I have to say, I'm pretty shocked by some of the reactions to this book that have been posted here. As a staunch feminist, I have no problem at all with Daughters of Eve. In fact, I'd bet money that Duncan is a self-proclaimed feminist.I think people are misreading this book as an anti-feminist crusade, when in reality it's a commentary on radicalism gone out of control. Most of the young women portrayed in this book are victims of chauvinism in varying degrees -- Fran is struggling to be taken seriously as a budding woman scientist, Ann is faced with the unenviable choice of having a baby or pursuing a career as an artist, Ruth is deemed a second-class citizen in a male-dominated household, and Laura is devalued for being heavy in a world that prizes stick figures. I challenge anybody who claims that Duncan doesn't portray these situations as unfair. They're also sadly realistic, which only add to the book's strength.Personally, I felt great pleasure when the Daughters of Eve meted out Peter's punishment in the woods, even though their actions were thoroughly criminal. It's when the women become so consumed with rage that they feel invincible that troubles occur -- friendships break down, innocent people get hurt, and, in the end, the most vulnerable member of the group, Jane, commits a violent act that lands her in a hospital for the criminally insane.For me, this is Duncan's exploration of how righteous rage can quickly spiral out of control. It's a good exploration of that age-old question: Is it better to suppress one's anger about oppression and make the most of the opportunities that remain, or is it more honorable to strike a violent blow against your enemies as a means to end suffering? I think the answer lies somewhere in between, but we're dealing with a very slippery slope, here. I think it is this slope that inspired Duncan to write this story, rather than a desire to warn readers against the evils of feminism. In closing, I think the job of a fiction writer is to create intriguing situations, instead of "sending a message." If Duncan had chosen to tell a story in which the young feminists were vindicated, I think it would have rang false. Although that's a sad commentary on our society, I'm still glad Duncan chose to avoid this trap and chose instead to construct an intriguing scenario with sympathetic characters who behaved realistically. Duncan shouldn't be criticized for having these characters suffer at the hands of a warped society -- in fact, she should be commended for her willingness to deliver a hard message: Life ain't fair, and if you rage against the machine, there's a good chance you'll get ground to a pulp. There are tons of great stories like this -- The Scarlet Letter, Les Miserables, Tale of Two Cities, and Tess of D'Ubervilles, to name just a few. Given its great prose, complex characters, and compelling plot, I think Daughters of Eve is another one of these books. If you're looking for a happy ending, pick up a collection of fairy tales. If you'd like to have your attitudes toward female oppression challenged, though, then this book is worth your time.
My 2015 Reading Challenge- Read a banned bookDaughters of Eve by Lois Duncan, a secret society of girls or a social club? There are 10 members of this exclusive club at Modesta High School. When you get a special invitation, it comes in a special envelope. You get excited and feel special. Only the real popular and smart girls at school are part of this club.So what is this book about and why was it banned from high schools / middle schools. Well this book about a teacher who was teacher these high school how to be feminist. Tired how boys were treating them, they wanted to make a change. Where I think equal rights for woman and women being treated right is great and I'm all for that. I really don't take any crap off of any guy, but there are right ways to go about things. I think this is where parents may have had a problem with this book.The teacher in this book was an instigator. She would say things like "your not going to let get away with that, are you?" "don't just break up with him, make him pay" This promoted the girls to take on criminal way to take care of things. The teacher is kind of a crazy man hater and I could not imagine having this woman over a group of girls a role model. These girls go way to far on how they take their revenge, where the teacher should have been promoting a healthy way to deal with feelings and getting the respect you deserve from boys.The main reason for low rating is that this book ends abruptly. I really didn't get any closure on how the girls turned out or if this physco man hating teacher warped their minds. On the topic of it being banned, I wouldn't want my teenage daughter reading a book like this. I don't think this is healthy way of thinking. I'm all for feminism, but not physco crazy stuff.
What do You think about Daughters Of Eve (1990)?
The commentary here just proves to me that we millenial females are spoiled brats. Thgere is absolutelt nothing wrong with believing that women can not do everything men can do. Its simply the physical truth. I am lending this book to me younger sister so that she can actually have a dose of reality. If you do not use willpower, and stick to a diet, you will be treated worse, and so you should be. Today obesity is an epidemic. The average American woman is fat, and they should not be treated the same as those people who work to look healthy and attractive, especially because today healthcare is unfair, and we have to pay for unhealthy people. I think things were more fair then they are today. Maybe this wikll teach some people that they are not born entitled.
—Martine
This could have been a really good book, but the characters were all such stereotypes, it was hard to feel anything for any of them. There was this weird undertone that I couldn't figure out as well. Was the author trying to be pro-strong independent female? If so, she was so heavy handed that it made you almost root against the girls and their journey to independence. It was like she was saying in order to be a strong, independent woman, you have to hate men. That's so far from the truth, in my opinion. The male characters were all one diminesional and evil. The female characters were weak, until they decided to go off the deep end. And then they were just crazy females. Blah. Not a good book.
—Christy
I don't know that I love it, but I definitely like and appreciate it. This book was first published in 1979, and it's steeped in second wave feminism of the "men are evil" variety, but it's also a YA book about a small, secret club from the end of the seventies, so the whole thing goes cultish and over-the-top by the end. I love a good over-the-top book, and this definitely qualifies. It also gets points for being a book where, at the end, all the young women who have bought into this idea of men being the enemy, end up in a variety of situations afterwards.Try to pick up the 2011 version of the book with the interview with Lois Duncan, who makes a very good point on why the book was banned. It really brings home the whole feel of the book and why it was important in 1979 and why it's still important now.
—Gayle Francis Moffet
If you don't mind being disgusted, read this book; it's very good.The men in Daughters of Eve are horrific, and some of the women are giving them a run for their money. I think there is one decent male character in the entire book.The story takes place in 1979, but you would think it was 1949. One girl's father still believes that only females should wash dishes, tend to younger siblings, and clean up any mess that a male makes around the house. Ruth is not allowed to do anything outside of school ever, while her brothers run free. They even tell their mother what they will and won't do, and the father backs them up. Sick stuff.Another girl has a father who beats his wife every Friday, and the mother says it's because she got on his nerves and it's her fault because she should know how hard he works and not give him trouble. Another poor pitiful soul named Laura is a big fat monster. She has the nerve to weigh 160 pounds. How awful! She's a beast. The book describes her as huge, so massive she has many chins. Really? At 160 she would have to be like 4'0" to look anywhere near as big as that. I'm sure she was at least 5'0", so I have no clue why they described her to be as large as bigfoot in girth.Irene is a bitter woman, but look at the crap she has had to put up with. Who can blame her for being crazy.I don't think I have ever hated so many characters in one book.Here is my usual gripe. The book was written in 1979, so yes, it's dated! Why people act surprised by the fact that a book from 1979 is dated is beyond me. Here is a tip, if you read Wuthering Heights, it will be dated.
—Nattie
