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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
1920’s Manhattan; 4 strong women. This is a fictionalized account of real women, one of whom is instrumental in the development of The New Yorker. The Manhattan Girls is told in alternative POV and their stories all come together. I enjoyed reading about 1920’s New York and was surprised at the strength and determination these women had and their desire to not be dependent on men. They really were creating their own path! There are some tough subjects broached: alcoholism, abortion, infidelity but it makes for interesting reading!
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
Gill Paul does, in this book, what she does best - immerse readers in the setting. She takes readers back to 1920s New York city and introduces us to 4 women, Dorothy Parker, Peggy Leech, Jane Grant and Winifred Lenihan, who become fast friends - The Manhattan Girls. These career women have little in common, yet become a great support system for each other in a male dominated world. Stepping back in time, Paul meticulously recreates the backdrop of the ‘Lost Generation’ - a generation who’d lost the values of their past and were at a pivotal time and place, questioning mortality, defying social norms, and learning to live in the moment.
Paul masterfully offers 4 different points of view. It was a big step, and was, for the most part, successful. I did struggle with connecting to these women and wondered if it was because I didn’t ‘walk’ far enough in their shoes as I was taking them off to exchange them for another ‘pair’ just as I was getting comfortable with them.
Regardless, I enjoyed learning about the Algonquin Round Table and came to the conclusion that a century later, we’re still the same; climbing the corporate ladder, struggling to be noticed and appreciated, sacrificing way too much to get ahead, and throwing our arms up at the never ending battle.
I’ll be honest and admit that I had no idea about who these women were or their significance prior to reading this book. What I do love about Gil Paul’s approach to writing is that she gives readers enough to whet their appetite, but still leads us to the computer to research some more. What happened to these women? What legacy did they leave? A sign of a good historical fiction book is one that leaves me fulfilled but still drives me to find out more. Paul delivered. As I knew she would.
I was gifted this advance copy by Gill Paul, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Paul masterfully offers 4 different points of view. It was a big step, and was, for the most part, successful. I did struggle with connecting to these women and wondered if it was because I didn’t ‘walk’ far enough in their shoes as I was taking them off to exchange them for another ‘pair’ just as I was getting comfortable with them.
Regardless, I enjoyed learning about the Algonquin Round Table and came to the conclusion that a century later, we’re still the same; climbing the corporate ladder, struggling to be noticed and appreciated, sacrificing way too much to get ahead, and throwing our arms up at the never ending battle.
I’ll be honest and admit that I had no idea about who these women were or their significance prior to reading this book. What I do love about Gil Paul’s approach to writing is that she gives readers enough to whet their appetite, but still leads us to the computer to research some more. What happened to these women? What legacy did they leave? A sign of a good historical fiction book is one that leaves me fulfilled but still drives me to find out more. Paul delivered. As I knew she would.
I was gifted this advance copy by Gill Paul, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
A solid 3.5– this was cute and fun and I loved the four characters of the bridge club, but I wish it had been a little more plot heavy.
This one is a good story about Dorothy Parker and her friends living in New York during the time of prohibition and the rise of Women's Rights - but it just didn't live up to what I've come to expect from Gill Paul's novels. I've read several other books by her that I've really enjoyed. I enjoyed reading about the daily lives of women at this time -their struggles, the way they navigated a world meant for men, and their friendships. But I found myself losing focus at several points throughout the story. This one just wasn't as engaging as the other Paul books I've read.
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I’ve read two other Gill Paul books, Jackie and Maria: A Novel of Jackie Kennedy & Maria Callas and The Collector’s Daughter: A Novel of the Discovery of Tutankhamun’s Tomb. I enjoyed them both, as they surrounded subjects for which I’m familiar. Yet when I picked up The Manhattan Girls, I knew nothing of Dorothy Parker other than that she was a writer and was a member of the Algonquin Round Table.
The book is full of sharp and witty women and men and their banter. My main problem throughout the book was that without having prior knowledge of Parker and her friends, I had no idea what was real and what was imagined. In one sense, that’s freeing for the reader, but in another sense, it’s really hard to see the fact in the fiction. I wished there were an afterward revealing what was true or not, where liberties were taken, and what happened to the people described in the novel.
While I found the writing top-notch as usual for a Gill Paul novel, I had trouble connecting because of the above-mentioned facts. I still feel like I didn’t know Dorothy Parker all that well. I did enjoy finding out more about the starting up and the early days of The New Yorker magazine. I would recommend for anyone who enjoys historical fiction set in the 1920s, or for fans of Dorothy Parker and her friends.
I’ve read two other Gill Paul books, Jackie and Maria: A Novel of Jackie Kennedy & Maria Callas and The Collector’s Daughter: A Novel of the Discovery of Tutankhamun’s Tomb. I enjoyed them both, as they surrounded subjects for which I’m familiar. Yet when I picked up The Manhattan Girls, I knew nothing of Dorothy Parker other than that she was a writer and was a member of the Algonquin Round Table.
The book is full of sharp and witty women and men and their banter. My main problem throughout the book was that without having prior knowledge of Parker and her friends, I had no idea what was real and what was imagined. In one sense, that’s freeing for the reader, but in another sense, it’s really hard to see the fact in the fiction. I wished there were an afterward revealing what was true or not, where liberties were taken, and what happened to the people described in the novel.
While I found the writing top-notch as usual for a Gill Paul novel, I had trouble connecting because of the above-mentioned facts. I still feel like I didn’t know Dorothy Parker all that well. I did enjoy finding out more about the starting up and the early days of The New Yorker magazine. I would recommend for anyone who enjoys historical fiction set in the 1920s, or for fans of Dorothy Parker and her friends.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 rounded up to 4. It was fun going back to the roaring 1920s in NYC and getting to know these strong, intelligent, independent women. It’s basically the original “Sex and the City”, four women form a bridge group and we see their friendship develop and deepen. The story didn’t keep me as interested as I would have liked. There are so many characters that it took some thought to keep track of them all (although there is a character guide at the beginning of the book for reference). I did learn a lot though, and tough topics were touched upon like suicide, abortion, divorce, rape, etc. I ended up liking the characters so much that I googled them to learn more about them and to see what they looked like in real life. I do love seeing historical figures brought to life, and I would definitely read other books written by this author.
A fast read & definitely the description is accurate-Sex in the City from the olden days. Kept me interested & had some plot pieces only my grandma would have known, but that I’ve always wondered how women back then dealt with. Good summer read.
THE MANHATTAN GIRLS by Gill Paul
This is described as a 1920s version of Sex and the City and I feel that’s a fairly accurate assessment.
Dorothy “Dottie” Parker is a writer, poet and an incredibly flawed individual. She uses her cynicism, dark humor and wit to hide the fact that she can’t manage to get her shit together.
Jane Grant is the first female reporter for The New York Times. She’s married to Harold and their dream is to publish a new magazine they’ve named, The New Yorker. (Yes, that one!)
Winifred Lenihan is a successful Broadway actress who is tired of the casting-couch. She wants to do something more meaningful with her life. She’s beautiful and talented, but very guarded.
Margaret “Peggy” Leech is a magazine assistant at Condé Nast and has dreams of being a published author. She’s so busy writing her first book that she doesn’t have time for romance.
These women establish a Bridge club where they come together to drink bootleg liquor, eat canapés, gossip, celebrate each other’s triumphs and offer support in their tragedies. There are a few sensitive subjects broached in this story (some of which are on the forefront of today’s news, unfortunately) which makes it even more relatable.
I do wish there was a note regarding timelines because some chapters take place a few months or weeks after the previous one and it was a bit jarring.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It’s a well written and immersive character study of four very different, intelligent, independent and interesting women. Each character felt real and their storylines blend seamlessly. Recommend if you’re looking for an easy weekend read.
**ARC courtesy of @NetGalley & @AvonBooksUK
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Release Date: 08.16.22
#TheManhattanGirls #GillPaul
This is described as a 1920s version of Sex and the City and I feel that’s a fairly accurate assessment.
Dorothy “Dottie” Parker is a writer, poet and an incredibly flawed individual. She uses her cynicism, dark humor and wit to hide the fact that she can’t manage to get her shit together.
Jane Grant is the first female reporter for The New York Times. She’s married to Harold and their dream is to publish a new magazine they’ve named, The New Yorker. (Yes, that one!)
Winifred Lenihan is a successful Broadway actress who is tired of the casting-couch. She wants to do something more meaningful with her life. She’s beautiful and talented, but very guarded.
Margaret “Peggy” Leech is a magazine assistant at Condé Nast and has dreams of being a published author. She’s so busy writing her first book that she doesn’t have time for romance.
These women establish a Bridge club where they come together to drink bootleg liquor, eat canapés, gossip, celebrate each other’s triumphs and offer support in their tragedies. There are a few sensitive subjects broached in this story (some of which are on the forefront of today’s news, unfortunately) which makes it even more relatable.
I do wish there was a note regarding timelines because some chapters take place a few months or weeks after the previous one and it was a bit jarring.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It’s a well written and immersive character study of four very different, intelligent, independent and interesting women. Each character felt real and their storylines blend seamlessly. Recommend if you’re looking for an easy weekend read.
**ARC courtesy of @NetGalley & @AvonBooksUK
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Release Date: 08.16.22
#TheManhattanGirls #GillPaul