Girls on the Line: A Novel Kindle Edition

Had i known the book was written in first person I never would have purchased it. For those of you who are Christians, you might want to skip this one due to the language and sex scene. It would be nice if books were required to have a rating system. This is a great book for feminist wannabes. The feminist rhetoric comes through loud and clear.

I found this piece of historical fiction to be quite annoying to read. The book, even though written in first person, fails to encapsulate it's characters. The father character is inconsistent, the mother only exists as an antagonist, and the main character herself is hard to grasp and relate to.The writing was done well and the book pays attention to historical accuracy, but the main character is prone to self-righteous monologues and has very few faults, which the author makes very clear from the get-go. She is characterized as a modern feminist who is constantly under attack for her ideals. And while I am a feminist myself, the trope that the main character falls into is more like a Disney princess playing the victim rather than an inspirational female character. All we hear throughout the novel is 'woe is me, I'm so oppressed', and it's overdone to an extreme that takes away from the enjoyment of the novel. I don't think these themes are bad, per se, just overdone. The 'I am right in every situation and far superior while being both a feminist champion for women and humble and gorgeous at the same time' characterization is so off-putting and quite unrealistic.There is also a sex scene, please be aware.All in all, I would not recommend.

We've all heard of the 'hidden figures' of America's space program; the women 'heroes' without whose tireless and painstaking work the history of America's space program would be quite different.Did you know though that decades before, there was another group of 'hidden figures' in America's history? A group of women whose 'call to duty' would not be ignored or set aside.The brave women who served with the U.S. Army's Signal Corp in battle-torn Europe during World War I.In GIRLS ON THE LINE, Aimie K Runyan brings to life, in rich detail and engrossing narrative, the story of the 'hidden figures' in American history that predated those of America's space program. GIRLS ON THE LINE, a beautifully atmospheric set piece, is the story of a group of humble telephone operators in peacetime who became true heroines of World War I. These remarkable women, who more than once put themselves 'in harm's way', undisputedly changed the course of the war and in the process, saved countless lives.Ruby Wagner is from a prominent Philadelphia family, engaged to be married to the son of another prominent Philadelphia family. Ruby has everything that she could ever want - the comforts of a well-to-do family and the privilege that goes with that - a future of ease and comfort - marriage, albeit an arranged one, to a kindhearted, good and decent man.Everything she could want.Except true happiness.And true love.As much as Ruby loves her parents, and tries to live up to their expectations, she is also resolved to be 'her own' woman and make her own decisions about her life. Part of her 'strike' for independence is taking a job, despite her mother's vehement objections as a telephone operator with Pennsylvania Bell.When America enters the war, Ruby spends her days working the switchboards, rolling bandages for the Red Cross, and attending social functions where her mother 'grooms' Ruby for entry in to Mainline society. And then one day, in a cruel and ironic twist of fate, Ruby's family receives word that her older brother Francis has been killed on the muddy battlefields of Europe. When Ruby hears that the Army is looking for skilled telephone operators to join the war effort by enlisting in the U.S. Army's SignalCorp and going to Europe, where their vastly superior skills will be put to the test both behind and at the forefront of the battle lines, she knows in her heart that this is how she will honor her brother, and the countless others who lost their lives.Not by rolling bandages back home and indulging in all the comforts of being thousands of miles away from the war.All too soon, Ruby is serving overseas in a forward area, embroiled in intrigue - did someone say "spy in our midst?" - and, unexpectedly, romance.I'm going to stop here. To say anymore would be venturing into 'spoiler alert territory'.Great historical fiction doesn't just tell a story. It immerses the reader into a particular place and time in history, bringing to life characters and events so realistically that the reader feels they are actually 'there'.Aimie has done just that. Replete with the mores and manners of the period, the author weaves narrative and character effortlessly to create a tapestry rich in detail, mood and atmosphere. Her meticulous research lends such a degree authenticity one has to remind themselves that GIRLS ON THE LINE is a work of fiction. Personally, I am half-tempted to travel to the author'shome - that wouldn't be 'stalkerish', would it? - for a peek at the time machine she must surely have hidden away in her gardenshed.My sincere "Thank you" to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author, Aimie K. Runyan, for a free electronic ARC of this novel.

Girls in the Line is a thoroughly charming novel about the experiences of a young American woman who volunteers to serve in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War I. It is also a book that gives insight into the social changes that would sweep through American society in the wake of that conflict. The author does an excellent job describing the challenges that women on the front lines in this war faced, but also showed how friendship and commitment allowed them to transcend society's beliefs about women's limited capabilities. The book is well written and the characters are likable and interesting. There is romance but no explicit sex scenes. While the realities of war are described the author does not immerse the book in gruesome details. The book is not, by any means, the greatest novel about World War I, but I finished the book in one sitting and enjoyed it immensely. I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys light historical fiction.

This novel taught me another little bit about WWI. Who knew switchboard operators were actually sent overseas? I had an aunt that did that type of work! Those women lived in uncomfortable and often unsafe houses and buildings. And they evidently kept the lines of communication open, even if they had to move to the woods to do it. Great historical novel.

I never knew anything about the women who worked in the Army during WWI as communication specialists, linking the soldiers on the front with the Generals back in the command centers giving them orders. This was an extremely interesting book but added an element of romance and love to spice things up. Also the descriptions of Philadelphia Society Main Line were most interesting to me a born & bred Philly girl but certainly not a Main Line girl! Read it , you will love this book.

Historically accurate and engaging, The Girls on the Line tells the story of World War 1 heroine, Ruby, who after a personal tragedy, feels she must help more in the war effort. Since I knew very little about the women who served beyond doling donuts and rolling bandages during that war, I learned a great deal. I would recommend it especially for young women.

What a well constructed story of women in the service of their country in WWI. Thank goodness they were the UK’s allies and not against us. This book has been very hard to lay aside to do the mundane chores of life. Thank you for a fantastic read.

A really good and interesting read based on the experiences of the real ladies who did the job.I hadn’t heard of these American ladies, recruited from the WW1 era of telephone exchange operators, and their service in France.Although this is fiction, it gives a good insight into what their lives and living conditions were like and the work they performed - their loves and their friends. Very enjoyable.

The story centred on Ruby who joins the women's signals corps to be sent to France in 1917 as a telephonic facilitating communication between the front line etc and HQ. I had never realized the importance of this before. Some good insights into the conditions suffered by those involved.There is also a lot of woman's own type stuff that would appeal more to female readers . All in all pretty good read.

This was a great read all the more-so because it was about a group of American women who entered the First World War to “ man” the ‘ phones near the front line. I had never realised these women existed and their bravery was amazing. The author also conveyed the difference this experience made to the women’s lives. And so down the years to all women’s’ lives. Thoroughly enjoyable and informative.

Really good, well written and historically accurate (to my knowledge). Really gives a sense of the conditions during WW1 and vibrant characters you can really relate to