Resumo de A Woman''s Place

Four women from very distint backgrounds, experiences, and goals find themselves unlikely friends when World War II drives them to find work at the shipyard. The common denominator of being women is all that is needed to forge the comradery necessary to survive the man''s world they are now in.
Virginia is a young housewife who finds herself feeling overworked and underappreciated. Her husband''s infrequent glances and monosylabic grunts find her wondering if the magic they once shared as a couple is gone forever. Her suspicians change to worry when she finds receipts and movie stubs for events she had not attended. Helen, is a retired school teacher who, in her 50''s, has only recently rid herself of her overbearing parents with the event of their death following long illnesses. Lonely though she is, she finds it hard to give herself to friendship, a lifetime of loved ones'' untimely deaths has made her seemingly unfeeling. Rosa is a transplant from New York city who after a whirlwind courtship with a soldier finds herself living with her new inlaws shortly after her husband ships out. Her drinking and partying don''t exactly mesh with the Bible study group hosted by her mother in law. A little rough around the edges, she comes to know what being cared for, really means. Jean, the youngest of the group has recently finished high school and has only put her well planned life on hold to move in with her sister and work at the shipyard to help with the war effort. In her mind, it is the least she can do when her twin brother is over fighting the enemy. An internal war rages when she is faced with the decision to return home to be with her not too supportive boyfriend, or stay and continue in her position of leadership at the yard.
Austin does a wonderful job of interweaving the characters'' lives without forcing the situation. There is a welcomed sense of history with a mastery of captioning the emotions of the time, for men as well as women. Many social issues are addresses within the intricacies of each woman''s story. I was intially interested in reading for the historical factor alone. But, as the story unfolded, I became so much more appreciative of the sacrifices made by that generation of Americans. Though a "woman''s" storyline, Austin does a great job of capturing the male perspective and the insecurities civilian men faced during that time. I became so enthralled in the characters, that I wished the book would never end, and I wonder if Austin didn''t wish for the same. My only criticism of this book, is that the storylines wrap up a bit to neatly in the last 14 pages.

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