The Women on Platform Two by Laura Anthony is about a group of Irish
women who demand control of their bodies and the effects this has on
modern women. In 1969 in Dublin, Maura had just married the man of her
dreams. Dr. Christy Davenport is of a woman's dreams and a pillar of
society. He is charismatic, handsome, and has a great job. Shortly after
tying the knot, Maura noticed her husband has a darker side that she
didn’t know about. He has a vicious temper, and he is quick to anger and
turns violent. While Maura wants to have a child, she worries that her
child might never be safe around her husband.
Maura befriends one
of her husband’s patients, Bernie. Bernie is a mother of three and she
learns that if she conceives again, that her health complications might
be fatal. Bernie loves her husband and wants to be intimate with him but
they both fear the consequences if she ends up pregnant again.
In
Dublin 2023, Saoirse is a nurse who is engaged to a fiancée whom she
loves. He wants kids, but Saoirse is unsure if she wants kids or if she
will ever be ready for kids. After a tense conversation, Saoirse decides
to go for a walk and crosses paths with one of the women who made this
choice even possible for her.
The novel was an entertaining and
poignant read. It is still relevant today as women all over the world
still struggle to maintain control of their bodies and their family
planning decisions. The novel is told from alternating points of view
and time. It was interesting reading the point of view of all the women,
how different each of their circumstances were, and the reasons why
they each didn’t want to have children. While the story didn’t have any
twists or unexpected moments, I found the book to be a great read, and
it kept me engaged to read more about these strong women. It also served
as a reminder that if you stand up for what you believe in, change can
happen.