5726. Class Reunion, by Rona Jaffe (read 23 Dec 2020) I ordinarily would not read this type book but it was in the house, apparently left here by one of my daughters, and I decided to read it. It is fiction and tells of four women who are at Radcliffe College in the 1950's. Well, I was in college in 1946 to 1950. I was dismayed at the morals of the women (and the men of Harvard who often were class mates of the women or dated them) and was glad that I did not so conduct myself when I was in college though I recognize the sort of people who did. I had been at Harvard for week or so in 1959 so was a bit acquainted with the campus. The book follows four Radcliffe women for 20 years, till their 20-year reunion. One becomes interested in their lives and while I started out thinking this is a one-star book it is easy reading and they have different and sometimes eventful lives and I have to admit it was easy to be interested in the book, though I could not admire anyone of the characters. ( )

Emily, Annabel, Chris, and Daphne are young women of the fifties when we meet them; starting their freshmen year at Radcliffe, and looking for potential husbands at the neighboring Harvard. These women are so different, and take such diverse paths in their lives, you can't hardly put the book down without wondering what's gonna happen next! There wasn't a character I didn't like in this book...and the ending was very satisfying.

Radcliffe Reunion

A hilarious, heartwarming story about four women and how their lives change throughout their college years and lives as wives, mothers, career women, and lovers. There's Annabel, a spirited romantic, Chris, whose love for a man almost destroys her own happiness, Emily whose desire to please results in her own emotional breakdown and Daphne who prefers to look at life through rose colored glasses not realizing the high price that she and her family will pay in the future. Then there are the men in their lives who add to the mix. Max, whose alternative lifestyle will result in a tragedy, Alexander, Chris's husband who manages to hurt the people whom he loves the most, Ken, the perfect doctor whose patience with Emily is tried and tried again, and Richard, Daphne's College Sweetheart who took what he wanted regardless of who he hurt in the process. A wonderful book about women's friendships and the painful reality that as much as you may try, you just can't go back in time.

There are just some friendships and some people you can never forget - even after so many decades. So it was for the Class of 1954 - they went to Radcliffe, and to Harvard in the '50s. It was their golden chance to win everything they ever wanted and to live happily ever after...

There was spirited Annabel; romantic Chris; Emily, the perfectionist and the golden girl, Daphne. These four women's friendships - and the relationships that they have with the men who touch their lives - are intertwined, and shaped by their time spent together in college - when they had such wonderful dreams of becoming wives, mothers, career women and lovers. Over the next three decades, in a journey that is at times hilarious and heartwarming - but also poignant and sentimental, these women's lives are changed by events that no one could have foreseen.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. For me, the plot evoked similar memories from my own college experience and how much I enjoyed it. I give this book an A+! I will certainly be keeping my eyes open for more books by Rona Jaffe to read in the future. ( )

on Monday, February 02, 2009


Read this book at least twice but probably more times.
I have a Dutch copy which I read when young and an English copy which I've read again a few years ago.
I loved this book.

Lend this to my mom last week.

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