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Start using Mumsnet PremiumCan you recommend a good holiday read, set in New York/ USA
(55 Posts)Looking for something enjoyable and reasonably light for summer hols, so probably not Faulkner. Last year I read a novel by Emma Straub I think it was called modern lovers and that hit the right note. I’d also consider Lionel Shriver, haven’t read the Mandibles yet.
There are also some books written by Russian Jewish emigres to New York I was meaning to read, but can’t find authors’ names. Thanks for any help!
New York by Edward Rutherfurd.
Article about Russian-Jewish American lit may help
www.tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/books/175906/russian-jewish-am-lit
Golden Hill by Francis Spufford, but probably cheating as historical setting. Excellent book though.
Breakfast at Tiffanys?
Claire Massud - Emperor's Children or The Woman Upstairs.
I'm sure there is something else I have read recently but I can't think right now.
USA - Celeste Ng Little Fires Everywhere. Loved it. Easy but with ideas!
CraftyGin has beaten me to it. Edward Rutherfurd is excellent.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt?
The Woman in the Window
Wow thanks for these brilliant suggestions everyone. The Tablet article is virtually a book in itself Dottie, it is actually just what I was looking for. Will also check out Edward Rutherford. Thanks for all the sugg3stions sonotkylie.
Haven’t read any Donna Tartt but my best friend rates her so maybe it’s about time I checked one of her books out.
What about Douglas Kennedy? Most (all?) of his books are set in the US. Haven't read one in years but they have survived all bookshelf culls to remain for re-reading...one day...
Just reading Wodehouse ‘Piccadilly Jim’ after loving ‘The Adventures of Sally’. Absolutely loving the language 😊
The Goldfinch is set in New York, it’s one of my all time favourite books. It’s a bit of a slow burner you have to get past the events at the start but once you do it’s brilliant
I wouldn't call The Goldfinch light. You either love it or hate it. I hated it,it went on for evvvvvver.
Maine,Seating Arrangements both set in New England. Little Fires Everywhere good.
Brooklyn.
A big chunk of The Goldfinch is set in Las Vegas where very little happens.
I always suspected Donna Tartt was literary marmite!
Have been reading reviews of A Replacement Life by Boris Fishman. I’m going to order it.
If you like the Fishman you might also like Aleksandar Hemon's The Lazarus Project and Teju Cole's Open City both of which I thought were excellent and Cole is particularly good on New York.
Let the great world spin by colum McCann. Set in New York City 1974, main thread is the twin towers tightrope stunt by Philippe Petit. Very striking book.
An obvious one - the Great Gatsby
Just thought of an absolutely lovely book - a memoir of a childhood in New York - Sleeping Arrangements by Laura Shaine Cunningham. Sad but then uplifting.
I enjoyed The Unfortunates and The Future Homemakers of America, both by Laurie Graham. Not 100% us though.
Oh - yy to Sleeping Arrangements. Helene Hanff was a New Yorker by adoption, of course. She wrote two light memoirs about New York - Underfoot in Show Business and Apple of My Eye.
Elizabeth Street.
Agree re Douglas Kennedy especially The Pursuit of Happiness
Anything by Paul Auster?
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