Radium Girls

I just finished this book after hearing about it from a friend. I have to admit my ignorance and confess that I had no idea that this happened--that hundreds of women were poisoned from working in radium dial factories and had to fight not only for a diagnosis but for rights to compensation and aid from their employers. Workman's compensation and work safety laws have come a long way since the 1930s and these women did a lot to make all of it happen.

The Radium Girls by Kate Moore is a really well put together story of several of the women's lives before they began their employment with the radium factories until their deaths. She has interviewed family members, read reports, and visited the areas affected. Her writing includes both narratives and research which makes for an interesting, all-encompassing read. I feel like I learned a lot!

She also writes it in a way that is very honoring to the women. We know their passions, what they enjoyed in life and what was ultimately taken away from them. We learn how many barriers were overcome and how much it hurt to keep going. But they didn't give up. It's incredible to think how strong these women were and all they accomplished.

I hope you'll give it a read. Be warned, it's long! 480 pages

I just finished this book after hearing about it from a friend. I have to admit my ignorance and confess that I had no idea that this happened--that hundreds of women were poisoned from working in radium dial factories and had to fight not only for a diagnosis but for rights to compensation and aid from their employers. Workman's compensation and work safety laws have come a long way since the 1930s and these women did a lot to make all of it happen.

The Radium Girls by Kate Moore is a really well put together story of several of the women's lives before they began their employment with the radium factories until their deaths. She has interviewed family members, read reports, and visited the areas affected. Her writing includes both narratives and research which makes for an interesting, all-encompassing read. I feel like I learned a lot!

She also writes it in a way that is very honoring to the women. We know their passions, what they enjoyed in life and what was ultimately taken away from them. We learn how many barriers were overcome and how much it hurt to keep going. But they didn't give up. It's incredible to think how strong these women were and all they accomplished.

I hope you'll give it a read. Be warned, it's long! 480 pages

Bookclub: A Long Way Home

Last month, my bookclub read A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley. It's a memoir of Saroo's journey to find his biological mother. He was born in India, and at the age of 5 got lost and was sent to an orphanage (that's the short version!). His adoption brought him to Australia where he grew up with great parents but still felt a longing to know where he had come from.

His search was long and tedious as his 5 year old memory was all he had. And as technology improved and the Internet became faster and better, he soon found his way back. It's really an interesting story and really a miracle that his family did reunite.

The book itself was a quick read and didn't seem to be embellished or anything. In fact, some chapters seemed a little mundane (just like some days in my own life I supposed!). The movie I hear that is coming will probably be really good -- getting to see the India in which he grew up and the shock of going back as an adult would make a great visual. And to see the emotions played out might also be easier than reading about them.

I loved the story and am so thankful he found his way home.

Last month, my bookclub read A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley. It's a memoir of Saroo's journey to find his biological mother. He was born in India, and at the age of 5 got lost and was sent to an orphanage (that's the short version!). His adoption brought him to Australia where he grew up with great parents but still felt a longing to know where he had come from.

His search was long and tedious as his 5 year old memory was all he had. And as technology improved and the Internet became faster and better, he soon found his way back. It's really an interesting story and really a miracle that his family did reunite.

The book itself was a quick read and didn't seem to be embellished or anything. In fact, some chapters seemed a little mundane (just like some days in my own life I supposed!). The movie I hear that is coming will probably be really good -- getting to see the India in which he grew up and the shock of going back as an adult would make a great visual. And to see the emotions played out might also be easier than reading about them.

I loved the story and am so thankful he found his way home.