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saraogram's review against another edition
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Sexual assault
jenpaul13's review against another edition
4.0
The golden age of publishing can easily be summed up as the very apt title Suzanne Rindell chose for her novel, Three-Martini Lunch. When ideas and alcohol are flowing, deals are rather easily made.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
In the late 1950s in the mecca of publishing, New York City, the writing and publishing endeavors of three young people intertwine to form a complex narrative that seems to stem from ancient tropes. Clifford Nelson is the son of an editor at a publishing house who has lived a fairly privileged life but wants to pursue writing as a career, with a secret motive to do so to gain his father's approval. Eden Katz is an ambitious girl from Indiana would wants to become an editor at a publishing house and is ready to work her way up for it. Miles Tillman is an incredibly intelligent and capable writer from Harlem who is on a journey to find out more about his father's military life via journals left out in California. As these three characters develop they become friends, and enemies against one another as well as themselves.
Told from rotating perspectives of Cliff, Eden, and Miles, there is enough variety in voice to keep from being too repetitive as each character offers a unique, diverse perspective on their publishing endeavors. The story of the three-martini lunch and the golden age of publishing, which still enamors many young people (myself included), is reminiscent of a past era, yet still resonates with the way business is still conducted. My main contention with the narrative is how long it took for things to start happening--it felt as if there was too much focus given to establishing the characters while they essentially did nothing.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
In the late 1950s in the mecca of publishing, New York City, the writing and publishing endeavors of three young people intertwine to form a complex narrative that seems to stem from ancient tropes. Clifford Nelson is the son of an editor at a publishing house who has lived a fairly privileged life but wants to pursue writing as a career, with a secret motive to do so to gain his father's approval. Eden Katz is an ambitious girl from Indiana would wants to become an editor at a publishing house and is ready to work her way up for it. Miles Tillman is an incredibly intelligent and capable writer from Harlem who is on a journey to find out more about his father's military life via journals left out in California. As these three characters develop they become friends, and enemies against one another as well as themselves.
Told from rotating perspectives of Cliff, Eden, and Miles, there is enough variety in voice to keep from being too repetitive as each character offers a unique, diverse perspective on their publishing endeavors. The story of the three-martini lunch and the golden age of publishing, which still enamors many young people (myself included), is reminiscent of a past era, yet still resonates with the way business is still conducted. My main contention with the narrative is how long it took for things to start happening--it felt as if there was too much focus given to establishing the characters while they essentially did nothing.
jessplayin's review against another edition
2.0
The ending makes the terrible characters and slog of the book make sense but it comes a little too late to be enjoyable.
221bees's review against another edition
4.0
(4.5 stars). This was a great read. I picked it up because of the setting (1950s NYC, centered on the publishing industry [though, be warned that the book is not entirely about the publishing industry. It seems to be first and foremost a coming of age story]), but was really sucked in by the characters, all with flaws of their own. I loved Miles and Eden, and thought Cliff was utterly insufferable.
All in all, the author did a wonderful job interweaving three characters' stories together, but I felt that each character could have had more distinctive voices.
All in all, the author did a wonderful job interweaving three characters' stories together, but I felt that each character could have had more distinctive voices.
miariinfinityreads's review
emotional
mysterious
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
3.0
laila4343's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars. Compelling, lovely, poignant historical fiction set in the New York publishing world of the 1950’s.
ttbishop's review against another edition
3.0
More like 3.5. It was interesting yet sad (sad sad and pathetic sad), but at the same time the whole thing felt sort of flat: this happened, then this happened. It was as if the author was telling a story with little popsicle stick puppets, but the plot was enough to keep me reading.
jziegy5's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
aboxer6490's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75