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It's New Year's Eve 1984, and octogenarian Lillian Boxfish is taking a walk to a favorite Manhattan restaurant. She had arrived in New York City in the 1930s, and eventually became the highest-paid advertising woman in the country as well as an accomplished poet. Lillian extends her New Year's Eve stroll by visiting a dozen places that were important in her life. She was successful at work in an era when women had few opportunities. She used her humor in her work and in social situations--with a
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Lilian Boxfish Takes a Walk is basically the author's love letter to New York as her protagonist, Lillian Boxfish, walks through Manhattan, she basks in her beloved city and reminisces of her life here in her prime years.
It is basically a beautiful novel but just oh, so sad that it's really not what I needed right now plus it also contained that particular thing that I'd like to avoid in fiction, I was that tempted to drop it. So all in all, it's me and not the book. The book with its poignancy ...more
It is basically a beautiful novel but just oh, so sad that it's really not what I needed right now plus it also contained that particular thing that I'd like to avoid in fiction, I was that tempted to drop it. So all in all, it's me and not the book. The book with its poignancy ...more
as much as this novel is a new year's eve introspection on one 85yo woman's life, it is also a tribute to new york city. the fictional lillian boxfish is based on the real life margaret fishback -- who was a successful ad woman for macy's department store from the late-1920s through the 40s, as well as a published poet and self-help-type book writer. sharp-tongued and witty, lillian is also a clever, driven feminist at a time when such things were nearly impossible for women who wanted careers.
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What a wonderful little book. The narrator for the audiobook really captured this character and I think raised this book from what would have been a three- or four-star read to a five-star for me. It also doesn't hurt that I have fond memories of living in and walking around New York City, not in the mid-eighties when this book is set, but in the early 2000s. The author has hit on something important about the way that walking around a city puts people into contact with each other and with their
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We follow Lillian Boxfish as she walks all over New York City on New Year's Eve, 1984. During her walk she thinks about the city; her advertising career at Macy's; her family; and her mental mental breakdown that happened decades ago. It was a captivating walk, one I'd gladly take with Lillian in person any time she asked. But let's face it, she's not the type of person who would ask.
This book was based on archival documents from the highest-paid female advertising writer in the 1930's, Margaret ...more
This book was based on archival documents from the highest-paid female advertising writer in the 1930's, Margaret ...more
Nice tour of Manhattan.
I liked the first half, as it was nostalgic about New York City pre-World War Two. The second half dealt more with Lillian Boxfish's losses and disappointments in her life post-World War Two, which made me feel sad.
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I tried reading this a few years ago and couldn't get into it at the time. It was a bit of a slog this time in the beginning, but I persevered and enjoyed it very much, in the end.
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Aug 20, 2016
Arctic
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Dave
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Sep 28, 2017
☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣
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May 27, 2018
Rachel N.
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May 28, 2019
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May 06, 2020
Elizabeth (Alaska)
marked it as wish-list
