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The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Sorry folks, although I know Dorothy‘s real life I wasn‘t sure what we would read. Or what the author would write. I should have alerted triggers.

988 https://988lifeline.org/

As with any author I‘m sure her opinions have seeped in. Not every detail of real life is always shared is a good reminder. This is fiction many people and facts aren‘t told here is a good reminder. The author chose what to share.

Til Sunday 🤐🤐🤫

Sargar114 The author was quite graphic (regardless of fact or fiction), that‘s not on you 😘 1d

TheBookHippie @Sargar114 purposeful for her point of view on the subject matter I think 😵‍💫🤐OY. Unnecessary. 1d

Read4life I agree, @Sargar114 . Definitely not on you, @TheBookHippie 💙 21h

Librarybelle I‘m reading this week‘s section soon, so even before reading it, I know this is not on you. Discussion facilitators don‘t always know where or how the story goes. ❤️ 17h

37 likes4 comments

Sargar114

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

This week‘s section of #sundaybuddyread was INTENSE! Pretty graphic triggers but I‘m sure will make for quite the discussion. I‘m still wrapping my head around it 🤐

AmyG Oh man, Dottie. 😳 1d

Read4life Well said. 😳🤔 21h

12 likes2 comments

BarkingMadRead

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

I love when a storm rolls in, I‘m porch sitting until the rain starts. It always seems to soak the porch immediately 🙄 I would love to sit out here in the rain!

IndoorDame The light is spectacular! Thank you for sharing the photo! I wish you could stay out there! 2d

TheBookgeekFrau Oh good, I'm not the only one with a covered porch that doesn't stay dry 😅😆 2d

BarkingMadRead @TheBookgeekFrau so frustrating!! As soon as the rain starts, it gets soaked! 2d

Cathythoughts Looks lovely where you are. ❤️ 2d

BarkingMadRead @Cathythoughts our neighborhood is really nice, and with all the rain, it‘s also very green! 2d

45 likes5 comments

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

That‘s a wrap on #WickedWords for May.

AsYouWish

42 likes

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

#WickedWords #Shakespeare
Word 5/5

@AsYouWish

Reading this one for #SUNDAYBUDDYREAD
@TheBookHippie

41 likes

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

#WickedWords #poem
Word 4/5

@AsYouWish

38 likes

Karisa

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

Wow! Learned this from #SundayBuddyRead video link from @TheBookHippie today. I didn‘t realize just how cool Dorothy Parker was before! https://youtu.be/ud3-3-SPW-A?si=xHDMJ_2FUWfJiF8F

Jas16 I had no idea. Love her even more now. 5d

Karisa @Jas16 I know right?! 🥰 5d

Sargar114 So cool! 5d

46 likes3 comments

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

This post contains spoilers

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

I was link happy
Here‘s another https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud3-3-SPW-A

I think we‘re going to have a fun ride! 👀

Happy Sunday 🤍

📖 https://ia802902.us.archive.org/16/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.184951/2015.184951.Th...

Librarybelle This is a fun story! 6d

mcctrish Love the links and I‘m going to learn so much 6d

Karisa So much to dig into here! What a fun read. 😊 Did not picture the Algonquin that way! Fancy! (edited) 6d

See All 14 Comments

IndoorDame I didn‘t know The Algonquin had a hotel 🐈!!!! 6d

TheBookHippie @IndoorDame yes you can visit him. 6d

AmyG Good choice! I am enjoying this one. 6d

vlwelser I love it so far. Glad your birthday month book is turning out this good. 6d

TheBookHippie @vlwelser 😅😅😅😅WHEW… 6d

kspenmoll I am loving this book! 5d

DebinHawaii Looks like a fun video—I‘ll go back & watch more of it later. Enjoying this one so far & looking forward to where it goes. 🤗 5d

slategreyskies This is a really enjoyable book so far! I flew through today‘s section, and I‘m looking forward to next week‘s discussion! 🤍 5d

julieclair Loving this books and loving the links! 👍😘 4d

mollyrotondo Definitely enjoying the book so far! 3d

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo I am too!!! Whew!!! 3d

20 likes14 comments

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

This post contains spoilers

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Dotties marriage
Dottie husband not same since the war
Yikes
Her eye 😵‍💫
Dottie & Winfred head out together
Dotties husband leaves she finds a playmate 🤭
Her friends are worried about her rose colored glasses and new playmate…

Winifred
Poor thing PTSD
RUN RUN RUN GIRL

Our story is set!!!! WHEW!

Librarybelle So much happening! I feel sad for Dottie regarding her marriage. 6d

mcctrish I do feel bad for Dottie in terms of her marriage although they barely knew each other and hadn‘t been married long before Eddie went to war. She seems pretty caustic to me, her witticisms seem like barbs most of the time and her humour the kind where you say something mean and call it a joke ie someone is always the butt of it. Eddie‘s accidental/on purpose punch was brutal as was his non-acknowledgement of it. 6d

mcctrish Dottie‘s latching on to Charlie seems desperate. She needs a man? She does nothing traditional around the house/home? She feels like a train wreck 6d

See All 24 Comments

Karisa @mcctrish Yes! The new boyfriend thing was just so fast. She‘s using him to bolster her own self confidence after Eddie maybe? I don‘t trust Charlie yet though 6d

TheBookHippie @mcctrish I think she liked sex, 🤭😅 and I‘ve always thought if it were a man behaving like this and writing like she did no one would say a word. @Karisa (edited) 6d

mcctrish @TheBookHippie it‘s more than liking sex (Neysa likes sex ) and if Dottie needs more than sex that‘s cool too. But she needs to figure her shit out first 6d

mcctrish @Karisa me either. He just wants to have sex but he‘s wrapping it up in a prettier package and Dottie is dropping everything to run home 6d

TheBookHippie @mcctrish I agree she‘s a hot mess express. 6d

TheBookHippie @mcctrish youth oy.. lessons to be learned. 6d

TheBookHippie @mcctrish Neysa is so cool. 6d

mcctrish Maybe that‘s my problem, maybe I‘m comparing Dottie to all the other women 6d

TheBookHippie @mcctrish 🙃 6d

IndoorDame Love that Dottie does what she wants and is unapologetic! But right now she‘s lying to herself a bit about Eddie and about the new man. Not sure if that‘s the author‘s vision, or the time in her life, but I hope either way she gets stronger and her inner life actually matches her caustic barbs. 6d

mcctrish @IndoorDame I do love that too - Dottie being Dottie - but she needs to sit with herself but the links show why being alone is not something she wants to do ☹️ 6d

AmyG I think it wasn‘t uncommon during that time period….men going off to war and coming back changed. In that I feel bad for Dottie. Butshe seems to make poor choices in her personal life. Makes her human. 6d

vlwelser That was a lot of action for the beginning of any book. I hope it keeps this pace. 6d

kspenmoll She is a hot mess. I was naively shocked that she was so dependent on her husband- smart women who knew nothing about bills, etc. sad. 5d

Sargar114 I think her friends were right to be concerned about Dottie and the fling with Charlie. She‘s still recovering from her marriage and the abuse, she wasn‘t even able to admit that Eddie hit her to her friends which is how you know that she even knew it was wrong. And she was in such denial about the abuse that she was devastated when he left. I also think she sees herself as a “kept” woman so always has to have someone to take care of her. 5d

TheBookHippie @Sargar114 I think her being in a childhood that was fraught with people leaving probably didn‘t help. No one ever took care of her as a child she‘s still searching for it 🤷🏻‍♀️ It‘s sad no matter what her underlying reason. 5d

DebinHawaii Definitely a hot mess. I am good with her sowing some oats with Eddie being such a jerk & the abuse but it does seem like she is falling for Charlie too quick. She needs to get herself settled before jumping into something new. 5d

slategreyskies I think it‘s awful that Eddie came back from the war with what sounds like a fierce case of PTSD. I know someone that happened to, actually more than one someone, and they each handled it in their own way, but for both of them, heavy alcohol use was their drug of choice. However, it seemed to me to go beyond that in Eddie‘s case. I don‘t think they were a good fit, and I‘m glad he left. I do think Charlie is not a good choice, but ⬇️ 5d

slategreyskies (Cont.) when we‘re hurting or life shakes us up, I know a lot of people reach for the quick feel good choice rather than the smart one. 5d

julieclair @slategreyskies Excellent point about her reaching for the quick feel good choice. I sure do hope Charlie doesn‘t end up damaging her even more. 4d

mollyrotondo Eddie has severe PTSD but that doesn't mean Dottie has to put up with his abuse. When he hit her so badly her eye was swollen for days he didn't even notice he hurt her. That's how drunk he was. He needs help and Dottie should have been the one to walk away. But instead she clung to him until he dumped her basically because he wanted a stay at home wife (see not a good marriage regardless of the drinking and PTSD) and clinging to a new man. 3d

16 likes24 comments

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

This post contains spoilers

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Jane & Dottie visit the building
Revenge of Oedipus
Jane & Harold get the building start planning
Then Alec arrives

THEN

The party and ALEC..
WHAT?!?!
Jane is fierce

https://dorothyparker.com/dorothy-parker-haunts/47th-st

Librarybelle I think I exclaimed aloud over what Alec did at the party! The nerve! Ugh! 6d

mcctrish I HATE AW! He‘s a manipulative piece of shit and I hope bad things happen to him 6d

Karisa Alec is horrible! It‘s interesting that these places still are around 100 years later. Feels like a literary tour can be set up just focused on this group. The author has really done their homework! 6d

See All 13 Comments

TheBookHippie @Karisa There are a few!! 6d

IndoorDame Jane is fierce! She‘s so unfazed by getting arrested, she actually knows who to call to have a lawyer meet her at the precinct. This had better be enough to quash the idea of Alec living with them! 6d

AmyG My first thought was….how much is this house worth today? 🤣 Alec is a loathsome character. I hope we get to read about him getting what‘s due to him. 6d

vlwelser I love Jane. Alec seems like a giant douche canoe. 6d

kspenmoll Alex is despicable!!! Jane is such a wonderful character! 5d

Sargar114 @AmyG that‘s what I keep thinking about too!!! 5d

DebinHawaii The mushrooms growing from the ceiling in the house. Yikes! And yes, Alec is awful! 🤬 5d

slategreyskies Add me to the Alec haters group. Ugh. I‘m actually a bit worried about what will happen to Jane in court, though. I‘m hoping she won‘t get in a lot of trouble. 🤞 5d

julieclair I was shocked and disappointed at Alec‘s behavior. Surely he won‘t be permitted to live with them now. 4d

mollyrotondo When Dottie went with Jane to check out the building, I was stressed lol I was on Dottie's side. I admire people who can turn a dump into something wonderful to live in, but I don't feel like I am one of those people lol And Alec is horrible! He just seems thoughtless. I hope he doesn't turn into more and more of an antagonist. I want him gone for the plot now lol 3d

16 likes13 comments

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

This post contains spoilers

Peggy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Leech

https://www.nyrb.com/collections/margaret-leech

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/230665.Margaret_Leech

Peggy & Winfred at the bar
“There‘s a subset of guys who feel inadequate in the company of clever women ….”

Peggy what do you think! Love that quote..

Librarybelle Great quote! I‘d like to see her grow in this story. She‘s caught between the past and the changes in social mores. 6d

mcctrish I love her! She deserves to have it all! That quote is perfect and I hope she gets what she wants - the man grabbing her breasts like he was owed 😡 I want her to spend more time with Winnifred so she can fight her own battles 6d

IndoorDame She‘s the least interesting to me so far because she‘s so focused on men and relationships. I hope she gets what she wants, but secretly I hope what she wants expands beyond just a husband. 6d

See All 12 Comments

AmyG Oh, Peggy. Things have not changed. 🤣 6d

vlwelser I look forward to her coming into her own. I think the other women will help in their own disorganized ways. 6d

TheBookHippie @AmyG 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫🤣 6d

kspenmoll I too hope she cones into her own. Hooked on this book 5d

Sargar114 While she‘s incredibly intelligent she seems to want the most conventional life (husband, kids, etc) I wonder is most of that is because of her limited experience in the romance field. I can definitely understand her even if I think she is much more deserving of more 5d

DebinHawaii I really felt for her in that bar scene. I‘m glad Winifred slapped the jerk. Hopefully we see her with some growth. I hadn‘t heard of her or her books so I want to know more. 5d

slategreyskies I was so angry in that bar scene. I had someone do that to me when I was about 15, and I‘ve never forgotten it. Some people are so cruel. 5d

julieclair I like Peggy. I think that, of all the women, she is the most typical of her time. 4d

mollyrotondo @IndoorDame I agree. I also find her the least interesting because she's so smart and so interested in all kinds of subjects but she's focused on being someone's wife. She isn't like Jane who married but retained her independence. She seems to want to be a man's wife and just write while keeping house. But I also think @julieclair is right that she's prob the most typical woman of that time trying to throw out the old ways and keep up with the new 4d

16 likes12 comments

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

This post contains spoilers

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Winifred (not my bulldog 👀😱🤭)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winifred_Lenihan

https://www.throughthehourglass.com/2018/07/peter-lenihans-daughter.html

I had no knowledge of her hope to find more.
I like her chutzpah in the story so far. Just wow.

Librarybelle I was not familiar with her either. It sounds like she had to grow up quickly. Very strong. 6d

mcctrish I like Winnifred, she‘s faced some things but she‘s kind, considerate and setting boundaries. Something bad happened I think, maybe we will find out in section 2 6d

Karisa Winifred is so strong too. All four seem both of their time and ahead of it. Maybe because they are in New York. Winifred is compelling and so independent. 6d

See All 12 Comments

IndoorDame She has such an inner strength that shines through even without much having been revealed about her yet. All the women are compelling, but Winifred seems the most like the New Yorkers I grew up with. 6d

AmyG I like all the women. They are completely different, yet have a bond. They are strong and smart as hell. I had never heard of Winifred and like her a great deal. I look forward to reading and learning more about them. 6d

vlwelser She takes things in stride. I appreciate that. She somehow manages to come out on top despite being surrounded by predators. 6d

kspenmoll The only woman in this book I knew of was Dorothy Parker. I love meeting these new to me smart, strong, courageous women. 6d

Sargar114 I like that there is more to Winifred that meets the eye. It seems like a lot of people underestimate her and try to take advantage of her. I love her willingness to fight and stand up for herself and her friends. 5d

DebinHawaii I like Winifred so far. She seems smart & strong. It will be interesting to learn more of her backstory & what has shaped her. There‘s something dark in her background. 5d

slategreyskies I‘m not looking forward to hearing about Winifred‘s past. From her reactions, it seems to me like it‘s somehow related to sexual assault or something along those lines. 5d

julieclair I like that she‘s a realist, and tough when she needs to be, but not all the time. 4d

mollyrotondo Winifred is probably my second favorite. I also sense that she has a dark past, but whatever happened she seems to have a level head and has not allowed her past to hold her back. She has also been proving to be a good friend to Peggy. These women stick by each other's sides which i love! 4d

14 likes12 comments

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

This post contains spoilers

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Dottie

https://poets.org/poet/dorothy-parker

https://dorothyparker.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWcFCFZFB50

https://dorothyparker.com/book-shop

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Parker

How do you like our flawed main character ?

Librarybelle Our section ended with her coming to terms with so much turmoil. I think we‘ll see some growth as the book progresses. 6d

mcctrish No. 6d

Karisa I had no idea her early life was both so difficult and so spoiled. The video link you shared paints her as so difficult 😂 She really was alone from a young age. That had to have shaped her. 6d

See All 25 Comments

TheBookHippie @Karisa Yes and she had to make her own way . I fell in love with her because she was difficult. She was very forward thinking for her era. She wasn't bigoted, she wasn't racist, she believed in women's rights. She took lovers if she wanted to. She lived flawed on her terms. No matter what anyone said or thought. 🙃 6d

TheBookHippie @mcctrish 🤭 6d

IndoorDame The picture we get of her in this early section isn‘t especially likeable, but there‘s such a tendency to idealize famous women instead of portraying them as fully human, that I‘m keeping an open mind about all 4 of them. 6d

TheBookHippie @IndoorDame ⬆️ my reply to Karisa 6d

mcctrish I realize that in this era not being a racist, a bigot and championing women‘s rights is really good but if that‘s the bar for me liking the character 😳 6d

TheBookHippie @mcctrish 14 year old me held her close and I‘ve never given her up 🙃 6d

mcctrish I get that @TheBookHippie I wonder if I‘d see her differently if I‘d read her/about her then - I knew about her and I thought it was awesome that there were women as part of the gang but not enough to look closely 🤷🏻‍♀️off being my own train wreck I guess 6d

TheBookHippie @mcctrish I‘ve always found it interesting that young women who‘ve had traumatic childhoods and are activists that are flawed themselves are drawn to her and her outspoken ways and wit. A psych major could right a fun paper on us flawed people and why we like her. 6d

TheBookHippie @mcctrish I‘m quite happy to not be that age anymore 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫🤭 6d

mcctrish Absolutely 💯 6d

AmyG I tended to idealize her….we forget sometimes that the famous are just people like the rest of us. 6d

vlwelser Funny but that's the poem I know her for. Very witty. 6d

kspenmoll You said it perfectly re: flawed characters , traumatic childhoods, & activism. Trying to make the world right. 💜 6d

TheBookHippie @kspenmoll ♥️ 6d

TheBookHippie @AmyG 🙃 6d

Sargar114 She‘s been extremely frustrating even though there‘s reason for that. She‘s flawed and it‘s book throwingly frustrating to see how she is leaning into her flaws 5d

DebinHawaii She is a difficult person to get to know. It seems like she is more “on stage” than Winnifred with always having to come up with a perfect line or comeback. I do realize there are a lot of reasons for that but TBH, I‘m not liking her much yet. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 5d

slategreyskies I like her, and I‘m interested in learning more about her. So many links and info! I have a lot of catching up to do! 5d

slategreyskies @DebinHawaii I agree with you about her being “on stage.” I kinda feel like she feels like that‘s the role people expect of her, so she just keeps giving them what they expect. It must be hard on her to have to keep up a wall all of the time, though, because isn‘t that kinda what all the humor is? Just a wall or a mask to hide behind? 5d

BarkingMadRead I like Dottie. I hate Eddie. I hope Charlie doesn‘t turn out to be an ass 5d

julieclair I keep thinking how radical that poem must have been for the times! I admire her wit, but I feel a bit sorry for her. 5d

mollyrotondo Dottie's unhappy life makes her character understandable. She's always “on“ because she's hiding behind her wit. I just want her to not cling to a man. Eddie left and she quickly fell into Charlie's arms. I want her to stand on her own because she can! Hopefully we see growth throughout the rest of the book. 4d

16 likes25 comments

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

This post contains spoilers

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

JANE https://csws-archive.uoregon.edu/about/jane-grant/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Grant

https://expo.uoregon.edu/spotlight/jane-grant/feature/the-legacy-she-left-behind

https://spartacus-educational.com/USAjane_grant.htm

Thoughts on Jane?
I like her!!!

Librarybelle Great links again! I like her too. Tough, but she has to be as she makes her mark in a male dominated profession. 6d

mcctrish I like her ( I knew it would be The New Yorker ❤️) she is fierce, she‘s got the big picture of what she wants and breaks it down ( her gin recipe sounds delicious) 6d

Karisa Jane is so talented and tireless. I can‘t believe she went along with renovating that house—what an undertaking! Alec is quickly becoming the villain in this story pushing his way in to stay there and setting her up for arrest. What a jerk he is! But she just rolls with it all and keeps her sense of humor. 6d

See All 16 Comments

IndoorDame I like her too! In some ways it seems like this is shaping up to be Jane‘s story more than Dottie‘s. She‘s the maternal figure we‘re supposed to like. She‘s the most on top of both marriage and career. But she‘s not a pushover, she just got herself arrested. And we see the outline of her future, as she steers her husband towards establishing The New Yorker which is an amazing legacy. 6d

AmyG What a life! I like her, too. She remains a strong woman in a man‘s world. 6d

kspenmoll Jane is an amazing woman, especially given the times. I so enjoy reading about her & birth of New Yorker. @Karisa Alex is a jerk! I love how the end of ch 13 ended, showing us jis true colors. “Thank you for selling me down the river,”… To her surprise , there was no word of apology or explanation, just a long, hard stare.” (edited) 6d

vlwelser I like Jane the most so far. I love that she steers the husband down a path of her design. She is pretty fierce. I love how she treats being taken in by the police. 6d

Karisa @vlwelser @kspenmoll I could never be so calm about it all! Jane is a force. Alec better watch out! 😂 6d

TheBookHippie @vlwelser me too. She‘s fierce. 6d

Sargar114 @vlwelser @TheBookHippie mine too! I also enjoy her relationship with Harold. She obviously cares about him and they respect each other which seems unconventional for the time. 5d

Sargar114 Also, how much do you think that brownstone is worth now!!!! 5d

DebinHawaii I like Jane too & she seems to have a good relationship with Harold although I wish she hadn‘t caved about that jerk Alec moving in & pushed back more. 😠 5d

slategreyskies I like Jane as well. She seems levelheaded, and her marriage seems to have a good balance, which is not always common. 5d

BarkingMadRead I love Jane, I hate Alex. I don‘t think Harold is that bad looking, I don‘t get why everyone thinks he‘s ugly 🤷🏻‍♀️ 5d

julieclair Jane was absolutely a woman ahead of her time. So impressive! This is why I love historical fiction. I had never even heard of her. (edited) 5d

mollyrotondo Jane is my favorite so far! She has goals and is doing everything she can to reach those goals. She doesn't let her marriage stifle her. I hate Alex but I thought it was so interesting that Jane's arrest showed how little anyone took the police seriously when it came to alcohol laws and the consequences. Jane just found it to be an inconvenience. I also don't understand why Harold Ross wasn't considered attractive. His pic looks so modern. 4d

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The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

This post contains spoilers

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Neysa & things said at the first bridge game

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neysa_McMein

https://www.illustrationhistory.org/artists/neysa-mcmein

ISBEN https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrik_Ibsen
Favorite of mine
AAMILNE - yes POOH- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dover_Road_(play)
BIJOU https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bijou_Theatre_(Manhattan,_1917)

🙃🤭 lots of backstory 😅

Librarybelle Thanks for the links! The 1920s has so much going on 6d

mcctrish I enjoy Neysa‘s character and she did so many things 🤯 I had no idea there was a McClure‘s magazine 6d

Karisa I‘d love to see more of Neysa in the book. What a cool and talented person! Did not know that Milne was a playwright! (edited) 6d

See All 15 Comments

IndoorDame I‘m hoping we get to know Neysa better too! I‘m completely under her spell right now, but I‘d love to get a peek at the real woman. 6d

AmyG Neysa is a fascinating character. I, too, would like to know more. 6d

kspenmoll Neysa seems so self possessed- I too find her intriguing. Illustrated Betty Crocker, I love that!!! 6d

vlwelser Neysa is an interesting character. I never heard of her before. 6d

Sargar114 I agree with everyone. Neysa is quite interesting and would love to have her perspective. 5d

DebinHawaii Yes, right now I find Neysa one of (if not the most) the most interesting characters. 5d

slategreyskies Wow, Neysa‘s got style! Very cool. 😎 I‘m loving the pics. 5d

TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii her art is amazing!!!! She is as well. @slategreyskies 5d

BarkingMadRead I think they all want her because they can‘t have her! 5d

TheBookHippie @BarkingMadRead Isn‘t that always the way. 5d

julieclair Thanks for all these links. So fascinating! 5d

mollyrotondo Thank you for all the information! She had so much work throughout her career! I wish the book would highlight that more. I love her as a character but she is mostly portrayed as someone who throws a party every night and has men all over her. I wish we hear more about her work life. It's my one problem with the book so far. 4d

15 likes15 comments

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

This post contains spoilers

The Bridge Ladies: A Memoir

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

So the four women decide to have a reoccurring Bridge game.

♠️ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract_bridge

And our story of our four women is set

Deviled eggs https://www.chefjessicabright.com/classic-deviled-eggs.html

Corn bread https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL_5Utu6xgs

Celery with Roquefort https://www.wkndreditions.com/journal/blue-cheese-stuffed-celery

Librarybelle How different they are too! It would probably be a fascinating bridge group to observe. 6d

mcctrish My mom played bridge but I have no idea how it works ( I did play euchre for years and it seems a bit like that ) I think it‘s weird when grown ups don‘t know how to cook, I get some people enjoy it more than others but everyone should be able to make a few basic recipes 6d

IndoorDame Never understood why bridge is supposed to be a more acceptable ladylike game than poker! Though I don‘t totally understand bridge, so maybe if I did?… I do like that the author has imagined Dottie is terrible at it 😂 6d

See All 23 Comments

Karisa I like how they rotate from home to home. The game is bringing unlikely friends together. I wonder if it‘s true to history or just fiction. Love deviled eggs! So yummy 6d

TheBookHippie @IndoorDame this book helped me appreciate Bridge

TheBookHippie @Karisa the game and players are true history 1921 bridge group of New Yorker founder Jean Grant, Broadway superstar Winifred Lenihan, brilliant aspiring novelist Margaret Leech and, obviously and of course, iconic satirist Dorothy Parker. 🙃 6d

IndoorDame @TheBookHippie stacked! 6d

kspenmoll I adore deviled eggs!!! 🥚 6d

AmyG They are basically a book club…..but bridge! My parents played this every Sunday. I have no clue. 6d

TheBookHippie @AmyG my grandma and her ladies played weekly. 6d

vlwelser I love this group of fierce women hanging out without the guys. 6d

AmyG @TheBookHippie If they were in NJ…mah jong! 🤣 6d

TheBookHippie @AmyG Now that I can play!!! 6d

Sargar114 It‘s a delightful excuse for girlfriends to meet up, I enjoy it. I also like how they rotate and you get different perspectives of their lives. 5d

DebinHawaii I have never played bridge. It always looks so complicated. But bring on the deviled eggs & celery stuffed with Roquefort! 😋 5d

slategreyskies I love that they decide to start a bridge group and learn to play together. I admit that it makes me a tiny bit jealous. What I wouldn‘t give for a group of women I met with regularly and just got to hang out and be myself with. Although, I do kinda wonder sometimes how much Dottie feels like she can be herself and how much is her keeping a mask up so she doesn‘t have to be vulnerable. I mean, I get that, if that‘s what‘s happening. I mask too. 5d

slategreyskies Add me to the lovers of deviled eggs group! Back when I used to go to potlucks, I was always the one who brought the deviled eggs, and they always all got eaten. 5d

TheBookHippie @slategreyskies I‘ve not had deviled eggs in so long!!! Now I need them. So yummy. 5d

slategreyskies @TheBookHippie agreed! I keep making hard boiled eggs and eating them before I can make them into deviled eggs. 🤣 5d

BarkingMadRead I love deviled eggs! 5d

julieclair I still make deviled eggs - my family loves them and they always disappear at potlucks. My recipe is very similar to the one you posted, but I omit the hot sauce and add sweet pickle relish. 5d

TheBookHippie @julieclair my grandma used relish too! Just yum! (edited) 5d

mollyrotondo I love that the women form their own group separate from the men. And they are all so different from one another but still form this close bond. I love that! I also find it so funny how Dottie stinks at the game lol the bridge group is also the perfect setting to use in a book for important discussions lol 4d

16 likes23 comments

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

This post contains spoilers

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Women right to vote
Right to maiden name
Right to name on property

https://www.loc.gov/collections/women-of-protest/articles-and-essays/historial-t...

Interesting backdrop with prohibition ?

https://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties/prohibition

A lot going on in these times I‘ve never thought about the two together.

Librarybelle It was such a crazy time! Such big changes, and yet you‘re right - not really discussed how these two eras coincided. 6d

mcctrish I have to laugh at how obsessed everyone is with alcohol - the opposite of the intent. @Librarybelle it is a crazy time and one I have no desire to visit ( cuz time travel could be possible in my brain 😆) 6d

Librarybelle @mcctrish I‘m so surprised there was enough votes to put Prohibition into law. Also, glad it was repealed 😂 6d

See All 26 Comments

IndoorDame I was somehow equally surprised that a rookie reporter could be so ignorant of the 19th amendment and the entire women‘s rights movement, and that women were able to own or at least co-own property at this time 🙃 6d

IndoorDame I think there actually is a connection at least with the backlash to prohibition, that galvanized women to take risks, get out of the home, question authority, become free thinkers, join the counterculture… 6d

Karisa It was such a time of change and the book illustrates it well. I‘ve been on a Downton Abbey kick and it‘s been a fun contrast to think how different life is for the two sets of people (UK vs. New York/rich vs. middle class vs. servants). Cora‘s mother (played by Shirley McLaine) and brother could fit right in with Dottie‘s set in New York! 6d

Karisa @mcctrish Yes! Just made so many more problems trying to keep everyone away from alcohol. I think it‘d be fun to visit a speakeasy still though and hear all these types talking. 6d

mcctrish @Karisa drinking from tea cups 🤣🤣 although the descriptions of how this swill tastes makes me wonder how fun it was 6d

mcctrish @IndoorDame the rookie made me mad but also realize shit doesn‘t change - he‘s a guy and couldn‘t care less about women‘s rights so why would he be aware 6d

AmyG Prohibition…laws of the righteous. The minute you can‘t so it…everyone wants to. I laughed at the horrible alcohol people were making and the tea cups. 6d

TheBookHippie @AmyG it had to taste AWFUL 6d

TheBookHippie @mcctrish @AmyG I‘ll never look at tea cups the same again. 6d

vlwelser I like that these are all thrown together. It paints a clear picture of the time. 6d

Sargar114 I was under the impression that a big reason why prohibition came to be was because of the passing of the 19th amendment. I just presume that the alcohol of the time tasted like rubbing alcohol. 5d

TheBookHippie @Sargar114 Control for sure. And yes blech … I always thought cheap perfume 🤭😅 5d

slategreyskies The right to keep your maiden name was the one that hit me more than the others. I suppose I hadn‘t really ever thought about it, about how recently it was that it was required for a woman to change her name when she married. It really wasn‘t that long ago. 5d

TheBookHippie @slategreyskies The crap I get to this day 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 also I‘m the only one I know in my circle who did. 🤯 5d

slategreyskies @TheBookHippie I know very few women who kept theirs. I can think of one right now, but I think I actually probably know someone else whose name I‘ve forgotten. It‘s uncommon. I changed mine once when I married my ex and then again when I married my current partner. I might‘ve kept my maiden name if it was interesting to me, but I was often mistaken for someone else, since my maiden name was so common. It was a relief to change it. ⬇️ 5d

slategreyskies @TheBookHippie I actually went to school with someone who had my same name (first and last, but not middle), and we were in the same classes in the same grade. Any rumor that went around about her went around about me and vice versa. It was not fun. 🤣 5d

julieclair My grandmother divorced my alcoholic grandfather in 1931, when my mother was 2 years old. Reading this book really puts in context for me how courageous that was of her - and she was a sweet, mild mannered woman. It also supports the book‘s depiction of how readily available alcohol was - at least in New Jersey. My grandfather couldn‘t have been an alcoholic if he couldn‘t obtain alcohol. 5d

TheBookHippie @julieclair it was so readily available !!! 5d

TheBookHippie @slategreyskies 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫OY. 5d

TheBookHippie @julieclair isn‘t it amazing how resilient our grandmothers were!!! Makes us love them more, even if they‘ve passed already. 5d

julieclair @TheBookHippie The older I get, the more I appreciate my grandmother‘s strength. 💝 4d

mollyrotondo I was surprised that women needed the right to use their maiden name. I just thought it was an expectation for wives to use their married name, but I did not think it was a legal right to fight for. I don't know why it shocks me but it astounds me how humans keep one another down in such trivial ways. I also don't always connect prohibition with the same era as women gaining the right to vote. 4d

mollyrotondo I also didn't know that the federal mandate against the manufacturing of alcohol really started because of WWI and trying to save the production of grain for food. That makes a lot of sense. But the “moral crusade“ against alcohol that began before the war and continued in some states after the war is a reminder how people's “moral crusades“ against things in this country can still take over like people's “moral crusades“ against women's rights 4d

14 likes26 comments

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

This post contains spoilers

The Secret Book of Frida Kahlo: A Novel

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Dorothy Parker🤍
Do you know about her?
How do you feel reading about real people fictionalized?

Dorothy getting fired for upsetting a prominent person seems like that could happen today !?!

https://www.ny1920.com/jan-11

Librarybelle I know a little bit about her, but I‘ve never read a biography on her. As to fictionalizing real people - I think it‘s important to keep as true to the character as possible but not overwhelming the reader with details. This can be used as a starting point for someone who wants to learn more about someone or an event. It‘s then up to the experts to provide the best information about the subject. Not every historian agrees on that…⬇️ 6d

Librarybelle ⬆️ …Many of my classmates and professors abhorred fictionalizing people and events because they were not accurate. But, I think it‘s a way to get someone who is not interested in history interested. 🤷🏻‍♀️ So, I‘m fine with it, as long as the characterization is respectful. 6d

mcctrish I knew of her and the Algonquin meetings. I don‘t have a problem with fictionalized real people ( I am reading Wolf Hall ) I like to read fiction more than non-fiction because of how story telling works/flows in fiction (there are some stellar non-fiction writers who tell their tales with a narrative bent) 6d

See All 29 Comments

IndoorDame Dorothy Parker is sort of a hazy figure for me. I know the legend she left, a bit of her work, and the barest details of her life, but I won‘t know how close this book gets to reality without some background reading. 6d

IndoorDame I find fictionalizing real people intriguing. It can obviously be problematic if it‘s not done right. But I‘m reading a fictionalized super internal account of Frida Kahlo‘s life right now that doesn‘t really line up with my perception of her essence, but is giving me a lot to think about in comparing my vision of her to this author‘s. 6d

Karisa I‘ve know of her poetry and have taught her poem “Penelope”. It‘s been one of my favorites for many years—the students don‘t get it at first. Then they see with the rhyme schemes and ironic last line—it‘s just brilliantly clever (as she‘s portrayed in the book). Bringing someone back to life in fiction is so tricky, but it does give them extra staying power. Like Shakespeare‘s Julius Caesar. It‘s what many know now of him. 6d

Karisa Penelope by Dorothy Parker https://allpoetry.com/poem/8497855-Penelope-by-Dorothy-Parker 6d

Karisa @IndoorDame Oooh, like the Picasso book. Such a different view of him too. Would you recommend the Kahlo book? Always found her fascinating! 6d

IndoorDame @Karisa I haven‘t gotten far enough to have quite made my mind up yet, but I think I‘d recommend it

Frida's Bed: A Novel

kspenmoll I read her years ago- she is fascinating! As to fictionalizing real people, it‘s fine with me as ling as it‘s billed as fiction & the author includes notes/ bibliography of any works consulted. @Karisa Love her poem Penelope - we always included it at the end of the Odyssey unit which sparked thoughtful discussion. (edited) 6d

kspenmoll My mom was born in 1924 to two strictly teetotaling parents. They stayed that way throughout their lives. Both were for women‘s suffrage but led traditional lives at home. Yet my they made no difference between their 2 sons & 2 daughters, all received a college education. They all worked post college, my 2 uncles a doctor & banker,my aunt a teacher( who was allowed to keep teaching throughout her 11 births) my mom was a model for a local 🔽 6d

AmyG I read some of her work years and years ago…brilliantly witty. I don‘t mind fictional writing about famous people. I have to keep reminding myself that it‘s fictional, though. 6d

kspenmoll Department store & also sang on radio. She planned to continue after marriage but my dad worked ( he was ROTC for free college/ med school) & they moved around during his tenure making it difficult.Thanks for listening to my family saga that relates to those times. My dad went to NYC to Cornell & my mom spent weekends visiting- they both cane to love the city. 6d

TheBookHippie @kspenmoll @Karisa I love that poem as well. Dorothy is too risqué for school here… ?‍? 6d

TheBookHippie @kspenmoll My grandma worked as well in Department stores modeling and working the counters. She also worked as a dancer in dance halls, married late and was so forward thinking. 👀🎉 6d

vlwelser I know a little but not much other than she's an icon from this era. I'm pumped to learn more even through fiction. 6d

Karisa @TheBookHippie So strange that many are more conservative today than in the past! 😵‍💫😂 6d

TheBookHippie @Karisa RIGHT😳 WTAF?! 🤭🤷🏻‍♀️😵‍💫 6d

Sargar114 I don‘t know anything about her. So thanks @Karisa for sharing the poem. I agree with @kspenmoll @Librarybelle that as long as it‘s done right and respectfully I don‘t have a problem with fictionalized historic figures. In fact can be a decent introduction to new people. 6d

DebinHawaii I only know a little about her so this will be interesting. I am good with fictionalizing people as long as it‘s done well with research. 5d

DebinHawaii @Karisa @IndoorDame I liked this Frida book

Karisa @DebinHawaii @IndoorDame Thank you! 5d

TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii I don‘t mind it either especially when it helps an unknown be known. 5d

IndoorDame @DebinHawaii thanks! I was actually just looking at that title today and wondering about it! 5d

slategreyskies I don‘t know much about her. I know her name and maybe a bit or two, but I‘d be more comfortable just saying that I don‘t know anything about her. I just checked this book out from the library on kindle this morning and only just now finished reading today‘s last chapter. I‘m looking forward to catching up with this morning‘s questions. 5d

BarkingMadRead I don‘t know a lot about her so I‘m enjoying the learning! 5d

julieclair I recognize her name as a famous New Yorker, but that‘s it. I think fictionalization of historical figures is a good way to introduce them to people, and help readers see them as “real people”, not just a collection of facts. But the onus is on the reader to remember they are reading fiction. 5d

mollyrotondo I knew about the Algonquin meetings, but I don't know a lot about Dorothy Parker. I love historical fiction centered around real people. It helps me learn so much more than I would have ever known about figures in history. 5d

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo I agree. 5d

14 likes29 comments

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

Started this one last night for #SUNDAYBUDDYREAD 🤓

Happy birthday month, Christine! 🎉💙

#Bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

48 likes1 stack add

BarkingMadRead

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

Next up! For #sundaybuddyread

37 likes1 stack add

AmyG

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

Read4life Mad Honey is my #BookSpin book this month. 💛 1w

AmyG @Read4life 👊🏻 1w

JenReadsAlot I loved Mad Honey! 1w

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Enjoy!! 1w

Roary47 Mad Honey was really good. 1w

55 likes5 comments

IndoorDame

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

#SundayBuddyRead friends! I just opened our new book and found this deco underlay on the first page of each chapter!!!!! I‘ve never seen this before and I‘m totally in love with it! Do your copies have this?

Librarybelle Mine does too! 1w

Deblovestoread Waiting on my copy to arrive. 🤞🏼 1w

BarkingMadRead Mine does! So cool!! 1w

41 likes3 comments

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD
Dorothy Parker -a few things ♥️

https://poets.org/poet/dorothy-parker

https://dorothyparker.com/2014/01/incredible-1920s-documentary-discovered.html

https://dorothyparker.com/about

https://mpl.org/blog/now/dorothy_dot_parker_was_the

mollyrotondo She was born in my home state! lol 2w

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo ♥️♥️♥️ 2w

43 likes1 stack add2 comments

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD MAY

Dorothy Parker & my birthday month!!! 🎉

Everyone Welcome !!

IndoorDame I‘m excited for this one! I‘m planning to read some Dorothy Parker alongside it. And happy birthday month!!! 2w

vlwelser I have mine and I'm ready. I love this time period. 2w

kspenmoll Yay! For your birthday & Dorothy! 2w

See All 7 Comments

DebinHawaii I got my copy & I‘m ready. Happy Birthday Month! 🎉 2w

willaful Hippo Birdie! Or I guess that should be Hippie Birdie? 😁 2w

CoffeeAndABook This looks like a great read!! I think I‘ll join in😊📖 🌆 being around for your birthday is an added bonus 🤩 1w

TheBookHippie @CoffeeAndABook 🙃🧁💜 1w

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The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD 2024

2024 schedule https://bookhippie.com/index.php/2023/10/01/2024-sunday-buddy-read/

Everyone Welcome

51 likes

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

Up next for MAY 🎉🎈🧁

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD

Everyone welcome!

It‘s my birthday month and I LOVE Dorothy Parker so here‘s hoping it‘s good!

vlwelser I'm ordering this from the library as soon as I finish Zorrie. 3w

TheBookHippie @vlwelser 🤞🏻 3w

vlwelser And it's on Hoopla. Score. 3w

See All 7 Comments

TheBookHippie @vlwelser 🎉🎉🎉 3w

mcctrish I‘ve got my copy, once again Book Outlet for the win 3w

AmyG Yay! 3w

DebinHawaii Got mine & I‘m ready! 🎉 3w

38 likes7 comments

LitsyEvents

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

From @thebookhippie

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD MAY

Everyone welcome !

Just follow the hashtags 🤍🙃

kspenmoll The book is in my TBR! 1mo

BarkingMadRead Woohoo I‘m ready! 1mo

40 likes2 comments

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD MAY 🤍

My birthday month!
I LOVE Dorothy Parker 🤍

🤞🏻 This is good! 🙃😅

Everyone welcome !

TheBookHippie @AmyG 😘 1mo

AmyG Ha! Thank you!!! 1mo

BarkingMadRead I‘m ready to go!! 1mo

48 likes3 comments

The Manhattan Girls | Gill Paul

For MY BIRTHDAY MONTH 📔🙃

#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD MAY

I love Dorothy Parker! I‘ve no knowledge on this book I‘m going in blind! Just how I like it! 🙃🤣

2024 SCHEDULE https://bookhippie.com/index.php/2023/10/01/2024-sunday-buddy-read/

Everyone welcome any month ♥️

Crazeedi Sounds like a good one, she was definitely a unique woman 2mo

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