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tibbarasden's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Very slow and rambly, especially at first. That said, I really found myself overall enjoying this. I loved the viewpoint from an octogenarian and the timeline from the 1930s to the 1980s. I enjoyed the reflections and memories as she walked through NYC on New Years Eve. The different people she encounters along the way and the people in her own life throughout the years were all interesting. Very much character driven, but I love the strong female lead and how she bucks tradition in regards to gender roles and age expectations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Alcoholism, and Suicide attempt
occuprop's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Self harm, and Suicide
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Toxic relationship
dogearedandfurry's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
deltadam's review
adventurous
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Witty elderly woman walks through NYC on NYE 1984-1985. She meets lots of people and remembers her life including her family and career as a writer for Macys.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Suicide attempt
thatweirdbookgirlie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
Based loosely on a real woman, this is the story of Lillian Boxfish reflecting on her life while taking a walk through New York on New Year's Eve. There is some truly elegant writing in this book. While some of her reflections are a bit more engaging than others, overall this one is truly worth a read. You get to see New York (and the world) change through the life of one woman.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide attempt
sytaylor's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcoholism and Mental illness
jessiejonesbentley's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Suicide attempt, Classism, Death, Alcohol, Blood, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Self harm, and Sexism
Minor: Racism
lorinda817's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt
annaavian's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
5.0
"Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk" by Kathleen Rooney is a beautifully crafted novel that captures the essence of New York City in a truly remarkable way. The story of Lillian Boxfish, the highest paid woman in the advertising industry in the 1930s, is both melancholic and emotional, offering a poignant portrayal of a woman who refused to leave the city she loved, despite its changing landscape.
Rooney's writing is captivating, drawing readers into Lillian's world as she takes a stroll through the streets of New York, reminiscing about her life and the city's evolution. The novel's melancholy and emotional tone are punctuated by moments of humor and poignant reflection on one's place in the world.
What makes "Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk" such a pleasant read is its gentle pacing and the depth of emotion it evokes. Lillian's resilience and determination are inspiring. From a smart, stylish, independent young woman landing a job at R.H. Macy’s, through a fractured marriage and mental health issues, to an 85 year old tour de force, roaming the streets of Manhattan alone.
While the novel features charming moments and touches of emotion, it can at times leave readers yearning for more information about Margaret Fishback, the woman who served as its real-life inspiration.
Rooney's writing is captivating, drawing readers into Lillian's world as she takes a stroll through the streets of New York, reminiscing about her life and the city's evolution. The novel's melancholy and emotional tone are punctuated by moments of humor and poignant reflection on one's place in the world.
What makes "Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk" such a pleasant read is its gentle pacing and the depth of emotion it evokes. Lillian's resilience and determination are inspiring. From a smart, stylish, independent young woman landing a job at R.H. Macy’s, through a fractured marriage and mental health issues, to an 85 year old tour de force, roaming the streets of Manhattan alone.
While the novel features charming moments and touches of emotion, it can at times leave readers yearning for more information about Margaret Fishback, the woman who served as its real-life inspiration.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Infidelity, Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Miscarriage
wynnebirchmaple's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It’s hard to tell a story during the course of 1 day. New York City, New Years Eve 1984. Lillian Boxfish, modeled after real life person Margaret Fishback, decides to take a walk to ring in the new year. She visit old haunts where painful and joyful things have happened. As she walks key memories of her rise to success in advertising and publishing during the 1930’s onward and the challenges of pioneering as a woman executive. She also shares her breakdowns, marital betrayals and to some extent failed motherhood to readers. Lillian walks and readers experience New York and how it’s changing.
At the sentence level, author Kathleen Rooney, has a beautiful sense of poetry and narrative. Rooney knows when to quip, when to use specialized language, when to insert posh French to elevate the moment, and one to just lay raw emotions bare. She is truly an artist.
This book is not plot driven, as Lillian does not victimize nor does she allow herself to be victimized. At times she is in potential danger walking the streets of New York at night. There is no clear pattern as to when Lillian will be triggered and immerse readers in her somewhat painful past and when she will step off the grid and face to face with death which she manages to defy even at 85.
I enjoyed witnessing Lillian look mortality right in the eye and accept that her time is coming and that even though she’s reexamining her life not seeking remediation or change.Albeit she continues moving forward. We all end up in the same place big marks, relevance, impact or not. Lillian simply shows reader that a rich life is best experienced in the relationships one engages in and in using one’s capacity for innovation. It was oddly peaceful.
At the sentence level, author Kathleen Rooney, has a beautiful sense of poetry and narrative. Rooney knows when to quip, when to use specialized language, when to insert posh French to elevate the moment, and one to just lay raw emotions bare. She is truly an artist.
This book is not plot driven, as Lillian does not victimize nor does she allow herself to be victimized. At times she is in potential danger walking the streets of New York at night. There is no clear pattern as to when Lillian will be triggered and immerse readers in her somewhat painful past and when she will step off the grid and face to face with death which she manages to defy even at 85.
I enjoyed witnessing Lillian look mortality right in the eye and accept that her time is coming and that even though she’s reexamining her life not seeking remediation or change.Albeit she continues moving forward. We all end up in the same place big marks, relevance, impact or not. Lillian simply shows reader that a rich life is best experienced in the relationships one engages in and in using one’s capacity for innovation. It was oddly peaceful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis