The Girls

by Helen Yglesias

These days the news is full of reports about the graying of America, yet it’s rare that old people appear in contemporary fiction except as stock characters: the indulgent grandmother, the wicked witch. In her first novel in a dozen years, the acclaimed author of How She Died and Sweetsir gives us four grand old ladies, sisters, each unique and indelibly real, in a poignant and very funny story about the last American taboos, old age and dying.

As the novel opens, Jenny, the youngest at eighty, has flown down to Miami—that gaudy, pastel-hued haven of the elderly—to look after her two failing oldest sisters: Eva, ninety-five, always the family mainstay, and Naomi, ninety, who is riddled with cancer but still has her tart tongue and her jet-black head of hair. The fourth sister, Flora, still has her black hair too, straight out of the bottle, but no head for the hard decisions facing Eva and Naomi. An energetic eighty-five, Flora spends her time dating (“He’s mad about me, I only hope he can get it up!”) and making the rounds of the retirement homes with her standup routine, the Sandra Bernhard of the senior set.

The Girls gives us these four full-if-wrinkled-fleshed women with all their complaints and foibles, their self-absorption and downright orneriness, their unquenchable humor and immense courage. Aches and pains, wrinkles and hearing aids, wheelchairs and walkers—out of these, and out of the human spirit, Helen Yglesias fashions a novel that moves us, opens our eyes, and makes us laugh out loud.

Genres: Fiction, Novels

117 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 25, 1999

About the author

Helen Yglesias (1915–2008) is the author of five novels and several works of nonfiction. A former literary editor of the Nation, she wrote for the New Yorker, the New York Times Book Review, the Los Angeles Times, and Harper’s, among many other publications. She lived in Maine and New York City.

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that you could read in one night but you stretch it to two to prolong the pleasure. I'm racking by brain to recall where or who recommended this treasure. I'd like to thank that person and see what else they've read.

As I get older, I enjoy reading stories of family, and relationships. Also, end of life issues are in the forefront of my mind as I've lost both my mother and brother this year.

The Girls in this story are four delightful sisters, Jenny, Flora, Naomi, and Eva, 80, 85, 90, and 95 respectively. Jenny is called to Florida to help Flora look after the other two, one dying of cancer and the other, failing due to age. Spirited women all! Yglesias explores the aging process and the issues of said with an expert eye and wonderful passages. There is humor and love and life in these pages. I don't have sisters but wouldn't mind be adopted by any of these. The Girls is just a lovely, little book with a great deal of heart!

[Mom · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this book would be perfect for me, but I was sadly mistaken. Despite the fact that the sisters did end up successfully making plans for the end of their lives, they never achieved the acceptance or forgiveness that I thought was going to happen. It seemed that all they did was argue and find fault with each other and it lacked the closure that I was anticipating.

[Mystica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the description of this book. So much written about young people, older people on the periphery only and these were very old! eighty and upwards four sisters five years gap between them and all very much aware of what is happening to them and the surroundings and their future, limited though it seemed.

Jenny has turned up being the youngest to help Flora, the flamboyant one assist in the moving of Eva and Naomi to an assisted living home. The eldest is 95 articulate and sensitive and each sister is quite articulate with Flora being the extrovert and outgoing still thinking she is attractive to the opposite sex and quite flirtatious!

Interesting read on four different characters of women, how aging affects each of us in different ways (I am sure most readers can identify with one of these women!) I was certainly able to. Very nice take on the aging process and what we should or shouldn't possibly do to avoid embarrassing our children!

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this story about an 80 year old coming to town to take care of her older sisters (85, 90, 95) in Miami very depressing. It was well written, so I rounded up from 2.5 to 3 stars.

[Ionia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly, this book could be used for assisted suicide. I'm not trying to be mean, but I don't think that I have ever read a more catty, depressing book than this one. I had high hopes for this when I read the blurb. It sounded like a book that would reveal family secrets and keep the reader engaged. Instead, all I got from it was the main characters accusing one another and fighting throughout the book. About the only good thing I can say about this, is that it is short.

This review is based on a complementary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

[Carlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was very whiny and negative. It was hard to like the characters because they were grumpy and mean to each other. What I got out of it was... that is not how I want to leave this world, having my sisters still bickering and jealous of each other.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

As much as I wanted to like this book, it just fell short of my expectations. The characters weren't all that likable and the story was under developed, which is too bad because I liked the premise of the book and thought it could have been good.

[Kathie Kuehl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an odd little book but it did hold my interest for the most part ( although the fact that is was a short read. This is the story if 4 elderly sister: Eva aged 95; Naomi aged 90; Flora aged 85 and Jenny aged 80. Their parents, brothers, and spouses are all dead. The oldest 3 sisters live in Florida and Jenny lives in Maine. Because the 2 oldest sisters are coming close to the end of their lives, Jenny travels to Florida to help take care of them. There is a lot of bickering and arguing and jealously between the sisters and most of this short story is taken up with that theme. However, in spite of all that, the sisters love and care very much about each other as they face together the last chapters of their lives.

[Phoebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short novel about the twilight days of four sisters, the last of their large family, that begins with Jenny, the youngest at 80, arriving in Miami to offer succor and assistance to her two eldest sisters, Naomi and Eva. Both are in their 90s and in failing health. Flora, at 85 the middle sister, refuses to bow to old age but has no ability to cope with the serious decisions facing the family. Well written, the novel persists in being more literary than funny, and funny/wry could have leavened, without dismissing, what is undeniably a grim theme. It is a character study and a commentary on family dynamics, set against the seedy Miami Beach scene, with, ultimately, an ending that shows the vulnerability and inevitability of age and illness. Adult.

[Marilyn Pronovost · Rating 3 out of 5]

The characters of the four elderly sisters of this story is it's strength. The topic is different, four sisters with the youngest being eighty. The story studies the familial relationship the love hare aspects and how family defines us in so many ways, how we want to be free of it and yet how it pulls us to loyalty to that basic unit. The story is well told but given the unique material, it never reaches the profound, being what is the point of this story.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

What could have been a depressing tale is told with humor, compassion and common sense. Jenny, a spry 80 year old, travels to Florida to assist her 85 year old sister, Flora, in taking care of their two other sisters, Naomi who is 90 and Eva who is 95. Eva has cancer and Naomi diminishing strength. All are independent creatures and very different from each other except for one characteristic -- they all love each other in their own way.

[Joan Winokur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Depressing

Sorry, but maybe because I'm 70, but I found the book to be very depressing. It is very sad to me to think the only place left when you get old is a Nursing home. If it was to show how close the sisters were U did not see it. The last thing I need to read is something depressing. I have the News to do that.

[Rhonda McCoy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good grief! Do grown women really act like this? Disliked every character except Jenny. The other sisters were either nagging, complaining, or crying. Jenny may be the baby of the family but she is the only adult in the room.

[Marty Wilde · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. VERY old sisters get together to plan each others' nursing home and future plans. Even though they are in their 80's / 90's they act like young children and carry their childhood attitudes and petty feelings. It was interesting to see that "some things never change."

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather depressing . I'm in that age range.

[Diana Petty-stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four sisters, now 80, 85, 90 and 95 years old are reunited when one them is approaching the end.

[Beverley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The girls, sisters aged 80,85,90,95, gather to take care of one another. I enjoyed seeing how they reverted to childhood behavior patterns. Very believable.

[gloria segal · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sisters

To much detail about surroundings, landscapes etc.
These are sisters ages from 80 to 95 there should have been more of a story line about each individual's life.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read. Fairly well written, with interesting, albeit unlikable, characters.

[Tara Barth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Depressing at best

I kept waiting for the book to get better...wanting it to get better. It had potential, but lacked entertainment. The ending was abrupt and left me wanting.

[Peta Alkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. Makes you look at growing older a bit differently.

[Irene · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible do not recommend. Waste of time.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bad Ending

Good story idea but events seemed to be random. Poor ending; it seems as though the author just decided to quit.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Last days

Sisters and trying to deal with life when old age happens. Sisters will still treat each other as if they were still young.

[Nancy Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story but found at times difficult to read due to lack of punctuation.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this book to be sadder than expected, but still entertaining.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be read by those 70 and older.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short read about 4 aging sisters how they cope with getting to the end of their lives and their memories of earlier times.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars. Premise is great, book is not so great.

[Gina Pickering Hutchison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, sad, timely.

Loved the interaction of the sisters! No matter the age, health, or time in life, the family hierarchy is still in place.