OVERVIEW
This is Joanna Miller's debut book, a historical fiction novel. What an intense, but wonderful story. She has a great career ahead!
It took me a while to get into as I didn't know many of the British terms, specifically the unique Oxford language. Of course, AFTER I finished the book, I found the glossary! UGH!
I hadn't considered the proximity of World War I to the time covered in this historical novel. The flashbacks by each of the four main characters involved the war in some way and were difficult to read, which is why we need to read books like this!
OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars.
Writing: 5.0 stars
The writing was a dichotomy. At times, the prose was like reading beautiful poetry. Also, it was very raw, real, and horrific. Joanna combined the two so well without stabbing our hearts with more than we could take.
Character development: 5.0 stars
The main characters are Otto, Marianne, Dora, and Beatrice, who share Corridor Eight at Oxford in 1920. They are among the first women to matriculate for degrees and full membership.
The secondary characters include the friends, family, and classmates of the four main characters' Freshman year (1920-1921) and in flashbacks. Unfortunately, I cannot elaborate too much about the Freshman year and the flashbacks, as it could spoil the plot of the book.
The tertiary characters are World War I and Oxford.
This was one of the best books I have read with such exceptional character development. I can visualize and picture the main characters in my mind and heart, even if they are fictional.
Storyline: 5.0 stars
The storyline details how the four main characters, who are incredibly different, become fast friends. They go through being newbies, testing, and hazing by male students. Yet they each have a buried secret that eventually is shared during the school year.
The location was primarily Oxfordshire, England.
Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars
I did not realize that Oxford admitted women to matriculate earlier than either Harvard (1953), Yale (1969), or Caltech (1970), but later than Stanford (1891). This is so fascinating to me. My big question is why?
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Perfect.
Book title: 5.0 stars
A great double entendre.
HIGHLY recommend
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow: ebook
The Eights by Joanna Miller
382 pages
G.P. Putnam's Sons
Release date: 4/15/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
War, sexual content, sexual assault, pregnancy, death of a parent, medical content, blood, gore, mild cursing
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
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