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Luminous: The Story of a Radium Girl
A young girl's life is set on an unexpected course when she accepts a job at Radium Dial. She soon finds out, however, that the excellent pay is no recompense for the dark secret that lurks in the paint that magically made her glow in the dark. This is the story of brave Catherine Donohoe who takes on the might of a big corporation and became an early pioneer of social justice in the era between two world wars. Emotive and inspiring - this book will touch you like no other.
It’s too late for me, but maybe it will help some of the others.
~ Catherine Wolfe Donohue
It’s too late for me, but maybe it will help some of the others.
~ Catherine Wolfe Donohue
- GenresHistorical Fiction
311 pages, ebook
Published June 5, 2020
141 people are currently reading
4,518 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Wilcoxson
19Ìýbooks387ÌýfollowersWriter, history enthusiast, and sufferer of wanderlust, Samantha strives to reveal the deep emotions and motivations of historical figures, enabling readers to connect with them in a unique way. She can frequently be found lakeside with a book in one hand and glass of wine in the other.
Available to Pre-order: James Alexander Hamilton: Son of the American Revolution, published by Pen & Sword History
WIP: Wars of the Roses trilogy, published by Sapere Books
Available to Pre-order: James Alexander Hamilton: Son of the American Revolution, published by Pen & Sword History
WIP: Wars of the Roses trilogy, published by Sapere Books
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
September 24, 2023
In a Nutshell: The hard-hitting story of Catherine Donohue, one of the women who went against a radium corporation in the 1930s after suffering from debilitating radium poisoning. Nicely written, highly impactful, strongly faith-oriented. Recommended!
Story Synopsis:
The ideal way to begin my feedback would be with the woman who carries the story on her frail yet brave shoulders. Right from the start, Catherine comes across as a shy and goodhearted girl, a loner by nature but not averse to spending some time with her female friends. She has a strong faith in God, and even her extreme suffering didn’t allow her trust in God to waver. I learnt a lot from Catherine about what powerful faith actually means. I don’t know if my belief would have been as strong in a similar situation.
Catherine’s demeanour is also so unlike contemporary fictional female characters who are bolder and more outspoken. As such, seeing her determined to make Radium Dial accountable for the harm it did , searching for doctors and lawyers who would help them, and speaking willingly to the media to highlight their doomed situation � all indicate what an ordinary woman can do when what she loves most is challenged � the future of her family.
Catherine’s husband Tom is better than the hero of any romance book you’ll read. He depicts what true love is all about, taking every word of “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part� seriously. Reading their interactions with each other and with their two little children depicts the true extent of the tragedy. After all, it is tough to suffer, but it is almost equally tough to watch your loved one suffer while you feel helpless to do anything. It would be next to impossible to match up to the couple goals set by them.
Reading this book isn’t easy. You either already know or you can guess what’s in store for Catherine and the other radium girls, even if you aren’t familiar with their actual life stories. So when you see them twirling the radium brushes with their lips to achieve the perfect pointy tip for painting, or when you watch them gleefully taking radium paint home to colour their nails to make them glow, you feel a combination of dread and fury, knowing that the radioactive element will soon eat away their bones from within. The whole experience is as horrifying to read as it must have been to the girls who watched their bodies disintegrate without knowing why. As I squirmed in discomfort and frustration reading about their lives, I couldn’t stop imagining the immense pain these poor women went through during their last days.
The story played out in my head like an old B&W movie, thanks to the beautiful atmosphere created by the author. Her writing has a sort of old-world vibe that I can’t describe, but that suits the 1920s-30s era perfectly. This is further enhanced by her portrayal of the small town ethos, where everyone knows everyone else and is willing to help but equally willing to gossip.
Every chapter begins with a quote. Most of these quotes are connected to radium, and spoken either by scientists or by the radium girls in actual interviews. The last couple of chapters have biblical verses instead of quotes.
There are no photographs in the book, but the author does provide resource links at the end of her note, one of which is to Leonard Grossman’s website. Leonard is the son of the attorney who fought for Catherine and her friends pro bono, and his site contains plenty of photographs and newspaper clippings connected to the court case. Looking through these articles showed me how faithful the author had been to the truth whenever she had concrete information about the events of that period.
Some of you might have heard of or even read Kate Moore’s ‘The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women�. When the author heard this book on audio, she felt compelled to narrate Catherine Donahue’s story through this historical fiction work. While she does detail out her research in her parting note, she also makes it clear that this is a story of fiction and is to be treated as such. With so little information available online about Catherine’s life before the court case, I can’t blame her for filling in some of the blanks creatively.
At the same time, I wish the fictional timeline had been smoother. There are many time-jumps that are sometimes tricky to figure out. Though the author gives us clues at times through a reference to Catherine’s age, I would have preferred having the years mentioned. With Catherine going from nineteen to thirty-five during the course of the book, a specific year reference would have helped us understand the passage of time better. I also wanted some of the gaps in the information to be plugged in, such as why did Tom and Catherine wait so many years to get married, or how could Margaret afford to help her brother’s family. As the story was already fictionalised, such additional detailing wouldn’t have hurt the authenticity of the story but helped us understand their lives better.
If there was one major thing I could change about the book, it would be to tone down the faith-oriented content just a little, especially in the final chapter. Catherine Donohue was a devout Christian, and her thoughts as well as words reflect her beliefs amply. Though I am a practising Christian, I felt like the ending went a step too far, and somehow, spoiled the effect of the historical fiction work by providing an idyllic ending to Catherine’s story. Moreover, as some readers wouldn't have expected Catherine's beliefs to be a dominant part of the storyline, they might not appreciate the content, especially if their reading preferences don't extend to Christian fiction.
Nevertheless, this is a powerful story of a woman to be admired as much as to be pitied. What courage in the face of such a painful destiny for no fault of hers!
Strongly recommended to all readers of historical fiction.
4.25 stars.
My thanks to Coffee and Thorn Book Tours and author Samantha Wilcoxson for a complimentary copy of “Luminous: The Story of a Radium Girl�. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
The book is available for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
If you want to know just how damaging the radium was to these young women, here are two sobering facts:
� Almost a century later, Catherine’s body, or whatever remains of it in her lead-lined coffin, is still glowing from the radium, because the radium is nowhere close near its half life of 1600 years. The same is true for all the women who died from radium poisoning.
� The town of Ottawa in Illinois still has areas marked as contaminated by radioactive materials and hence out of bounds. The Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety is still cleaning up the contamination left by Radium Dial Company and Luminous Processes Inc. between 1918 and 1978. One estimate suggests that about 32,000 cubic yards of radioactive soils and debris was removed from nine sites.
(I can’t believe the companies went on using radium paint till 1978. Profit over humaneness, right? 😔)
Read more above these brave unwilling heroes through this impactful book, and through these links:
ðŸÇÀ
ðŸÇÀ
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
| | | |
Story Synopsis:
1920s. Ottawa, Illinois. Catherine Wolfe (Donohue after marriage) was just nineteen when she got a job with Radium Dial Company as a dial painter. The excellent pay package ensured that she could contribute to her family’s needs. What Catherine, and the other girls employed at the company, didn’t know was that they had signed their death warrants by accepting this job. The paint that made them glow in the dark created unknown and unforeseen health issues, which no local doctor knew how to handle. Catherine, supported by her husband and her colleagues, filed a suit against Radium Dial. This book is her life story.
The story comes to us mostly in the third person limited perspective of Catherine.
The ideal way to begin my feedback would be with the woman who carries the story on her frail yet brave shoulders. Right from the start, Catherine comes across as a shy and goodhearted girl, a loner by nature but not averse to spending some time with her female friends. She has a strong faith in God, and even her extreme suffering didn’t allow her trust in God to waver. I learnt a lot from Catherine about what powerful faith actually means. I don’t know if my belief would have been as strong in a similar situation.
Catherine’s demeanour is also so unlike contemporary fictional female characters who are bolder and more outspoken. As such, seeing her determined to make Radium Dial accountable for the harm it did , searching for doctors and lawyers who would help them, and speaking willingly to the media to highlight their doomed situation � all indicate what an ordinary woman can do when what she loves most is challenged � the future of her family.
Catherine’s husband Tom is better than the hero of any romance book you’ll read. He depicts what true love is all about, taking every word of “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part� seriously. Reading their interactions with each other and with their two little children depicts the true extent of the tragedy. After all, it is tough to suffer, but it is almost equally tough to watch your loved one suffer while you feel helpless to do anything. It would be next to impossible to match up to the couple goals set by them.
Reading this book isn’t easy. You either already know or you can guess what’s in store for Catherine and the other radium girls, even if you aren’t familiar with their actual life stories. So when you see them twirling the radium brushes with their lips to achieve the perfect pointy tip for painting, or when you watch them gleefully taking radium paint home to colour their nails to make them glow, you feel a combination of dread and fury, knowing that the radioactive element will soon eat away their bones from within. The whole experience is as horrifying to read as it must have been to the girls who watched their bodies disintegrate without knowing why. As I squirmed in discomfort and frustration reading about their lives, I couldn’t stop imagining the immense pain these poor women went through during their last days.
The story played out in my head like an old B&W movie, thanks to the beautiful atmosphere created by the author. Her writing has a sort of old-world vibe that I can’t describe, but that suits the 1920s-30s era perfectly. This is further enhanced by her portrayal of the small town ethos, where everyone knows everyone else and is willing to help but equally willing to gossip.
Every chapter begins with a quote. Most of these quotes are connected to radium, and spoken either by scientists or by the radium girls in actual interviews. The last couple of chapters have biblical verses instead of quotes.
There are no photographs in the book, but the author does provide resource links at the end of her note, one of which is to Leonard Grossman’s website. Leonard is the son of the attorney who fought for Catherine and her friends pro bono, and his site contains plenty of photographs and newspaper clippings connected to the court case. Looking through these articles showed me how faithful the author had been to the truth whenever she had concrete information about the events of that period.
Some of you might have heard of or even read Kate Moore’s ‘The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women�. When the author heard this book on audio, she felt compelled to narrate Catherine Donahue’s story through this historical fiction work. While she does detail out her research in her parting note, she also makes it clear that this is a story of fiction and is to be treated as such. With so little information available online about Catherine’s life before the court case, I can’t blame her for filling in some of the blanks creatively.
At the same time, I wish the fictional timeline had been smoother. There are many time-jumps that are sometimes tricky to figure out. Though the author gives us clues at times through a reference to Catherine’s age, I would have preferred having the years mentioned. With Catherine going from nineteen to thirty-five during the course of the book, a specific year reference would have helped us understand the passage of time better. I also wanted some of the gaps in the information to be plugged in, such as why did Tom and Catherine wait so many years to get married, or how could Margaret afford to help her brother’s family. As the story was already fictionalised, such additional detailing wouldn’t have hurt the authenticity of the story but helped us understand their lives better.
If there was one major thing I could change about the book, it would be to tone down the faith-oriented content just a little, especially in the final chapter. Catherine Donohue was a devout Christian, and her thoughts as well as words reflect her beliefs amply. Though I am a practising Christian, I felt like the ending went a step too far, and somehow, spoiled the effect of the historical fiction work by providing an idyllic ending to Catherine’s story. Moreover, as some readers wouldn't have expected Catherine's beliefs to be a dominant part of the storyline, they might not appreciate the content, especially if their reading preferences don't extend to Christian fiction.
Nevertheless, this is a powerful story of a woman to be admired as much as to be pitied. What courage in the face of such a painful destiny for no fault of hers!
Strongly recommended to all readers of historical fiction.
4.25 stars.
My thanks to Coffee and Thorn Book Tours and author Samantha Wilcoxson for a complimentary copy of “Luminous: The Story of a Radium Girl�. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
The book is available for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
If you want to know just how damaging the radium was to these young women, here are two sobering facts:
� Almost a century later, Catherine’s body, or whatever remains of it in her lead-lined coffin, is still glowing from the radium, because the radium is nowhere close near its half life of 1600 years. The same is true for all the women who died from radium poisoning.
� The town of Ottawa in Illinois still has areas marked as contaminated by radioactive materials and hence out of bounds. The Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety is still cleaning up the contamination left by Radium Dial Company and Luminous Processes Inc. between 1918 and 1978. One estimate suggests that about 32,000 cubic yards of radioactive soils and debris was removed from nine sites.
(I can’t believe the companies went on using radium paint till 1978. Profit over humaneness, right? 😔)
Read more above these brave unwilling heroes through this impactful book, and through these links:
ðŸÇÀ
ðŸÇÀ
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
| | | |
June 5, 2024
Check out all my reviews at:
LUMINOUS: The Story of a Radium Girl by Samantha Wilcoxson is an emotionally heartrending historical biographical fiction story that had me grabbing the tissues as the main character’s disease progresses and yet cheering her on as she fights for justice in a time when workers are considered insignificant and easily replaceable to companies in the 1920’s and 30’s. While this is a story where you know what happens to the main character in the end, it is her fighting spirit in the face of her pain that starts to bring awareness to exploitation of all workers in dangerous jobs.
Catherine is excited to get a job at Radium Dial in Ottawa, Illinois. It is the largest and the highest paying company in the city and with this job she will be able to help her aunt and uncle with their bills. It is exacting work painting the glow paint on the dark numerals on watch dials. While the young girls have fun with the glow-in-the dark paint, they do not realize the radium is poisoning them. As her friends begin to get sick and die, Catherine realizes her greatest fear…that the radium paint they use pointing their brushes with their mouths is deadly.
Catherine and her husband face her diagnosis with their faith and love, but they also want justice. Catherine becomes a determined fighter for workers, but she is also fighting against time.
The minute I read about the “pointing of the brushes�, I wanted to scream, “NO!� Catherine’s story is difficult to read and yet I feel it is necessary to honor her by reading it and continuing her fight. Our society today is once again going through worker vs. corporation upheavals and that makes this a timely inspirational read. I love history, but this story is new to me and now I will never forget it or any of the radium girls.
I highly recommend this historical biographical fiction!
LUMINOUS: The Story of a Radium Girl by Samantha Wilcoxson is an emotionally heartrending historical biographical fiction story that had me grabbing the tissues as the main character’s disease progresses and yet cheering her on as she fights for justice in a time when workers are considered insignificant and easily replaceable to companies in the 1920’s and 30’s. While this is a story where you know what happens to the main character in the end, it is her fighting spirit in the face of her pain that starts to bring awareness to exploitation of all workers in dangerous jobs.
Catherine is excited to get a job at Radium Dial in Ottawa, Illinois. It is the largest and the highest paying company in the city and with this job she will be able to help her aunt and uncle with their bills. It is exacting work painting the glow paint on the dark numerals on watch dials. While the young girls have fun with the glow-in-the dark paint, they do not realize the radium is poisoning them. As her friends begin to get sick and die, Catherine realizes her greatest fear…that the radium paint they use pointing their brushes with their mouths is deadly.
Catherine and her husband face her diagnosis with their faith and love, but they also want justice. Catherine becomes a determined fighter for workers, but she is also fighting against time.
The minute I read about the “pointing of the brushes�, I wanted to scream, “NO!� Catherine’s story is difficult to read and yet I feel it is necessary to honor her by reading it and continuing her fight. Our society today is once again going through worker vs. corporation upheavals and that makes this a timely inspirational read. I love history, but this story is new to me and now I will never forget it or any of the radium girls.
I highly recommend this historical biographical fiction!
September 22, 2023
I had not heard of this story until this novel came to my attention. After I'd finished reading it, I looked up Catherine Donohue and the other 'radium girls' and the fact that one is able to see astonishing and deeply upsetting images really brings it home that this is a true story. I can imagine the author of the novel wondering why it hadn't been told in fiction form before now, when it is a story crying out to be told, and Ms Wilcoxson is to be commended for correcting that omission.
It must have been a difficult problem though: just how to fictionalise it? And where this book succeeds is in conveying the bitter contrast between the normal life Catherine had and the living hell that it became. When I read it, I had no idea of the outcome and because of that, whilst there is a sense of foreboding (we all know not to put radium in our mouths so reading those early sections one felt like shouting out the danger), the depth of the damage done was shocking. All the way through the later chapters I had a sense of anger and sadness at the life lost, the life Catherine could have, should have, had.
The early chapters show vividly the kind of life lived by young people in the prohibition era and I especially loved the little scene outside the pharmacy in which one of Catherine's friends managed to procure a little illicit alcohol. The sense of carefree lives, full of hope and expectation, and of shy romantic encounters were all beautifully done, which only added to the poignancy of the later chapters.
The physical deterioration is portrayed unflinchingly but, as it comes from Catherine's point of view it is not a grim spectacle, because we are not merely gawping, we are discovering what it must have felt like to suffer these horrific symptoms. Catherine has to remind herself, and the reader, that she was still a very young woman.
It is clear that the author has researched every tiny detail of this tragic episode of history, not only with the court papers but even detailing the occasion when the court hearing had to move location to accommodate the physical limitations of the victim.
The use of quotations, either from the victims, the deniers, or the court judgements, at the beginning of each chapter was a good device, serving as a potent reminder that this was real, that it happened, and what a scandal it was.
The entire novel is told from Catherine's point of view and I might have preferred to read parts of it from someone else's, and would have welcomed a little more characterisation of the other girls, to get a better sense of their different personalities as well as the challenges they faced. It's clear that there was a lot of local opposition initially to the legal action from those whose incomes depended on the radium company and perhaps a little more detail of that might have added another layer to the story.
Overall though, a brave and accomplished piece of fiction. I can't say it's an enjoyable read, because of the subject matter, but it is a book that should be read and one which achieves its aim of deeply humanising the story.
The above was Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds (now closed for reviews)
My additional review:
I read Luminous when it was originally submitted to Discovering Diamonds, and was interested to read it again, these few years later, for Coffee and Thorn. It is an emotional - and an appalling read, appalling in the context of the subject, that is!
That this actually happened to the Radium Girls is horrifying, but munitions girls, miners, and so many others in a similar line of work where the dangers were ignored, for women and men, were equally as dreadful. And I assume, in many cases in many countries, still are.
That Catherine Donohue was a real person who endured the consequences of her job, her livelihood, and her strength and determination to expose the truth is even more poignant.
Samantha Wilcoxson's research is excellent, her storytelling equally as good. She brings the utter horror of the suffering and endurance of Catherine and her co-workers to very vivid life. This is not an easy read because of the emotions it stirs - compassion for the girls as their health declined, resentment, even hatred, for those who were equally as determined to keep this enormous outrage quiet.
Being non-religious I did find some of the passages which dwelt on Catherine's need for prayer and spiritual support to be a little slow, but on the other hand the tale is set in the 1920s when Faith and God played a very important role in the majority of people in Christian-based societies through their daily lives. It would have been odd not to have included this side of Catherine's life and suffering.
I agree with the #DDRevs reviewer that I would have liked more from some of the other characters, but there is only so much an author can - and should - do, and Luminous is quite adequately powerful and thought-provoking as it is.
I recommend that you read it.
Helen Hollick
It must have been a difficult problem though: just how to fictionalise it? And where this book succeeds is in conveying the bitter contrast between the normal life Catherine had and the living hell that it became. When I read it, I had no idea of the outcome and because of that, whilst there is a sense of foreboding (we all know not to put radium in our mouths so reading those early sections one felt like shouting out the danger), the depth of the damage done was shocking. All the way through the later chapters I had a sense of anger and sadness at the life lost, the life Catherine could have, should have, had.
The early chapters show vividly the kind of life lived by young people in the prohibition era and I especially loved the little scene outside the pharmacy in which one of Catherine's friends managed to procure a little illicit alcohol. The sense of carefree lives, full of hope and expectation, and of shy romantic encounters were all beautifully done, which only added to the poignancy of the later chapters.
The physical deterioration is portrayed unflinchingly but, as it comes from Catherine's point of view it is not a grim spectacle, because we are not merely gawping, we are discovering what it must have felt like to suffer these horrific symptoms. Catherine has to remind herself, and the reader, that she was still a very young woman.
It is clear that the author has researched every tiny detail of this tragic episode of history, not only with the court papers but even detailing the occasion when the court hearing had to move location to accommodate the physical limitations of the victim.
The use of quotations, either from the victims, the deniers, or the court judgements, at the beginning of each chapter was a good device, serving as a potent reminder that this was real, that it happened, and what a scandal it was.
The entire novel is told from Catherine's point of view and I might have preferred to read parts of it from someone else's, and would have welcomed a little more characterisation of the other girls, to get a better sense of their different personalities as well as the challenges they faced. It's clear that there was a lot of local opposition initially to the legal action from those whose incomes depended on the radium company and perhaps a little more detail of that might have added another layer to the story.
Overall though, a brave and accomplished piece of fiction. I can't say it's an enjoyable read, because of the subject matter, but it is a book that should be read and one which achieves its aim of deeply humanising the story.
The above was Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds (now closed for reviews)
My additional review:
I read Luminous when it was originally submitted to Discovering Diamonds, and was interested to read it again, these few years later, for Coffee and Thorn. It is an emotional - and an appalling read, appalling in the context of the subject, that is!
That this actually happened to the Radium Girls is horrifying, but munitions girls, miners, and so many others in a similar line of work where the dangers were ignored, for women and men, were equally as dreadful. And I assume, in many cases in many countries, still are.
That Catherine Donohue was a real person who endured the consequences of her job, her livelihood, and her strength and determination to expose the truth is even more poignant.
Samantha Wilcoxson's research is excellent, her storytelling equally as good. She brings the utter horror of the suffering and endurance of Catherine and her co-workers to very vivid life. This is not an easy read because of the emotions it stirs - compassion for the girls as their health declined, resentment, even hatred, for those who were equally as determined to keep this enormous outrage quiet.
Being non-religious I did find some of the passages which dwelt on Catherine's need for prayer and spiritual support to be a little slow, but on the other hand the tale is set in the 1920s when Faith and God played a very important role in the majority of people in Christian-based societies through their daily lives. It would have been odd not to have included this side of Catherine's life and suffering.
I agree with the #DDRevs reviewer that I would have liked more from some of the other characters, but there is only so much an author can - and should - do, and Luminous is quite adequately powerful and thought-provoking as it is.
I recommend that you read it.
Helen Hollick
September 13, 2023
I want to start off by saying a big thank you to the author and Coffee and Thorn Book tours for allowing me to read amazing and tragic part of history. I must admit that I ended up buying my own copy almost through the first half. Once I got started reading I couldn’t put this book down. Yes this book took me a little bit longer to finish. But I couldn’t just speed read a book like this. While reading feeling so many emotions that I have never read or heard about these women before. I definitely I will be adding more books from this author to my tbr. I love the writing style. And how the author told Catherine story so beautifully. Now knowing that these weren’t just characters these were women fighting for justice. My heartaches reading Catherine story. How much she fight until the end for her children and for others. I couldn’t imagine how her heart felt being so young and going through all this. And no one believing her and her coworkers. I have deep sympathy for Tom her husband. Not listening to his family about marry Catherine. But always stood by Catherine side until the end. This definitely a book I will always remember and hold close because these women fought. And it’s apart of our history. The part of this book I will hold close. Is Christmas reading Catherine listening to the radio of President Roosevelt and the hymns being sang. It’s almost like I was there watching her laying in bed hoping and praying for miracle. There were so many times I had tears in my eyes reading the worst Catherine got. It broke me. Even when she lost friends of the poison that was killing her slowly.
Now I feel like I must read more and learn more about these beautiful women. Definitely a book favorite of 2023 for me.
Again thank you to the author and coffee and thorns booktours.
Now I feel like I must read more and learn more about these beautiful women. Definitely a book favorite of 2023 for me.
Again thank you to the author and coffee and thorns booktours.
June 8, 2020
Catherine Wolfe was a quiet Catholic girl from Ottawa, Illinois, and raised by her aunt and uncle. But times were tough following the first world war. Her aunt and uncle were elderly, and medical bills piled up. Work was hard to come by for anyone, but especially for a young woman. When a new business opened up in her town, Catherine didn’t want to pass up on the employment opportunity and gratefully, even eagerly, pursued employment. It was a decision that would impact the direction of the rest of her young life.
Catherine looked forward to her daily work at Radium Dial, a company that hired mostly women, and most of them young women, to paint the luminous dials using radium paint for an industry that was booming. The girls were assured repeatedly by the company that the glowing paint was safe. Using their lips to point the tips of their brushes was how a good employee was to perform her duties, and doing so would make her work the best it could be.
Catherine wanted to please her employers. They were a family at Radium Dial, so she pursued her work with vigor and effort. Her attention to detail made her very productive, and the compensation she received for her hours of employment was better than she could have ever dreamed. Making new friends, and ultimately meeting and marrying her husband, Tom, her life stretched before her. Everything was good, happy, and hopeful.
Until her friends started to get sick. Yes, Catherine had a few odd symptoms, but those were easily explained away. Catherine developed a niggling feeling somewhere in her gut that things weren’t right. But Radium Dial assured her and her friends that the paint was safe. They wouldn’t lie to her, would they? And yet, more and more girls developed inexplicable sicknesses. Then they began to die. Doctors refused to put a name to the illness mysteriously plaguing the women. It was coincidence, they said. It was many other things� but it was not � absolutely not � radium poisoning.
Collusion by the powerful and wealthy is hard to overcome, but when Catherine finally became too sick to deny what was happening to her despite the company’s refusal to acknowledge the same truth, her family and friends knew something needed to be done. Her faith had sustained her, her family and friends had helped her, but Catherine needed justice, and justice would take money. A lot of money. What was she to do?
The story of Catherine Donohue is told lovingly and poignantly in Luminous. Readers are drawn along through a story filled with eagerness, hope, faith and friendship, but with the skill I’ve come to expect from Samantha Wilcoxson. As always, her writing tugs at the heart all along the way. I knew how Catherine’s story would end, and yet, I couldn’t help but find myself still hoping it would end differently.
Luminous is a tale of loss and sorrow, joy and pain told with bittersweet attention and care. If you enjoy historical fiction, women’s history, and biography about the lives of the forgotten, this book is for you. It’s time Catherine Donohue’s life is portrayed to the next generation of social justice seekers.
Catherine looked forward to her daily work at Radium Dial, a company that hired mostly women, and most of them young women, to paint the luminous dials using radium paint for an industry that was booming. The girls were assured repeatedly by the company that the glowing paint was safe. Using their lips to point the tips of their brushes was how a good employee was to perform her duties, and doing so would make her work the best it could be.
Catherine wanted to please her employers. They were a family at Radium Dial, so she pursued her work with vigor and effort. Her attention to detail made her very productive, and the compensation she received for her hours of employment was better than she could have ever dreamed. Making new friends, and ultimately meeting and marrying her husband, Tom, her life stretched before her. Everything was good, happy, and hopeful.
Until her friends started to get sick. Yes, Catherine had a few odd symptoms, but those were easily explained away. Catherine developed a niggling feeling somewhere in her gut that things weren’t right. But Radium Dial assured her and her friends that the paint was safe. They wouldn’t lie to her, would they? And yet, more and more girls developed inexplicable sicknesses. Then they began to die. Doctors refused to put a name to the illness mysteriously plaguing the women. It was coincidence, they said. It was many other things� but it was not � absolutely not � radium poisoning.
Collusion by the powerful and wealthy is hard to overcome, but when Catherine finally became too sick to deny what was happening to her despite the company’s refusal to acknowledge the same truth, her family and friends knew something needed to be done. Her faith had sustained her, her family and friends had helped her, but Catherine needed justice, and justice would take money. A lot of money. What was she to do?
The story of Catherine Donohue is told lovingly and poignantly in Luminous. Readers are drawn along through a story filled with eagerness, hope, faith and friendship, but with the skill I’ve come to expect from Samantha Wilcoxson. As always, her writing tugs at the heart all along the way. I knew how Catherine’s story would end, and yet, I couldn’t help but find myself still hoping it would end differently.
Luminous is a tale of loss and sorrow, joy and pain told with bittersweet attention and care. If you enjoy historical fiction, women’s history, and biography about the lives of the forgotten, this book is for you. It’s time Catherine Donohue’s life is portrayed to the next generation of social justice seekers.
November 29, 2020
A superb book which had me angry, sad, incensed at people's financial greed at the expense of women's lives and their families! A straight 5*! Not only worth it,you have to read this book about the radium girls fighting till the very end of their young lives!
September 20, 2023
Reviewing this as part of Coffee and Thorn Book Tours. My reviews are guaranteed to be honest. My ratings are based on how much the book resonated with me.
My brother had a phase in his life when he lamented that we are all living dead people. Well, I did not expect to find that phrase reflected so chillingly here.
A story about a historical topic I had no idea about. Luminous presents the fight of women who were employed by radium dial paint companies
I read that the women painting dials were instructed to lick their paintbrush tips while painting the numbers on the dials. They were not warned about dangers and did not suspect problems until they began to suffer severe symptoms. The tragedy is that for its time, this work was well-paid skilled labour available for women, and could even be considered patriotic contribution to WWI effort. They painted watch dials for soldiers and instrument panels for military equipment—all glowing in the dark.
The story focuses on Catherine Donahue, a strong and compassionate woman who joins Radium Dial to support her family. The book paints a fairly idyllic picture at first, but as the consequences of radium exposure become evident, it takes a chilling turn.
Catherine lives with her Uncle and Aunt and tries to come up with a way to help them financially � she finds the ad for Radium Dial and enrols nearly immediately. It’s sad how that’s pretty much her only option. She is told lies about radium and though initially work and camaraderie are as I described � quite idyllic and Catherine meets the love of her life � things begin to change drastically very soon. First, they are but distant echoes but materialise into something truly hard hitting the closer to home things start happening.
In the midst of this Catherine enjoys a truly heartwarming happiness with her husband Tom and their kids. All those early moments , falling in love, hopes and plans, and warm moments are written with such endearing charm that it makes me want to revisit them.
Catherine's bond with Tom, is a highlight of the story, showcasing unwavering support in challenging times.They enjoy the kind of strong bond one can be jealous of. It was truly something I fell in love with in the book. The stalwart, unbreakable support was something to treasure throughout the pages. Catherine made significant observations that I strongly agreed with about how such everyday things, the love and support you get, especially in small, subtle everyday ways, shouldn’t be taken for granted. But even more so the love that comes when the going really gets hard, as it most definitely did for Catherine,Tom and their children.
Their faith plays a significant role in their lives and keeps them resilient. I am usually wary of religious worship in books, because sometimes it’s too preachy, but Catherine and her husband are presented from the start as having strong faith, it’s part of who they are, and maybe part of the community they live in, with a simpler way of life. But faith keeps them fighting.
This small community they are part of has its dark side, as few believe Catherine's fight against Radium Dial, most are against it considering it's a major source of employment. This kind of desperation is what really got to me. Tom and Catherine count their blessings among all this, their life is fortunate - they start out with no mortgage, a meager life but blessed with love and joy. And even when things take a turn for the worse, they find their silver linings and their love is like a beacon. In a sense this bittersweetness is amazing - radium helped them meet, radium forces them to say goodbye.There's a scene in which Catherine says something to the effect that she at least wanted to look like a glowing angel for her husband, because that's the final thing she'd be able to do to show she loves him. That really hit me hard.
The writing is simple yet effectively conveys the contrast between the idyllic beginning and the chilling reality that unfolds under the surface and creeps on its victims when their lives are at their high points. Each chapter is preceded by telling quotes that reflect the developments. She shows how far reaching the consequences of radium were and even more so � how steep was the price for naivety at the hands of a company with no integrity. Naivety, but also unnerving lack of viable employment choices.
The girls keep working happily despite the distant echoes that not all may be well. It’s chilling to see how the mood gradually changes as they start to see their suspicions are true and their fears come to pass as the illness starts claiming more and more of them. It’s chilling how desperation to keep a job leads them to the horrors they have to live through. It’s chilling to see the first victim experience the effects of radium poisoning. Catherine reflects how lonely and terrifying that must have felt. It's chilling how even doctors tell them there is no such thing as radium poisoning. Tom and Catherine have every reason to be furious because they know their life, the life they'd live with love, has been stolen from them.
The gradual change in mood and the desperation to keep their jobs,and the impact of radium poisoning are unsettling, with Catherine's love providing some comfort amidst the grief.
Catherine is half-prepared for what’s to come as a "living dead woman", she fights for her family, but even in all the grief the love she has is comforting. It kind of cushions the impact for the reader, but at the same time makes it even more hard-hitting because for such people, you want a happy ending and yet it's one that cannot come in this case. There is a particularly heartbreaking scene in the courtroom when all emotions spill out. It's devastating and doesn't leave you indifferent. And yet, Catherine and Tom keep the love and the fight until the end, against the odds.
They are fictionalised but they were real people and I’m, glad the writer decided to write the book the way she did, because she created emotional attachment to characters and through that � the story resonates more strongly with me. And chills me more. I also appreciate she picked up a topic I had no knowledge of and also showed the resolve of these women. And the meaning of simple happiness, where love is true, despite the odds. I believe in these things.
However, I also think it would be interesting to write the novel from the perspective of the Reeds, the company owners, the lawyers defending them. The novel creates emotional attachment and successfully conveys the sense of dread that unfolds for good people, good people you want happy. . But I think I'd like to read this story from the side of the Reeds- could be interesting. How did all this affect them when they hid the medical results, when they kept lying? The grey morality here would be interesting to explore. There's potential there.
My brother had a phase in his life when he lamented that we are all living dead people. Well, I did not expect to find that phrase reflected so chillingly here.
A story about a historical topic I had no idea about. Luminous presents the fight of women who were employed by radium dial paint companies
I read that the women painting dials were instructed to lick their paintbrush tips while painting the numbers on the dials. They were not warned about dangers and did not suspect problems until they began to suffer severe symptoms. The tragedy is that for its time, this work was well-paid skilled labour available for women, and could even be considered patriotic contribution to WWI effort. They painted watch dials for soldiers and instrument panels for military equipment—all glowing in the dark.
The story focuses on Catherine Donahue, a strong and compassionate woman who joins Radium Dial to support her family. The book paints a fairly idyllic picture at first, but as the consequences of radium exposure become evident, it takes a chilling turn.
Catherine lives with her Uncle and Aunt and tries to come up with a way to help them financially � she finds the ad for Radium Dial and enrols nearly immediately. It’s sad how that’s pretty much her only option. She is told lies about radium and though initially work and camaraderie are as I described � quite idyllic and Catherine meets the love of her life � things begin to change drastically very soon. First, they are but distant echoes but materialise into something truly hard hitting the closer to home things start happening.
In the midst of this Catherine enjoys a truly heartwarming happiness with her husband Tom and their kids. All those early moments , falling in love, hopes and plans, and warm moments are written with such endearing charm that it makes me want to revisit them.
Catherine's bond with Tom, is a highlight of the story, showcasing unwavering support in challenging times.They enjoy the kind of strong bond one can be jealous of. It was truly something I fell in love with in the book. The stalwart, unbreakable support was something to treasure throughout the pages. Catherine made significant observations that I strongly agreed with about how such everyday things, the love and support you get, especially in small, subtle everyday ways, shouldn’t be taken for granted. But even more so the love that comes when the going really gets hard, as it most definitely did for Catherine,Tom and their children.
Their faith plays a significant role in their lives and keeps them resilient. I am usually wary of religious worship in books, because sometimes it’s too preachy, but Catherine and her husband are presented from the start as having strong faith, it’s part of who they are, and maybe part of the community they live in, with a simpler way of life. But faith keeps them fighting.
This small community they are part of has its dark side, as few believe Catherine's fight against Radium Dial, most are against it considering it's a major source of employment. This kind of desperation is what really got to me. Tom and Catherine count their blessings among all this, their life is fortunate - they start out with no mortgage, a meager life but blessed with love and joy. And even when things take a turn for the worse, they find their silver linings and their love is like a beacon. In a sense this bittersweetness is amazing - radium helped them meet, radium forces them to say goodbye.There's a scene in which Catherine says something to the effect that she at least wanted to look like a glowing angel for her husband, because that's the final thing she'd be able to do to show she loves him. That really hit me hard.
The writing is simple yet effectively conveys the contrast between the idyllic beginning and the chilling reality that unfolds under the surface and creeps on its victims when their lives are at their high points. Each chapter is preceded by telling quotes that reflect the developments. She shows how far reaching the consequences of radium were and even more so � how steep was the price for naivety at the hands of a company with no integrity. Naivety, but also unnerving lack of viable employment choices.
The girls keep working happily despite the distant echoes that not all may be well. It’s chilling to see how the mood gradually changes as they start to see their suspicions are true and their fears come to pass as the illness starts claiming more and more of them. It’s chilling how desperation to keep a job leads them to the horrors they have to live through. It’s chilling to see the first victim experience the effects of radium poisoning. Catherine reflects how lonely and terrifying that must have felt. It's chilling how even doctors tell them there is no such thing as radium poisoning. Tom and Catherine have every reason to be furious because they know their life, the life they'd live with love, has been stolen from them.
The gradual change in mood and the desperation to keep their jobs,and the impact of radium poisoning are unsettling, with Catherine's love providing some comfort amidst the grief.
Catherine is half-prepared for what’s to come as a "living dead woman", she fights for her family, but even in all the grief the love she has is comforting. It kind of cushions the impact for the reader, but at the same time makes it even more hard-hitting because for such people, you want a happy ending and yet it's one that cannot come in this case. There is a particularly heartbreaking scene in the courtroom when all emotions spill out. It's devastating and doesn't leave you indifferent. And yet, Catherine and Tom keep the love and the fight until the end, against the odds.
They are fictionalised but they were real people and I’m, glad the writer decided to write the book the way she did, because she created emotional attachment to characters and through that � the story resonates more strongly with me. And chills me more. I also appreciate she picked up a topic I had no knowledge of and also showed the resolve of these women. And the meaning of simple happiness, where love is true, despite the odds. I believe in these things.
However, I also think it would be interesting to write the novel from the perspective of the Reeds, the company owners, the lawyers defending them. The novel creates emotional attachment and successfully conveys the sense of dread that unfolds for good people, good people you want happy. . But I think I'd like to read this story from the side of the Reeds- could be interesting. How did all this affect them when they hid the medical results, when they kept lying? The grey morality here would be interesting to explore. There's potential there.
July 7, 2023
Luminous: The Story of a Radium Girl by Samantha Wilcoxson
Reviewed By: Sara Hailstone
Content Warning: (Death and Radium Poisoning)
Samantha Wilcoxson offers a raw and confronting testimony for the women of Ottawa, Illinois in the early 20th century who are remembered as the ‘radium girls� in her novel, Luminous. These women were hired by Radium Dial, a company that made luminous watches and instrument dials with glowing numbers hand-painted with radium. The ‘radium girls� would dip their paint brushes into a radium mixture and pin-pointed the tip of the brush in pursed lips to ensure the most accurate edge for painting numbers. The radium mixture illuminated their bodily surfaces, gave off a sparkle that projected a glow, or dew of life. Some even painted their nails with it. When Wilcoxson’s main character, 19-year-old Catherine Donohue is hired on with the company, she anticipates financial security for her family, but the reader is aware of the drastic turn-of-events that working so closely with the radium will have on her. There is an embedded foreboding in the text that functions emotionally with real-world events of those women who had unknowingly worked in an environment of consequential radium poisoning.
Slowly the women get sick. Amongst a youthful desire of going out, courting and getting their hands on some alcohol during prohibition, these young women are becoming ill. Their teeth fall out, they get sores in their mouths and Catherine herself develops a limp in an aching hip joint. The reader has no choice but to walk a road with these women trying to earn a dollar and knowing that at the end of this road is eventual demise. After a New Jersey radium company is brought to court by its workers, information starts to slowly leak in that the cause of these inexplainable illnesses is the radium.
However, the doctors are not in a position of authority and mentality to truthfully help the women. They examine them in the workplace and do not share test results. They also will not admit that the women are suffering from radium poisoning. The women face a barrier of denial and authority in the face of capitalism. Radium Dial has the upper hand.
In the wake of an era between two world wars, worker rights and a tidal wave of social justice is emerging. Catherine Donohue becomes the figurehead of this fight. She marries Thomas Donohue in 1932 and the ideal of a world of family life and children stretch out before her. Despite her increasingly agonizing limp, she gives birth to two children, a boy and a girl. The reader knows the life she could have and the life that she won’t, and being caught in this painful hook of knowing is what makes Samantha Wilcoxson known for, emotive historical fiction.
Samantha Wilcoxson has written the Plantagenet Embers series specializing in The Tudors and The War of the Roses. Luminous is Wilcoxson’s first presentation of 20th century American history. With personal connections to the city of Ottawa, Illinois, Wilcoxson was haunted by the confrontation with the history of Radium Dial and the women who worked there. She is an American writer with British heritage. A mother, she spends her time reading and enjoying lakeside views. Her current work is James Alexander Hamilton: Son of the America Revolution that will be published with Pen & Sword History.
Her personal links are:
Samantha’s Blog:
Samantha on Social Media:
Facebook:
Twitter:
Instagram:
Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ: /samanthajw
Luminous achieved the Book of the Year for 2021 at Ruins and Reading! I am confident there are more accolades on the way!
The fact that Wilcoxson has based this fictional account on real events makes Luminous even more evocative and a necessary text of creative witnessing. Each chapter is mast-headed with a historical quotation that serve as tombstones of reflection and pause for the reader as Catherine’s life unfolds.
And, Catherine was a real person. She was born in Ottawa, Illinois and she did paint a radium mixture onto dials. She did so to pay for her Aunt’s medical bills. Catherine is remembered for bringing a class action suit against Radium Dial later after they had let her go because her limp and decomposing condition caused concern amongst the other women. She came together with three other previous workers and fought for damages for medical expenses. Language was not in place yet for worker’s rights or social justice. The company was made responsible by the courts for the health of their employees. The company tried to appeal the case through the Supreme Court system and were denied. But by the time damages were paid out, the company had shifted names and loop-holed the system to pay out their ill employees with little funds. Catherine had kept newspaper clippings during the proceedings that were made into a scrapbook that was passed on down to family and finally donated to Northwestern University. She is archive and fiction.
There is also a theatre piece based on Catherine’s story and the women who worked at Radium Dial. These Shining Lives was written by Melanie Marnich that premiered in 2008. It would have been inspiring, if possible, if Wilcoxson threaded in quotations from the play. Wilcoxson’s novel is told entirely from Catherine’s narrative point-of-view. When she dies, the reader must journey with her to this space also. Creatively and commanding a writer’s license, some readers might not be able to go there. Bridging other narrative viewpoints like her husband Tom’s might have helped reinforce the plot-line.
Luminous stays with you. The novel will haunt you. You will be left with the truthful reality that Catherine is buried in a lead-lined coffin, encased in concrete. Her poisoned body, still glowing. Perhaps her memory finds reprieve in the only space powerful enough to achieve redemption, emotive historical fiction. A woman who became an early pioneer of social justice, I highly recommend this novel. I will let Catherine have the last words, “It’s too late for me, but maybe it will help some of the others.�
Reviewed By: Sara Hailstone
Content Warning: (Death and Radium Poisoning)
Samantha Wilcoxson offers a raw and confronting testimony for the women of Ottawa, Illinois in the early 20th century who are remembered as the ‘radium girls� in her novel, Luminous. These women were hired by Radium Dial, a company that made luminous watches and instrument dials with glowing numbers hand-painted with radium. The ‘radium girls� would dip their paint brushes into a radium mixture and pin-pointed the tip of the brush in pursed lips to ensure the most accurate edge for painting numbers. The radium mixture illuminated their bodily surfaces, gave off a sparkle that projected a glow, or dew of life. Some even painted their nails with it. When Wilcoxson’s main character, 19-year-old Catherine Donohue is hired on with the company, she anticipates financial security for her family, but the reader is aware of the drastic turn-of-events that working so closely with the radium will have on her. There is an embedded foreboding in the text that functions emotionally with real-world events of those women who had unknowingly worked in an environment of consequential radium poisoning.
Slowly the women get sick. Amongst a youthful desire of going out, courting and getting their hands on some alcohol during prohibition, these young women are becoming ill. Their teeth fall out, they get sores in their mouths and Catherine herself develops a limp in an aching hip joint. The reader has no choice but to walk a road with these women trying to earn a dollar and knowing that at the end of this road is eventual demise. After a New Jersey radium company is brought to court by its workers, information starts to slowly leak in that the cause of these inexplainable illnesses is the radium.
However, the doctors are not in a position of authority and mentality to truthfully help the women. They examine them in the workplace and do not share test results. They also will not admit that the women are suffering from radium poisoning. The women face a barrier of denial and authority in the face of capitalism. Radium Dial has the upper hand.
In the wake of an era between two world wars, worker rights and a tidal wave of social justice is emerging. Catherine Donohue becomes the figurehead of this fight. She marries Thomas Donohue in 1932 and the ideal of a world of family life and children stretch out before her. Despite her increasingly agonizing limp, she gives birth to two children, a boy and a girl. The reader knows the life she could have and the life that she won’t, and being caught in this painful hook of knowing is what makes Samantha Wilcoxson known for, emotive historical fiction.
Samantha Wilcoxson has written the Plantagenet Embers series specializing in The Tudors and The War of the Roses. Luminous is Wilcoxson’s first presentation of 20th century American history. With personal connections to the city of Ottawa, Illinois, Wilcoxson was haunted by the confrontation with the history of Radium Dial and the women who worked there. She is an American writer with British heritage. A mother, she spends her time reading and enjoying lakeside views. Her current work is James Alexander Hamilton: Son of the America Revolution that will be published with Pen & Sword History.
Her personal links are:
Samantha’s Blog:
Samantha on Social Media:
Facebook:
Twitter:
Instagram:
Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ: /samanthajw
Luminous achieved the Book of the Year for 2021 at Ruins and Reading! I am confident there are more accolades on the way!
The fact that Wilcoxson has based this fictional account on real events makes Luminous even more evocative and a necessary text of creative witnessing. Each chapter is mast-headed with a historical quotation that serve as tombstones of reflection and pause for the reader as Catherine’s life unfolds.
And, Catherine was a real person. She was born in Ottawa, Illinois and she did paint a radium mixture onto dials. She did so to pay for her Aunt’s medical bills. Catherine is remembered for bringing a class action suit against Radium Dial later after they had let her go because her limp and decomposing condition caused concern amongst the other women. She came together with three other previous workers and fought for damages for medical expenses. Language was not in place yet for worker’s rights or social justice. The company was made responsible by the courts for the health of their employees. The company tried to appeal the case through the Supreme Court system and were denied. But by the time damages were paid out, the company had shifted names and loop-holed the system to pay out their ill employees with little funds. Catherine had kept newspaper clippings during the proceedings that were made into a scrapbook that was passed on down to family and finally donated to Northwestern University. She is archive and fiction.
There is also a theatre piece based on Catherine’s story and the women who worked at Radium Dial. These Shining Lives was written by Melanie Marnich that premiered in 2008. It would have been inspiring, if possible, if Wilcoxson threaded in quotations from the play. Wilcoxson’s novel is told entirely from Catherine’s narrative point-of-view. When she dies, the reader must journey with her to this space also. Creatively and commanding a writer’s license, some readers might not be able to go there. Bridging other narrative viewpoints like her husband Tom’s might have helped reinforce the plot-line.
Luminous stays with you. The novel will haunt you. You will be left with the truthful reality that Catherine is buried in a lead-lined coffin, encased in concrete. Her poisoned body, still glowing. Perhaps her memory finds reprieve in the only space powerful enough to achieve redemption, emotive historical fiction. A woman who became an early pioneer of social justice, I highly recommend this novel. I will let Catherine have the last words, “It’s too late for me, but maybe it will help some of the others.�
August 14, 2023
'Tis strange - but true; for truth is always strange; Stranger than fiction; if it could be told, How much would novels gain by the exchange!' (Lord Byron's Don Juan (1823))
Luminous is story so powerful that it really leaves its mark. Compelling and compassionately told, this is a true David vs Goliath tale in that it tells the true story of a fight for justice against a most belligerent and heartless company who ignored and undervalued its female workforce at every possible step.
Told from Catherine Donahue's viewpoint, the story begins in the Prohibition era and follows her life from very humble beginnings in Ottawa, Illinois to the Supreme Court as she becomes the face of the Radium girls.
At the outset, hers is an ordinary life, until she gets a job at Radium Dial and discovers a new world of independence and new friendships that will last a lifetime, though for some, lives are much shorter than one might expect.
The job involves dipping brushes into the radium mixture then using their mouths to create a pointed head in order to create a very fine line with which to paint the clock dials. Catherine and her co-workers think nothing of doing this, having been instructed so by their managers, who they trust implicitly - after all, if it was unsafe, then such a procedure wouldn't be allowed. Would it?
Time passes and Catherine is happy in her work, as are her friends who are now having fun with the "sparkling" after-effects of the fine dust that circulates in the factory and coats their clothes and hair. Life is good.
However, other after-effects begin to manifest themselves and the girls experience loose teeth and mouth sores, which are quickly dismissed as caused by external factors unrelated to the radium. When the company suggests the girl try a different approach to create that fine line with which to paint the dials, eyebrows are raised, especially when there seems to be no reason forthcoming for this change. and when this approach slows the girls down and they ask if they can revert to the old process, the company does not object.
By now, serious health issues are becoming more common, and there are stories of young women who had worked in the radium factories dying. When Catherine herself begins to feel ill, she asks for reassurance, especially since news of a case against a similar company in New Jersey goes to court. Radium Dial brings in doctors to check the girls out and are quick to allay their fears, insisting that radium is not the cause of any of their health concerns. Relief all round!
Except, that wasn't true, and it becomes highly apparent that the radium company is holding back information. But they're not alone in this as many others in power prefer to ignore the facts because the company has brought employment to the area. As is often the case, money is power, and the health - or rather the lives - of these young women is disregarded in favour of profit.
Catherine's health deteriorates rapidly, and she seeks medical advice elsewhere, advice which clarifies to her that radium poisoning is a very real thing. Yet who will listen? It seems as though these women have been side-lined to oblivion. Not an outcome Catherine can tolerate; she is determined to raise awareness nationally of the suffering she and her friends are now forced to endure. Even finding a lawyer prepared to help is nigh on impossible, and it takes time and someone special to present their case in the many law courts through which they must pass to get justice.
Luminous is beautifully written, so much so that you cannot help but be swept along with Catherine as she transforms from a sweet, naive teenager to a strong independent young woman, becoming a wife and mother, all while battling her own health issues and seeing her friends suffer and die. Their stories are told with compassion and sensitivity. Yet, running along these tender life stories is the story of ruthless companies who fail their workforce while trying to appear to be looking after them. Neglect is one thing, but covering up the truth, distorting the facts, and denying the consequences of their demands upon their staff is something altogether more evil (though, unfortunately, not a lesson that some appeared to have learned since then!)You cannot help but admire and be impressed by the strength of those women, but also to feel and sense of dismay and contempt for those who put them in danger and then went on to turn a blind eye to the consequences.
A story that will break your heart and infuriate you in equal measures, but which will leave you with an overwhelming sense of admiration for the Radium girls, and those who fought back for those who died and for a future where health and safety concerns would be taken more seriously.
Luminous is story so powerful that it really leaves its mark. Compelling and compassionately told, this is a true David vs Goliath tale in that it tells the true story of a fight for justice against a most belligerent and heartless company who ignored and undervalued its female workforce at every possible step.
Told from Catherine Donahue's viewpoint, the story begins in the Prohibition era and follows her life from very humble beginnings in Ottawa, Illinois to the Supreme Court as she becomes the face of the Radium girls.
At the outset, hers is an ordinary life, until she gets a job at Radium Dial and discovers a new world of independence and new friendships that will last a lifetime, though for some, lives are much shorter than one might expect.
The job involves dipping brushes into the radium mixture then using their mouths to create a pointed head in order to create a very fine line with which to paint the clock dials. Catherine and her co-workers think nothing of doing this, having been instructed so by their managers, who they trust implicitly - after all, if it was unsafe, then such a procedure wouldn't be allowed. Would it?
Time passes and Catherine is happy in her work, as are her friends who are now having fun with the "sparkling" after-effects of the fine dust that circulates in the factory and coats their clothes and hair. Life is good.
However, other after-effects begin to manifest themselves and the girls experience loose teeth and mouth sores, which are quickly dismissed as caused by external factors unrelated to the radium. When the company suggests the girl try a different approach to create that fine line with which to paint the dials, eyebrows are raised, especially when there seems to be no reason forthcoming for this change. and when this approach slows the girls down and they ask if they can revert to the old process, the company does not object.
By now, serious health issues are becoming more common, and there are stories of young women who had worked in the radium factories dying. When Catherine herself begins to feel ill, she asks for reassurance, especially since news of a case against a similar company in New Jersey goes to court. Radium Dial brings in doctors to check the girls out and are quick to allay their fears, insisting that radium is not the cause of any of their health concerns. Relief all round!
Except, that wasn't true, and it becomes highly apparent that the radium company is holding back information. But they're not alone in this as many others in power prefer to ignore the facts because the company has brought employment to the area. As is often the case, money is power, and the health - or rather the lives - of these young women is disregarded in favour of profit.
Catherine's health deteriorates rapidly, and she seeks medical advice elsewhere, advice which clarifies to her that radium poisoning is a very real thing. Yet who will listen? It seems as though these women have been side-lined to oblivion. Not an outcome Catherine can tolerate; she is determined to raise awareness nationally of the suffering she and her friends are now forced to endure. Even finding a lawyer prepared to help is nigh on impossible, and it takes time and someone special to present their case in the many law courts through which they must pass to get justice.
Luminous is beautifully written, so much so that you cannot help but be swept along with Catherine as she transforms from a sweet, naive teenager to a strong independent young woman, becoming a wife and mother, all while battling her own health issues and seeing her friends suffer and die. Their stories are told with compassion and sensitivity. Yet, running along these tender life stories is the story of ruthless companies who fail their workforce while trying to appear to be looking after them. Neglect is one thing, but covering up the truth, distorting the facts, and denying the consequences of their demands upon their staff is something altogether more evil (though, unfortunately, not a lesson that some appeared to have learned since then!)You cannot help but admire and be impressed by the strength of those women, but also to feel and sense of dismay and contempt for those who put them in danger and then went on to turn a blind eye to the consequences.
A story that will break your heart and infuriate you in equal measures, but which will leave you with an overwhelming sense of admiration for the Radium girls, and those who fought back for those who died and for a future where health and safety concerns would be taken more seriously.
September 22, 2023
Luminous: The Story of a Radium Girl by Samantha Wilcoxson has left an indelible mark on my heart and mind, evoking unexpected emotions throughout my reading. This fictionalized account of the Radium Girls is a powerful narrative that delves into the darkest depths of corporate greed, juxtaposed with the enduring spirit of its protagonist, Catherine Donohue.
Immersed in Catherine's harrowing ordeal, I couldn't help but feel a profound connection with her. Wilcoxson masterfully infuses humanity into a tale marred by inhumanity, creating a character one longs to comfort and protect. Hours after completing the book, anger simmers at the inhumane treatment of human lives for the sake of profit.
Wilcoxson has breathed life into a compelling character—a champion who never wavered until justice was served. Catherine's initial excitement about her employment with Radium Dial as a Watch Dial Painter, a source of financial support for her family, is a poignant reminder of the innocence that would be shattered when she picked up that fateful radium-laden brush, condemning her to a life of perpetual glow and suffering, innocently believing her employer had her best interest at heart.
The atrocities committed by Radium Dial, their willful blindness to the dangers, and their denial of liability even as their employees succumbed to gruesome fates are chilling revelations. Yet, amidst the darkness, the story weaves themes of love, family, and friendship with delicate precision, often overshadowing Catherine's pain. Her husband's unwavering love, their resilient children born from Catherine's lithium-tainted body, and the loyal friends who fought alongside her all contribute to a multifaceted narrative.
Luminous is a story that will forever resonate with me, serving as a stark reminder of corporate America's relentless pursuit of profit at the expense of precious human lives. Samantha Wilcoxson's narrative skillfully combines the elements of tragedy, resilience, and the enduring human spirit, making it a story impossible to forget.
Immersed in Catherine's harrowing ordeal, I couldn't help but feel a profound connection with her. Wilcoxson masterfully infuses humanity into a tale marred by inhumanity, creating a character one longs to comfort and protect. Hours after completing the book, anger simmers at the inhumane treatment of human lives for the sake of profit.
Wilcoxson has breathed life into a compelling character—a champion who never wavered until justice was served. Catherine's initial excitement about her employment with Radium Dial as a Watch Dial Painter, a source of financial support for her family, is a poignant reminder of the innocence that would be shattered when she picked up that fateful radium-laden brush, condemning her to a life of perpetual glow and suffering, innocently believing her employer had her best interest at heart.
The atrocities committed by Radium Dial, their willful blindness to the dangers, and their denial of liability even as their employees succumbed to gruesome fates are chilling revelations. Yet, amidst the darkness, the story weaves themes of love, family, and friendship with delicate precision, often overshadowing Catherine's pain. Her husband's unwavering love, their resilient children born from Catherine's lithium-tainted body, and the loyal friends who fought alongside her all contribute to a multifaceted narrative.
Luminous is a story that will forever resonate with me, serving as a stark reminder of corporate America's relentless pursuit of profit at the expense of precious human lives. Samantha Wilcoxson's narrative skillfully combines the elements of tragedy, resilience, and the enduring human spirit, making it a story impossible to forget.
November 14, 2020
Samantha Wilcoxson’s novel Luminous is more than just an emotional rollercoaster ride. It is a tearjerker, that tells a tale of a fate so devastating that simply turning the pages will hurt. And it is based on a true story.
A history, that should not be forgotten. A history, that may repeat itself if we’re not careful.
Luminous retells the story of the Radium Girls. Wilcoxson researched her story with tremendous attention to detail and painted the heartbreaking story of a woman that was so very delicate and frail but at the same time tremendously strong.
Whereas the first half of the book proves to be a fairly easy read, I can only recommend having an endless supply of tissues at hand for what is to come. The cruelty of mankind is endless. Capitalism is a man-made monster.
Catherine Donohue, who is the main protagonist, along with her friends Charlotte and Pearl and other former factory workers fight a David vs Goliath-like fight that at times reminds of Don Quichotte’s war against windmills. Doctors are afraid to give the correct diagnosis, pieces of evidence disappear, worker rights do not exist, treated as outcasts in their hometown. How does one win a war like that when one is simultaneously fighting against time?
This is a gripping read, a story that needs to be known. That deserves to be heard.
A history, that should not be forgotten. A history, that may repeat itself if we’re not careful.
Luminous retells the story of the Radium Girls. Wilcoxson researched her story with tremendous attention to detail and painted the heartbreaking story of a woman that was so very delicate and frail but at the same time tremendously strong.
Whereas the first half of the book proves to be a fairly easy read, I can only recommend having an endless supply of tissues at hand for what is to come. The cruelty of mankind is endless. Capitalism is a man-made monster.
Catherine Donohue, who is the main protagonist, along with her friends Charlotte and Pearl and other former factory workers fight a David vs Goliath-like fight that at times reminds of Don Quichotte’s war against windmills. Doctors are afraid to give the correct diagnosis, pieces of evidence disappear, worker rights do not exist, treated as outcasts in their hometown. How does one win a war like that when one is simultaneously fighting against time?
This is a gripping read, a story that needs to be known. That deserves to be heard.
May 1, 2022
I found this book really disappointing. I have heard about the radium girls before, and hoped I would enjoy it, but it felt as though there was a lot more about Christianity and faith than radium in it. The effects of radium and the court case feel more like a backdrop to a schmaltzy Christian romance novel, rather than the focus of the book.
I found it really difficult to care about the characters as they felt quite flat and two dimensional. By the end few chapters I just wanted it to be finished!
It really wasn't my cup of tea at all, although if you enjoyed shows like 'Highway To Heaven', you might like it.
I found it really difficult to care about the characters as they felt quite flat and two dimensional. By the end few chapters I just wanted it to be finished!
It really wasn't my cup of tea at all, although if you enjoyed shows like 'Highway To Heaven', you might like it.
September 22, 2023
Luminous, by Samantha Wilcoxson, started as a quandary for me. It’s a very interesting story, which is why I wanted to read it, but for the first third I couldn’t quite connect with the story and characters. The dialogue seemed stilted and overly religious, and the writing style just didn’t sing. The main character, putting the radium-dipped brush to her lips, initially put me. I mentally cried out, “no, don’t do that!� and perhaps that reaction shaped my reading of the next few chapters.
I settled into the second third of the story, accustomed to the slower style and the author’s depiction of time passing. As I read, I became more at home with the dialogue, ready to accept the hints of underlying tension.
By the final third, I was hooked. Here was the drama, emotion, and action. Here were the pivotal scenes I’d yearned for in this important retelling of a woman’s fight to be heard. There were tears (mine) and anger (mine again) at the mistreatment, and concern at the effects of such disregard in the face of profit (past, present, and future).
Luminous is well-researched and has a measured pace. It fits well into the social and economic times of the 1930s. Wilcoxson addresses the different mentality of society; the unwillingness to cause trouble in the face of job loss and the disregard given by employers and doctors to women’s health and well-being.
I received a free copy of this novel with a request for an honest review.
I settled into the second third of the story, accustomed to the slower style and the author’s depiction of time passing. As I read, I became more at home with the dialogue, ready to accept the hints of underlying tension.
By the final third, I was hooked. Here was the drama, emotion, and action. Here were the pivotal scenes I’d yearned for in this important retelling of a woman’s fight to be heard. There were tears (mine) and anger (mine again) at the mistreatment, and concern at the effects of such disregard in the face of profit (past, present, and future).
Luminous is well-researched and has a measured pace. It fits well into the social and economic times of the 1930s. Wilcoxson addresses the different mentality of society; the unwillingness to cause trouble in the face of job loss and the disregard given by employers and doctors to women’s health and well-being.
I received a free copy of this novel with a request for an honest review.
August 8, 2021
I read this book a few months ago, but have only now come round to writing a review. It's a moving, heartbreaking story that stays with you, and you'll see why.
Catherine is an ordinary girl, living with her aunt and uncle in their own small house in Ottawa, Illinois. Theirs is a humble background, and once she's old enough, Catherine seeks employment to help with the household costs.
When Radium Dial, a company producing illuminated clocks, opens in town in 1922, Catherine, then aged 19, applies and is soon hired, together with many other young women. Theirs is regarded as skilled work, and the pay is above average. Everyone is excited.
The girls are shown how to dip their paint brushes into the radium mixture, then, to ensure an even, thin paint job on the dials, they had to hold the tip of the brush to their pursed lips to make the tip as pointy as possible. The overseer tells them it's all safe, of course, and the manager brushes off any questions with light jokes.
As the years go by, we follow Catherine's working and social life. She is content. Evenings are often spent with friends, listening to music or chatting, having a relaxed drink now and then. Meeting boys. The ordinary life of a young woman.
Their workplace is soon covered in a find dust, which makes their hair and clothes sparkle. Some paint their nails with the exciting new mixture, delighted to see how they glow in the dark.
But it is after a few years that the first of her friends and acquaintances begin to suffer. Their teeth are falling out and their mouths are filled with ulcers; they suffer fevers and severe weight loss, and often they miscarry. Some develop fast-growing tumours. But causes are noted as TB or cancer, and no doctor in town dares to link their deaths to radium.
As young women die, and Catherine starts to feel unwell, the first doubts creep in. When, in 1928, the case of five women against a radium company in New Jersey goes to court, people begin to talk, but still Radium Dial insist their product is perfectly safe. Everyone is relieved.
As one of the biggest employers in town, the company has the support from the mayor and all the local doctors who refuse to see the correlation between the girls as one after the other develops symptoms. Some die a very painful death, and their bodies are buried swiftly, but still no one speaks up. This is a sad indictment of how money and power can lead to deaths of workers with tacit approval from local government. Money talks.
Catherine marries her husband, Thomas Donohue, in 1932, and soon gives birth to two children, a boy and a girl, despite her declining health. By that time, she'd been ’let go� by Radium Dial as her limp worried other women working there. Her condition worsening, she is soon unable to care for her children, something that must have left her heartbroken.
As her health declines, she and her husband seek help from doctors further afield. Some agree it might be radium, but still no one wants to blame the company. Eventually, after many years, she finds a lawyer, Leonard Grossman from Chicago, who is prepared to forego a fee in order to raise awareness of Radium Dial's diabolical practices. At times, even he loses faith in the legal system, as Radium Dial appeal against every decision. Until they are finally denied by the Supreme Court and ordered to pay reparations.
Sadly, Catherine died before receiving any payments, and as the company had moved their assets to a different branch, the payout was pitiful, not even remotely covering the cost of her healthcare which had seen Tom and Catherine take on a mortgage against the house she'd inherited from her aunt and uncle.
But as a result of her brave persistence, the case raised awareness of the dangers of radium, and of exploitation of workers by greedy corporations to the detriment of their health. Soon after, the first workers rights laws were introduced.
In taking us through Catherine's pitifully short life full of pain, Ms Wilcoxson has created a moving tale of young hope dashed, of slow, debilitating illness, and of corporate arrogance. With great compassion, the author shows Catherine's suffering, but also her stubborn bravery in face of pain and certain death. It took guts to take on a company like Radium Dial, so revered in the upper circles of Ottawa, Ill. Many girls didn't dare speak out for fear of losing their job, and eventually they died sad, agonising deaths.
Reading this novel was the first I'd heard about the Radium Girls. The term itself doesn't convey the horrors they must have felt, the pain and debilitation. And the lack of public support, rather finding themselves ostracised for daring to accuse a well-respected business. They must have felt so alone, so abandoned.
You'll need plenty of tissues when reading. I got through several packs. But this story isn't over once you finish the book. It stays with you. It makes you angry and sad at the same time. And you cry for all those lost lives, all unnecessarily. They were young girls full of hope of fun, marriage, children, one day becoming grandmothers, maybe travel. Alas, most did not live to see their children grow up � if the youngsters survived at all.
Meanwhile, the company's legal eagles sought to secure their losses, and there was nothing anyone could do. Today, there are still companies abusing employees (long working hours without breaks or zero-hour contracts, for example). Their methods have changed, but profit rules as it has always done. That's the depressing truth.
As for Catherine, over eighty years later, her body is still glowing in its lead-lined coffin, encased in concrete. I wonder when she will finally find peace.
Luminous is a gripping fictional account of Catherine Donohue's life, told with such passion, honesty and empathy, it stays with you for a long time. And perhaps that's a good thing. It makes us listen up.
I can't recommend this novel highly enough. A must-read, it is my Book of the Year.
Catherine is an ordinary girl, living with her aunt and uncle in their own small house in Ottawa, Illinois. Theirs is a humble background, and once she's old enough, Catherine seeks employment to help with the household costs.
When Radium Dial, a company producing illuminated clocks, opens in town in 1922, Catherine, then aged 19, applies and is soon hired, together with many other young women. Theirs is regarded as skilled work, and the pay is above average. Everyone is excited.
The girls are shown how to dip their paint brushes into the radium mixture, then, to ensure an even, thin paint job on the dials, they had to hold the tip of the brush to their pursed lips to make the tip as pointy as possible. The overseer tells them it's all safe, of course, and the manager brushes off any questions with light jokes.
As the years go by, we follow Catherine's working and social life. She is content. Evenings are often spent with friends, listening to music or chatting, having a relaxed drink now and then. Meeting boys. The ordinary life of a young woman.
Their workplace is soon covered in a find dust, which makes their hair and clothes sparkle. Some paint their nails with the exciting new mixture, delighted to see how they glow in the dark.
But it is after a few years that the first of her friends and acquaintances begin to suffer. Their teeth are falling out and their mouths are filled with ulcers; they suffer fevers and severe weight loss, and often they miscarry. Some develop fast-growing tumours. But causes are noted as TB or cancer, and no doctor in town dares to link their deaths to radium.
As young women die, and Catherine starts to feel unwell, the first doubts creep in. When, in 1928, the case of five women against a radium company in New Jersey goes to court, people begin to talk, but still Radium Dial insist their product is perfectly safe. Everyone is relieved.
As one of the biggest employers in town, the company has the support from the mayor and all the local doctors who refuse to see the correlation between the girls as one after the other develops symptoms. Some die a very painful death, and their bodies are buried swiftly, but still no one speaks up. This is a sad indictment of how money and power can lead to deaths of workers with tacit approval from local government. Money talks.
Catherine marries her husband, Thomas Donohue, in 1932, and soon gives birth to two children, a boy and a girl, despite her declining health. By that time, she'd been ’let go� by Radium Dial as her limp worried other women working there. Her condition worsening, she is soon unable to care for her children, something that must have left her heartbroken.
As her health declines, she and her husband seek help from doctors further afield. Some agree it might be radium, but still no one wants to blame the company. Eventually, after many years, she finds a lawyer, Leonard Grossman from Chicago, who is prepared to forego a fee in order to raise awareness of Radium Dial's diabolical practices. At times, even he loses faith in the legal system, as Radium Dial appeal against every decision. Until they are finally denied by the Supreme Court and ordered to pay reparations.
Sadly, Catherine died before receiving any payments, and as the company had moved their assets to a different branch, the payout was pitiful, not even remotely covering the cost of her healthcare which had seen Tom and Catherine take on a mortgage against the house she'd inherited from her aunt and uncle.
But as a result of her brave persistence, the case raised awareness of the dangers of radium, and of exploitation of workers by greedy corporations to the detriment of their health. Soon after, the first workers rights laws were introduced.
In taking us through Catherine's pitifully short life full of pain, Ms Wilcoxson has created a moving tale of young hope dashed, of slow, debilitating illness, and of corporate arrogance. With great compassion, the author shows Catherine's suffering, but also her stubborn bravery in face of pain and certain death. It took guts to take on a company like Radium Dial, so revered in the upper circles of Ottawa, Ill. Many girls didn't dare speak out for fear of losing their job, and eventually they died sad, agonising deaths.
Reading this novel was the first I'd heard about the Radium Girls. The term itself doesn't convey the horrors they must have felt, the pain and debilitation. And the lack of public support, rather finding themselves ostracised for daring to accuse a well-respected business. They must have felt so alone, so abandoned.
You'll need plenty of tissues when reading. I got through several packs. But this story isn't over once you finish the book. It stays with you. It makes you angry and sad at the same time. And you cry for all those lost lives, all unnecessarily. They were young girls full of hope of fun, marriage, children, one day becoming grandmothers, maybe travel. Alas, most did not live to see their children grow up � if the youngsters survived at all.
Meanwhile, the company's legal eagles sought to secure their losses, and there was nothing anyone could do. Today, there are still companies abusing employees (long working hours without breaks or zero-hour contracts, for example). Their methods have changed, but profit rules as it has always done. That's the depressing truth.
As for Catherine, over eighty years later, her body is still glowing in its lead-lined coffin, encased in concrete. I wonder when she will finally find peace.
Luminous is a gripping fictional account of Catherine Donohue's life, told with such passion, honesty and empathy, it stays with you for a long time. And perhaps that's a good thing. It makes us listen up.
I can't recommend this novel highly enough. A must-read, it is my Book of the Year.
September 21, 2023
A wonderful but heartbreaking read.
I have just finished this book with tears in my eyes. It is beautifully written and the characters are so realistic it is easy to picture them. A heartbreaking tale, all the more so because it is based on truth.
I thoroughly recommend this book.
I have just finished this book with tears in my eyes. It is beautifully written and the characters are so realistic it is easy to picture them. A heartbreaking tale, all the more so because it is based on truth.
I thoroughly recommend this book.
September 23, 2023
I knew a little bit about the history of the Radium Girls, but I thought this explained a lot of it well while also being an emotional read. Catherine struggled with her health while being told repeatedly that her exposure to the radium was not the cause. My heart broke as Catherine watched her friend's illness progress fast with no way to help. I loved how supportive her husband was. Not only with his search for a doctor that would listen, but also with the legal fight with the company. Going in I thought more time would be spent with Catherine at the Radium Dial job but after finishing the story I am happy with the way it progressed.
Thank you @coffeeandthorn for the gifted copy and my spot on the tour
Thank you @coffeeandthorn for the gifted copy and my spot on the tour
January 19, 2022
A touching story of social Injustice in the 1930s
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 July 2020
This is not just a story about how women who went to work at a watch painting factory and died after years of surreptitiously being abused by their employers, this is the story of the girl who was the figurehead for their fight for justice. Through the eyes of Catherine Donahue, we are told the story of the Radium girls, a tragic tale of how class was viewed in the first half of the 20th century. They were treated like princesses by their employers who told them they were 'family'. Their boss even referred to him as being like his own daughters, but when it came down to it, the lives of these girls and of the girls' own families didn't mean a dime.
Here we see in this wonderfully told novel written by Ms Wilcoxson, just how the dreams and desires of these girls were crushed, when it became clear that their work had been making them ill.
Without giving too much away, I want to say just how much this book touched me. Tenderly written from young Catherine's viewpoint, we see her struggle as this lovely, warm-hearted and vibrant soul disintegrates as all around her her friends are affected by the same affliction as she has been infected with, caused by the radium in the paint they used to illuminate the little clock-faces of the watches and clocks that became fashionable after the 1st World War.
We see Catherine flower into a happily married woman and mother, but soon her wonderful life will be changed forever when she discovers what has been causing her pain all these years.
Well written, with sensitivity to Catherine's memory, the author has researched and told a story that I am sure Catherine would have approved of. I enjoyed this book immensely and found it difficult to put down at night, just wanting to read one more page. There is a scene near the end that touches your heart so much i defy you to not shed tears.
I wholly recommend this for those who have and also have never heard of this sordid piece of US history when the Radium girls fought for their plight to be acknowledged and which changed the laws regarding the health and safety of employees.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 July 2020
This is not just a story about how women who went to work at a watch painting factory and died after years of surreptitiously being abused by their employers, this is the story of the girl who was the figurehead for their fight for justice. Through the eyes of Catherine Donahue, we are told the story of the Radium girls, a tragic tale of how class was viewed in the first half of the 20th century. They were treated like princesses by their employers who told them they were 'family'. Their boss even referred to him as being like his own daughters, but when it came down to it, the lives of these girls and of the girls' own families didn't mean a dime.
Here we see in this wonderfully told novel written by Ms Wilcoxson, just how the dreams and desires of these girls were crushed, when it became clear that their work had been making them ill.
Without giving too much away, I want to say just how much this book touched me. Tenderly written from young Catherine's viewpoint, we see her struggle as this lovely, warm-hearted and vibrant soul disintegrates as all around her her friends are affected by the same affliction as she has been infected with, caused by the radium in the paint they used to illuminate the little clock-faces of the watches and clocks that became fashionable after the 1st World War.
We see Catherine flower into a happily married woman and mother, but soon her wonderful life will be changed forever when she discovers what has been causing her pain all these years.
Well written, with sensitivity to Catherine's memory, the author has researched and told a story that I am sure Catherine would have approved of. I enjoyed this book immensely and found it difficult to put down at night, just wanting to read one more page. There is a scene near the end that touches your heart so much i defy you to not shed tears.
I wholly recommend this for those who have and also have never heard of this sordid piece of US history when the Radium girls fought for their plight to be acknowledged and which changed the laws regarding the health and safety of employees.
September 1, 2021
This book is one of the most emotionally charged books I have read in a long time. You will ugly cry as you read the story of Catherine Donohue. Wilcoxson expertly utilizes the simplistic devotion of Catherine's Catholic faith to balance out the utter devastation and brutality of her declining health. Through sheer will, Catherine and her husband Tom hurtle all the obstacles thrown in their path as they searched for both acknowledgement and support of her illness due to working at Radium Dial. In the midst of her suffering, Catherine and her friends find the strength to challenge companies like Radium Dial from putting employee lives on the line. Those moments of the book where Catherine was prayerful and reflective seemed to slow down the pace tremendously. On the flip side these moments were so necessary to the reader as it forced the reader to pause and grapple with the unfairness and the horror of what those girls experienced. In a world where editors and publishers encourage writers to "make it worse", I don't believe Wilcoxson could have done anything more. Powerful and eye-opening, this book is a must read.
December 23, 2020
Luminous: The Story of a Radium Girl was a heartbreaking, gut-wrenching read. Your heart just bleeds for Catherine Donohue and the health problems she endured as a result of being a dial painter at the Radium Dial Company. Samantha Wilcoxson did a tremendous job of bringing these women to life and taking you on their journey. I shed many tears while reading this book, and I got really frustrated and angry about the way that the women were treated. I was heartbroken, imagining what these women went through health-wise - just wholly devastating diagnoses and degenerative conditions that haunted and/or ruined their lives. I can't even imagine what they and their families felt to endure this nightmare. I am glad I read this book, but if you are a very sensitive reader, this book might not be right for you...or you might need a box of tissues next to you while you read.
June 29, 2020
Bravo! Your best book, Samantha. I couldn't put it down.
Now I will have to do some further reading.
Now I will have to do some further reading.
September 24, 2023
Sad story, wonderfully told
Told with such passion, the true story never losing its impact. Very readable as a novel as opposed to just the facts and figures.
Told with such passion, the true story never losing its impact. Very readable as a novel as opposed to just the facts and figures.
September 25, 2023
This story teaches you that you should listen to your gut when your worried about something. The heartbreak knowing that the damage was done before anyone acknowledged there was danger. A group of women fighting for their voice and stories to be acknowledged and heard.Ìý
Catherine story makes you feel her thoughts and feels which can make you feel happy or nervous when she is. Great quality of writing and look forward to read another by this author.Ìý
Catherine story makes you feel her thoughts and feels which can make you feel happy or nervous when she is. Great quality of writing and look forward to read another by this author.Ìý
July 30, 2023
Spoilers: The story of the Radium Girls is a tragic one. From 1917-1920, female factory workers were diagnosed with cancer caused by working unprotected with radium paint to paint numbers and dials on watches. They were told to lick the brushes to wet them and dip them into the paint. While the factory owners and management were warned about the potential dangers of radium poisoning, they kept this information from the workers.
Five women sued the Radium Dial Company in Ottawa, Illinois. The suit was settled out of court in 1938 even though sadly, many of the women did not live to see the results. However, the case created long term change in ensuring employee safety by creating regulations in which employees are informed of every potential risk and are properly equipped and attired for the workplace to maintain their health and safety.
Samantha Wilcoxson personalizes the moving story with her historical fiction novel, Luminous The Story of a Radium Girl. She takes the perspective of one of the women, Catherine Wolfe Donohue. The book begins with her as a naive girl excited to work at Radium Dial because of its impact in the community. She can financially support the aunt and uncle who raised her. It's hard and tedious work but she has a talent for putting those tiny numbers on the face. She befriends many of her coworkers and her employer, Mr. Reed seems like a nice guy. She even starts being courted by Tom Donohue. Then her coworkers start becoming mysteriously ill. One is losing her teeth. Another gets severe headaches. Catherine herself starts getting severe pain in her hip. Then their health gets worse and they realize the source of their problem: Radium Dial.
It's very easy to look back on these women with judgment, to think why didn't they look for another job? If they were so sick why didn't they notice sooner? What responsibility did management have to protect their health?
Telling the story from the point of view of one of the women answers those questions. Wilcoxson writes a firm character study about a woman who always strives to do the right thing to be a good obedient religious person, but finds sometimes that's not enough in a world with employers who care about the bottom line and getting their products finished and don't care who has to suffer and die for it. A trait that unfortunately is still present in many business owners and managers today.
Catherine is written as the type of person who would rather none of this happened at all. She is someone who is content to find any sort of work, pick up a decent paycheck to take home to her aunt and uncle, hang out with friends, maybe get married and have children. She is a guileless woman who wants to do right by her family, community, and God.
If they tell Catherine that the radium is safe, she believes them. After all, she doesn't personally know enough about radium to challenge them. Mr. Reed gives off a trustworthy vibe. He doesn't chase the female employees and even shares a laugh with them. She gets along with her fellow coworkers, developing a sisterhood even before they become sick.
Catherine is also in a pretty desperate financial situation. She isn't exactly swimming with money and during her time at Radium Dial, the Great Depression kicks in so she can't afford to quit a job no matter how much she is becoming aware that she and her colleagues are literally dying. Her aunt and uncle are getting older and she wants to care for them as well as they took care of her. Further compounding the situation is that Ottawa is a company town with Radium Dial. Even if she tried to get another job, Radium Dial will put enough of a black mark that she can't be hired anywhere.
According to the book, Radium Dial's management was told of the potential risks of radium and did not warn the workers of even the possibility of illness. Even when workers in New Jersey succumbed to illness, they said that it wouldn't happen to them because they used a different type of paint. When one of the workers is hospitalized, they wish her well and then fire her. When the employees go to the local doctors, it becomes clear that Radium Dial's managers forced them to lie about their diagnosis and say that no they don't have cancer. Every action they take is in the name of profit and it is easy to see why the courts favor the workers.
Many of the situations are incredibly graphic showing the reality of the cancers eating away at these poor women's bodies. One has her arm amputated and another has to suffer as her teeth keep falling out. In one chapter, Catherine is eating food as pieces of her jaw bone break off. Her legs become so weakened that Tom has to carry her everywhere she goes.
Ironically, as Catherine's body weakens, her spirit strengthens. She takes the lead in getting the lawsuit going. She grants interviews allowing her picture to be taken to show Readers exactly what these women are going through. Tom helps her and the other women get a doctor who is willing to tell them the truth about their health and an attorney who will take their case.
Catherine's Catholic faith also emboldens her. She tries to go to church as long as she can walk and struggles to kneel. Even when she is unable to move, the priest arrives to give her communion and other rituals. Catherine credits her faith to get her through this painful tumultuous time and giving her the power to use her voice and speak for herself and the other women.
Luminous is the type of book where an ordinary person finds their inner courage to speak out against inhumane decisions that put profit over people. It took women like Catherine Wolfe Donohue and the others to make people see the results of these decisions and improve the lives of future workers even if they didn't live to see that improvement.
Five women sued the Radium Dial Company in Ottawa, Illinois. The suit was settled out of court in 1938 even though sadly, many of the women did not live to see the results. However, the case created long term change in ensuring employee safety by creating regulations in which employees are informed of every potential risk and are properly equipped and attired for the workplace to maintain their health and safety.
Samantha Wilcoxson personalizes the moving story with her historical fiction novel, Luminous The Story of a Radium Girl. She takes the perspective of one of the women, Catherine Wolfe Donohue. The book begins with her as a naive girl excited to work at Radium Dial because of its impact in the community. She can financially support the aunt and uncle who raised her. It's hard and tedious work but she has a talent for putting those tiny numbers on the face. She befriends many of her coworkers and her employer, Mr. Reed seems like a nice guy. She even starts being courted by Tom Donohue. Then her coworkers start becoming mysteriously ill. One is losing her teeth. Another gets severe headaches. Catherine herself starts getting severe pain in her hip. Then their health gets worse and they realize the source of their problem: Radium Dial.
It's very easy to look back on these women with judgment, to think why didn't they look for another job? If they were so sick why didn't they notice sooner? What responsibility did management have to protect their health?
Telling the story from the point of view of one of the women answers those questions. Wilcoxson writes a firm character study about a woman who always strives to do the right thing to be a good obedient religious person, but finds sometimes that's not enough in a world with employers who care about the bottom line and getting their products finished and don't care who has to suffer and die for it. A trait that unfortunately is still present in many business owners and managers today.
Catherine is written as the type of person who would rather none of this happened at all. She is someone who is content to find any sort of work, pick up a decent paycheck to take home to her aunt and uncle, hang out with friends, maybe get married and have children. She is a guileless woman who wants to do right by her family, community, and God.
If they tell Catherine that the radium is safe, she believes them. After all, she doesn't personally know enough about radium to challenge them. Mr. Reed gives off a trustworthy vibe. He doesn't chase the female employees and even shares a laugh with them. She gets along with her fellow coworkers, developing a sisterhood even before they become sick.
Catherine is also in a pretty desperate financial situation. She isn't exactly swimming with money and during her time at Radium Dial, the Great Depression kicks in so she can't afford to quit a job no matter how much she is becoming aware that she and her colleagues are literally dying. Her aunt and uncle are getting older and she wants to care for them as well as they took care of her. Further compounding the situation is that Ottawa is a company town with Radium Dial. Even if she tried to get another job, Radium Dial will put enough of a black mark that she can't be hired anywhere.
According to the book, Radium Dial's management was told of the potential risks of radium and did not warn the workers of even the possibility of illness. Even when workers in New Jersey succumbed to illness, they said that it wouldn't happen to them because they used a different type of paint. When one of the workers is hospitalized, they wish her well and then fire her. When the employees go to the local doctors, it becomes clear that Radium Dial's managers forced them to lie about their diagnosis and say that no they don't have cancer. Every action they take is in the name of profit and it is easy to see why the courts favor the workers.
Many of the situations are incredibly graphic showing the reality of the cancers eating away at these poor women's bodies. One has her arm amputated and another has to suffer as her teeth keep falling out. In one chapter, Catherine is eating food as pieces of her jaw bone break off. Her legs become so weakened that Tom has to carry her everywhere she goes.
Ironically, as Catherine's body weakens, her spirit strengthens. She takes the lead in getting the lawsuit going. She grants interviews allowing her picture to be taken to show Readers exactly what these women are going through. Tom helps her and the other women get a doctor who is willing to tell them the truth about their health and an attorney who will take their case.
Catherine's Catholic faith also emboldens her. She tries to go to church as long as she can walk and struggles to kneel. Even when she is unable to move, the priest arrives to give her communion and other rituals. Catherine credits her faith to get her through this painful tumultuous time and giving her the power to use her voice and speak for herself and the other women.
Luminous is the type of book where an ordinary person finds their inner courage to speak out against inhumane decisions that put profit over people. It took women like Catherine Wolfe Donohue and the others to make people see the results of these decisions and improve the lives of future workers even if they didn't live to see that improvement.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2024
I received this audiobook for free, but all reviews are my own.
Based on the true story of Catherine Donahue in 1920’s Ottawa IL, Luminous is a harrowing tale of a Radium Dial girl who shoulders many heavy burdens despite her weakening stamina. Catherine works at Radial Dial for 9 years where she unknowingly poisons her body with radioactive chemicals over and over. When it becomes clear she is sick, she becomes the face of the movement to get her and her coworkers the compensation they deserve as well as to change the lackluster employee safe & wellbeing laws that are currently in place.
A truly illuminating story of a whole town’s battle with big corporations, gaslighting, and determined employees & friends. I listened to this book on audible and loved the narration! I recommend this audiobook to anyone who needs a heart breaking yet warming story.
Based on the true story of Catherine Donahue in 1920’s Ottawa IL, Luminous is a harrowing tale of a Radium Dial girl who shoulders many heavy burdens despite her weakening stamina. Catherine works at Radial Dial for 9 years where she unknowingly poisons her body with radioactive chemicals over and over. When it becomes clear she is sick, she becomes the face of the movement to get her and her coworkers the compensation they deserve as well as to change the lackluster employee safe & wellbeing laws that are currently in place.
A truly illuminating story of a whole town’s battle with big corporations, gaslighting, and determined employees & friends. I listened to this book on audible and loved the narration! I recommend this audiobook to anyone who needs a heart breaking yet warming story.
December 26, 2023
I am not a huge fan of historical fiction but the story of the Radium Girls has always intrigued me.
When I mentioned the story to my mom and she had never heard of them we decided to do a buddy read.
This book told the story of Catherine Donohue, one of the main forces in bringing justice to the Radium Girls who were used and lied to and unfortunately died because of their employers negligence.
We see these women young and healthy and watch as they see friends getting sick and passing and eventually how Death cane to call upon them as well.
This story brought so much knowledge about the beautiful women who had to suffer radium poisoning and I enjoyed every moment.
Rest in peace, Catherine Donohue. Without you, many more would have suffered.
When I mentioned the story to my mom and she had never heard of them we decided to do a buddy read.
This book told the story of Catherine Donohue, one of the main forces in bringing justice to the Radium Girls who were used and lied to and unfortunately died because of their employers negligence.
We see these women young and healthy and watch as they see friends getting sick and passing and eventually how Death cane to call upon them as well.
This story brought so much knowledge about the beautiful women who had to suffer radium poisoning and I enjoyed every moment.
Rest in peace, Catherine Donohue. Without you, many more would have suffered.
June 27, 2021
When I read The Radium Girls, Catherine Donahue’s story stuck with me the most and I‘ve thought of her often. I was thrilled to find a fictionalized take on her life, and one that seemed to so accurately cover her life story. The more personal account has deepened my admiration for her. The book follows her life from the day she applies for the job at Radium Dial onward without being too long and drawn out. A pleasure to read even though it was emotional. Her strength and faith will continue to be an inspiration to me.
June 9, 2024
Everyone knew that Radium Dial paid well, so when Catherine saw a job advertisement in the paper, she knew it was an opportunity too good to miss.
Catherine soon settles into her new job at Radium Dial, and she finds herself in a position where she can begin saving some money for the future. Moreover, she has finally found companionship, a bustling social life, and regularly attends parties. So, when she begins to feel pain in her hip, she doesn’t take that much notice, even when the pain becomes so bad she begins limping. Her life is going splendidly, and she has nothing to complain about. Apart from that persistent pain that isn’t easing.
A tremendous story of a fight against a large corporation, society, and life itself, Luminous: The Story of a Radium Girl by Samantha Wilcoxson brings to light what it was to live as a sufferer of radium poisoning, brushed aside with no compensation in sight, and the ever-glowing light at the end of the tunnel shining brighter each day.
As Catherine starts her job, meticulously applying radium paint to watch dials and causing the numbers to illuminate in darkness, she feels a sense of fulfilment. As she immerses herself in the repetitive motions of dipping the brush in paint, bringing it to her lips to create a fine point, and applying the paint to the watch face, Catherine realizes how much she enjoys her job, especially the camaraderie she shares with the other girls. She finds satisfaction in her work, aware that she has a job that is highly sought after by other girls. However, Catherine’s confidence in the safety of her job wavers as newspaper articles emerge, reporting lawsuits against Radium Dial for the deaths of young girls due to ‘radium poisoning�. Doubts about the safety of working with radium paint start to arise, challenging the narrative presented by her employers. She would leave her workplace every day, her body coated in a shimmering layer of radiant dust. The young women surrounding her enthusiastically adorned their nails with the mesmerizing substance, revelling in the magical luminescence it bestowed upon their fingertips. Nonetheless, was it wise to be in such intimate proximity to the substance without questioning its safety? Besides taking her bosses� word for it, what evidence existed to prove it wasn’t dangerous?
Though not a household name, Catherine Donohue captured the attention of newspapers in the 1930s. She was one of the women who applied radium-laced paint to watches, clocks, and instrument dials, making them glow. Catherine and many women like her were exposed to deadly levels of radium poison. As she neared death, weakened by radium, she mustered the energy for a long-delayed legal battle against Radium Dial. Initially, she was in a fortunate position, living in a house without any mortgage or rent, as she had inherited it from her aunt and uncle. She also had a substantial amount of savings from her time at Radium Dial. But Catherine’s funds had long since run out. Catherine exhausted her resources on medical tests, experimental treatments, doctor fees, and countless appointments, with nothing to show for it. She showed no signs of improvement, her condition worsened daily, and no new doctor had any more effective approaches. Her condition had no known cure, and many doubted the existence of radium poisoning. At a time when the disease was not widely acknowledged, there was no sign of any treatment. To spare future dial painters from the same agony, a legal fight against Radium Dial appeared to be the necessary path. And a settlement that could cover the cost of her medical bills would go a long way. Catherine was truly a beacon of hope for those who were suffering in silence. Her legal battle was highly publicized as she made numerous appearances in the papers, despite her physical limitations, she courageously fought against a powerful company and made her voice heard. The retelling of Catherine’s life by Ms. Wilcoxson truly captures her incredible determination and unbelievable strength.
Catherine, of course, could not have done everything by herself and was lucky to have an incredible support system in place. Her husband, Tom, was an absolute saint. He stood by her every step of the way, marrying her despite her limp, and making sure she was as comfortable as physically possible when her illness progressed. Ms Wilcoxson has written an outstanding novel that evokes genuine emotions. While reading, you experience the fear, pain, and despair and the realisation that countless women were deceived and suffered irreversible consequences, even losing their lives, all for the sake of a company’s greed that showed no concern for its employees, it was only focused on meeting quotas. The realistic portrayal of Catherine in the book intensifies its emotional impact. With knowledge of radium’s perils, reading through a contemporary lens brings a sense of impending doom. And as the story progresses the reader feels nothing but empathy for Catherine’s plight and anger at her employers' seeming inability to maintain the health, safety and well-being of their employees. It’s a genuinely impactful and thought-provoking read.
Samantha Wilcoxson’s Luminous: The Story of a Radium Girl is an emotional masterpiece. This book leaves a lasting impact on readers, with its incredible story and unforgettable characters that stay with you long after the final page.
Yarde Book Reviews & Book Promotion.
Catherine soon settles into her new job at Radium Dial, and she finds herself in a position where she can begin saving some money for the future. Moreover, she has finally found companionship, a bustling social life, and regularly attends parties. So, when she begins to feel pain in her hip, she doesn’t take that much notice, even when the pain becomes so bad she begins limping. Her life is going splendidly, and she has nothing to complain about. Apart from that persistent pain that isn’t easing.
A tremendous story of a fight against a large corporation, society, and life itself, Luminous: The Story of a Radium Girl by Samantha Wilcoxson brings to light what it was to live as a sufferer of radium poisoning, brushed aside with no compensation in sight, and the ever-glowing light at the end of the tunnel shining brighter each day.
As Catherine starts her job, meticulously applying radium paint to watch dials and causing the numbers to illuminate in darkness, she feels a sense of fulfilment. As she immerses herself in the repetitive motions of dipping the brush in paint, bringing it to her lips to create a fine point, and applying the paint to the watch face, Catherine realizes how much she enjoys her job, especially the camaraderie she shares with the other girls. She finds satisfaction in her work, aware that she has a job that is highly sought after by other girls. However, Catherine’s confidence in the safety of her job wavers as newspaper articles emerge, reporting lawsuits against Radium Dial for the deaths of young girls due to ‘radium poisoning�. Doubts about the safety of working with radium paint start to arise, challenging the narrative presented by her employers. She would leave her workplace every day, her body coated in a shimmering layer of radiant dust. The young women surrounding her enthusiastically adorned their nails with the mesmerizing substance, revelling in the magical luminescence it bestowed upon their fingertips. Nonetheless, was it wise to be in such intimate proximity to the substance without questioning its safety? Besides taking her bosses� word for it, what evidence existed to prove it wasn’t dangerous?
Though not a household name, Catherine Donohue captured the attention of newspapers in the 1930s. She was one of the women who applied radium-laced paint to watches, clocks, and instrument dials, making them glow. Catherine and many women like her were exposed to deadly levels of radium poison. As she neared death, weakened by radium, she mustered the energy for a long-delayed legal battle against Radium Dial. Initially, she was in a fortunate position, living in a house without any mortgage or rent, as she had inherited it from her aunt and uncle. She also had a substantial amount of savings from her time at Radium Dial. But Catherine’s funds had long since run out. Catherine exhausted her resources on medical tests, experimental treatments, doctor fees, and countless appointments, with nothing to show for it. She showed no signs of improvement, her condition worsened daily, and no new doctor had any more effective approaches. Her condition had no known cure, and many doubted the existence of radium poisoning. At a time when the disease was not widely acknowledged, there was no sign of any treatment. To spare future dial painters from the same agony, a legal fight against Radium Dial appeared to be the necessary path. And a settlement that could cover the cost of her medical bills would go a long way. Catherine was truly a beacon of hope for those who were suffering in silence. Her legal battle was highly publicized as she made numerous appearances in the papers, despite her physical limitations, she courageously fought against a powerful company and made her voice heard. The retelling of Catherine’s life by Ms. Wilcoxson truly captures her incredible determination and unbelievable strength.
Catherine, of course, could not have done everything by herself and was lucky to have an incredible support system in place. Her husband, Tom, was an absolute saint. He stood by her every step of the way, marrying her despite her limp, and making sure she was as comfortable as physically possible when her illness progressed. Ms Wilcoxson has written an outstanding novel that evokes genuine emotions. While reading, you experience the fear, pain, and despair and the realisation that countless women were deceived and suffered irreversible consequences, even losing their lives, all for the sake of a company’s greed that showed no concern for its employees, it was only focused on meeting quotas. The realistic portrayal of Catherine in the book intensifies its emotional impact. With knowledge of radium’s perils, reading through a contemporary lens brings a sense of impending doom. And as the story progresses the reader feels nothing but empathy for Catherine’s plight and anger at her employers' seeming inability to maintain the health, safety and well-being of their employees. It’s a genuinely impactful and thought-provoking read.
Samantha Wilcoxson’s Luminous: The Story of a Radium Girl is an emotional masterpiece. This book leaves a lasting impact on readers, with its incredible story and unforgettable characters that stay with you long after the final page.
Yarde Book Reviews & Book Promotion.
June 23, 2023
a must Read
Kate. Moore’s book was a bookclub read and this was a great addition to it as a follow up in fiction. A google search provides many more tidbits of interesting facts.
Kate. Moore’s book was a bookclub read and this was a great addition to it as a follow up in fiction. A google search provides many more tidbits of interesting facts.
September 26, 2023
Title: Luminous: The Story of a Radium Girl
Author: Samantha Wicoxson
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: ebook from Coffee and Thorn Book Tours
Series: NA
Star Rating: 4.5 stars
tw: parental death, ingesting of radium, prolonged illness, death, medical content, gruesome injury, radium poisoning, blood
I am so mad that I’ve never heard of the radium girls. My grandma had actually mentioned another book about the radium girls to me when she visited a couple of weekends ago. I told her I had no idea what it was about but I would certainly check it out. Such a coincidence that I happened to have a book to read that was about the radium girls. Anyway, whenever I’ve seen books or shows promoting the radium girls, I always assumed they were about girls who did some work during World War II since they, I assume, worked with radium because I assume that’s what the atomic bomb is made of. Or at least part of the bomb. I’m not a science girly. I was so wrong and I can’t believe I didn’t know more about this. I will forever be kicking myself about this.
So the radium girls are girls who worked for a watch factory and they worked with radium, which we now know is pretty toxic. They painted the numbers on the little dials or the watch faces. But in order to be precise, they would dip their brush in the radium paint, sharpen the tip with their lips, and paint. I assume you all know what that means. They straighten out the brush so no bristles stick out and ruin the watch face. So obviously they ingested the radium and it gets all over their clothes. It makes my tummy hurt just thinking about it. I can’t even imagine how that stuff would taste.
This was such a heartbreaking book. All Catherine, the main character, wanted was to support her aunt and uncle, find a husband, and have babies. She did find a husband and had two babies but she dealt with years of sickness as essentially her body rotted from the inside out. The last 20% or so, I just sobbed. I’m glad I was alone because I was a full-on mess. As a mom, I can't begin to imagine the heartbreak of knowing I wouldn’t be around to see my baby grow up. Like that heartbreak is unimaginable and it makes me tear up just thinking about it. At least Catherine had an amazing and supportive husband. Tom is literally the most perfect person ever. He was there for her through everything and never made Catherine feel like a burden.
I know this is turning more into a post about my feelings than about a review of the book. But the topic of this book really struck a chord with me. Women lost their lives for watches and that is something I truly can’t get over. We don’t even need watches. They aren’t a thing that is mandatory for everyday life unless you are a doctor or something to that effect. They suffered from health effects for years, and endured years of legal battles for watches. It just makes me so angry and heartbroken.
I’ll talk about the actual book since I am a book reviewer. The book was written well. It was an easy read in the sense that it wasn’t complicated. There was a lot of religion thrown in because Catherine is pretty religious but I didn’t mind it. She found her strength in her religion. There were some time jumps that confused me a little as I think it jumped a couple of months during some of the chapters. But once I read a couple of pages into the new chapter, I figured out what was going on. I truly have no complaints about the writing style, the plot, the characters, etc. It was a fantastic book in every way minus the one tiny complaint I mentioned earlier.
Overall, more people need to know about this! It’s positively criminal that they don’t. I would say I am shocked that we didn’t learn about this in school but then again, I didn’t learn how horrible Christopher Columbus was until I hit adulthood. I went to school in a very small Iowa town if that explains anything. I recommend this book to everyone. I probably wouldn’t recommend this to middle schoolers as the novel gets a bit graphic with the injuries and medical content but certainly, a high schooler would be able to handle this book. It’s such a good book and the topic is so important. Those women suffered and it’s heartbreaking that they aren't more known. I hope everyone checks this book out today.
Author: Samantha Wicoxson
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: ebook from Coffee and Thorn Book Tours
Series: NA
Star Rating: 4.5 stars
tw: parental death, ingesting of radium, prolonged illness, death, medical content, gruesome injury, radium poisoning, blood
I am so mad that I’ve never heard of the radium girls. My grandma had actually mentioned another book about the radium girls to me when she visited a couple of weekends ago. I told her I had no idea what it was about but I would certainly check it out. Such a coincidence that I happened to have a book to read that was about the radium girls. Anyway, whenever I’ve seen books or shows promoting the radium girls, I always assumed they were about girls who did some work during World War II since they, I assume, worked with radium because I assume that’s what the atomic bomb is made of. Or at least part of the bomb. I’m not a science girly. I was so wrong and I can’t believe I didn’t know more about this. I will forever be kicking myself about this.
So the radium girls are girls who worked for a watch factory and they worked with radium, which we now know is pretty toxic. They painted the numbers on the little dials or the watch faces. But in order to be precise, they would dip their brush in the radium paint, sharpen the tip with their lips, and paint. I assume you all know what that means. They straighten out the brush so no bristles stick out and ruin the watch face. So obviously they ingested the radium and it gets all over their clothes. It makes my tummy hurt just thinking about it. I can’t even imagine how that stuff would taste.
This was such a heartbreaking book. All Catherine, the main character, wanted was to support her aunt and uncle, find a husband, and have babies. She did find a husband and had two babies but she dealt with years of sickness as essentially her body rotted from the inside out. The last 20% or so, I just sobbed. I’m glad I was alone because I was a full-on mess. As a mom, I can't begin to imagine the heartbreak of knowing I wouldn’t be around to see my baby grow up. Like that heartbreak is unimaginable and it makes me tear up just thinking about it. At least Catherine had an amazing and supportive husband. Tom is literally the most perfect person ever. He was there for her through everything and never made Catherine feel like a burden.
I know this is turning more into a post about my feelings than about a review of the book. But the topic of this book really struck a chord with me. Women lost their lives for watches and that is something I truly can’t get over. We don’t even need watches. They aren’t a thing that is mandatory for everyday life unless you are a doctor or something to that effect. They suffered from health effects for years, and endured years of legal battles for watches. It just makes me so angry and heartbroken.
I’ll talk about the actual book since I am a book reviewer. The book was written well. It was an easy read in the sense that it wasn’t complicated. There was a lot of religion thrown in because Catherine is pretty religious but I didn’t mind it. She found her strength in her religion. There were some time jumps that confused me a little as I think it jumped a couple of months during some of the chapters. But once I read a couple of pages into the new chapter, I figured out what was going on. I truly have no complaints about the writing style, the plot, the characters, etc. It was a fantastic book in every way minus the one tiny complaint I mentioned earlier.
Overall, more people need to know about this! It’s positively criminal that they don’t. I would say I am shocked that we didn’t learn about this in school but then again, I didn’t learn how horrible Christopher Columbus was until I hit adulthood. I went to school in a very small Iowa town if that explains anything. I recommend this book to everyone. I probably wouldn’t recommend this to middle schoolers as the novel gets a bit graphic with the injuries and medical content but certainly, a high schooler would be able to handle this book. It’s such a good book and the topic is so important. Those women suffered and it’s heartbreaking that they aren't more known. I hope everyone checks this book out today.
September 23, 2023
Imagine you are a young working-class woman in 1920s USA. Imagine you have elderly relatives to help support, and are offered a well-paying job in your home town. You would, of course, take it.
Imagine that job will kill you. Not just you, but many of your friends. And the company will deny the dangers, smear your name, conduct false medical tests, and conceal others, while all the time ensuring that their lab personnel have all the protected equipment available at the time.
You and your friends were disposable.
This piece of history, played out in Illinois and New Jersey, is the focus of Samantha Wilcoxson’s Luminous: The Story of a Radium Girl: a fictionalized biography of Catherine Wolfe Donohue, a worker at the Ottawa, Illinois Radium Dial factory. Catherine and her coworkers, all young women, were hired to paint watch dials with radium paint, so that the numbers would glow in the dark. To create the fine point needed on the brush for the exacting, precise work, they were told to run the brush point, loaded with paint, between their lips. One by one, they began to sicken and die.
Wilcoxson begins Catherine’s story in the late summer of 1921, when she is nineteen. Fall is in the air, garden produce is being harvested, and the slow rhythms of small town life are evoked in a few brief, effective paragraphs. An advertisement for girls to work at Radium Dial is advertised in the local paper; Catherine applies and is hired.
For a while, the job seems wonderful. The pay is good and the camaraderie with other girls creates close friendships. But then the illnesses start, and the deaths: horrible deaths, in many cases.
Catherine is not one to rock the boat, but she begins to ask questions. The management of Radium Dial deny any relationship with the paint; a fact claimed in Ross Mulner’s book Deadly Glow but not mentioned in Wilcoxson’s is that in some cases the women’s symptoms were blamed on syphilis, effectively destroying both their credibility and their reputations.
When her friends continue to sicken and die, painfully and gruesomely, Catherine—now married—has also fallen ill. Wilcoxson does not shy away from the details of the illnesses, primarily bone cancers, that these women contracted. With the support of her husband, eventually she and others sue the company, a nearly hopeless cause.
The devastation that radium poisoning caused to women and their families is clearly told, and the ground-breaking fight for compensation that Donohue helped win with her deathbed testimony is an important part of the history of workers� rights. But perhaps because the dialogue often didn’t quite ring true to me, or perhaps because the story is told over twenty years, and is therefore necessarily episodic, while I felt for the destruction of lives and the injustice of their treatment intellectually, I never quite connected emotionally with the character: I was observing Catherine’s life, not immersed in it.
Luminous: The Story of a Radium Girl is a solid work, historically accurate and a window into a terrible exploitation of workers in the name of profits and a fight for workers� rights—rights which are under siege in many places today as profit, not people, remains the focus of too many companies. Could this happen again? Under a slightly different guise, I am afraid so.
Imagine that job will kill you. Not just you, but many of your friends. And the company will deny the dangers, smear your name, conduct false medical tests, and conceal others, while all the time ensuring that their lab personnel have all the protected equipment available at the time.
You and your friends were disposable.
This piece of history, played out in Illinois and New Jersey, is the focus of Samantha Wilcoxson’s Luminous: The Story of a Radium Girl: a fictionalized biography of Catherine Wolfe Donohue, a worker at the Ottawa, Illinois Radium Dial factory. Catherine and her coworkers, all young women, were hired to paint watch dials with radium paint, so that the numbers would glow in the dark. To create the fine point needed on the brush for the exacting, precise work, they were told to run the brush point, loaded with paint, between their lips. One by one, they began to sicken and die.
Wilcoxson begins Catherine’s story in the late summer of 1921, when she is nineteen. Fall is in the air, garden produce is being harvested, and the slow rhythms of small town life are evoked in a few brief, effective paragraphs. An advertisement for girls to work at Radium Dial is advertised in the local paper; Catherine applies and is hired.
For a while, the job seems wonderful. The pay is good and the camaraderie with other girls creates close friendships. But then the illnesses start, and the deaths: horrible deaths, in many cases.
Catherine is not one to rock the boat, but she begins to ask questions. The management of Radium Dial deny any relationship with the paint; a fact claimed in Ross Mulner’s book Deadly Glow but not mentioned in Wilcoxson’s is that in some cases the women’s symptoms were blamed on syphilis, effectively destroying both their credibility and their reputations.
When her friends continue to sicken and die, painfully and gruesomely, Catherine—now married—has also fallen ill. Wilcoxson does not shy away from the details of the illnesses, primarily bone cancers, that these women contracted. With the support of her husband, eventually she and others sue the company, a nearly hopeless cause.
The devastation that radium poisoning caused to women and their families is clearly told, and the ground-breaking fight for compensation that Donohue helped win with her deathbed testimony is an important part of the history of workers� rights. But perhaps because the dialogue often didn’t quite ring true to me, or perhaps because the story is told over twenty years, and is therefore necessarily episodic, while I felt for the destruction of lives and the injustice of their treatment intellectually, I never quite connected emotionally with the character: I was observing Catherine’s life, not immersed in it.
Luminous: The Story of a Radium Girl is a solid work, historically accurate and a window into a terrible exploitation of workers in the name of profits and a fight for workers� rights—rights which are under siege in many places today as profit, not people, remains the focus of too many companies. Could this happen again? Under a slightly different guise, I am afraid so.
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