A Short History of Women

In her third novel, following the National Book Award nominee Our Kind (2004), Walbert (www.katewalbert.com) explores the long-range impact of the women's movement through five generations of the Townsend family. The story opens in 1915 as British suffragette Dorothy Townsend starves herself for the cause and continues into the 21st century as two sisters who have it all—career, education, and children—feel constantly that they are shortchanging at least one of those aspects of their lives. Though this audio lacks the helpful lineage the print edition provides, the multivoice narration more than compensates as Nicola Barber, Ruth Moore, Kathleen McInerney, Eliza Foss, and Paula Parker help listeners to distinguish among the many characters, through all their interwoven stories. An excellent choice for book discussion groups. [The Scribner hc, a New York Times Best Book of 2009, was described as being "gripping, intense, and powerful," LJ 1/09.—Ed.]—Nann Blaine Hilyard, Zion-Benton P.L., IL