What is special about this book is its absolute ordinariness. The characters are ordinary and so are their stories. Kate McGhee, the main character, deals with the normal everyday issues of coming of age in the 1950s and 1960s — the changing dynamics of the relationship between the sexes, of sexual expression, and of women’s growing sense of identity. Her exploration and coming to terms with these issues is the focus of her therapy and this book. Written mainly from Kate’s point of view, each chapter takes the form of a brief letter, personal reflection, or dialogue.

Kate McGhee, the main character of June Akers Seese’s second novel, Is This What Other Women Feel Too? is a product of her era. Coming of age, prior to feminism and the sexual revolution, Kate struggles with the issues of her identity, sexuality, and her place in the world as a woman. The story begins in 1954 as Kate, college student and literature major, explores her burgeoning sexuality as the mistress to a much older and married bookseller. When he dies, Kate is sent into an emotional tailspin. She changes her major, her career choice, her residence, and overall lifestyle. In an attempt to deal with the chaos of her ever-changing life, she seeks the help of Dr. Koltonow, a psychiatrist. As Dr. Koltonow delves deeper into her past, Kate is forced to reflect on issues far greater than her current dilemma.

The book is a cultural reflection of life during the period of the late 1950s and early 1960s. It moves from the rigidity of campus life during the fifties, to urban unrest during the sixties. It moves from the excitement of the big city to the boredom of small town life. Contrasting Kate’s view of her own experience in the Midwest are her views of the "exciting" and "glamorous" lifestyles of her friends and especially that of her confidante, Parker, who explore New York, San Francisco, and Israel.

Both the plus and minus of this book is in its ordinariness. The characters, their behavior, and their situations are all very common. Her experience of life during the 50s and 60s are by far more the norm than most novels portray of life during this turbulent era. (At least it is in this reviewer’s lived experience of the era.) That is what makes this novel so real and believable. Reading this book is like rereading a series of old letter from a dear and trusting friend. Would I recommend this book? Yes. This book is very good and deserves to be read, but it does have a very select market. The joy of this book is its reality factor that creates a truly identifiable "everywoman." This is also its drawback. Readers who are seeking an old-fashion gut-wrenching tearjerker or the frenetic paced of modern escapism will be woefully disappointed. I do, however, recommend that this book be shared it with a dear and close friend, or be read alone when you need one.

Suzanne Garrison-Terry

Education: B.A. in History from Sacred Heart University, M.L.S. in Library Science from Southern Connecticut State College, M.R.S. in Religious Studies/Pastoral Counseling from Fairfield University, and a M.Div. in Professional Ministry from New Brunswick Theological Seminary. She is currently completing a Certificate in Spirituality/Spiritual Direction from Sacred Heart University (July 2001). She is a Licensed Minister of the United Church of Christ and an Assistant Professor in Library Science at Dowling College, Long Island, NY

Interests in Mental Health: I am interested in the interplay between psychology and spirituality. My current research focuses on the role of hormonal fluctuation during puberty, pregnancy, and peri-menopause as a stimuli for mystical experiences. Through the study of autobiographical accounts of the mystical experiences of "historically accepted" female Christian mystics and additional biographical information, I am analyzing the connection between the onset of mystical experiences and biological data/symptomology for the potential existence of hormonal fluctuation or irregularity. If this sounds like an unusual topic, nota bene how many medieval female mystics began having "vision" on or about the age of 40!

Categories: Fiction