The Best of Everything - Rona Jaffe , something similar please

[enidroach]

I usually read quite "heavy" books - Gissing and Balzac are my faves. However, after reading a newspaper article on "The best of everything"last week -a book about various girls coming to NY in the 50's after college to start work as secretaries in a publishing house, which has been reissued after one of the secretaries in the TV series Mad men was shown reading it I am converted. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this somewhat trashy, cliched tale.It was like the reading equivalent of a Lana Turner or Dana Andrews film.

Does anyone have recommendations for anything similar?

Well it's not exactly similar, but have you read Mary McCarthy's novel The Group? Here's a link to an article in the Observer when it was reissued in 2009.

I saw an ad on the Tube for The Best of Everything a few days ago, was surprised and amused; I came across it about 30 years ago, my copy is HB and was second-hand, I'm sure. I did enjoy it and it's interesting re position of women at the time.

Thanks - that looks great will go look at price on Amazon. Poor McCarthy though sounds as if the success of the book adversely affected the rest of her life. I really appreciate the time you took to find a link for me.

Interesting that the original Sex and the City stories were a modern take on the book as The Best of Everything made me think of SATC as well (although I don't watch it).

I was going to suggest The Group too.

I want to reread The Best of Everything but am sure I read it before years and years ago - I think there were a few Rona Jaffe books in the library. I don't know if there are any on abebooks and Amazon marketplace (of course they might have hiked up the prices).

The Best of everything has been re issued on penguin classics (I think I paid around £4.49 on Amazon) and there has been various features in the newspapers, which was how I discovered it. Rona Jaffe's other books are available on marketplace but all seem to be in US so may take a few weeks to come and some prices have been hiked.

I've read one or two more of Jaffe's but The Best of Everything definitely her top work IMHO.

I picked up The Best of Everything after reading a piece in the Observer. I love it! I'm about two thirds of the way through and don't want it to end. I haven't felt like that about a book for quite a while. Must admit to a weakness for coming of age stories AND anything set in New York.

I wouldn't call it trashy though (unless it has some neat little tie-up ending, which would surprise me). Would you say the same if it were a book about men?

And Julie Burchill's comment on the front - what is she on about? I don't think she even read the book.

I read Peyton Place a few years ago, and really enjoyed it - the history of how Grace Metallious wrote it is fascinating as it was based on real people. Same era as The Best of Everything, and a definite blockbuster. But the details are very forward for its time (seen read by Cher's character in the bath in Mermaids. I really want to read The Best of Everything since reading the articles too. Glad it has a good response here.

Just started Peyton Place last night and didn't want to put it down - poor Selena! and have ordered The Group. I am enjoying these books a lot more than Revolutionary Road which I read a couple of years ago, they seem more grounded and down to earth.

Galaxymum - I agree about Grace Metalicious's history - what an innately talented woman and what a sad life.

Was angry when Peyton Place arrived yesterday (Virago Modern Classics) and there was an introduction by India Knight - also highlighted on the front (she is a "celeb" I can't stand - thread on this yesterday on MN)put me off! I also hate when books have "Richard and Judy" stickers or CH4 Bookclub stickers.
The Best of Everything had a "as seen on Mad Men" sticker littering the front. Grr!