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summerluvn78's review
3.0
The most appealing aspect of this novel, for me, was the history and life of immigrants on New York's Lower East Side. The ending left me annoyed that that was it, nothing more that is why I give it 3 out of 5 stars.
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review
5.0
It’s a rags to riches to . . . well, let’s not give anything away. “The Ice Cream Queen”s story is not a new tale, but the novel is bright and clever and fresh and lots of fun to read. It’s probably the character of Malka/Ninella/Lillian who is smart, foolish, fearless, huge-hearted and hard-hearted that makes it spark. Her love for her husband is such a sweet thing, her longing for her lost family (which sometimes isn’t lost enough) is heartbreaking. Even the stories of the Lower East Side have a new feel in Susan Jane Gilman’s hands.
The cover is pretty but gives the impression that this is a book about a 1950s drive-in carhop. Of all the things you could call Lillian, that is not one. Although, come to think of it, if it would have sold more ice cream . . .I hope the cover doesn’t lose readers for this plump treat of a novel.
The cover is pretty but gives the impression that this is a book about a 1950s drive-in carhop. Of all the things you could call Lillian, that is not one. Although, come to think of it, if it would have sold more ice cream . . .I hope the cover doesn’t lose readers for this plump treat of a novel.
mschrock8's review against another edition
3.0
Lillian is full of spunk, and she keeps pushing.
Use of the word "tuches." A Branch Rickey mention. Lillian's use of the word "darlings" as she tells her story.
"Packaging is important."
Use of the word "tuches." A Branch Rickey mention. Lillian's use of the word "darlings" as she tells her story.
"Packaging is important."
sjgrodsky's review
4.0
You can certainly understand why Lillian Dunkle is the cold, grasping, arrogant, demanding character that she is. She is terrorized by Cossacks in her native Russia, abandoned by both parents shortly after arriving in America, then hardened by demanding labor, extreme poverty, and physical disability.
You can feel sympathy for her sufferings. You can admire her energy, determination, resourcefulness. You can find her brassy sarcasm entertaining. But as the book progresses, you begin to think "what more?"
The story moves along at a good clip with new events and characters (or reappearances of old characters) every few pages. The contemporaneous cultural references ("Hang on Sloopy") are pitch perfect.
**********Spoiler Alert*****************
But I had had enough of Lillian, her family, her legal issues, and her alcoholism long before I reached the last page. And maybe this is the author's point: Lillian is entertaining. Lillian is a survivor. But she can't change and she can't grow. In the end she's a bore.
You can feel sympathy for her sufferings. You can admire her energy, determination, resourcefulness. You can find her brassy sarcasm entertaining. But as the book progresses, you begin to think "what more?"
The story moves along at a good clip with new events and characters (or reappearances of old characters) every few pages. The contemporaneous cultural references ("Hang on Sloopy") are pitch perfect.
**********Spoiler Alert*****************
But I had had enough of Lillian, her family, her legal issues, and her alcoholism long before I reached the last page. And maybe this is the author's point: Lillian is entertaining. Lillian is a survivor. But she can't change and she can't grow. In the end she's a bore.
mgsantoro's review against another edition
3.0
It was a fun read. Mostly about how one girl comes to America and builds her life around ice cream. It talks about the 1918 virus and smallpox which was interesting considering the pandemic we’re in now.
judithdcollins's review
5.0
A special thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
THE ICE CREAM QUEEN OF ORCHARD STREET, a rags- to- riches historical fiction, of a Jewish immigrant, Malka Treynovsky, a determined six-year old girl from a poor childhood, set in 1913----flees Russia with her family, searching for the all American dream.
What a ride! An exciting journey and fate of one driven, complicated, determined, yet colorful and troubled protagonist ----- encountering misfortune on her way to the dream she yearns for, and then some. . . A heartwarming novel full of crazy, yet engaging humorous characters with a mixture of romance, history, and suspense.
Within three months of arriving in New York, her Papa abandons her, and her mother blames her for their misfortune-- Malka gets trampled by a horse, leaving her crippled. Abandoned by her parents, fate steps in---the man steering the horse takes pity on Malka, welcoming her into his home and world, where she becomes part of the family.
This poor, unattractive, smart, yet sarcastic and crippling Malka soaks up everything from Catholicism, and embraces the family business, while at the same time excels at school, and her life begins to change drastically for the better. Fueled by her grief and abandonment, she begins to redefine herself as Lillian, The Ice Cream Queen of America. (Lillian Dunkle)
Lillian, driven and savvy, creates quite an empire with determination and tenacity, taking Dunkle’s ice cream from a broken down truck to a household name, with her own TV show. But beneath the strong exterior, Lillian is still the crippled outcast of Malka-- abandoned, and bitter—can she believe in herself?
She does whatever she needs to do to survive (seriously), and assure that her company remains on top. Playing the caring, motherly Ice Cream Queen in the public while scheming, lying and drinking too much in private can only last so long, as the two worlds collide, forcing Lillian to take a good hard look at her life or risk losing it all.
After meeting and falling in love with the gorgeous, kind and illiterate radical Albert, ---the two set off across American in an ice cream truck to make their fortune as business partners. With the changing events, we see Lillian and Albert struggle through poverty, wars, movements of the sixties, as linked to the Prohibition, to the disco days of Studio 54. our changing economy, and the overall competitive ice cream business---- Revolutionizing production, franchising, marketing and christened as the “Ice Cream Queen of America” by Dwight D Eisenhower.
Coming from a family without a penny when stepping off the boat---to tax evasion, a wrongful arrest---many enemies---a life changing experience for one special needs girl, on a sweltering day, on the Lower East Side of Manhattan with a kind peddler, a horse drawn cart, and a man named Salvatore Dinello, where readers follow Lillian’s journey step by step.
A well-researched book, inspired by real life events—with a compelling protagonist, as Susan Jane Gilman, notes---the invention of soft-serve, credited to Tom Carvel (American-immigrant rags-to-riches saga), who began selling melted ice cream after a tire on his truck went flat.
As the ice cream industry was directly affected by the greatest events of the twentieth century and American history, parallels as Lillian’s own life is shaped and her motivations for some of the things which led her down certain paths. (loved the ice cream flavors, interesting facts, and research about the entire industry).
Susan Jane Gilman created Lillian, likable (not always), and one which readers will feel empathy—(I was totally rooting for her)! As the author referenced, THE ICE CREAM QUEEN OF ORCHARD is a love letter to New York City and to the American dream ,and for all those who have worked so hard to attain their place in society.
I loved the author’s note: “In my daily life, I’m generally obsessed with three things: “Sex, New York City, and Ice Cream”. (choosing the latter two) for her masterpiece. I enjoyed “A Conversation with Susan Jane Gilman” at the end of the book, sharing of her inspiration, thoughts, and process for the writing of this special story, which offers readers a more personal and real connection with the author and her characters---her passion is truly reflective through her writing!
A mixture of past and present, a realistic story of hard work, scheming, the good/bad, and determination of one girl/woman’s life spanning over seventy years----expanding upon the way women are often portrayed in our culture with disabilities—pushing the boundaries (reiterating, “well behaved women rarely make history)”.
An immigrant fleeing the pogroms to leading an ice cream empire—a life broadened in unimaginable ways---shared with sensitivity and humor. I found the research very informative, and enjoyed the reading group guide and questions for discussion (ideal for book clubs).
Highly recommend, THE ICE CREAM QUEEN OF ORCHARD STREET for anyone enjoying humor, strong women characters, and historical fiction--very entertaining! I look forward to following this newfound and talented author.
THE ICE CREAM QUEEN OF ORCHARD STREET, a rags- to- riches historical fiction, of a Jewish immigrant, Malka Treynovsky, a determined six-year old girl from a poor childhood, set in 1913----flees Russia with her family, searching for the all American dream.
What a ride! An exciting journey and fate of one driven, complicated, determined, yet colorful and troubled protagonist ----- encountering misfortune on her way to the dream she yearns for, and then some. . . A heartwarming novel full of crazy, yet engaging humorous characters with a mixture of romance, history, and suspense.
Within three months of arriving in New York, her Papa abandons her, and her mother blames her for their misfortune-- Malka gets trampled by a horse, leaving her crippled. Abandoned by her parents, fate steps in---the man steering the horse takes pity on Malka, welcoming her into his home and world, where she becomes part of the family.
This poor, unattractive, smart, yet sarcastic and crippling Malka soaks up everything from Catholicism, and embraces the family business, while at the same time excels at school, and her life begins to change drastically for the better. Fueled by her grief and abandonment, she begins to redefine herself as Lillian, The Ice Cream Queen of America. (Lillian Dunkle)
Lillian, driven and savvy, creates quite an empire with determination and tenacity, taking Dunkle’s ice cream from a broken down truck to a household name, with her own TV show. But beneath the strong exterior, Lillian is still the crippled outcast of Malka-- abandoned, and bitter—can she believe in herself?
She does whatever she needs to do to survive (seriously), and assure that her company remains on top. Playing the caring, motherly Ice Cream Queen in the public while scheming, lying and drinking too much in private can only last so long, as the two worlds collide, forcing Lillian to take a good hard look at her life or risk losing it all.
After meeting and falling in love with the gorgeous, kind and illiterate radical Albert, ---the two set off across American in an ice cream truck to make their fortune as business partners. With the changing events, we see Lillian and Albert struggle through poverty, wars, movements of the sixties, as linked to the Prohibition, to the disco days of Studio 54. our changing economy, and the overall competitive ice cream business---- Revolutionizing production, franchising, marketing and christened as the “Ice Cream Queen of America” by Dwight D Eisenhower.
Coming from a family without a penny when stepping off the boat---to tax evasion, a wrongful arrest---many enemies---a life changing experience for one special needs girl, on a sweltering day, on the Lower East Side of Manhattan with a kind peddler, a horse drawn cart, and a man named Salvatore Dinello, where readers follow Lillian’s journey step by step.
A well-researched book, inspired by real life events—with a compelling protagonist, as Susan Jane Gilman, notes---the invention of soft-serve, credited to Tom Carvel (American-immigrant rags-to-riches saga), who began selling melted ice cream after a tire on his truck went flat.
As the ice cream industry was directly affected by the greatest events of the twentieth century and American history, parallels as Lillian’s own life is shaped and her motivations for some of the things which led her down certain paths. (loved the ice cream flavors, interesting facts, and research about the entire industry).
Susan Jane Gilman created Lillian, likable (not always), and one which readers will feel empathy—(I was totally rooting for her)! As the author referenced, THE ICE CREAM QUEEN OF ORCHARD is a love letter to New York City and to the American dream ,and for all those who have worked so hard to attain their place in society.
I loved the author’s note: “In my daily life, I’m generally obsessed with three things: “Sex, New York City, and Ice Cream”. (choosing the latter two) for her masterpiece. I enjoyed “A Conversation with Susan Jane Gilman” at the end of the book, sharing of her inspiration, thoughts, and process for the writing of this special story, which offers readers a more personal and real connection with the author and her characters---her passion is truly reflective through her writing!
A mixture of past and present, a realistic story of hard work, scheming, the good/bad, and determination of one girl/woman’s life spanning over seventy years----expanding upon the way women are often portrayed in our culture with disabilities—pushing the boundaries (reiterating, “well behaved women rarely make history)”.
An immigrant fleeing the pogroms to leading an ice cream empire—a life broadened in unimaginable ways---shared with sensitivity and humor. I found the research very informative, and enjoyed the reading group guide and questions for discussion (ideal for book clubs).
Highly recommend, THE ICE CREAM QUEEN OF ORCHARD STREET for anyone enjoying humor, strong women characters, and historical fiction--very entertaining! I look forward to following this newfound and talented author.
mmc6661's review
4.0
An absolutely delightful read ! Malka a Russian Jew whose family flees to America ( her mother thought they were going to Africa ) to live in the dream of honey and roads paved with gold, only to discover a world filled with immigrants struggling just to make a living. Malka soon gets ran over by an ice cream truck and there starts her lifelong journey with ice cream. Abandoned by her family and taken in by the ice cream truck family she is renamed Lillian and baptised into the Catholic church. Lillian grows up to be a very determined and a bit of a character. I found her story heartbreaking and her demeanor sometimes hilarious. I loved the escapades of Lillian and her ice cream dream.
asurges's review
3.0
A really great summer read, with a pretty funny concept: Leona Helmsley as an ice-cream magnate. The story takes you from 1908 New York to the 80s, and the history of immigrants is very interesting. However, the writing sometimes suffers from trying too hard; for example, every time the main character called the reader "darling," I gagged a little. It was just too much, and I think Gilman, whose non-fiction, I've really enjoyed, could have created that voice in other ways.
lurdesabruscato's review
5.0
The story of a scrappy Russian émigré doing whatever she must to survive in the tough tenements of New York, The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street is as rich and decadent as the product our protagonist creates. Not only are you educated in all things confectionary, you marvel at the sweet and sour turns a life, a partnership, a business, an empire takes. This was a delicious summer treat.