Nevertheless, She Persisted

A woman seeks to make her way in a male-dominated industry. Her acquaintances discourage her; the men in charge nearly laugh her out of the room. Still, she shows up to work. She endures the teasing and the skeptical looks. She executes her assigned tasks flawlessly. Slowly, she wins the grudging respect of her male colleagues and a permanent spot on the team. Soon enough, she's the go-to person for the most challenging assignments, and she's put in charge of the new recruits. This bootstrapping narrative for Egan's new historical novel is more than just an Algeresque vindication of the American dream. It is feminist, but of a variety like Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In, asking us to celebrate one woman's professional success as a symbol of all women's advancement, to even see it as a meaningful strike against sexism.

Maggie Doherty reviews Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan