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Tina Haigler's Reviews > The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women
The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women
by
by
"THE SCIENTIST HAD FORGOTTEN ALL ABOUT THE RADIUM."
Ok. So I've put off writing this review for a while, simply because every time I go to write it, I get angry, and just end up ranting about the horror and injustice of it all. So I'm going to write this damn thing and try not to simply rage the whole time. Therefore, I make absolutely no promises about the quality of this review, but here goes.
This was not an easy read. It made me stark raving mad. I'm talking want to throw things at people, punch holes in walls, and scream into the wind pissed. What these women suffered through is beyond belief, and the apathy of the people in power is enough to make anyone's blood boil, let alone the lack of justice for these poor women and their families. The fact that people knew about it, could've easily prevented it, and chose to ignore it, is downright sick. It still infuriates me every time I think about it. It is also terribly gruesome to read about the medical problems and eventual death that was inevitably caused by the radium poisoning.
The book itself was decently written, engaging, and thorough. The science behind the radium, and how it affects the body was quite interesting to me. I also enjoyed reading about the girls lives before their decline. However, I didn't enjoy the court stuff as much. Honestly a lot of it seemed unnecessarily repetitive. My favorite parts were the women with the indomitable spirits, the heroic supporters who simply couldn't let this atrocity stand, and the fact that their courage changed the world. I for one, will never forget. Thank you.
"They made every second count."
Ok. So I've put off writing this review for a while, simply because every time I go to write it, I get angry, and just end up ranting about the horror and injustice of it all. So I'm going to write this damn thing and try not to simply rage the whole time. Therefore, I make absolutely no promises about the quality of this review, but here goes.
This was not an easy read. It made me stark raving mad. I'm talking want to throw things at people, punch holes in walls, and scream into the wind pissed. What these women suffered through is beyond belief, and the apathy of the people in power is enough to make anyone's blood boil, let alone the lack of justice for these poor women and their families. The fact that people knew about it, could've easily prevented it, and chose to ignore it, is downright sick. It still infuriates me every time I think about it. It is also terribly gruesome to read about the medical problems and eventual death that was inevitably caused by the radium poisoning.
The book itself was decently written, engaging, and thorough. The science behind the radium, and how it affects the body was quite interesting to me. I also enjoyed reading about the girls lives before their decline. However, I didn't enjoy the court stuff as much. Honestly a lot of it seemed unnecessarily repetitive. My favorite parts were the women with the indomitable spirits, the heroic supporters who simply couldn't let this atrocity stand, and the fact that their courage changed the world. I for one, will never forget. Thank you.
"They made every second count."
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The Radium Girls.
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Reading Progress
July 24, 2017
– Shelved as:
to-read
July 24, 2017
– Shelved
December 9, 2018
–
Started Reading
December 9, 2018
– Shelved as:
non-fiction
December 9, 2018
–
6.89%
"Having researched this before, after seeing it as part of a documentary, I know what's coming, and I am absolutely horrified."
page
33
December 13, 2018
–
12.94%
"This is brutal and horrifying and I don't think I'll ever be able to unsee the imagery. I mean I knew it was awful but I don't think I quite realized just how awful."
page
62
December 17, 2018
–
19.42%
"The lack of intervention by authorities is infuriating. At least the dentist put his foot down and the doctor in New York knows what he's talking about...😣😤😣"
page
93
December 19, 2018
–
25.89%
"Arthur Roeder makes me livid beyond words. Katherine Wiley and Dr. Alice Hamilton are my heroes. Thank God for them."
page
124
December 23, 2018
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32.57%
"Some of these douchebags really have me heated. Dr. Harrison Maryland was a godsend. Thank you for doing right by these women and their families."
page
156
December 28, 2018
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45.51%
"This is so infuriating. I wish I could go back in time and throat punch some of these people 😣😤😣"
page
218
December 30, 2018
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51.36%
"You would think that back then the companies would've cared about their employees. In reality, the same thing mattered in the 1920's as it does now. Money was more important than a human life 😣"
page
246
December 30, 2018
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58.66%
"Countless women die from radium poisoning and nothing. One rich guy dies and radium is finally outlawed. This is beyond infuriating! Thank God the next section is titled "Justice". Go get 'em ladies!"
page
281
January 5, 2019
–
65.14%
"This book makes me angrier and angrier. I need to find the apt word because infuriated and livid just aren't quite strong enough. Good for you though Tom. I bet that was cathartic and felt amazing. He deserved it, the little bastard."
page
312
January 10, 2019
–
71.82%
"Thank God for Leonard Grossman and George Marvel! My heart breaks for Catherine and Tom. I am appalled that this was happening to people for over a decade at this point."
page
344
January 18, 2019
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78.08%
"My heart is breaking for Tom and Catherine. She suffered so much. I really hope by the end of the book that karma gets the douchebags that caused all her suffering."
page
374
January 23, 2019
–
Finished Reading
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Joe
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Feb 02, 2019 12:26PM
My book club is going to read this sometime soon. I do believe one of the places mentioned is around here.
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Rob wrote: ""I can not believe that they got away with poisoning people for so many years and that there were actually ads like that in newspapers!
Joe wrote: "My book club is going to read this sometime soon. I do believe one of the places mentioned is around here."It mentions three plants, Newark, NJ, Ottawa, IL, and Waterbury, CT. It really only covers events and trials in the Newark and Ottawa plants though. It's something every one should read but it is definitely gruesome and hard to get through at times.
I work in Ottawa, but locals say the old Westclock factory in Peru, IL produced their own version of radium girls.
Joe wrote: "I work in Ottawa, but locals say the old Westclock factory in Peru, IL produced their own version of radium girls."Oh wow. I don't know anything about the Westclock factory. The company in Ottawa was originally one company, but then they booted out the guy in charge, so he just opened his own factory and ended up avoiding the lawsuit I believe. I'm not sure where Peru is in relation to Ottawa, and I'm not sure if it became Westclock eventually, but that would be interesting.
Westclock in Peru, IL is maybe 20 miles west of Ottawa right on Highway 6. They went out of business when the surviving family sold out. At one time they took care of their employees. They were one of the first to offer pensions. At present they have a small museum on site and several businesses and offices are rented. You see the brand name on cheap stuff from China.
KAS wrote: "Glad to see four stars, Tina ;)) ❤️"Thank you! I need to get around to writing the review but I'm backed up and this is going to be a hard one to write. There was so much pain and suffering throughout it.
Joe wrote: "Westclock in Peru, IL is maybe 20 miles west of Ottawa right on Highway 6. They went out of business when the surviving family sold out. At one time they took care of their employees. They were one..."I love learning history facts like that. Apparently Rob knows a lot about it. I didn't realize Westclock was a client of Radium Dial and moved to Peru to be closer to them. I think that must've happened after the events in the book.
Rob wrote: "Radium Dial CompanyThe Radium Dial Company was started in 1917 and was in full production of painted dials by 1918. The company was a division of the Standard Chemical Company based in the Marshal..."
Thank you for answering our question. You are so full of knowledge. You sir, are awesome and I am grateful to be your friend :)
My book club will meet at the Hennepin, IL library on August 8th. At 6:00 in the evening Heinz Dietrich Suppan will appear to talk about his book "Marking Time: The Radium Girls of Ottawa". Afterwards he will join our book club for the discussion of the book. This should be quite interesting. Feel free to stop by if you are in the area.
Wonderful review, Tina. A very disturbing book which indeed will make the reader want to throw things. An insidious event which the powers that be attempted to cover up.
Joe wrote: "My book club will meet at the Hennepin, IL library on August 8th. At 6:00 in the evening Heinz Dietrich Suppan will appear to talk about his book "Marking Time: The Radium Girls of Ottawa". Afterwa..."That sounds amazing, however I live in VA and have no means to travel right now. Please let me know how the evening goes 😊
Jill wrote: "Wonderful review, Tina. A very disturbing book which indeed will make the reader want to throw things. An insidious event which the powers that be attempted to cover up."Thank you so much! And yes, insidious is a great way to describe it, and the people involved.
