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laughyliz's review against another edition
5.0
Kind of slow to get into but once you’re there, you need to know more. I have a love/hate relationship with endings that are left up to the reader but I really enjoyed this book.
knuckledown's review against another edition
4.0
Where to begin with The Other Typist? In recent memory no book has messed with my mind this much that wasn’t written by Gillian Flynn. It’s the kind of book that leaves you with the immediate urge to discuss it with someone. The narrator is Rose Baker, a straight-laced orphan working as a police department typist in Prohibition-era New York City. When Odalie is hired as an additionally typist for her precinct, Rose’s life changes irrevocably. Odalie is a modern girl, and although Rose disapproves of the flapper lifestyle, the promise of friendship draws her into Odalie’s world.
Throughout the novel I was making note of elements that reminded me of The Great Gatsby, and my English major tendencies were rewarded. Rindell’s acknowledgments contain this statement: “I should mention there are one or two moments in this book wherein I humbly aspired—in my own small way—to pay deliberate homage to the first true love of my teenage years: Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.” I would go one step further and say that Rindell riffs on some of the larger themes of Gatsby as well. Beyond the similarities of bootleggers and speakeasies, the stories have in common an observant narrator with a dynamic but mysterious friend. Both Odalie and Gatsby come from uncertain origins, and contradictory stories circulate about them.
Reinvention must have been a bit easier in the ’20s. I mean, your new acquaintances couldn’t just Google you. In her rather unorthodox way, Odalie represents of the American Dream—that you can truly make whatever life you want. (Gatsby also believes this, which contributes to his demise, but this post isn’t really about him.) The idea of reinvention extends to Rose herself. She thinks that others see her as plain and rather old-fashioned, but Odalie’s friendship gives her an opportunity to change her image. Whether this change is a corruption of Rose or Rose becoming her true self, I will leave to other readers to consider.
Reminiscent as it is of The Great Gatsby, this story could easily feel stale. But quite the contrary! Rindell’s in-depth exploration of female friendship and psychology already mark her as different. One of the novel’s strongest points is the narrative voice. Despite her intense admiration of Odalie, Rose never fades into the background. Her wry humor and moments of self-righteousness make it easy to envision her character. This may sound strange, but she actually thinks like a typist—that is, someone whose job it is to keep a precise record of the facts. On the other hand, she may not be the most reliable narrator.
In case you hadn’t noticed, I really like this book. It’s that magical combination of entertaining and thought-provoking.
You can read more reviews and pop culture musings on my blog: Courtney Coherent
Throughout the novel I was making note of elements that reminded me of The Great Gatsby, and my English major tendencies were rewarded. Rindell’s acknowledgments contain this statement: “I should mention there are one or two moments in this book wherein I humbly aspired—in my own small way—to pay deliberate homage to the first true love of my teenage years: Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.” I would go one step further and say that Rindell riffs on some of the larger themes of Gatsby as well. Beyond the similarities of bootleggers and speakeasies, the stories have in common an observant narrator with a dynamic but mysterious friend. Both Odalie and Gatsby come from uncertain origins, and contradictory stories circulate about them.
Reinvention must have been a bit easier in the ’20s. I mean, your new acquaintances couldn’t just Google you. In her rather unorthodox way, Odalie represents of the American Dream—that you can truly make whatever life you want. (Gatsby also believes this, which contributes to his demise, but this post isn’t really about him.) The idea of reinvention extends to Rose herself. She thinks that others see her as plain and rather old-fashioned, but Odalie’s friendship gives her an opportunity to change her image. Whether this change is a corruption of Rose or Rose becoming her true self, I will leave to other readers to consider.
Reminiscent as it is of The Great Gatsby, this story could easily feel stale. But quite the contrary! Rindell’s in-depth exploration of female friendship and psychology already mark her as different. One of the novel’s strongest points is the narrative voice. Despite her intense admiration of Odalie, Rose never fades into the background. Her wry humor and moments of self-righteousness make it easy to envision her character. This may sound strange, but she actually thinks like a typist—that is, someone whose job it is to keep a precise record of the facts. On the other hand, she may not be the most reliable narrator.
In case you hadn’t noticed, I really like this book. It’s that magical combination of entertaining and thought-provoking.
You can read more reviews and pop culture musings on my blog: Courtney Coherent
badseedgirl's review against another edition
3.0
The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell is one of those novels where there is so much ambiguity in the story line that what the reader believes is the "truth" will change how they read the novel. I enjoyed this novel well enough and had formed a pretty firm opinion about the nature of the story and the characters motivations and who had done what to whom right up until the last paragraph of the novel. After that I started questioning if I ever had any idea what the real "truth" was.
Set in and around a prohibition era New York City police station, I found the characters to be in general a tad unrealistic. Rose seemed a bit too naive, Odaile was just too calm and cool headed. Some of this has to be chalked up to Rose being the narrator of the novel. It was an easy read, and had more than a passing homage to "The Great Gatsby", which the Author readily acknowledged in the book.
This is one of those novels that is hard to review without giving away spoilers. I guess I will say that it was worth reading it for the book club because six different people can read it and justifiably come up with six equally valid conclusions. Perfect for a discussion group, not so much is your one of those people who can't deal with a little ambiguity in your life.
Set in and around a prohibition era New York City police station, I found the characters to be in general a tad unrealistic. Rose seemed a bit too naive, Odaile was just too calm and cool headed. Some of this has to be chalked up to Rose being the narrator of the novel. It was an easy read, and had more than a passing homage to "The Great Gatsby", which the Author readily acknowledged in the book.
This is one of those novels that is hard to review without giving away spoilers. I guess I will say that it was worth reading it for the book club because six different people can read it and justifiably come up with six equally valid conclusions. Perfect for a discussion group, not so much is your one of those people who can't deal with a little ambiguity in your life.
therealbel's review against another edition
3.0
I don't know if I liked this book or not! It was clever and it was well written but try as I might I couldn't get my head around the fact that I wasn't satisfied with the end. I needed answers that I didn't feel I got. Following Rose's path as she unwound in many many ways was a journey that I enjoyed, I just needed ....more....
jennmoats's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Fun read!
nahyee's review against another edition
4.0
See my full review of this title on my blog: Books Under the Blanket (with a flashlight): https://booksundertheblanket.com/if-youve-used-a-manual-typewriter-youre-my-people/
Live Nov 6, 2022
Live Nov 6, 2022
melissasbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, I had to listen to this book twice because when I first finished it I was like "What the Heck?!" After listening to it again, I think I've figured out the story and the ending.
Here's my theory: Odalie is Ginevra. Remember, Rose tells us that Ginerva's parents both died and her mother died a year ago. A year ago is when Odalie first appears at the precinct as a typist. It is also at that time that the police are cracking down on Speakeasies. Thus there are few people who can expose her as Ginerva. Rose tells us that she herself has been working there for two years.
I think that Rose was a lonely orphan who is looking for a mother's love. I think she is starved for both physical and emotional attention. The Sargent, the nun, and Odalie all give Rose seemingly sincere complements and even just a brush on the shoulder and immediately Rose is enamored with that person. She is looking for that companionship, a true bosom friend. She is also the complete opposite of Odalie in that she finds comfort in rules. She is a true representation of the Victorian era.
Odalie/Ginerva is a con artist. She learned from a young age how to manipulate her father and has been manipulating people ever since. Using blackmail to get what she wants is her M.O. I think after that initial drop of the brooch, she spotted Rose as an easy mark. Once she was able to get Rose to fake the confession, she had her under her power. She is also able to get her friends off when they are arrested because she has the dirt on the Sargent. She gets Rose to "contribute" to the rent and could easily have transferred the apartment into her name. She also gets Rose involved in the bootlegging business to the point that Rose is running errands for the "business." Rose unwittingly tells Odalie all about her childhood including all the "bad" things the nuns did. Now Odalie has blackmail on the nuns and could easily have the nuns "forget" that Rose was ever there. Teddy is the fly in the ointment. He won't let things go and immediately recognizes Odalie as Ginerva. The one time we see Odalie lose it is when Teddy shows up. This is when Odalie ramps up her plans. I think that Odalie intended to kill Gib because he was blackmailing her and she saw a way she could pin that murder on Rose by having her procure the alcohol and showing up at the Speakeasy dressed almost exactly as Odalie. At one point, people mistake Rose for Odalie.
I do think that Rose killed Teddy. She says she wasn't thinking straight and she says that when Teddy notices the braclets, she just wants him to "be gone." She willing to do anything to protect her "bosom friend." I think she pushed him over the balcony and Odalie gets Rose to go get cigarettes so that she can clean up the scene so to speak and leave. She will frame Rose for both murders and also tell the police that Rose is Ginerva. Odalie can get on with her life. Her having the Lieutenant Detective deliver the brooch was the twisting of the knife. She was telling Rose, ha, ha I pinned this all on you and there is nothing you can do about it. She is assuming Rose's past. Rose, I think loses it in the end, but has the journal that she has hidden and presumably she intends to somehow use it and any means necessary to get back at Odalie.
I do think that Rose has violent tendencies and that she is extremely repressed. She is obsessive and exhibits stalker behavior. But, I don't think she is Ginerva. I think she has been set up.
Beyond the great mystery and Gatsby-like atmosphere, the contrast of the Victorian era and the Roaring Twenties is amazing. The author does a brilliant job of portraying the differing morals of these two time periods through these women.
Spoiler
I think Rose is who she says she is. At first I thought perhaps Rose and Odalie were one and the same, but there were just too many instances where it would be hard to pull off split personality, not to mention at the end when the Lieutenant Detective seemingly indicates that Odalie was a real person. Still this is Rose's retelling, so it's still possible.Here's my theory: Odalie is Ginevra. Remember, Rose tells us that Ginerva's parents both died and her mother died a year ago. A year ago is when Odalie first appears at the precinct as a typist. It is also at that time that the police are cracking down on Speakeasies. Thus there are few people who can expose her as Ginerva. Rose tells us that she herself has been working there for two years.
I think that Rose was a lonely orphan who is looking for a mother's love. I think she is starved for both physical and emotional attention. The Sargent, the nun, and Odalie all give Rose seemingly sincere complements and even just a brush on the shoulder and immediately Rose is enamored with that person. She is looking for that companionship, a true bosom friend. She is also the complete opposite of Odalie in that she finds comfort in rules. She is a true representation of the Victorian era.
Odalie/Ginerva is a con artist. She learned from a young age how to manipulate her father and has been manipulating people ever since. Using blackmail to get what she wants is her M.O. I think after that initial drop of the brooch, she spotted Rose as an easy mark. Once she was able to get Rose to fake the confession, she had her under her power. She is also able to get her friends off when they are arrested because she has the dirt on the Sargent. She gets Rose to "contribute" to the rent and could easily have transferred the apartment into her name. She also gets Rose involved in the bootlegging business to the point that Rose is running errands for the "business." Rose unwittingly tells Odalie all about her childhood including all the "bad" things the nuns did. Now Odalie has blackmail on the nuns and could easily have the nuns "forget" that Rose was ever there. Teddy is the fly in the ointment. He won't let things go and immediately recognizes Odalie as Ginerva. The one time we see Odalie lose it is when Teddy shows up. This is when Odalie ramps up her plans. I think that Odalie intended to kill Gib because he was blackmailing her and she saw a way she could pin that murder on Rose by having her procure the alcohol and showing up at the Speakeasy dressed almost exactly as Odalie. At one point, people mistake Rose for Odalie.
I do think that Rose killed Teddy. She says she wasn't thinking straight and she says that when Teddy notices the braclets, she just wants him to "be gone." She willing to do anything to protect her "bosom friend." I think she pushed him over the balcony and Odalie gets Rose to go get cigarettes so that she can clean up the scene so to speak and leave. She will frame Rose for both murders and also tell the police that Rose is Ginerva. Odalie can get on with her life. Her having the Lieutenant Detective deliver the brooch was the twisting of the knife. She was telling Rose, ha, ha I pinned this all on you and there is nothing you can do about it. She is assuming Rose's past. Rose, I think loses it in the end, but has the journal that she has hidden and presumably she intends to somehow use it and any means necessary to get back at Odalie.
I do think that Rose has violent tendencies and that she is extremely repressed. She is obsessive and exhibits stalker behavior. But, I don't think she is Ginerva. I think she has been set up.
Beyond the great mystery and Gatsby-like atmosphere, the contrast of the Victorian era and the Roaring Twenties is amazing. The author does a brilliant job of portraying the differing morals of these two time periods through these women.
sandin954's review against another edition
3.0
I found this to be a quick enjoyable read for the most part and thought the writing was fine but had some reservations with the overall plot and found the ending kind of lackluster.
emjay24's review against another edition
4.0
The Other Typist sounded like it might be dry. Set in the 1920s, our narrator Rose is a woman raised to be plain, boring, and quiet by nuns in an orphanage. She lives in a boarding house and has a job as a typist at a police station, and gives off a creepy vibe to those around her. One day, a woman named Odalie begins as the new typist at work, and immediately takes her in to a world of rich living, stories and lies, and speakeasies, and Rose becomes obsessed with Odalie. The ending of this book was confusing, and I’m not sure exactly what happened, although it seems like that was the author’s intent. I liked that this book was weird and creepy in a not usual way, more of a single-white-female movie way. Well-written.