Calling Invisible Women

May 14, 2012
Fifty-something Clover has long felt invisible to her husband and children, but when she wakes one morning to discover she can't see herself in the mirror, her fears become reality. Initially, she panics and worries that she is going blind, or even worse, insaneâher son, Nick, and husband, Arthur, don't seem to notice. Clover soon realizes, however, that she isn't imagining her invisibility and her family had simply stopped seeing her years ago. When browsing the classified section of the newspaper, Clover finds an ad for an upcoming meeting: "Calling Invisible Women." She soon discovers a community of other middle-aged, invisible women, who inform Clover that their condition is caused by a reaction between three drugs made by Dexter-White pharmaceuticals: an antidepressant, a hormone replacement therapy drug, and a calcium supplement. Meeting more afflicted women inspires Clover to embrace her invisibility rather than hide it. She shadows her husband at work, polices the school buses to stop bullies, and even thwarts a bank robbery. With other women in the support group, Clover decides to take action against Dexter-White and demand justice for the drug interaction that caused their condition. While Ray's concept of middle-aged women feeling overlooked by society may not be new, the characters in this fast, fun read are empowered and proactive.