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August 14, 2026
The Calamity Club Review: A Beautiful Book With a Dark History
Jessica’s Bookshelf – The Calamity Club Review
A funny, heartbreaking historical novel about friendship, survival, injustice, and a group of unforgettable women.
Title: The Calamity Club
Author: Kathryn Stockett
Genre: Historical Fiction · Southern Fiction · Women’s Fiction · Literary Fiction
For this The Calamity Club review, I have to begin with a confession: I knew almost nothing about the book before starting it. I knew it was long, it had a pretty cover, and it was our book club selection. That was about it.
I think totally blind may have been the perfect way to begin this book.
I had no idea what kind of story I was getting into, and it turned out to be a wild ride. I laughed out loud, I cried, and I became completely invested in the lives of these characters.
✍️ What Is The Calamity Club About?
Set in Oxford, Mississippi, during the Great Depression, The Calamity Club brings together a group of women and girls whose lives begin crossing in unexpected ways.
Meg Lefleur is an eleven-year-old girl living in an orphan asylum after being abandoned by her mother. Birdie Calhoun comes to Oxford hoping her wealthy sister can help save their family home. Then there is Charlie, a woman with an idea that could change everything.
Their stories come together in ways that are sometimes funny, sometimes outrageous, and often heartbreaking.
This is a book about friendship, survival, injustice, and the things women do to take care of one another when the people and institutions around them cannot be trusted.
The Calamity Club Review: What I Loved
The characters and dialogue were easily my favorite parts of this book.
There are a lot of characters, but they felt distinct enough that I did not have trouble keeping track of them. They are funny, frustrating, complicated, and deeply human. Some made me angry. Some made me laugh. Several completely stole my heart.
The dialogue is especially good. The conversations feel natural, and the humor never feels forced. I laughed out loud more than once, which made the darker parts of the story hit even harder.
This is a long book, but I did not mind the length once I became wrapped up in the story. It gives the characters time to develop, and it allows their relationships to grow in a way that feels believable. By the end, I felt like I really knew them.
There were moments when I wanted the story to move a little faster, but I was never ready to leave these characters behind.
I Highly Recommend the Audiobook
I listened to The Calamity Club, and I highly recommend the audiobook.
For a book this long, listening made it feel much more approachable. The narration also helped bring the large cast of characters and all that great dialogue to life.
The funny parts were funnier when performed aloud. The emotional moments also landed harder than I expected. I found myself looking forward to getting back in the car or putting in my headphones so I could keep listening.
If the length of this book makes you hesitate, try the audio version. It is still a commitment, but it did not feel like work.
The Dark History Behind the Story
Although The Calamity Club is fiction, much of the historical context behind it is real.
The book addresses the American eugenics movement and the forced sterilization of women and girls who were labeled “unfit.” These labels were often placed on people who were poor, disabled, institutionalized, or simply living outside what society expected from women at the time.
Some of the most disturbing parts of the book involve the power that doctors, institutions, and government officials had over other people’s bodies and futures.
This history is incredibly difficult to read about. It is also important to remember.
Knowing that these practices were supported by laws and respected institutions makes them even more horrifying. It is easy to look back and wonder how something like that was allowed to happen. This book is a reminder that cruelty can be hidden behind official language, supposedly good intentions, and people claiming they know what is best for someone else.
Those parts of the story made me angry, uncomfortable, and deeply sad. They also gave our book club plenty to talk about.
Meaningful Quotes from The Calamity Club
“She will grow fierce and wild to get that fresh air back again.”
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
“I couldn’t keep my mouth shut long enough to be sexy, the funny was all I had.”
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
Is The Calamity Club a Good Book Club Book?
Yes. This is a great book club selection.
There is so much to discuss, from the characters and their relationships to the disturbing history woven into the story. I can also see readers having very different feelings about certain characters and the choices they make.
It is one of those books that gives you plenty to talk about beyond whether you simply liked it or did not like it. Our conversation included laughter, frustration, sadness, and a lot of discussion about the parts of history many of us were never taught.
Who Should Read The Calamity Club?
I would recommend this book if you enjoy historical fiction with strong characters, complicated female friendships, sharp dialogue, and a story that can make you laugh even while dealing with serious subject matter.
It is also a good choice for readers who enjoy long, immersive stories and do not mind spending a lot of time with a large group of characters.
Readers should know that the book includes upsetting material involving institutional abuse, child abandonment, eugenics, and forced sterilization.
⭐ My Rating for The Calamity Club
5 out of 5 stars
Before reading the author’s note, I think I might have given the book four stars. The note changed that for me. Learning more about the real and truly terrible history behind parts of the story gave the book even more weight. I appreciated not only the storytelling, but also Kathryn Stockett’s decision to uncover and share a piece of history that many of us were never taught.
That additional context is what made this a five-star book for me.
Final Thoughts – The Calamity Club review
I picked up The Calamity Club because my book club chose it. I knew it was long, and I liked the cover. That was it.
I did not expect to laugh as much as I did. I did not expect to cry. And I definitely did not expect to fall in love with so many of the characters.
This book is funny, emotional, messy, and sometimes very difficult to read. The historical context is deeply disturbing, but it is also something we need to remember and talk about.
If you are considering reading it, I recommend the audiobook. Give yourself time to settle into the story and get to know everyone. It is a long journey, but these characters make it worth taking.
🔗 Next on My Reading List:
✨ Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by M. J. Wassmer
✨ See what else I’ve been reading on Jessica’s Bookshelf
If you’ve read The Calamity Club I’d love to hear what your thoughts!
Sincerely,
Jessica
