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claudiaswisher's review against another edition
4.0
Mrs. Parker is back...and she's as acid-tongued as ever. But she's lonely...she's lost her sweet puppy, Cliche, and she wants a companion in that inbetween life she lives, after death, but before going into the light.
She realizes an author who interviewed her just before her own death is holed up at the Algonquin Hotel...Ted Shriver is characterized so well, I actually looked him up online, certain he was real.
Shriver is dying, and if Parker can only get him to sign the fabled guestbook in the Blue Bar, she'll have a companion. But Norah Wolfe has other plans. She works for a talk show, and wants Ted to appear and tell the truth about the plagiarism scandal that ruined his career. She has a secret that she intends to share with no one, which gives purpose to her quest.
Norah is not a particularly likeable character...her sigle-minded pursuit seems so self-serving...There were times I got exasperated with her, but Mrs. Parker and her wit held me close and I continued the journey.
I loved the short chapters where Mrs. Parker greets others who have died...Lillian Hellman, especially. There was serious bad blood there. And Groucho Marx. Sweet portraits that added to the atmosphere.
The truth wills out -- and it's not what anyone expected.
I think Norah learns a lot from Dorothy Parker and Ted Shriver...I hope she's in a better spot now...
She realizes an author who interviewed her just before her own death is holed up at the Algonquin Hotel...Ted Shriver is characterized so well, I actually looked him up online, certain he was real.
Shriver is dying, and if Parker can only get him to sign the fabled guestbook in the Blue Bar, she'll have a companion. But Norah Wolfe has other plans. She works for a talk show, and wants Ted to appear and tell the truth about the plagiarism scandal that ruined his career. She has a secret that she intends to share with no one, which gives purpose to her quest.
Norah is not a particularly likeable character...her sigle-minded pursuit seems so self-serving...There were times I got exasperated with her, but Mrs. Parker and her wit held me close and I continued the journey.
I loved the short chapters where Mrs. Parker greets others who have died...Lillian Hellman, especially. There was serious bad blood there. And Groucho Marx. Sweet portraits that added to the atmosphere.
The truth wills out -- and it's not what anyone expected.
I think Norah learns a lot from Dorothy Parker and Ted Shriver...I hope she's in a better spot now...
aditurbo's review against another edition
1.0
DNF - ridiculous and uninteresting. The rendering of Parker not good enough, sorry.
krisrid's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely LOVED this book!!!
I've adored Dorothy Parker since I first discovered her and her writings, and this author does a spot-on job of bringing her to life as one of the main characters of this story. This Dorothy Parker is everything a fan of hers would wish her to be - acerbic, sarcastic, witty, and, yes, bitter. But she is also hugely entertaining and gets some of the best lines in the book - which is only as it should be!
It took me a little longer to warm up to the other characters in this book, but I did, and the way that everything came together in the end was just sublime.
I really loved everything about this story! The writing is sharp and engaging and well-paced. The interconnecting story lines are clever and intriguing and make it very hard to put the book down. The characters draw the reader in and make you feel for and with them at every turn.
The thing with the guest book is clever and a neat literary device, but it is really the characters and the character development that made this book a five-star read for me. I will definitely be looking for other books by this author!
Great read if you are a fan of Dorothy Parker . . . and even if you aren't. Highly recommend this book!
I've adored Dorothy Parker since I first discovered her and her writings, and this author does a spot-on job of bringing her to life as one of the main characters of this story. This Dorothy Parker is everything a fan of hers would wish her to be - acerbic, sarcastic, witty, and, yes, bitter. But she is also hugely entertaining and gets some of the best lines in the book - which is only as it should be!
It took me a little longer to warm up to the other characters in this book, but I did, and the way that everything came together in the end was just sublime.
I really loved everything about this story! The writing is sharp and engaging and well-paced. The interconnecting story lines are clever and intriguing and make it very hard to put the book down. The characters draw the reader in and make you feel for and with them at every turn.
The thing with the guest book is clever and a neat literary device, but it is really the characters and the character development that made this book a five-star read for me. I will definitely be looking for other books by this author!
Great read if you are a fan of Dorothy Parker . . . and even if you aren't. Highly recommend this book!
dollycas's review against another edition
5.0
Dollycas’s Thoughts
All of Dorothy Parker’s friends and enemies see the white light and follow it quite quickly to the great beyond. Not Dorothy, she plans to stick around as long as she can but she does get lonely. Enter Ted Shriver who has come to the Algonquin Hotel to meet his maker. His writing career ended years ago when he was accused of plagiarism. He has nobody to stick around for, he just wants to be left alone to die, but Dorothy has other ideas.
This is the second book Ellen Meister has wrote featuring the one of a kind Dorothy Parker. Each book stands on its own and are fantastic reads. She has captured the woman to a tee and throw in plenty of Dorothy’s zingers that I just loved.
Dorothy Parker was a formidable woman in her time and the perfect leading lady/ghost. If you happen tosee her across the room or walking down the street you would never know she was a spirit. Her clothes have come around and are back in style. She does have a few limits as to where she can go and when but you have to read the book to find out those details.
As in the first book, Dorothy’s appearance does alter the world around her and the people she meets. Meister fills the story with twists, turns, humor and a lot of heart. Parker’s fearlessness shines in these pages. The secondary character of Ted Shriver and TV producer, Norah Wolfe are both strong characters too. Dorothy brings everyone together as only she can. Things are not easy but Dorothy doesn’t give up.
Caution – have a tissue handy for the ending.
This was a really quick read for me. I was totally engaged the whole entire way.
All of Dorothy Parker’s friends and enemies see the white light and follow it quite quickly to the great beyond. Not Dorothy, she plans to stick around as long as she can but she does get lonely. Enter Ted Shriver who has come to the Algonquin Hotel to meet his maker. His writing career ended years ago when he was accused of plagiarism. He has nobody to stick around for, he just wants to be left alone to die, but Dorothy has other ideas.
This is the second book Ellen Meister has wrote featuring the one of a kind Dorothy Parker. Each book stands on its own and are fantastic reads. She has captured the woman to a tee and throw in plenty of Dorothy’s zingers that I just loved.
Dorothy Parker was a formidable woman in her time and the perfect leading lady/ghost. If you happen tosee her across the room or walking down the street you would never know she was a spirit. Her clothes have come around and are back in style. She does have a few limits as to where she can go and when but you have to read the book to find out those details.
As in the first book, Dorothy’s appearance does alter the world around her and the people she meets. Meister fills the story with twists, turns, humor and a lot of heart. Parker’s fearlessness shines in these pages. The secondary character of Ted Shriver and TV producer, Norah Wolfe are both strong characters too. Dorothy brings everyone together as only she can. Things are not easy but Dorothy doesn’t give up.
Caution – have a tissue handy for the ending.
This was a really quick read for me. I was totally engaged the whole entire way.
howifeelaboutbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I love Ellen Meister’s books for the way she integrates magical realism in such a believable way. Before I read Harry Potter, I was never really one for magic or spells or anything, but Meister handles it beautifully. Her books are literary fiction, but the hint of magic is wonderful. And I say hint even though the whole book is based on the ghost of Dorothy Parker living in an autograph book. It is just presented in a very plausible way, so the story flows without the premise being “hokey”. The story is fascinating and her writing style is beautiful, so I highly recommend all of her books!
andydost's review against another edition
The book ping-pongs between transactions ("Let's talk to this person; that went nowhere; let's talk to the next person...") that have vague (or unbelievable) motivations behind them. It's not until certain emotional motivations get revealed that the story comes together.
mhanlon's review against another edition
4.0
I received an advance copy of this, though the advance copy was *supposed* to be for Tim Dowling's "How to be a Husband."
Not being picky, I read what I was given, and man, was it a fun read. I really liked the premise, the Dorothy Parker character, which made me want to read more into her life (and I'm pretty sure the short bios I've read about her are *very* slim on details about the time she's spent as a ghost, haunting the Algonquin Hotel).
I was very glad to get this by accident.
Not being picky, I read what I was given, and man, was it a fun read. I really liked the premise, the Dorothy Parker character, which made me want to read more into her life (and I'm pretty sure the short bios I've read about her are *very* slim on details about the time she's spent as a ghost, haunting the Algonquin Hotel).
I was very glad to get this by accident.
cherylanntownsend's review against another edition
5.0
Mrs Parker “wakes” to find herself sitting at her favorite bar alongside her favorite pal, Mr Benchley. He’s been waiting for her quite some time. Since he died, in fact. He wanted to escort her over. The rest of “the table” gave up long ago, but Benchley held firm to his friendship and bided time. But she isn’t ready. She has no reason. He leaves, she stays. Drink in hand, beloved pooch in lap, Dorothy Parker drinks on.
Alive and dying of a brain tumor, is Ted Shriver, an author currently staying at the Algonquin, but reclusively after a plagiarism claim ended his career.
Dorothy is lonely. Her haunting limited to the bar, she seeks a like-minded drinking companion. Sights set on Shriver, she sets about to convince him to also shun the white light for eternal drinks with her.
Their first encounter is in his room, as he tries to drug away the pain with Vicodin and martinis. When Dorothy appears, he blames the drugs, the tumor, the drinks. But she maintains, as Dorothy does best, with snark and circumstance.
Back in the day, through the hoodoo of Madame Lucescu, the once manager, Percy Coates, was given a guest book that would allow those who signed it to “live on” at the Algonquin forevermore. Well, as long as they were dead. Needless to say, the Algonquin Round Table attendees were all asked to sign. They kept their reservations, but tired of tat party to, crossing over, one by one. Being the last, Dorothy now argues to keep Ted, once he dies.
Then comes Norah Wolfe, a spunky TV talkshow worker with a startling resemblance to the 3 main women in Shriver’s romantic past. Hoping to snag the recluse for an episode, maybe clear his name, chat up her long-time literary idol, she checks into the hotel and soon knocks on his room’s door. His favorite gin bottled up to present.
Secrets are divulged, feelings are hurt, guns are pulled, and drinks are poured with a lot of jobs on the line between it all. With more twists than a full bar of martinis, the characters flesh out fully and conceivably.
As comical as one would expect a novel consisting of Dorothy Parker snarkisms, there is little let down. There is also deceit, mystery, tenderness, and the paranormal. A couple surprise turns that are really expected, hopefully. Nicely wrapped up with no over-the-top sentimentality.
ldv's review
3.0
Not bad. Nothing terribly profound or intricate, but relatively interesting even if somewhat predictable. The Dorothy Parker character is colourful, even if the idea of the poltergeist somewhat idealistic and convenient. The main characters have enough depth, though Nora was more naive or single-sighted than I would have liked. the book kept my attention well enough for what it is.
mhanlon's review
4.0
I received an advance copy of this, though the advance copy was *supposed* to be for Tim Dowling's "How to be a Husband."
Not being picky, I read what I was given, and man, was it a fun read. I really liked the premise, the Dorothy Parker character, which made me want to read more into her life (and I'm pretty sure the short bios I've read about her are *very* slim on details about the time she's spent as a ghost, haunting the Algonquin Hotel).
I was very glad to get this by accident.
Not being picky, I read what I was given, and man, was it a fun read. I really liked the premise, the Dorothy Parker character, which made me want to read more into her life (and I'm pretty sure the short bios I've read about her are *very* slim on details about the time she's spent as a ghost, haunting the Algonquin Hotel).
I was very glad to get this by accident.