Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

I saw the movie Hidden Figures sometime last year and I was so moved that I immediately bought the book to read. But, I picked it up only now when I have some leisurely time to spend. I read somewhere that Margot Lee Shetterly, when asked about the differences between the book and the movie had remarked that if the makers would have stuck to the book, it would have been a documentary and not a feature film. I tend to agree.

I started the book with great excitement and as I progressed, I hoped it would pick up pace soon. Then, I was 60 pages through (out of 265) - almost a fifth of the book - and only one of the characters from the movie has been introduced (not just out of lead characters, not even the supporting cast). Moreover, there is no mention at all of one, only the drop of the name of the second and hardly any details about the third till now. The book is supposed to be real life inspirational stories of three Black women, and not just the movie but all reviews about the book as well as the Wikipedia entries on the book and the author said so. I had started to feel cheated as I was not finding it as promising as I had thought it would be. In fact, the book read more like a "Black History" textbook.

I soon realized that the book was not going to be anywhere near the movie. It continued to leave the story of these three women in the middle and switched to each other, not moving simultaneously and going back and forth in time which lead to so much confusion. Moreover, it talked about so many more women; numerous political incidents; and rattled names which probably African Americans or the people who have read American History are aware of. But for a layperson like me, it was chaotic and bewildering and at the end of it, I don't remember any of them, least of all the years when they achieved the big feats mentioned in the book.

I had high hopes that at least the part where John Glenn had entered space (where the movie was focused) would match the movie. It was basically the most exciting part of Katherine Johnsons journey and had inspired me to take up the book. I kept waiting for at least some characters from the movie, like Al Harrison (played by Kevin Costner), Virginia Mitchel (played by Kristen Dunst), Paul Stafford (played by Jim Parsons). It had soon dawned on me that these characters did not exist in reality and were a work of fiction. The book narration of the John Glenn space mission was as bland as hypoallergenic food. On that note, the one thing I can say is definitely misplaced in this book is the book cover showing all these fictional people. All in all, the book ruined the movie too for me.

Maybe the problem was not really with the book; the problem was with me having watched the movie before the book and having super high expectations from it. But, I doubt I would have picked up the book ever without first watching the movie. I am not a non-fiction person per se and many times while reading the book I wondered why am I even torturing myself by reading it when I am clearly not enjoying it as much as I had hoped I would. But the elusive John Glenn space mission kept me hopeful and going forth. Once through the said part, and disappointed big time, I left the book for days and didn't go back to it. But I hate leaving books unfinished so I finally and laboriously wrapped it up.

I am not saying that the book was not important. It is insightful and would be enlightening for anyone who enjoys reading about history. I am also not saying that understanding the setting of the environment and the facts and events of the time and age in which the real story of the three women is based is irrelevant. Probably the book helps in more appreciation of the circumstances under which these ladies achieved what they did. It's just, for me personally, the book was a tad too insipid. 

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