Reviews with content warning for Suicide attempt - Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk

"Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk" by Kathleen Rooney is a beautifully crafted novel that captures the essence of New York City in a truly remarkable way. The story of Lillian Boxfish, the highest paid woman in the advertising industry in the 1930s, is both melancholic and emotional, offering a poignant portrayal of a woman who refused to leave the city she loved, despite its changing landscape.

Rooney's writing is captivating, drawing readers into Lillian's world as she takes a stroll through the streets of New York, reminiscing about her life and the city's evolution. The novel's melancholy and emotional tone are punctuated by moments of humor and poignant reflection on one's place in the world.

What makes "Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk" such a pleasant read is its gentle pacing and the depth of emotion it evokes. Lillian's resilience and determination are inspiring. From a smart, stylish, independent young woman landing a job at R.H. Macy’s, through a fractured marriage and mental health issues, to an 85 year old tour de force, roaming the streets of Manhattan alone.

While the novel features charming moments and touches of emotion, it can at times leave readers yearning for more information about Margaret Fishback, the woman who served as its real-life inspiration.

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wynnebirchmaple's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

It’s hard to tell a story during the course of 1 day. New York City, New Years Eve 1984. Lillian Boxfish, modeled after real life person Margaret Fishback, decides to take a walk to ring in the new year. She visit old haunts where painful and joyful things have happened. As she walks key memories of her rise to success in advertising and publishing during the 1930’s onward and the challenges of pioneering as a woman executive. She also shares her breakdowns, marital betrayals and to some extent failed motherhood to readers. Lillian walks and readers experience New York and how it’s changing.

At the sentence level, author Kathleen Rooney, has a beautiful sense of poetry and narrative. Rooney knows when to quip, when to use specialized language, when to insert posh French to elevate the moment, and one to just lay raw emotions bare. She is truly an artist.

This book is not plot driven, as Lillian does not victimize nor does she allow herself to be victimized. At times she is in potential danger walking the streets of New York at night. There is no clear pattern as to when Lillian will be triggered and immerse readers in her somewhat painful past and when she will step off the grid and face to face with death which she manages to defy even at 85.

I enjoyed witnessing Lillian look mortality right in the eye and accept that her time is coming and that even though she’s reexamining her life not seeking remediation or change.Albeit she continues moving forward. We all end up in the same place big marks, relevance, impact or not. Lillian simply shows reader that a rich life is best experienced in the relationships one engages in and in using one’s capacity for innovation. It was oddly peaceful.

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rodiemom's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Lillian Boxfish is so charming. The book is slow throughout and because of that a little hard to get into. But just like the strangers that Lillian turns into friends throughout her walk and her memories, she becomes a friend. I was sad to say goodbye to her at the end of her walk. I enjoyed this so much.

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maryannc's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes

3.0

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lindsayhotrod's review

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dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

There’s a lot going on in this book besides an octogenarian walking around NYC one cold NYE. While reading this book, I kept finding myself telling little anecdotes from Lillian’s life to people IRL like “I’m reading this box about this old woman, and get a load of this thing that happens…” I liked this book for a lot of reasons, but what I really loved was the evolving narrative structure that braided the (relative) present with the past in ways that feel familiar at first, but become much more complex and human as we reach the middle periods between the beginning and end of these time periods. What starts as an enjoyable but lighter “independent working gal in the big city!” keeps twisting to crack Lillian and her backstory open a little more, and then a little more, so that by the end, Lillian is somehow both a completely different person than you think she is at the beginning, and yet has been so crisply drawn that it all makes perfect sense. For all the ways it’s clear she is an unusual woman, there is a lot of relatable resonance expressed through often very poignant phrasing. The wordplay and language love throughout delighted the hell out of me, but importantly, moved past a gimmick or being too clever for its own good when balance shifts and the writing takes a turn towards sadness or brilliance, and guts you before you see it coming.

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btothebooks's review against another edition

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dark funny lighthearted reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

There was something charmingly vintage of this book - like watching a Katherine Hepburn movie. The story telling aspect of it and the timeline back and forth made it easy to find good pausing points.

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natschieff's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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pancakethefinch's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

It was the perfect book to read over the first week of the year, as it takes place over New Year's eve. Lillian Boxfish goes on a walk through one city, and one life.
Such a charming main character, and a beautifully written book. The author clearly loved writing this book, and I loved reading it.
I recommend you take a walk with Lillian, you will not be disappointed.

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