Chapter 37 Summary: Timing Is Everything

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The chapter opens in October 1963, with Viv and her baby back home from the hospital, the infant thriving. Charlotte’s gallery plans are nearing completion, with renovations scheduled to begin in November. Bitsy and King are moving toward an amicable divorce, and Bitsy is performing well in her classes at American University.

Margaret, however, is in a different place. A month after her essay appeared, she has received only eighteen pieces of fan mail and a brief flash of local celebrity. She feels embarrassed, disappointed, and despondent—especially because her friends had invested money and hope in the project. To make matters worse, she has just discovered that her column at A Woman’s Place has been taken over by a writer named Margie Reynolds, who shares her initials and facial characteristics, suggesting the magazine believes readers won’t notice the swap. Margaret feels humiliated and has no desire to see anyone.

Bitsy, however, shows up at her doorstep and insists on a horseback ride, even pulling out Margaret’s dungarees and standing guard while she changes. Reluctantly, Margaret agrees. They ride along a bridle path, Margaret on a placid horse named Lydia Bee, Bitsy on a younger, more spirited horse named Crystal. The air is warm, and the leaves are turning. They ride in silence for a while, which Margaret appreciates.

Rounding a bend, they meet another rider coming the opposite way. Bitsy recognizes the horse and stops. The rider is Katharine Graham, publisher of the Washington Post. Graham thanks Bitsy for caring for her horse, Delilah, and for her prayers after her husband’s death. Bitsy says she still prays for her every day. Graham mentions she has been busy with the funeral, family, and business, and that she has been neglecting Delilah. She thanks Bitsy for checking on the horse daily.

Graham then asks about Bitsy’s schooling. Bitsy explains she needs straight As to get into vet school next year and is on track. Graham turns to Margaret, who introduces herself. Margaret admits she hasn’t ridden since she was ten and is clutching the saddle horn to stay on. Bitsy quickly tells Graham that Margaret is a writer and a magazine columnist, and then explains that Margaret recently published an essay about how the book club formed to read The Feminine Mystique and how it changed their lives.

Halfway through Bitsy’s explanation, Graham’s face lights up with recognition. She asks, “You’re the Bettys?” Margaret is stunned that the publisher of the Washington Post has read her essay. Bitsy clarifies that there are two more Bettys—Viv and Charlotte—and that they all helped when Delilah had laminitis, bringing food, ice, and company. Graham thanks Margaret for helping to save her horse and congratulates her on the essay. She then asks if Margaret had to pay to get it published, recalling that she bought advertising space. Margaret confirms that after her editor refused to publish it, the Bettys, her husband, and the owners of the local bookstore all pitched in to buy the ad.

Graham calls this admirable and invites Margaret to lunch, saying she would love to talk more. She asks for Margaret’s business card, but Margaret admits she doesn’t have one—she was fired from the magazine after turning in the piece. Graham hands Margaret a small gold pen and her own card, asking Margaret to write down her phone number. Margaret manages to do so while sitting on the restless horse. Graham slips the pen and card back into her pocket, says she is glad she ran into them, and tells Margaret she will be hearing from her very soon.

Key Events

Viv and her baby return home from the hospital in early October, with the infant thriving.
Charlotte’s gallery renovations are set to begin in November.
Bitsy and King are moving toward an amicable divorce, and Bitsy is doing well in her university classes.
Margaret is despondent a month after her essay appears, having received only fan mail and brief local attention.
Margaret discovers her column has been taken over by Margie Reynolds.
Bitsy persuades Margaret to go horseback riding.
They encounter Katharine Graham on the trail.
Graham thanks Bitsy for caring for her horse and for her prayers.
Bitsy introduces Margaret and explains the essay and the book club.
Graham recognizes the essay, asks about the paid advertisement, and praises Margaret’s writing.
Graham invites Margaret to lunch, collects her phone number, and promises to contact her.

Character Development

Margaret undergoes a significant emotional shift in this chapter. At the start, she is embarrassed and despondent, feeling that her public failure is both costly and humiliating. She has lost her column and believes her essay made no lasting impact. Her encounter with Katharine Graham changes her perspective. Graham’s recognition of the essay and her praise validate Margaret’s work in a way that fan letters could not. Margaret’s initial shock and disbelief give way to a cautious hope, as evidenced by her willingness to write down her phone number despite her earlier despair. This moment suggests that Margaret’s risk-taking may finally pay off, and that her writing has reached an influential audience.

Bitsy emerges as a catalyst and connector. She insists on the ride, introduces Margaret to Graham, and frames the essay in a way that highlights the collective effort of the Bettys. Bitsy’s own growth is also visible: she is focused on her studies, aiming for vet school, and she maintains her compassionate care for Delilah. Her ability to bridge Margaret’s world with Graham’s demonstrates her loyalty and her understanding of the power of personal connections.

Katharine Graham is portrayed as approachable and perceptive. She remembers the essay, asks pointed questions about the paid advertisement, and expresses genuine admiration for the group’s initiative. Her invitation to lunch signals that she sees potential in Margaret’s writing and perhaps in the story of the Bettys. Graham’s own vulnerability—mentioning the difficulty of stepping into her husband’s shoes—adds depth to her character and creates a parallel with the women’s struggles for recognition and agency.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Timing and Serendipity are central to this chapter. Margaret’s essay was published months ago, and she has given up hope of any meaningful response. Yet a chance encounter on a bridle path—arranged by Bitsy’s insistence—brings her work to the attention of a powerful publisher. The chapter’s title, “Timing Is Everything,” underscores the idea that opportunities can arise when least expected, and that persistence and friendship can position one for a lucky break.

Recognition and Validation appear through Graham’s recognition of the essay and her praise. Margaret’s earlier disappointment stemmed from a lack of recognition; Graham’s acknowledgment provides the validation she craved. This theme connects to the broader struggle of women writers in the 1960s, who often had to fight for their voices to be heard.

Friendship Support is evident in Bitsy’s actions—she drags Margaret out of her depression, introduces her to Graham, and highlights the collective effort of the Bettys. The chapter reinforces that the women’s strength comes from their mutual support, as seen in the earlier help with Delilah and the shared funding of the advertisement.

Risk-Taking and Women’s Empowerment are intertwined. Margaret took a risk by paying to publish her essay, and the Bettys supported her. Graham’s admiration for that risk suggests that boldness can lead to unexpected rewards. The essay itself, about reading The Feminine Mystique, is a symbol of the women’s awakening to feminist ideas, and Graham’s interest hints at the potential for wider impact.

Second Chances are implied in Margaret’s situation. She lost her column, but Graham’s invitation offers a new opportunity. The chapter suggests that failure is not final, and that a single encounter can open doors.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point for Margaret and, by extension, for the entire book club. It transforms Margaret’s narrative from one of quiet failure to one of potential breakthrough. The encounter with Katharine Graham—a real historical figure and a symbol of women’s advancement in journalism—elevates the stakes of the story. It suggests that the Bettys’ collective efforts, and Margaret’s writing in particular, may have consequences beyond their small community.

The chapter also reinforces the novel’s themes of friendship and serendipity. Bitsy’s role as a connector is crucial; without her insistence on the ride and her introduction, Margaret would never have met Graham. This moment validates the idea that the women’s support for one another can lead to life-changing opportunities.

Finally, the chapter sets up future plot developments. Graham’s promise to call Margaret creates anticipation for what might come next—perhaps a job offer, a publication opportunity, or a platform for the Bettys’ story. It also deepens the historical context, placing the fictional characters in direct contact with a prominent figure of the era.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does Margaret’s emotional state at the beginning of the chapter contrast with her state at the end?

At the start, Margaret is embarrassed, disappointed, and despondent. She feels her essay was a failure, and she has lost her column. By the end, she is stunned but hopeful, having received recognition from Katharine Graham and an invitation to lunch. The contrast highlights the power of unexpected validation and the role of chance in changing one’s outlook.

2. What role does Bitsy play in the encounter with Katharine Graham, and how does she frame Margaret’s story?

Bitsy is the catalyst. She insists on the ride, introduces Margaret, and explains the essay and the book club. She emphasizes the collective effort of the Bettys, including their help with Delilah, which endears them to Graham. Bitsy’s framing presents Margaret as a writer whose work emerged from a supportive community, making the story more compelling to Graham.

3. Why does Katharine Graham ask about the paid advertisement, and what does her reaction suggest about her values?

Graham recalls that Margaret had to pay to get the essay published, and she calls that admirable. Her interest suggests she values initiative, risk-taking, and the willingness to invest in one’s own work. It also implies that she sees the essay as worthy of publication, which is why she wants to meet Margaret. Her reaction aligns with her own experience of stepping into a male-dominated role, suggesting she respects women who fight for their voices.

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