ada, Maria and Thea have one another and their Saturday Evening Girls Club. The once a week meeting gives the group a break from their home lives and a chance to share their hopes and dreams.
Caprice works at Madame DuPont's Millinery in the North End and dreams of opening her own hat shop. Her parents want her married to a nice Italian young man, and often arrange dinners with prospective suitors, much to her horror. Brilliant Ada secretly takes college classes despite the disapproval of her Russian Jewish father and hopes to be a doctor one day. Stunning Maria is a dressmaker and could marry anyone yet guards her heart to avoid the fate of her Italian Catholic mother, broken down by an alcoholic husband. And shy Thea is torn between asserting herself and embracing the antiquated Jewish tradition of being married off in an arranged marriage.
The four young women face family disappointments, romantic love and heartbreak, work and career struggles, as well as deep cultural prejudice. But their weekly meeting makes it possible for each to have the courage and strength needed to transform their immigrants stories into individual American lives. Each had the odds stacked against her, but persist, believing in their dreams.
I loved learning about this part of history, but what made the novel so wonderful for me are the characters. Jane Healey creates unique personalities in all four of the young women; all of whom I'd love to befriend. There are times I've read a novel with several friends/characters and they tend to blend. Caprice, Ada, Maria and Thea are each their own woman and delightful.
*****
It's interesting to note that although THE SATURDAY EVENING GIRLS CLUB is a work of fiction, there was a real Saturday Evening Girls Club which started as a book club in Boston in 1899. By the 1910s, it had evolved into something much bigger. There were over 250 members of clubs named after each day of the week. -
There's going to be a sequel right?
A great story of warmth, love, and friendship. I need to make sure Maria and Ada are OK. Sequel please! -
Oh this was the ultimate book of friendship! Set in 1908 in Boston, just over the course of a few months of that year, it traces the changing life course and deep bonds of four young women. Caprice, Ada, Thea, and Maria. Two are Italian, two are Russian Jewish. Each of the four is expected to fulfill the expectations of women at that time, combined with the dictates of their culture. All four are supposed to marry, and marry from their tradition, country, and religion. In fact, all four are contending with the culture and expectation of arranged marriages, and families who carry old world traditions. The book is narrated from the voice of Caprice, our young Italian Sicilian heroine - who dreams of owning her own hat shop. Who wants to run her own business and make a success out of herself.
At the forefront of the novel, is the Saturday Evening Girls Club, two women who have been a haven for the young girls of the community of all backgrounds, they have hosted every Saturday night, a place for young women to be together, to support each other, in friendship, solidarity, and in their dreams of fulfillment. It is there that the relationship between the four young women is born and sustained, and it is going strong when the book opens.
I found this little gem, because it was in the "staff recommends" section of our library and it caught my attention. For those of you who are librarians or booksellers, you wouldn't believe how powerful a draw that is. Or you would, given that we are all frequenting a website that relies on others recommendations to find hidden gems, or to steer us well. I had planned to read it, but when the genre of the month was tagged as friendship, I knew this one would be a perfect fit and it was. Enjoyed the ride. 3.8. It wasn't a not to be missed, but I enjoyed it all the same. -
This was a quick, easy, light-hearted read, perfect for my December book club meeting. I enjoyed that it was set in Boston, 1908. Interesting to read at the end that there are several other real "Evening Girls Clubs" -- not just Saturday. In some ways, so you could see how far women have come where in those days fathers expected them to marry, no life or career outside that. This one has a fun cast of strong female characters, but was pretty fluffy!
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The Saturday Evening Girls Club
This book was an enjoyable, satisfying read. 3.5 stars, probably. It was light and easy to read. A perfect beach read.
The story was set in 1908-1909, but nothing in the story or language anchored it in that time. I felt a little bit disoriented from that angle. The story is about a group of female friends trying to find their way in America as young adults. They face challenges as women and as children of immigrants.
Character development and conflict resolution were very satisfying. Good chick lit. -
I would like to thank NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Jane Healey for an ARC of "The Saturday Evening Girls Club" by Jane Healey for my honest review.
The genres of this book are General Fiction(Adult), and Women' Fiction. I also feel that this is Historical Fiction and Romance.
Kudos to Jane Healey who did the historical research about The Saturday Evening Girls Club, and other clubs in Boston North in the early 1900s.
The club offered young women, especially immigrants, the wonderful artistic opportunity for making pottery, and supporting the arts with drama and music. These clubs were sponsored by wealthy women and women who loved the arts. The club offered the opportunity for young women to have friends. The pottery became valuable, and is known as Paul Revere Pottery.
The story takes place in Boston North in the early 1900's when four young women become friends through the Saturday Evening Girl's Club. They are young immigrants working mostly in dress design and making hats. I like the way the author describes their homes in small apartments, and many neighbors. Although these girls were not rich, they were bound to their families traditions. Although the girls came from Jewish and Italian homes, they respected each other.
Caprice gave her pay check to her family and tried to save for her dream to own her own hat shop. When the store closes where she has worked, she starts to work at the pottery shop. Caprice is extremely talented in decorating and trimming hats, and holds on to her dream of owning her own shop one day.
Ada, is a young intelligent Jewish immigrant. She has been taking college courses at night, and keeping it a secret from her father. Ada more than anything wants to be a physician.
Maria is a gorgeous Italian dressmaker,who lives at home with an alcoholic father, who causes major stress to her family.
Thea is a young Jewish immigrant, who is the first to be engaged to a man , by an arrangement by her family.
Saturday nights are so important to these young women as they share there secrets,hopes and dreams. The club is so important to them. Caprice, Ada and Maria want to break with certain traditions and choose what they want to do in their lives. They want to choose someone they love. They want to live their dreams.
Jane Healey writes about family, friendship, tradition, choice, support, love and hope. The author also writes about goals, dreams, and working hard for what one believes in.
It is amazing how the author describes her characters, settings and situations. I enjoyed this intriguing and heartwarming novel and would highly recommend this.
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Caprice, Maria, Ada, and Thea share a wonderful friendship as they grow up in the Jewish and Italian immigrant neighborhoods of north Boston. The setting is the turn of the 20th century when life is going through tremendous change. Living within families where their parents still adhere to the traditional ways of the “old country”, these four young women struggle with choices they must make for their dreams to become reality. Healy’s extensive research brings this era to life as the reader experiences the historical and cultural details of the time, including learning the delightful history of The Saturday Evening Girls Club.
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I really enjoyed this book focused on friendship and life in Boston during early 1900’s. It was interesting to read about the differences of the immigrants as they acclimated to America yet trying to hold onto their old ways from their native countries. I found it even more enjoyable once I realized it was based on real life experiences from Boston’s North end. A great story about the power of friendship.
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DNF at 20%
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3.5 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
So enjoying this amazing read by Jane Healey 💓I’m doing a ton of meal prep so this audio is the best! I love being able to read and listen along. If you love historical fiction then this is for you. Set in 1908– Boston’s North end, this story follows four immigrant women and their journey through life. Each one in a different set of circumstances, but facing the same obstacles of being a woman at that time. I am reminded of this quote, “Never the less, she persisted.” I am fascinated with their Saturday evening Girl’s Club, and wish I belonged to one. I love Caprice, and her strong unwavering spirit. She is not afraid to go against the grain of her Sicilian parents and chase her dreams of having her own hat shop. These four women- Caprice, Thea, Maria and Ada have a unwavering bond and draw strength and courage from each other. I love this so much!! -
Find reviews and other bookish talk at Chocolate and Chapters
Caprice is the daughter of Italian immigrants who dreams of opening her own hat shop. She attends the Saturday Evening Girls Club with three of her best friends, all of whom also come from immigrant families. As the four girls try to make their way and discover who they are in an ever-changing America, they find that the tradition of their families is difficult to escape. They navigate love, education, family, and dreams, all while attending the Club and supporting each other through it all.
Sigh. This book is essentially the less-good version of what you'd get if you took a huge pot and mixed together the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding and the book
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
And if you're like me, naming those two (My Big Fat Greek Wedding and
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) as "similar" might give you hope. But unfortunately, this book is missing all of the fun and relatability of those two stories. It's actually quite dull.
There are literally scenes taken out of each that are transplanted into this book... I could give a plethora of examples, but I'll spare you.
I could also go into further detail about the things that annoyed me: extensive informational dialogue, way too much telling instead of showing, and so on. But again, I'll spare you. And I'll tell you: I'm not a skimmer (almost ever), but I was with this book.
Overall, this book is sweet and doesn't require much of its reader. Maybe others will enjoy its tone and the feeling of camaraderie between the girls, but it did nothing for me besides bore me. Boo. -
Well am going to see if I can get past all the first person frequent use of "I". Wish me luck Penni 🙄
Finished! Quite enjoyed the experiences of these first generation young immigrant women set in the early 1900's in Boston.
Friendships began when they were in their early teens and all attended the Saturday Evening Girls Club. They all faced challenges in regards to strict family expectations, pressures around arranged marriages, and who they could date especially not someone of a different religion or region in Sicily. Even a female wanting to pursue further education beyond high school was deemed by one father a complete waste. Women were meant to get married, bear children and stay in the family. Wanting a better chance at life than their parents was a struggle when they sought jobs. And you certainly could not work and be married, much less strive to be self employed or seek advanced education (and in one case enter medical school).
They struggled with their choices of boyfriends and the effect on their family if they chose themselves and or a different religion.
A comment made by another reviewer about the repetition of the word "I" excessively was indeed noted. Initially it seemed its use was to demonstrate the boredom, and endless life routines that made up Caprice's life. But that impression did not hold in my mind in the remainder of the book. With a first person account story it may be unavoidable.
Thoughts anyone else? A sequel would be great to carry on in their lives. -
The Saturday Evening Girls Club
By: Jane Healy
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A delightful novel about friendship. Boston’s North End in the early 1900s is not an easy place for immigrant women.
💛
Caprice is working in a hat shop while helping her family out with the bills. She seeks independence and her dream is to open her own hat shop. Her dad is ready to have her married off to a nice man.
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Ada is taking college classes and her Russian Jewish father is unaware. Maria wants more from her life as she has grown up with an alcoholic father. She has watched her mother struggle. Thea is shy and trying to embrace her Jewish heritage and accept an arranged marriage.
💛
They all form a friendship while attending a pottery class. This becomes a tradition from their teen years until adulthood. As their paths change over the years they each have to find their way. They have to deal with tradition, struggles, career, romance, family and their relationships and friendships with each other. I adored this novel. #lakeunionpublishing, #thesaturdayeveninggirlsclub, #janehealey, #bookstagram, #bookreview, #booksconnectus, #stamlerlady50 -
I loved this book from start to finish. Set in the 1900s, the 4 girls connect through the Saturday Evening Girls Club regardless of their nationalities and traditional expectations that are placed on them by their families. Watching each girl navigate the world differently while still remaining close-knit with their friends was heartwarming. The girls are all so close and genuinely care about one another. Caprice is the glue that holds them all together and she often reminds the other girls of what is right and how to remain true to themselves. Watching Caprice grow and realize her goals in life was a wonderful transition into adulthood. By the end of the book, all of the girls had started to evolve into women. It was wonderful to watch them choose their paths and get to see how they were setting themselves up for their futures.
I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys a quick, impactful read. The writing was great and easy to follow. Great book! -
Caprice, and her three fellow immigrant friends, Ada, Maria, and Thea, navigate dating and their ambitions with their enduring friendship seeing them through it all. Set in Boston at the turn of the 20th century, I thought the story itself was enjoyable, but unfortunately, there wasn't enough action to keep me interested. It was, however, the perfect listen on audiobook, especially during International Women’s Friendship Month!
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Audiobook, Copy owned on Audible -
This 1 star is not for the book, it's for me for getting through it.
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A light read about young women, daughters of immigrants, in Boston, in 1904, who gather each Saturday, in a type of social club, sponsored by a few well-meaning society ladies, who, at the time, sincerely wanted to give these 2nd generation (poorer) immigrants a chance to enhance their lives and careers.
I liked the 4 young women, featured prominently: There's Caprice, Ada, Thea and Maria, 2 Italian, and 2 Jewish - all promising young girls, who, would rather go against the mindset and culture of their parents, and choose to pursue studies, or open their own business. I was especially impressed by Ada, taking college classes, in the hope to become a doctor one day.
Even though I often wished the author would have dug deeper into all these characters, and also into the environmental aspects of the era. I truly wished she would have described life in 1904 in Boston better, so to get more atmosphere and background, because that time must have been amazing. (Think of Dennis Lehane the Given Day!), I still think it's a worthwhile read, because it depicts these rare women, choosing careers over love, which is extraordinary. -
Quick read. Enjoyable. Would recommend to people. I loved the friendship of the girls. I loved the idea of a Saturday evening girls club.
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I thoroughly enjoyed this novel about four gals in their early twenties at the turn of the 2oth century. Ada and Thea, two girls from close Jewish families and Maria and Caprice, two girls from close Italian families in North Boston tenement areas belong to the Saturday Evening Girls Club. Told from the point of view of Caprice, the story captures the feelings of all four characters who are wending their way through the social mores of that time period. Caprice aspires to be a milliner who wants to own her own hat shop in her neighborhood. She has the backing of Ms. Guerrier and Mrs. Storrow, the matrons who orchestrate the club. This novel follows the interreligious dating of one of the characters as well as the other verboten combinations. The girls are not silent about their misgivings concerning the 'gentlemen' they have selected for themselves. Even though the setting was a hundred years ago, the situations could easily happen today and I felt compelled to turn the pages to see how these young ladies solved their own goal-setting career and interpersonal problems.
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4.75 stars. Caprice, Ada, Maria, Thea. Four long-time friends, each with distinct personalities, motivations, and dreams. Each trying to live out their dreams in the immigrant community of 1908-09 Boston as modern American women, while dealing with the old-world sensibilities of their parents.
The ladies first met as young teens as members of the Saturday Evening Ladies Club, a program of the Hull House settlement movement, the famous social service program founded by Jane Addams in Chicago's immigrant communities in the 1880s. It was here that our heroines learned that they could be modern American women - pursuing education and careers as well as married life with children. We follow each character’s pursuit of career ambitions while navigating relationships with each other and the young gentlemen they meet along the way.
This was a quick and absorbing read - I listened to the story on Audible and extended a drive to listen to the end of the story. I enjoyed this debut novel by a talented author! I hope there is a sequel; I want to see how Caprice, Ada, Maria, and Thea navigate their careers and romances in the coming years! -
I really enjoyed this book. It had a little bit of everything. History, romance, tough topics, feminism, and strong bonds. I loved the girls and how different they were, yet they all worked well together in the novel. The writer did a great job of really making the reader understand her characters and time period. Great writing and really interesting story!
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Review to follow.
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4/5 🌟
This was such a good book about family and female friendships -
4 star
Wasnt a bad book or bad story but also wasnt anything memorable imo. Just not my cup of tea but have some others in mind and this book would be right up their ally! -
This was an easy read. I like the characters and missed them when I wasn't reading. Kind of missing them now that I'm done. It wasn't terribly exciting, but I'm okay with that. There was longing, love, limitations, and decisions to be made. I would have preferred that the devoted Catholic women would have restrained from using my beloved Savior's name in vain. I gave it five stars because it was an enjoyable read. I didn't love it enough to mark, "will read again."
