Society is the name of the game in The Odd Women. Think Victorian and you have The Odd Women in a nutshell. It is all about the sociable attitude and the intelligent female society: women live in shame if they do not marry a man who has a sense of honor (and carries gloves and a walking stick). There is a subtle analysis of the institution of marriage.
As an aside, I found myself getting increasingly annoyed by Edmund Widdowson's behavior when he would not allow Monica to see her friend Milly alone. By the time he consented to let her see her friend for just an hour I was seething. Edmund insists on them always being together and criticizes her friends. It reminded me of the classic behavior of an abuser: alienating one from their friends and family, always wanting to be together, the possessiveness that turns rageful (my word). Meanwhile, there is Everard Barfoot and Rhoda. Rhoda fears that marriage would interfere with the best parts of her life. All in all, I did not care for Gissing's barely veiled attitudes towards women's love of fashion and gossip. ( )

2.5 stars

3 stars because it was written well, 2 stars because I didn't like anyone, put it all together and that equals 2.5 stars. I feel relieved I don't have to spend any more time with these characters! ( )

This was a Victorian age read so named because it described the women who were not paired with men, the left-overs! I normally like Victorian novels, but Gissing is certainly no Trollope or Hardy. 3 stars barely (so many minor characters that it could be confusing) 285 pages ( )

Very good. Recommended by Backlisted. ( )

Very enjoyable read. Brilliantly crafted and brazenly bold in it's message. On the cusp of the world recognizing and rewarding women's suffrage (New Zealand was the first country 1893), Gissing produces a cage-rattling piece of work that surely played a role in an evolving awakening and acceptance in the equality–if not superiority–of women and their place at the table. Terrific writing. ( )