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What Members Thought

Nancy H
What an intriguing story! The main character is Malka Treynovsky, who emigrated to New York with her poor Jewish family in 1913. The twists and turns in her life are amazing and unbelievable, yet she survives and transforms herself into Lillian Dunkle, who becomes the "Ice Cream Queen of America", as President Eisenhower eventually called her. Her past has made her into a formidable woman who will stop at nothing to succeed and get what she wants, no matter what she has to do to get it. The stor ...more
Heidi Siefkas
Oct 30, 2014 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Although this is my first book of Gilman's that wasn't a memoir, I still loved her humor. With many flashbacks in the mostly chronological organization, it left some details out until you needed to know them. This especially was the case with the ending of the book. You get hints as to an accident and trial, but you don't know exactly what until the end.


As far as moments that stood out, I felt for Malka and her sisters. The transition from Russia to America and then from Orchard St to the Dinel
...more
Ra
Nov 14, 2016 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
A story that is quite light and enjoyable to listen to, read by its author. Lots of interesting anecdotes on immigrant lifestyle and the chutzpah required to make it in the new world. I did enjoy the smart-ass style of the narrator/protagonist.
Suzanne
Apr 14, 2014 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Anika
May 30, 2014 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Paula Hiatt
Jan 05, 2015 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Janna
Apr 04, 2015 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Jocelyn
Apr 20, 2015 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Tanya
Jul 04, 2015 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Traci
Nov 19, 2015 marked it as need-to-finish  ·  review of another edition
Stacey
Jan 16, 2016 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Stacy
Aug 02, 2016 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Jenna
Dec 17, 2017 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: arcs
Terri
Apr 23, 2018 marked it as jewish-book-club  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: jewish-fiction
Tina
May 05, 2021 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: ice-cream
Kristen
Jun 30, 2021 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: have, fiction
Christina
Sep 24, 2023 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Sara
Jan 02, 2025 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Beth
Aug 30, 2025 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition