Gretchen Berg

"Nobody knows the people of Wooster, Ohio, better than switchboard operator Vivian Dalton, and she'd be the first to tell you that. She calls it intuition. Her teenage daughter, Charlotte, calls it eavesdropping. Vivian and the other women who work at Bell on East Liberty Street connect lines and lives. They aren't supposed to listen in on conversations, but they do, and they all have opinions on what they hear--especially Vivian. She knows that Mrs. Butler's ungrateful daughter, Maxine, still hasn't thanked her mother for the quilt she made, and that Ginny Frazier turned down yet another invitation to go to the A&W with Clyde Walsh. Then, one cold December night, Vivian listens in on a call between that snob Betty Miller and someone whose voice she can't quite place and hears something shocking. Betty Miller's mystery friend has news that, if true, will shatter Vivian's tidy life in Wooster, humiliating her and making her the laughingstock of the town. Vivian may be mortified, but she isn't going to take this lying down. She's going to get to the bottom of that rumor--get into it, get under it, poke around in the corners. Find every last bit. Vivian wants the truth, no matter how painful it may be."--Publisher's marketing.

The Operator

Fashionista Gretchen Berg humorously recounts when, facing possible unemployment, she uprooted her life and moved to Iraq to teach English to conservative Muslims, where eventually she began to feel at home and fell for a student.

Misadventures of a Soldier of Fashion

I Have Iraq in My Shoe

המרכזנית

Telefonistka

'What if you could listen in on any phone conversation in town? Think 'The Marvelous Mrs Maisel' in the suburbs - with delicious turns of jealousy, infidelity, bigotry, and embezzlement thrown in for good measure... irresistible!' Kathryn Stockett, bestselling author of THE HELP 'Just finished THE OPERATOR in an unstoppable rush and it was every bit as glorious, gossipy, delicious and perfect as I'd hoped. Absolute heaven!' Jill Mansell, bestselling author of MAYBE THIS TIME It's 1952. The switchboard operators in Wooster, Ohio, love nothing more than to eavesdrop on their neighbours' conversations, and gossip about what they learn. Vivian Dalton is no different (despite her teenage daughter's disapproval), and always longs to hear something scandalous. But on the night of December 15th, she wishes she hadn't. The secret that's shared by a stranger on the line threatens to rip the rug of Vivian's life from under her. Vivian may be mortified, but she's not going to take this lying down. She wants the truth, no matter how painful it may be. But one secret tends to lead to another . . . This moving, heart-felt and ultimately uplifting novel brilliantly weaves together an irresistible portrayal of a town buzzing with scandal, and an unforgettable story of marriage, motherhood and the unbreakable ties of family. 'Funny, sweet, secretive, and full of fascinating 1930s, 40s, and 50s period details... a poignant look at life in a small Town with its nosy neighbors, thorny families, imperfect romances, scandalous pasts, and gratifyingly just deserts. Nothing is as simple - nor as dreadful - as it seems' Laurie Frankel, bestselling author of THIS IS HOW IT ALWAYS IS

Gossip, Secrets and Lies in a Small 1950s Town in This Deliciously Warm-Hearted Read

A Novel

Operator

'What if you could listen in on any phone conversation in town? Irresistible!' Kathryn Stockett, bestselling author of THE HELP 'Glorious, gossipy, delicious and perfect' Jill Mansell, bestselling author of AND NOW YOU'RE BACK READERS LOVE THIS BOOK! * 'Unique and quirky . . . You will definitely see Vivian and co. in your mind's eye!' THE BOOKTRAIL * 'Moving and ultimately uplifting . . . A wonderful novel' JO'S BOOK BLOG * 'The small town feeling is portrayed really well . . . Great' SHORT BOOK AND SCRIBES * 'A joy to read . . . Wonderful, witty, intriguing and heart-felt' EMMA'S BIBLIO TREASURES * 'Delightfully written and cleverly woven. I enjoyed getting to know all the characters and learning their secrets' LOCKY LOVES BOOKS It's 1952. The switchboard operators in Wooster, Ohio, love nothing more than to eavesdrop on their neighbours' conversations, and gossip about what they learn. Vivian Dalton is no different (despite her teenage daughter's disapproval), and always longs to hear something scandalous. But on the night of December 15th, she wishes she hadn't. The secret that's shared by a stranger on the line threatens to rip the rug of Vivian's life from under her. Vivian may be mortified, but she's not going to take this lying down. She wants the truth, no matter how painful it may be. But one secret tends to lead to another . . . This moving, heart-felt and ultimately uplifting novel brilliantly weaves together an irresistible portrayal of a town buzzing with scandal, and an unforgettable story of marriage, motherhood and the unbreakable ties of family. 'Funny, sweet, secretive, and full of fascinating 1930s, 40s, and 50s period details... a poignant look at life in a small town with its nosy neighbors, thorny families, imperfect romances, scandalous pasts, and gratifyingly just deserts' Laurie Frankel, bestselling author of THIS IS HOW IT ALWAYS IS 'Funny and fast-paced' Heat

Gretchen Berg

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