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Paula Lofting's Reviews > Luminous: The Story of a Radium Girl
Luminous: The Story of a Radium Girl
by
by
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.
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Luminous.
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Reading Progress
June 19, 2020
–
Started Reading
July 4, 2020
–
Finished Reading
January 17, 2022
– Shelved
