The Freudian Slip by Marion Von Adlerstein

A quick rundown… The advertising world in 1960′s Sydney, told from the views of three women

Strengths: 60′s nostalgia

Weaknesses: No real main character, ending is very open-ended for two of the major characters.

Why I read it: Billed as ‘Mad Men meets Paper Giants‘ (Australian miniseries on 1970s women’s magazine, Cleo)

Pages: 400

Published: 2011

Publisher: Hachette Australia

Setting: Sydney and Melbourne, Australia

Rating: 7 out of 10

If you liked this, try: Fortune Cookie by Bryce Courtenay, Mad Men (the TV show)

 

I was really looking forward to this book. I adore the TV programme Mad Men and thoroughly enjoyed Bryce Courtenay’s look at advertising in Australia and Singapore in Fortune Cookie. You know I’m a historical fiction fan, so you wouldn’t be surprised to read that I stalked the bookstores of Melbourne for days prior to the release of this book. (Hachette will be pleased to know that nobody broke embargo). I really wanted this book to read on the way home as I thought it would be all-engrossing. Sadly, it was not to be. Not to be as in – 1. I couldn’t read it on my return journey and 2. That the book was not of the type where the world stands still while you read.

I was disappointed!

Let me get this straight. This is not an in-depth social commentary of 1960s Australia – people of a certain era will smile at the heavy use of old, familiar brand names while those of a younger generation will marvel at two things: 1. That some brands are so old! 2. What life was like prior to seven day shopping (although this can be experienced in Perth in 2012), no fast food outlets or mobile phones/internet. It’s a great piece of nostalgia but sometimes the brand references seem to be more crammed in than a Costco trolley on the inaugural visit.

Which brings me to a second point that I found interesting- Australia looking still to the Motherland, England but having a sneaking glance at glamorous America. The advertising agency has weekly showings of American commercials and Stella, turns to American magazines for inspiration (and plagiarism).

But I digress. Let me return to the storyline. The novel looks at three women, all working at a Sydney advertising agency. There’s Stella, former secretary and new copywriter, wanting to get herself out of the suburbs and intro the middle class; Desi, the posh society girl and TV director and Bea, divorcee with a nose for creative. The book focuses on each of them, but it’s unclear if one is meant to be the main character or if this is an ensemble cast. Should we like or dislike Stella, who is desperately crying to move up the corporate ladder (not always in an orthodox fashion)? Should we support Desi’s affair while engaged and encourage her to break from society’s bonds? Why is Desi known as Dizzy sometimes by various people at only various times? Isn’t that an odd nickname for someone breaking new moral ground? What exactly is the role of Bea? Are we to focus on the husband she left in the UK or her Don Draper-esque eye for advertising?

Sometimes it seems if this book is too much in too short a space. It also deals with homosexuality, drag queens (this is one of the funnier moments of the book!), class, aging, sex and racism. Nothing is in great detail.

Perhaps I was expecting a little too much of this book. If you think of it as a light frolic down 1960′s Sydney memory lane with nostalgia aplenty, you’ll enjoy this book. And I did enjoy it on this level. Those expecting more though, may be disappointed.

The Decision by Penny Vincenzi

A quick rundown… Set in the 1960s and 70s, this book plots the events leading to a marriage and then its downfall.

Strengths: Always entertaining, varied characters and attention to detail.

Weaknesses: The book is quite large and therefore quite heavy.

Why I read it: I’ve enjoyed Penny Vincenzi’s other works.

Pages: 768

Published: 2011

Publisher: Headline

Setting: England, Italy

Rating: 9 out of 10

If you liked this, try: Almost a Crime by Penny Vincenzi

I really like Penny Vincenzi’s books – you know that you are guaranteed an interesting plot, well written characters and an element of surprise. The Decision is no exception. It is slightly unusual in that you know what will happen to the main characters Eliza and Matt ultimately – it’s no secret that they will get divorced. But it is an interesting reflection on what leads to a marriage and then its downfall. All but the epilogue is revealed by the blurb on the back cover. Is it still worth reading? Of course.

Like Vincenzi’s other books, The Decision is quite weighty (and the large format paperback was still cheaper than the ebook). It is a tome to carry around, so I’d suggest that the ebook may be easier for portability (and anonymity if that’s what you’d prefer). The story is very engaging, and as always, there is a lot of skill involved in creating the supporting characters – they are all memorable from the horrid Juliet to Jenny, the biscuit-wielding receptionist. Each has their quirks which makes such a long list of characters (thoughtfully summarised at the beginning of the book) unique and unforgettable.

Surprisingly, much of the book focuses on the earlier, happier days of Matt and Eliza – how they met, their romance and early marriage. Emmie, their daughter, is thoroughly precocious (to illustrate, she gets lost and is found trying on shoes in a department store!) but lovable. It’s easy to see how Matt and Eliza both want custody of her. The divorce itself is fraught with tension and I found it hard to decide which team to ‘bat for’ – Matt or Eliza? Both had obvious faults to their claim for custody (even in 1960s London, adultery was still frowned upon). I found the ultimate decision a little strange and perhaps a bet each way, even though it’s probably a logical conclusion. The ending tied up a little too neatly for my tastes, but it also ensures the reader knows exactly what happens to each character.

Although this book is set in 1950s-70s London predominantly, there is not too much use made of the setting. The Swinging Sixties gets a glimpse, but the plot could be set anywhere, anytime. This is not a criticism, just a comment.

This is still a lovely, warming read, leaving you satisfied with some brain stimulation. It’s easy to imagine the characters and the settings – Penny Vincenzi does these types of characters (generally middle to upper class British) so well.

The Last Letter From Your Lover by Jojo Moyes

In a nutshell… A heart wrenching love story in the 1960s.

Strengths: Page turner, emotional read.

Weaknesses: Very emotional read and the second main character is not as strong.

Why I read it: ebook
download from Net Galley

Pages: 416

Published: 2010/2011 (different for different regions)

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton, Penguin Group USA (depending on where you are)

Setting: England, France, Africa

Rating: 9 out of 10

If you like this, try: The Past and Other Lies by Maggie Joel

This book came out in Australia around Christmas time last year. This was the cover we received:

and to be honest, it really didn’t appeal to me. It looked very chick lit and soppy. However, the American cover enticed me more and I had heard good things about this book, so I successfully applied to receive a Net Galley of this book. Boy, I’m so glad that I did. This is a highly emotional love story that keeps you reading well into the night without being over the top. I was really pleased with this book, and highly recommend it to those that like a well written story with detailed characters, drama and plenty of obstacles. I also think that this would make a great movie.

This book opens with Jennifer, the main protagonist, recovering in hospital after a nasty car accident where the driver was killed. Her problem is that she has amnesia of the events prior and must get to know her husband, friends and home all over again. As time goes on, Jennifer starts to feel that something isn’t quite right, but no-one will tell her anything. She then finds letters hidden in her house addressed to her, love letters signed by B. Who is B?

The story then moves back to the time before Jennifer’s accident and how she and B fell in love and planned to leave her dreary suburban life for him. Unfortunately, a number of unfortunate instances occur and things don’t happen as planned…

In the present day, Ellie is a journalist at the same newspaper as B, stuck in a dead end relationship with a novelist. She discovers the love letters as the newspaper plans to move buildings and decides to make it a feature. During this time, she learns from Jennifer the strength of relationships and what it is to really be in love.

I thought Ellie’s character was a little less engaging than Jennifer, but they are products of different times – Ellie seems much looser and flippant in comparison. Ellie is also instrumental in the ending of the book and the third section provides some lighter relief from the tortured relationship of Jennifer and B. This book was excellently written and produced a great feeling of raw emotion, especially when it wasn’t done to do so (1960′s upper middle class London). It’s more than chick lit, it’s a fine, classy story that you shouldn’t pass by. I couldn’t put this book down, not even when wandering about the house!

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

I was given this book for Christmas as part of LibraryThing’s SantaThing (secret Santa book giving). Thank you kismoody, who recommended this book based on my library.

CeeCee (or Cecelia) is a young girl with a tragic past. It’s 1960s America, and her mother is suffering from an unspecified mental illness, causing her to believe she’s still the 1951 Vidalia Onion Queen and wander the town aimlessly in tiara, gown and sash. While her mother is the talk of the town, her father copes by leaving town regularly as part of his job as a travelling salesman. When CeeCee’s mother is tragically killed in an accident involving an ice cream truck, her Great Aunt Tootie appears on the scene to give CeeCee something she’s never known – a normal life in Savannah. CeeCee learns what it’s like to be loved – by Oletta, Tootie’s cook and housekeeper, Miz Goodpepper, her neighbour, Mrs Odell, her former neighbour and Aunt Tootie. Through many mishaps and events involving slugs and the sea, CeeCee learns that she is secure.

Yes, you can tell from the above that it’s a sweet book. Sometimes I’m not sure if this book is aimed at young adult readers (a masked man and a lady in a negligee are dealt with very innocently) or it’s just being told faithfully through CeeCee’s eyes. This book is a light, quick read. It’s nowhere near as deep as The Help, but nor does it try to be. It features some great descriptions of the houses of Savannah and gardens. Just enjoy the ride and smile at the end.

Read this if: you like light Southern stories. 

7.5 out of 10.

The Ultimate Guide to Mad Men by Will Dean

This book offers excellent coverage of the first three series of Mad Men. It contains episode synopses, a review and critique by the author, followed by points to note (eg. pop culture, timelines) and comments from the ‘typing pool’. The typing pool are comments from the author’s blog (on the Guardian website) and are very well thought out with a lot of thought provoking points. The book also contains interviews with some of the actors (yes, Jon Hamm is there).

I really enjoyed this book – it reignited my love for the TV show as well as providing a sound reference for things I’d forgotten. I read the last few episode guides along with watching the show – these people are very perceptive, noting a lot of things that I’d missed! There is also a lot more fandom related to Mad Men  out there that I’d realised – this book introduces us to the Peggy Olsons on Twitter (good and bad), Sad Don Draper and What Would Don Draper Do? Worth a look if you’re a fan of the show.

A good reference for fans of the show, or those looking to get better acquainted with Sterling Cooper and associates. There are no pictures though, so you will need to find your fashion somewhere else.

Read it if: You need more Mad Men. Now.

8 out of 10.

Naked Cruelty by Colleen McCullough

Naked Cruelty is the third in a series starring Captain Carmine Delmonico, detective in the Holloman police in the 1960s. The first book was the excellent On, Off, a truly creepy thriller, followed by Too Many Murders that had me throwing my hands up in the air in despair at the conclusion. (It was good, don’t get me wrong, but I felt really sorry for Carmine).

Naked Cruelty doesn’t continue with the murder theme from Too Many Murders. It starts with a series of rapes (described rather graphically) on women in Carew, a suburb of Holloman. One of the ways to combat the rapist is a walking club, the Gentlemen Walkers, walking the streets at night to protect the women from the ‘Dodo’ rapist. Are they hiding a rapist in their midst?

Add in a giant glass teddy bear, a pair of strangely acting twins, a kidnapping and guns found at the local school and you think Carmine must be in over his head. On top of that, he has a lot of bureaucracy to deal with – Helen, the wayward new recruit and others that are trying desperately to swim against the tide.

As always, Colleen McCullough writes a gripping crime story with many threads. Some seemed to be better ‘fleshed out’ than others (eg. the guns in the school doesn’t rate much of a mention and is tied up very quickly) but it’s easy to follow. Once again, the conclusion had me throwing my hands in the air – such an ending! I won’t give it away for you, but poor Carmine. He never seems to get a break.

This is very different from The Thorn Birds and also The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet (thank goodness). This series does not need to be read in order, but I’d suggest On, Off as the first book to read, as it’s the strongest. 

Read it if: you like fast paced crime set in the past.

7.5 out of 10.

Mad Men: The Illustrated World by Dyna Moe

Mad Men: The Illustrated World is an official book based on the international hit TV series (which screens on SBS in Australia and some channel on pay TV. I obviously do not have pay TV otherwise I’d know more!). As the title suggests, it’s illustrated by Moe herself (very cool name, by the way).

The characters of Mad Men are instantly recognisable in their illustrations from Don to Betty to Roger and Joan. They capture that kitsch 60’s feel.

Mad Men fans will recognise this scene from Season 3 – how do you know if your stewardess is keen on you?

The written content I feel is a bit of a let down. It’s a mixture of recipes from the 60s, ironic attempts at humour that didn’t work for me (however, I’m not a big fan of American style humour. Give me Monty Python or Shaun Micallef). Some things are giggle worthy (eg. Make Your Own Folk Song) and I’m still wondering if I’m actually meant to cut out the Joan paper dolls (which are beautifully done).

This is cute, but it’s a better library read than purchase. I’m disappointed- the series is great but this feels forced at times.

6.5 out of 10.