I found this book so interesting - from the almost short story format where we drop into different women's lives to move us through time, to the frank treatment of its topics, to the sharp and funny skewering of traditions. Also, the repeated call outs to someone's alma mater and graduating year no matter how dire the situation they were in had me cackling. 
I truly hated multiple characters in this book

(has a man ever been more sniveling and pitiful than the dread Harald? I cheered when Lakey left him aband ned on the road in the dust, where he belongs)

but I hated them in a way that kept me reading.