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jessiejonesbentley's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexism, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Racism
jennikreads's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Suicide
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Alcoholism, Racism, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
wynnebirchmaple's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol