Lovey Childs: A Philadelphian's Story

by John O'Hara

Jacket sunned on spine, with some small nicks and notches. Light damp damage/staining along bottom edge, most visible on jacket. Contents remain clean and sound. First British Edition

Genres: Fiction

249 pages, Hardcover

First published November 12, 1969

About the author

American writer John Henry O'Hara contributed short stories to the New Yorker and wrote novels, such as BUtterfield 8 (1935) and Ten North Frederick (1955).

Best-selling works of John Henry O'Hara include Appointment in Samarra . People particularly knew him for an uncannily accurate ear for dialogue. O'Hara, a keen observer of social status and class differences, wrote frequently about the socially ambitious.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_O&#...

Reviews

[Armin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Für die erste Hälfte hätte ich mindestens vier Sterne vergeben, aber die restlichen Kapitel sind deutlich schwächer, zudem tun sich gewaltige Lücken dazwischen auf. Die Titelheldin Lovey Childs wird weder optisch noch charakterlich wirklich präsent in der oberflächlichen zweiten Hälfte. Schade drum, aber die im deutschen Titel versprochenen, zärtlichen, wilden Jahre werden nie Wirklichkeit. Von daher ist das letzte Buch zu Lebzeiten des Autors eher etwas für Komplettisten.

[Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had only read two other John O'Hara books before this one, and they were both written before WWII. "Butterfield 8" and "Appointment in Samarra" each pushed the envelope of decency in their time, but they still had a 1930s sensibility. In that context, "Lovey Childs" was quite a shock to the system to me - and not a book to be read over a cup of coffee at Panera in the morning. Written in 1969, just one year before his death at the age of 65, this book is very reflective of the 'free love' era, even though the story takes place in the 1920s. At its core, "Lovey Childs" is filled with titillating events and encounters that, even for 1969, probably had shock value.

That said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It moves quickly, has great dialog and fun characters. However, it seems to be written as if O'Hara knew he only had one year left to live and wanted to get his story on paper quickly. The story jumps around rapidly, oftentimes with the reader plopped down into situations that arise from nowhere. Since the plot is so simple, this does not present a challenge. But, on the other hand, a longer novel would have filled in some of the blanks. Characters come and go and, usually, their motives or backgrounds are not fully fleshed out. And, O'Hara writes about lesbian encounters as if he were the 'man who invented lesbianism', in my opinion.

If you like O'Hara and are looking for a quick read, you will enjoy this book.

[Tad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This entertaining, borderline-trashy novel set in the 1920s and '30s deals largely with the different ways in which a mother and daughter try to cope with the emotional turmoil that accompanies their lesbian desires. One of the review blurbs in the 1970 paperback version sums up my own opinion: "interesting, professional and eminently readable."

[J. Crispell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like his writing, but it was too much of a too-detailed soap opera for my tastes.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read, must have been pretty racy when it was first written. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Michelle]

This is, in a way, a shocking book to read now. Written in 1969 and set in the 1920s, it tells . . . well, partially, and importantly, a tale of what happens to women who dare to make love to one another. Though it's shocking now mostly for how unacceptable it was, and how damning, it was an incredibly progressive work for its time, and fascinating to read now.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was scandalized by Lovey Childs.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. In the beginning the book intrigued me, but as I continued to read, I found it boring, disjointed, and ultimately unsatisfying.