Book Review By Catie Hayes

As women, there are parts of our selves that can only be appreciated by other women. Tell any woman, for example, you have cramps, were up with a sick baby, or need help just to get through the day and you get a level of understanding found nowhere else.

Ms. Graham has captured this phenomenon in a story that spans the lifetime of six women. Opening in 50's, five American women stumble upon each other on a US Air Force base in Norfolk, England. All military wives, they bond together to survive their time isolated from everything familiar. In a rare outing, the Americans meet a local woman and their group expands to welcome her. The women support each other in many ways from sharing items from the base store to Kath as her country rebuilds from WWII's devastation to swapping child care duties.

Although the women eventually part company, some through their husband's reassignments, some through widowhood, the six remain in contact across the miles and the years. Through divorces, births, health crisis, career changes and more, the bond formed by these women is the one constant in their lives.

"The Future Homemakers of America" is simultaneously funny, bittersweet, and heart wrenching. Any woman can see parts of her own friendships somewhere in this story. It is a warm, enjoyable portrayal of how we rely upon each other.

Review Copyright 2004 Catie Hayes

About the Reviewer:

Catie Hayes is founder/editor of WomanLinks.com. She is a freelance writer, a single homeschooling mom of two, and an avid fan of laughter, cats and chocolate (not necessarily in that order).

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