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."
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Jc (4 out of 5 stars)