The Girl

I purchased this book for a class discussing the “American Dream.” I soon fell in love with this story and has remained on my top five list for months now. Amazing book, but be prepared for the interesting syntax. It’s written as if I’m journal form - there are, what I see as, intentional grammatical and punctuation errors. The sentences flow with intention informality:) 10/10 AMAZING

I bought the book because the stories of speakeasys during the thirties seemed colorful and engaging. I figured the characters would make that era come alive. The beginning of the book is a bit difficult to read since the author uses the language they used back then. It wasnt very prolific though and so it didnt really pose a problem. The author also didnt specify who was speaking but it was pretty easy to tell and this also didnt prove a problem. The story is very similar to "The Jungle" and elaborates on how the poor and vulnerable were often exploited by employers, con types and even police and the relief workers that were there to help them. This was all especially pertinent for the women who were often beaten by the men and had many back alley abortions or many children whom would often go hungry. When they went to the government for help oftentimes the women would be claimed as mental and steralization would be recommended. Eugenics was all the rage during this time-to devastating effect. Women were also often given electroshock treatments that made them catatonic or killed them. These treatments were often recommended by the those who these desperate, vulnerable and hungry went to for relief. During all this the story unravels through a 'greenhorn's' introduction to this environment during the thirties. She is a young woman who came from poverty and is trying to support herself while providing her family with one less burden to strive for. A very diverse and colorful story unravels from it and all these circumstances.

Now in a second revised edition, The Girl is a novel by fiery female writer Meridel le Sueur (1900-1996), who survived a blacklist during the McCarthy era of the 1950s and a rediscovery of her work in the 1970s. Her most recognized novel is The Girl, a story about a pregnant young woman struggling to survive the Great Depression after the sudden death of her lover. She finds the determination to continue with the help of female friends, in this strong saga of mutual support. Based on true stories related to the author by female survivors of the Depression, The Girl is a profound literary and feminist classic, now with a new introduction by English professor Linda Ray Pratt. Highly recommended.

Some of the things that happen to the Girl in this novel are indeed difficult to stomach. Each chapter is like a made-for-TV movie, but one thing stands out: her own reaction. Other than trying to display how hard life was for a young poor girl during the depression, there are not even hints of self pity within herself. As all these tragedies take place, it took me a while to read what wasn't being said. This Girl has no self reproach or judgements against any of the other women in the story. For everything that happens, she seems to take it all in stride and go on. Even regarding her friend Clara, she looks at her with concern, not pity. She tries to help her; to lift herself and Clara out of an unfortunate situation. The strength of all the women in this novel is astounding when you read what is not even mentioned. This is a subtle yet powerful book.