The Divorcées
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Description
"Timelier than ever." -The Cut
A "delicious" (Rebecca Makkai) and "deeply compelling" (Lauren Groff) debut novel set at a 1950s Reno divorce ranch, about the complex friendship between two women who dare to imagine a different future
Lois Saunders thought that marrying the right man would finally cure her loneliness. But as picture-perfect as her husband is, she is suffocating in their loveless marriage. In 1951, though, unhappiness is hardly grounds for divorce-except in Reno, Nevada.
At the Golden Yarrow, the most respectable of Reno's famous "divorce ranches," Lois finds herself living with half a dozen other would-be divorcees, all in Nevada for the six-weeks residency that is the state's only divorce requirement. They spend their days riding horses and their nights flirting with cowboys, and it's as wild and fun as Lake Forest, Illinois, is prim and stifling. But it isn't until Greer Lang arrives that Lois's world truly cracks open.
Gorgeous, beguiling, and completely indifferent to societal convention, Greer is unlike anyone Lois has ever met-and she sees something in Lois that no one else ever has. Under Greer's influence, Lois begins to push against the limits that have always restrained her. But how much can she really trust her mysterious new friend? And how far will she go to forge her independence on her own terms?
Set in the glamorous, dizzying world of 1950s Reno, where housewives and movie stars rubbed shoulders at gin-soaked casinos, The Divorcées is a riveting page-turner and a dazzling exploration of female friendship, desire, and freedom.
Book Information
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The book takes place in 1951 - Lois is send to a Divorce Ranch, the Golden Yarrow, because she is suffocating in a loveless Marriage that has no meaning to her. The Ranch is situated in Reno, the only state making it possible for wifes to get a divorce. The requirement is to stay for 6 weeks, spending that time riding horses & flirting with cowboys. But a true change happens when a new girl, Greer Lang, arrives. Not only does the dynamic between the girls changes, but a lot within Lois changes. She suddenly sees herself pushing her own limits. But the question is: how far will each of them go? How much can you trust a mysterious new person? First of all: I liked that one of the biggest topics of this book was that women can live without a husband. That they can be independent beings without having a husband to support them. That they can be their own person, that their can make it in the world on their own, even it is was very had at that time. It was a time where women started to slowly realise this. A divorced women was a major shame & they were treated like useless scum. Lois is simply unhappy in her marriage, it feels loveless and suffocating for her. Most women getting a divorce got "bigger reasons" like a violent husband etc. Her reasons makes her feeling even more like a "fool" for trying to get out of that relationship. That made me like Lois even more, thats a valid reason to leave a marriage/relationship — & its lovely to see how she finds herself through the book. How she realises that there is no shame in leaving. How she grows into a unwavering woman after being a lil grey mouse depending on her husband. But how one character can change a whole group dynamic, manipulate certain people and have them do whatever their wand is also a huge aspect & really liked that. I think everyone has experienced something like that in their life (probably in school days). It was often written in a way, that made it a little harder for me to read it smoothly. Also, the extra spark that makes you eat a book up was missing for me. But its still a lovely book with important topics that I enjoyed much!
Description
"Timelier than ever." -The Cut
A "delicious" (Rebecca Makkai) and "deeply compelling" (Lauren Groff) debut novel set at a 1950s Reno divorce ranch, about the complex friendship between two women who dare to imagine a different future
Lois Saunders thought that marrying the right man would finally cure her loneliness. But as picture-perfect as her husband is, she is suffocating in their loveless marriage. In 1951, though, unhappiness is hardly grounds for divorce-except in Reno, Nevada.
At the Golden Yarrow, the most respectable of Reno's famous "divorce ranches," Lois finds herself living with half a dozen other would-be divorcees, all in Nevada for the six-weeks residency that is the state's only divorce requirement. They spend their days riding horses and their nights flirting with cowboys, and it's as wild and fun as Lake Forest, Illinois, is prim and stifling. But it isn't until Greer Lang arrives that Lois's world truly cracks open.
Gorgeous, beguiling, and completely indifferent to societal convention, Greer is unlike anyone Lois has ever met-and she sees something in Lois that no one else ever has. Under Greer's influence, Lois begins to push against the limits that have always restrained her. But how much can she really trust her mysterious new friend? And how far will she go to forge her independence on her own terms?
Set in the glamorous, dizzying world of 1950s Reno, where housewives and movie stars rubbed shoulders at gin-soaked casinos, The Divorcées is a riveting page-turner and a dazzling exploration of female friendship, desire, and freedom.
Book Information
Posts
The book takes place in 1951 - Lois is send to a Divorce Ranch, the Golden Yarrow, because she is suffocating in a loveless Marriage that has no meaning to her. The Ranch is situated in Reno, the only state making it possible for wifes to get a divorce. The requirement is to stay for 6 weeks, spending that time riding horses & flirting with cowboys. But a true change happens when a new girl, Greer Lang, arrives. Not only does the dynamic between the girls changes, but a lot within Lois changes. She suddenly sees herself pushing her own limits. But the question is: how far will each of them go? How much can you trust a mysterious new person? First of all: I liked that one of the biggest topics of this book was that women can live without a husband. That they can be independent beings without having a husband to support them. That they can be their own person, that their can make it in the world on their own, even it is was very had at that time. It was a time where women started to slowly realise this. A divorced women was a major shame & they were treated like useless scum. Lois is simply unhappy in her marriage, it feels loveless and suffocating for her. Most women getting a divorce got "bigger reasons" like a violent husband etc. Her reasons makes her feeling even more like a "fool" for trying to get out of that relationship. That made me like Lois even more, thats a valid reason to leave a marriage/relationship — & its lovely to see how she finds herself through the book. How she realises that there is no shame in leaving. How she grows into a unwavering woman after being a lil grey mouse depending on her husband. But how one character can change a whole group dynamic, manipulate certain people and have them do whatever their wand is also a huge aspect & really liked that. I think everyone has experienced something like that in their life (probably in school days). It was often written in a way, that made it a little harder for me to read it smoothly. Also, the extra spark that makes you eat a book up was missing for me. But its still a lovely book with important topics that I enjoyed much!