Morbid Curiosity Book Club

The Radium Girls

This book club is not for the faint of heart. Come at your own risk as we discuss the darker side of books. This month we discuss The Radium Girls. Email kkriley@tscpl.org for a copy of the book.

Morbid curiosity, or an interest in unpleasant things, is a human reaction captivating individuals across the nation. True crime media consumption, ranging from books to podcasts to documentaries, has grown rapidly in popularity and this book club leans into that. We may also touch on topics of cults, the paranormal and history as we explore the dangerous and more frightening side of the library's collection. 
 
This month we will discuss The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore. During the dark years of WWI, a glowing new element known as radium lit up America. Recently discovered at the time, this element changed the war as watch heads could be painted with the glowing chemical to help soldiers identify the time during the night without giving away their positions. With delicate hands able to paint the small details and pay much higher than in other work, women were the laborers making the watches possible. Years down the line though, they'd also be the ones to pay the price as the chemical poison attacked their bodies. Unwilling to let deceptive corporate leaders get away unscathed, the radium girls fought until their dying days to receive justice. 

Email kkriley@tscpl.org for questions or to obtain a copy of the book.

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