The Calamity Club

A story that pulls the reader inside the world rather than keeping them at a distance.

From my perspective, The Calamity Club has one of the most intriguing character developments of any book I have read. I read books as other people breathe, so this statement says a lot.

Often, I find myself looking into a story world, observing the characters’ actions, thinking about their motivations and the events that drive the story forward. With The Calamity Club, I felt immersed in the story. I walked next to Birdie. I sat with Meg in that moldy, dark room. I tensed when Garnett walked by, and I felt both elation and sadness as the events unfolded. That kind of immersion changed my reading experience.

I have read criticism that certain parts of the book or some characters’ actions feel unrealistic. I understand the point. But that, too, is part of what makes storytelling possible and intriguing. Not everything needs to be entirely accurate or believable to feel true.

The Calamity Club will linger in my mind for a long time.