- Hardcover: 352 pages
- Publisher: Headline Review (10 Mar. 2020)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 147226410X
- ISBN-13: 978-1472264107
Synopsis
It’s 1952. The switchboard operators in Wooster, Ohio, love nothing more than to eavesdrop on their neighbours’ conversations, and gossip about what they learn. Vivian Dalton is no different (despite her teenage daughter’s disapproval), and always longs to hear something scandalous. But on the night of December 15th, she wishes she hadn’t. The secret that’s shared by a stranger on the line threatens to rip the rug of Vivian’s life from under her.
Vivian may be mortified, but she’s not going to take this lying down. She wants the truth, no matter how painful it may be. But one secret tends to lead to another . . .
This moving, heart-felt and ultimately uplifting novel brilliantly weaves together an irresistible portrayal of a town buzzing with scandal, and an unforgettable story of marriage, motherhood and the unbreakable ties of family.
Review
If we are honest, we all like a bit of gossip and this book thrives on it. 1952, Wooster Ohio, Vivian Dalton works on the switchboard connecting to calls to the residents. Once connected, the rule is to unplug and not listen in to calls, but temptation is always there, the chance of learning something new about the residents. Vivian frequently falls into temptation, until one day she hears something that will turn her life upside down. Even worse, the call was to Betty Miller, the town gossip, who sees herself as a pillar of the community and more important than any one else, what she doesn’t know is who told her this secret. As Vivian’s life spirals, she is determined to find out who made that call. A book of secrets, small town mentality, and family, this is an ultimately uplifting and and engaging read.
As a debut novel, The Operator is an accomplished and well written book, with wonderful characters. Vivian is proud of her job, of her sisters she is the one who got the best job and married first. For Vivian this is important as there was always a rivalry between the three sisters, and she always wanted to better herself. I liked the vulnerability about her, stemming from being pulled out of school early and not being able to get her high school diploma. She hides this under a shield of armour, a bravado where she mistrusts people who prefer books to magazines. In reality she looks up words secretly in her daughters dictionary, not wanting to be seen as uneducated. Vivian’s nemesis is Betty Miller, who is full of confidence, educated at college and from a privileged background. Her father is Mayor, and she sees herself as being better than everyone else, and looks down her nose at Vivian who has the audacity to wave at Betty and sit too near the front of the church; Betty likes everyone to know their place and stay in it. Vivian has a warmth to her character, whereas Betty is self centred and bigoted, two polar opposites.
As well as the main plot line of Vivian trying to find out who called Betty Miller, why and if it is true, there is a secondary plot about another scandal that hit the town. A clerk at the Building and Loan stole $250,000 and ran away with his girlfriend who was already married, a huge sandal for such a small town. Gretchen Berg doesn’t shy away from the difficult subjects that were part of the small town mentality in the 1950’s; racism, bigotry, class, and getting joy from someone else’s misfortune. She also explores family dynamics, sibling rivalry, jealousy, revenge, secrets and lies, all of which cause friction but make for brilliant reading. All of these layers come together to make The Operator an enjoyable, engaging and uplifting read.
The Operator is the perfect portrayal of a small town in the 1950’s where gossip held power over people’s lives. There is the moral undertone to the story about ‘people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones’ that make this such a satisfying and irresistible read. This is a stunning debut from Gretchen Berg, who writes with warmth, wit and empathy in relation to her characters and their stories. Gossip, secrets and karma make this a glorious read that will bring a smile to your face, a brilliant read.
