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A review by taylorfield
Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Halfway through my goal at the halfway point of the year. Whew.
Long Story Short: Lillian Boxfish (based on the real-life Margaret Fishback) reflects on her 85 years of life and 60 years in New York City as she takes a long walk on New Year's Eve and rings in 1985.
Without meaning to, I have found myself in the octogenarian subset of fiction (The Thursday Murder Club, One Puzzling Afternoon, How To Solve Your Own Murder, Cut and Thirst-ish).
I'm in the minority of my friends for my rating, but I'll be the first to admit I think I'd have a higher rating if I hadn't listened to the audiobook. The transatlantic narration is fitting for the time but SO distracting, especially during conversations when each character would, for some reason, chuckle 2-3 times per sentence. There's a lovely interview with Xe Sands (narrator) and Kathleen Rooney at the end of the audiobook that made me feel really bad about not loving the narration (Sands' normal voice is incredible!), so I feel it's only fair to say that even if I had physically read it, I don't think it would be a 5/5 for me.
What I loved about Lillian's journey was the literal stroll through time, initiated by the advertising influence of Oreos and a television in a bar. Of course these seemingly minor experiences would spring Lillian's mind into reflecting on how her relevance faded as the industry she loved no longer had room for her. I also loved the NYE setting - the story hits a little harder on the night New York City famously casts out the old for the new.
Enjoyment: 3.5/5
Craft: 3/5
Overall: 3.5/5
Long Story Short: Lillian Boxfish (based on the real-life Margaret Fishback) reflects on her 85 years of life and 60 years in New York City as she takes a long walk on New Year's Eve and rings in 1985.
Without meaning to, I have found myself in the octogenarian subset of fiction (The Thursday Murder Club, One Puzzling Afternoon, How To Solve Your Own Murder, Cut and Thirst-ish).
I'm in the minority of my friends for my rating, but I'll be the first to admit I think I'd have a higher rating if I hadn't listened to the audiobook. The transatlantic narration is fitting for the time but SO distracting, especially during conversations when each character would, for some reason, chuckle 2-3 times per sentence. There's a lovely interview with Xe Sands (narrator) and Kathleen Rooney at the end of the audiobook that made me feel really bad about not loving the narration (Sands' normal voice is incredible!), so I feel it's only fair to say that even if I had physically read it, I don't think it would be a 5/5 for me.
What I loved about Lillian's journey was the literal stroll through time, initiated by the advertising influence of Oreos and a television in a bar. Of course these seemingly minor experiences would spring Lillian's mind into reflecting on how her relevance faded as the industry she loved no longer had room for her. I also loved the NYE setting - the story hits a little harder on the night New York City famously casts out the old for the new.
Enjoyment: 3.5/5
Craft: 3/5
Overall: 3.5/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcoholism