A review by chloelinrob
Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney

4.0

Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk follows an elderly woman, once the darling of Manhattan’s social scene, on a tour of her beloved New York City on New Years Eve 1984 and consequently a tour of her lifetime spent there. Boxfish in her prime was the best advertising woman in the country, a talented poet and adored socialite. Through the course of the book the reader learns of the various occasions that led to her rise and fall, while enjoying her clever wit and candor toward the whole ordeal. My favorite aspect of this story is the author’s creative use of language that is at once humorous and profound, and sent me several times to a dictionary. I also enjoyed the glimpse into the glamorous world of advertising in the early 1900’s and the similarities and differences it has to my own work today. Lillian’s walk leads her to many different people and her encounters provide touching and poignant vignettes of humanity. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read that I recommend with ease.