Name: Three-Martini Lunch
ISBN: 9780399165481

Suzanne Rindell

In 1958 Greenwich Village, three ambitious young people--Cliff, the son of a successful book editor; Eden, who dreams of being an editor; and Miles, a talented black writer from Harlem--will do anything to succeed in the competitive world of book publishing.

Three-Martini Lunch

jam 🍯

I picked this book up off the library shelves after returning another book. The premise seemed interesting: The New York City publishing world in the 60's, with a frenetic Mad Men energy. But I felt more than anything that this was an "in" to the story Rindell actually wanted to tell, but having wasted two of the three narrators in this scene, felt obligated to continue.

The fan favorite, of course, is the third narrator Miles. Though he is a writer, he is removed from the publishing world in every regard. Instead, he's off solving the mystery of his father's buried war memories, having forbidden love affairs, and leaving the publishing world even more bland in comparison.

Overall, Rindell does a phenomenal job of capturing her characters on a page, but falls short at bringing them together in a meaningful way. I enjoyed my time with this book, but will be glad to move on.

Shannon Arputharaj

Lillian Brown

From the author of the “thrilling” (The Christian Science Monitor) novel The Other Typist comes an evocative, multilayered story of ambition, success, and secrecy in 1950s New York. In 1958, Greenwich Village buzzes with beatniks, jazz clubs, and new ideas—the ideal spot for three ambitious young people to meet. Cliff Nelson, the son of a successful book editor, is convinced he’s the next Kerouac, if only his father would notice. Eden Katz dreams of being an editor but is shocked when she encounters roadblocks to that ambition. And Miles Tillman, a talented black writer from Harlem, seeks to learn the truth about his father’s past, finding love in the process. Though different from one another, all three share a common goal: to succeed in the competitive and uncompromising world of book publishing. As they reach for what they want, they come to understand what they must sacrifice, conceal, and betray to achieve their goals, learning they must live with the consequences of their choices. In Three-Martini Lunch, Suzanne Rindell has written both a page-turning morality tale and a captivating look at a stylish, demanding era—and a world steeped in tradition that’s poised for great upheaval.

ceren 

Summer Stanley

Eva Talmadge

Renee Blankenship

The electric atmosphere of late 1950s New York and a cut-throat publishing world are superbly evoked through the voices of three memorable characters.

Three-Martini Lunch

Reviews

Highlights