Kristi's Corner: Summer '26

There are certain authors I have on my "definitely read" list. However, this particular author, Kathryn Stockett, has only one other book, which was published 18 years ago, The Help—one of my all-time favorite books and movies. So, I was excited when I discovered she had a new book coming out this May called The Calamity Club, and I preordered it over 6 months ago without even knowing the subject matter. The book arrived, and I finished it—all 629 pages—in 4 days. It only took this long because I had to do other things, like go to work.  The story is once again set in Mississippi, only this time in 1933 Oxford and not 1962 Jackson. It is set during the Depression, and families are losing their homes, children are being left at orphanages, and the Anti-Vice League dominates the local society. Enter Birdie, Meg, and Charlie, three unique characters who are faced with almost insurmountable odds because they are female, young, and without adequate male help. Of course, the men in their lives have often been the cause of their problems. There were moments this book could have been shortened, but I truly enjoyed it, so its length did not bother me. Birdie tries to secure her family's home, Charlie works to regain her daughter, and Meg just wants to find a home. There are other quirky, sanctimonious, likable, selfish characters in this book, and some are more than they appear. I recommend this book to anyone who liked The Help because this book covers the historical problems of 1933 Mississippi that are not remembered or discussed—eugenics, sterilization, alcoholism, and homosexuality—and the author includes research on all the subjects above and how they were brought into the story at the end of the book. The Calamity Club did a fantastic job of depicting 1933 Mississippi. And I will remember Charlie, Meg, and Birdie for a long time.

Until next time, so many books, so little time.

Kristi