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The Women in Black: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.09) - 234 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The women in black, so named for the black frocks they wear while working at Goode’s department store, are busy selling ladies’ dresses during the holiday rush. But they somehow find time to pursue other goals…
Patty, in her mid-thirties, has been working at Goode’s for years. Her husband, Frank, eats a steak for dinner every night, watches a few minutes of TV, and then turns in. Patty yearns for a baby, but Frank is always too tired for that kind of thing.
Sweet, unlucky Fay wants to settle down with a nice man, but somehow nice men don’t see her as marriage material.
Glamorous Magda runs the high-end gowns department. A Slovenian émigré, Magda is cultured and continental and hopes to open her own boutique one day.
Lisa, a clever and shy teenager, takes a job at Goode’s during her school break. Lisa wants to go to university and dreams of becoming a poet, but her father objects to both notions.
By the time the last marked-down dress is sold, all of their lives will be forever changed.
A pitch-perfect comedy of manners set during a pivotal era, and perfect for fans of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Women in Black conjures the energy of a city on the cusp of change and is a testament to the timeless importance of female friendship.
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"If nothing else, this gentle comedy of manners made me very cross - cross at Bruce Beresford for sitting on the film rights and not doing anything about it (although I do hope he doesn't direct it himself because I tend to find his work rather ordinary). This novel rather perfectly captures a particular era in Australia where migrants were coming in, women were moving up and frocks were fabulous. The prose is sparse but quietly clever, and the characters tread the line of caricature (but in an endearing way). It is a slight read in many regards but I think it offers a quick insight into Sydney society of the 1950s that is invaluable."
— Jc (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“The book I most often give as a gift to cheer people up.”
— Hilary Mantel, Man Booker Prize–winning author -
“Tart, beguiling, witty, and compassionate, Madeleine St. John’s novel is a literary boost for the spirits.”
— NPR -
“A deceptively smart comic gem.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Witty and delicious.”
— People
The Women in Black Listener Reviews
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" In Curriculum Vitae, Muriel Spark wrote she would like to have written a novel called The Department Store. I wonder if the staff of the Ladies' Cocktail section at F.G. Goode's would have been to her taste? Set in 1950s' Sydney and full of fantastic dialogue. "
— Catherine, 2/11/2014 -
" such a wonderful read this book brought me back to my mother's time when she worked at Pellew's in Fremantle. Service was very important and rules were starting to be broken. Great Read "
— Barbara, 1/17/2014 -
" Evocative (of the 50/60s) and fun. "
— Maggie, 1/13/2014 -
" A coming of age story set in a Sydney department store circa 1960s, what's not to love? "
— Sara, 1/12/2014 -
" This was a light fun read - it was good to catch up with an Australian author who obviously was very smart, intelligent and clever in her day to day life. A very enjoyable read with believable characters. "
— Jan, 1/2/2014 -
" A light touch, simple, pleasant. My mum couldn't get past chapter 2, but other reviews made me try it anyway. 3.5 stars (if there were 1/2 star ratings) "
— Anita, 12/30/2013 -
" Loved the feeling of Sydney in the 50/60's and the attitidue of the immigrants to the uncouth Australians. "
— Nicky, 11/20/2013 -
" A nostalgic trip back to the 1960s where we follow the day to day lives of a group of ladies who work in the Cocktail Frock Department of the ficticious Goodes Store in the City. It brought back a lot of memories. "
— Leanne, 11/12/2013 -
" Took a bit of time to get used to the style of writing, but I throughly enjoyed the book - evoked a wonderful, Australian bygone era. "
— Shelley, 10/22/2013 -
" This book was ok but not one I would recommend. It is the story of a group of women who in work in the cocktail dress section of a Sydney Department store in the 1950's. I expected it to have more to it, more humour, more drama, more something!! "
— Tracey, 10/21/2013 -
" I loved this book. It brought me back to happy memories of my teenage years. However, I can imagine that anyone, who hadn't lived in Sydney during the time of the story, would probably not find it so captivating. A very easy and quick read. "
— Robyn, 10/20/2013 -
" Book Tape. Really enjoyed this portrait of several Australian women in the 1950s. Magda is my favorite!!! I must read more of Madeleine St. John. "
— Patricia, 3/13/2013 -
" I liked it. A gentle read, Jane Austen style as the forward author suggests. It's a snapshot of Australian life in the early 60s. "
— Sybille, 1/14/2013 -
" Very easy read. I did like it and wanted to know what will eventually happen to these women lives but it was predictable. "
— Maria, 12/28/2012 -
" Perfect light, yet substantive, read. Set in a Sydney department store in the 1960s and follows the lives of 4 women who work in the dress department during the Christmas shopping period. "
— Kristylemmon, 10/5/2012 -
" very typical of the era. Really enjoyed the development of the characters "
— Di, 1/7/2012 -
" Just lovely. Australia in the 50s. So glad things have moved on! "
— Liz, 12/14/2011 -
" A sharp, ethnographic picture of late 1950s Sydney women. Fun, swift and intelligent. Read all too quickly in a few hours one Murray River afternoon. "
— Amanda, 11/20/2011 -
" A quirky little story set in the 1950's where womens dress sizes were described as XSSW, SSW, OS, etc. Very Australian story, brought back memories of my own childhood, and very much appropriate to that era. "
— Janine, 9/29/2011 -
" Just delightful. That's the only word that fits for this. Set in David Jones in Elizabeth St in the 1960s, it's a charming period piece and perfectly written in a way that fits the time well and still feels natural and flows well. St John is a very skilled writer. And it has a happy ending :) "
— Elise, 5/11/2011 -
" Reminded me of Barbara Pym, only in Sydney. "
— Sue, 12/30/2010 -
" Just lovely. Australia in the 50s. So glad things have moved on! "
— Liz, 9/29/2010 -
" This book was ok but not one I would recommend. It is the story of a group of women who in work in the cocktail dress section of a Sydney Department store in the 1950's. I expected it to have more to it, more humour, more drama, more something!! "
— Tracey, 2/14/2010 -
" A light touch, simple, pleasant. My mum couldn't get past chapter 2, but other reviews made me try it anyway. 3.5 stars (if there were 1/2 star ratings) "
— Anita, 2/4/2010 -
" I liked it. A gentle read, Jane Austen style as the forward author suggests. It's a snapshot of Australian life in the early 60s. "
— Sybille, 12/27/2009 -
" Perfect light, yet substantive, read. Set in a Sydney department store in the 1960s and follows the lives of 4 women who work in the dress department during the Christmas shopping period. "
— Kristylemmon, 11/29/2009