.jpg)
Book Details
- Hardcover: 368 pages
- Publisher: Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam; First Edition edition (May 7, 2013)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0399161465
- ISBN-13: 978-0399161469
About the Book
New York City, 1924: the height of Prohibition and the whole city swims in bathtub gin.
Rose Baker is an orphaned young woman working for her bread as a typist in a police precinct on the lower East Side. Every day Rose transcribes the confessions of the gangsters and murderers that pass through the precinct. While she may disapprove of the details, she prides herself on typing up the goriest of crimes without batting an eyelid.
But when the captivating Odalie begins work at the precinct Rose finds herself falling under the new typist's spell. As do her bosses, the buttoned up Lieutenant Detective and the fatherly Sergeant. As the two girls' friendship blossoms and they flit between the sparkling underworld of speakeasies by night, and their work at the precinct by day, it is not long before Rose's fascination for her new colleague turns to obsession.
But just who is the real Odalie, and how far will Rose go to find out?
Rose Baker is an orphaned young woman working for her bread as a typist in a police precinct on the lower East Side. Every day Rose transcribes the confessions of the gangsters and murderers that pass through the precinct. While she may disapprove of the details, she prides herself on typing up the goriest of crimes without batting an eyelid.
But when the captivating Odalie begins work at the precinct Rose finds herself falling under the new typist's spell. As do her bosses, the buttoned up Lieutenant Detective and the fatherly Sergeant. As the two girls' friendship blossoms and they flit between the sparkling underworld of speakeasies by night, and their work at the precinct by day, it is not long before Rose's fascination for her new colleague turns to obsession.
But just who is the real Odalie, and how far will Rose go to find out?
Guest Review
Rose Baker holds the lives of many men in her fingertips.
Literally. In this new era for woman, Rose
has set out for the workforce as a typist with the local police precinct. She transcribes the crimes that men have
committed and it is up to her to get their confessions and transgressions
correct. In the age of gangsters, bathtub gin, and the
Charleston, life is sure to change for Ms. Baker with she walks in, the other typist, Odalie.
Set in the age of Prohibition, in the jazzy 1920s Manhattan,
Suzanne Rindell’s debut novel is
gripping narrative sure to draw the reader in from the first page. Rose is
prudish and proper, prim and judgmental.
But when she becomes entranced by Odalie, the vivacious and flirtatious
newest staff member at the precinct, she is thrown into a life she never
thought she would experience. Everyone
vies for Odalie’s attention and Rose is no different.
Rose and the Other Typist become fast friends and are
whirled into a life of beaded dresses, bobbed haircuts, and speakeasies hidden
behind wig shops. Perfect for anyone who
loved the Great Gatsby and yearns for a time gone by, this deliciously
descriptive story is realistic and oddly enough, easy to relate to.
The chronicle, told at times in hindsight, is given in a
great more detail and offers insight otherwise unknown, while keeping the
readers’ interest continually piqued.
The occasional mention of a doctor is slightly confusing but keeps the
reader racing through the pages, continually wondering with could have possibly
happened to plain ol’ Rose. The dynamic
character development is anything but cliché.
Delivered in a truly honest voice of a woman with a keen eye, the
narrative proves to be immensely detailed and observant.
Days after finishing, you will be left with a longing for
further explanation. Rindell’s debut is
an impressive novel that will begs to be read again.
I received a copy of the book via Netgalley and was not monetarily compensated for my review.
I received a copy of the book via Netgalley and was not monetarily compensated for my review.
No comments:
Post a Comment