Book: Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk
Fiction/Nonfiction: Fiction
Author: Kathleen Rooney
Have I Read This Author Before: No
One Sentence Summary: On New Years Eve, 1984, 85 year old Lillian Boxfish takes a walk in her hometown of Manhattan, encountering many people, having adventures, and recalling her long, successful career as an advertising woman for Macys, in a male dominated industry, and her sometimes challenging life as a wife, mother and divorcee
Best Thing About the Book: She is a very compelling character with lots of confidence and grit, making this a fun, easy story to read
Worst Thing About the Book: There wasn’t really a plot, just some meanderings and musings. I’ve been reading mostly thrillers, so this wasn’t a “I can’t wait to find out what happens” suspense book
What I Learned: A lot of interesting facts about life in the 1920s and 30s: During prohibition, it was possible to get a prescription for a pint of liquor “for medicinal purposes only.” Also, when the Empire State Building first opened in 1931, during the depression, much of its office space remained unrented, so it became known as “The Empty State Building.”
The Bottom Line: A very enjoyable read with a most interesting, adventurous character with a well-lived life, and nice descriptions of NYC
Would I Read This Author Again: Yes
Next Book to be Read by This Author: From Dust to Stardust
F Words that are not 4 Letters 