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On Mermaid Avenue
Book by Kirshenbaum, Binnie
166 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1992
1 person is currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Binnie Kirshenbaum
21 books143 followersBinnie Kirshenbaum is the author of two short story collections, six novels, and numerous essays and reviews. Her work is noted for its humorous and ribald prose, which often disguises themes of human loneliness and the yearning for connection. Her heroines are usually urban, very smart, and chastened by lifetimes of unwelcome surprises. Kirshenbaum has been published in German, French, Hebrew, Turkish, and several other languages.
Kirshenbaum grew up in New York and attended Columbia University and Brooklyn College. She is the chair of the Writing Division of the Columbia University Graduate School of the Arts, where she has served as a professor of fiction for more than a decade.
Called, “a humorist, even a comedian, a sort of stand-up tragic,” by Richard Howard, Kirshenbaum has twice won Critics’ Choice Awards and was selected as one of the Best Young American Novelists by Granta Magazine. Kirshenbaum was also a nominee for The National Jewish Book Award for her novel Hester Among the Ruins. Her new novel, The Scenic Route, was published in May, 2009. Of the novel, Gary Steyngart says, “The Scenic Route is warm, wise, and very difficult to put down."
Binnie Kirshenbaum lives and works in New York City.
Binnie Kirshenbaum was born in Yonkers and grew up in Westchester County. After attending Columbia University as an undergraduate, Kirshenbaum earned her MFA at Brooklyn College. She taught at Wagner College before joining the faculty at the Writing Division of Columbia University's School of the Arts.
Kirshenbaum grew up in New York and attended Columbia University and Brooklyn College. She is the chair of the Writing Division of the Columbia University Graduate School of the Arts, where she has served as a professor of fiction for more than a decade.
Called, “a humorist, even a comedian, a sort of stand-up tragic,” by Richard Howard, Kirshenbaum has twice won Critics’ Choice Awards and was selected as one of the Best Young American Novelists by Granta Magazine. Kirshenbaum was also a nominee for The National Jewish Book Award for her novel Hester Among the Ruins. Her new novel, The Scenic Route, was published in May, 2009. Of the novel, Gary Steyngart says, “The Scenic Route is warm, wise, and very difficult to put down."
Binnie Kirshenbaum lives and works in New York City.
Binnie Kirshenbaum was born in Yonkers and grew up in Westchester County. After attending Columbia University as an undergraduate, Kirshenbaum earned her MFA at Brooklyn College. She taught at Wagner College before joining the faculty at the Writing Division of Columbia University's School of the Arts.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 21, 2024
Really, really dumb.
November 21, 2025
Ich weiß nicht warum, aber dieses Buch habe ich verschlungen und geliebt. Es gibt viel Wortwitz, absurd-arrogantes Getue, eine Freundschaft, bei der beide eine Schraube locker haben - es hat einfach Spaß gemacht. 🌞 Ich habe es das zweite Mal gelesen. Der Originaltitel "Mermaid Avenue" passt besser.
October 22, 2017
good and easy read, pretty entertaining until you get to the end cuz the ending was NOT what i expected AT ALL
July 5, 2008
I read this book because my daughter Meghan loves it. It is a female Catcher in the Rye. It was so realistic that I was able to use Meghan’s voice for Monarose. Jessica Kubitsky, a friend from her teenage years, was the voice of Edie. Both were very apt voicings.
It seemed as though the girls were able to make the most out of little. First it was in school and then later in early adult life. But for them it wasn’t early adult life; it was merely an extension of school without school. This approach, which was a strength and wonder it school gradually throws them farther and farther from what is needed to make life work as an adult. It eventually breaks, though not through any conscious effort to do so by either of the pair.
The above paragraph is just one reading of the book, certainly not the only. On Mermaid Avenue raises far more questions than it answers. Indeed, it doesn’t even try to answer most of the questions that it raises. It is subject to multiple interpretations throughout. Even the last three pages, which you would expect to at least offer direct, are inconclusive, able to be read in multiple ways.
It is likely that I will think about the characters in this book for a while, particularly because of the voicings I chose.
Well recommended, my oldest daughter!
It seemed as though the girls were able to make the most out of little. First it was in school and then later in early adult life. But for them it wasn’t early adult life; it was merely an extension of school without school. This approach, which was a strength and wonder it school gradually throws them farther and farther from what is needed to make life work as an adult. It eventually breaks, though not through any conscious effort to do so by either of the pair.
The above paragraph is just one reading of the book, certainly not the only. On Mermaid Avenue raises far more questions than it answers. Indeed, it doesn’t even try to answer most of the questions that it raises. It is subject to multiple interpretations throughout. Even the last three pages, which you would expect to at least offer direct, are inconclusive, able to be read in multiple ways.
It is likely that I will think about the characters in this book for a while, particularly because of the voicings I chose.
Well recommended, my oldest daughter!
April 9, 2019
I loved this book that I read about on Shelf Awareness Pro. I follow the profiles of various author's best of lists, most influential, hid from parents, and pretended to read titles. I didn't note who liked this book--I'm adding this breadcrumb to my records so I can keep up with the sources of recommendations. I'd like to be able to say I read this book that so-and-so hid from her parents, or wouldn't part with or whatever.
The unique tone and charming voice immediately captivated me and I read it in one sitting. The narrator left me with an odd mix of melancholy longing and deja vu. I've not encountered such women as these in my literary travels and was very please to make their acquaintance. Recommended, could easily become a minor classic.
The unique tone and charming voice immediately captivated me and I read it in one sitting. The narrator left me with an odd mix of melancholy longing and deja vu. I've not encountered such women as these in my literary travels and was very please to make their acquaintance. Recommended, could easily become a minor classic.
February 17, 2021
This is my third Krishenbaum novel, and I have loved them all. On Mermaid Avenue is compact, intense, and hilarious, matching the friendship it covered. Just like her other books, her characterizations from small moments are funny and spot on: "Fawn poured tea without caffeine into mugs without handles."
April 11, 2020
Es war ganz nett zum zwischendurch lesen, aber ich fand die Geschichte jetzt nicht herausragend. Hier zeigt sich wieder, wie schnell sich zwei beste Freundinnen auseinanderleben, nur weil die eine einen neuen Lebensplan hat und sich weiter entwickelt.
April 8, 2008
I loved loved loved this book, so much that those who have borrowed it from me get the benefit of my wierdo notes in the margin and highlighting (no, I didn't read it for a class). This is one of the best coming-of-age story of girl's friendships I have ever read, bar none. The precarious nature of friendships when they come into contact with other relationships, especially romantic ones, is captured so well here. When one character's best girl friend wants to get married, she just feels betrayed and like her friend has changed to please the proposed husband somehow. It is a beautiful, though often bittersweet story.
August 1, 2011
Well written, and I would like to read something else by this author. But this specific story, about a codependent relationship between two college girls, was not particularly memorable. I think this type of fiction has been done before, and done better.
March 20, 2007
It's not really all that good, but it's a sentimental favorite.
November 10, 2007
that old friends and memories are to cherished
June 9, 2010
Just... bad.
January 16, 2016
Great female characters - I love everything by this author.
January 31, 2016
My edition is pink and that's probably why I bought this book.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews