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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
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
nadletab's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Self harm, and Suicide attempt
sammies_shelf's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was a slow, meandering read inside the mind of a complex, ballsy, wise, melancholy woman named Lillian Boxfish as she takes a walk on New Year's Eve 1984. I really enjoyed the development of Lillian's character as she shares more and more of her stories, I loved her interactions with strangers as she walks through New York City, and I liked how these fed into each other. I appreciate and find very interesting the basis of Lillian on the real highest-paid woman copywriter in the world in the 1930s, who also worked for Macy's. I think the writing is lovely. This was an enjoyable book with some great, heartwarming moments and interesting stories.
Favorite quotes:
"This, I imagine, is why I love walking in the city, taking to the streets in pursuit of some spontaneous and near-arbitrary objective. If one knocks oneself out of one's routine--and in doing so knocks others gently out of theirs--then one can now and again create these momentary opportunities to be better than one is."
"I am proud that I fought so hard against the world, relieved that I made my fragile truce with it. I can greet it now, from time to time, as it really is."
Favorite quotes:
"This, I imagine, is why I love walking in the city, taking to the streets in pursuit of some spontaneous and near-arbitrary objective. If one knocks oneself out of one's routine--and in doing so knocks others gently out of theirs--then one can now and again create these momentary opportunities to be better than one is."
"I am proud that I fought so hard against the world, relieved that I made my fragile truce with it. I can greet it now, from time to time, as it really is."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Alcoholism and Miscarriage
issyjanejane's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, and Cursing
Moderate: Mental illness and Self harm
izzyf16's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm and Suicide attempt
rezelazny's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A wonderful romp through 1984 NYC. I loved learning about Lillian, her history, her accomplishments and her love of the city is magnificent. It so makes me yearn for a walk around NYC. The history of the city makes this book so enjoyable. Lillian herself is amazing, but the city in which she calls home is just as an important character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Suicide attempt
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