One Fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of One Fifth Avenue
Book Review: Great Read at the End of the Day
Summary: 5 Stars
I so enjoyed this book -- and spent hours with it at the end of long work days, just tucking into the world of these incredibly detailed characters. I'm glad I don't live in the one fifth building, that's for sure, but it was a pleasure escaping into the wonder of Manhattan's rich society for two weeks' worth of evenings. A bit darker than Sex and the City, but the tone pays off and the environment Candace Bushnell creates is nearly incredible -- an only in New York story if there ever was one...Book Review: Great read....
Summary: 5 Stars
Wow!!! Have never read any of her books, but was so awed by this one!!! The writing, the characters and the way she put it all together was amazing. Such a great page turner I couldn't put it down. Enjoyed the movie of Sex and the City and would love to see this book come to life in the movies! Reading the book was actually like living in the building. Her writing technique was so vivid that it felt like you were there with them.Book Review: Great story line, P.345, there are mixed up names!
Summary: 5 Stars
The book has many interesting characters. I enjoy every line of the story. There is some interesting information about those socialites that I am sure the author has based on her personal experience. Somehow I found it fascinating. It is definitely a page turner.
On page 345, I am not quite sure if that is a mistake. It looks like a mixed up of the name. "Mrs. Enid Houghton". Well, I guess mistakes happened, even with a big publisher.
Book Review: Guilty pleasure with sharp, critical observations about NYC life
Summary: 4 Stars
It's popcorn, but it's also not shallow.
Overall this book was enjoyable. The theme, I think, is that although the players might change, the play stays the same in the NYC rat race. So it goes with this particular set of characters, not all likeable, but that's the point. Bushnell really goes through the privileges, prejudices, aspirations and problems of these very New York City characters, whose lives intersect only because they live in the same building. (And anyone who has ever lived in NYC will surely report how oddly familial and important your neighbors can be in your existence -- in both good and bad ways!).
I think the novel works because it is full of both superficial guilty pleasure and sharp critical observations. There are some real barbs about age and aging in general -- the arrogance of youth, the strains of success and failure in middle age, and the inevitable process of aging. What I liked best about the novel is how Bushnell reminds the reader that TMZ and Perez Hilton didn't invent scandal...gossip, social power plays and social climbing have been around for a long time, and are perhaps even a fundamental component of any social scene (in this case wealthy, downtown NYC). That's the point, the story itself is just a light and entertaining way to explore the good and bad realities of social interaction and strategy.
Not a literary classic, but easy juicy reading.
Book Review: Hated it (some spoiler info)
Summary: 1 Stars
I'm not a big Candace Bushnell fan but I do appreciate a light, fluffy, juicy book about NYC inhabitants now and again. However, when the character Mindy was talking about the family finances totaling ~700K or so and that just not being enough for "her world" I just wanted to b***h slap the character and say get over it and throw the book down. However, I slogged on hoping that something interesting would happen. It didn't
The actions of the Mindy and James characters did not match the income - you can live quite well on what she would make - and save. I guess ego and appearance got in the way? But the author made it sound like they had nothing - 10 yr old sheets - come on. I have sheets newer than 10 yrs old and I'm not even close to the same tax bracket. OK - they have a son who they are sending to a $35K/yr school so maybe that explains it.
And the Lola character. OK maybe this is just the older generation (sorry Ms. Bushnell) trying to portray the younger generation (that they don't quite understand) but while we can debate about the "me-ness" or self-centeredness of the younger generations, the portrayal of a shallow character does not have to be shallow itself. I can't believe that characters who are supposed to be so rich and intelligent (especially authors and actresses) have not read the internet enough to understand or at least hear about blogs, tweets, sms, etc. It seems that the other characters may do these things (sms and blog) but only Lola is demeaned for her use of these tools - maybe because her uses are shallow and the others uses are supposed to be utilitarian and/or important?
I can't go on. I absolutely hated this book. And I read the entire thing.