Interested in a group of midwestern housewives who make a killing in the stock market? If you want the real story, refer to the now-famous Beardstown Ladies, but if you want a slightly slapstick version, point yourself in the direction of this first novel about the wholly fictional Mostly Methodist Club. Larksdale, Minnesota, is very cold in the winter. As that's the town's only defining feature, a group of women form the Mostly Methodist Club to do charitable works, share baked goods, and generally stave off boredom. When one member comes to their weekly meeting frightened at newly published statistics on the grim financial prospects of retired women, the group is transformed into the Larksdale Ladies Independence Club. The Ladies have two things in their favor: it's the beginning of the booming 1980s, and they have a young college student in their midst. Pink-haired Skye, home on probation and brought to the meetings in the custody of Mary, hardly fits the group demographic, but her vast knowledge of the computer industry proves far more valuable than the $1,500 buy-in stake. The women begin by trolling the mall and buying stakes in small chain-stores they think will make it big, then they move on to investing in this mysterious thing called software—in this case, Microsoft. Of course they become wildly rich, and readers will certainly enjoy seeing small-town gals make good, but the real pleasure here comes from the snappy narration of Sophia, daughter to one of the Ladies and gossipy chronicler of matters both financial and personal. When the local factory shuts down, the Ladies really test their mettle and try to save the future of their town. A witty,thoroughlylikabletale.
