One Fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell

Reading Level: Adult

This is the first book I've ever read by acclaimed author Candace Bushnell. I
knew that she wrote "Sex and the City," and of course knew about the television
series and the movies, but never found them very interesting. This book, on the
other hand, is a revelation to me.

The premise of the book is that there is a magical building, One Fifth Avenue,
and how the lives of the tenants there are interwoven, even if they don't like each
other very much. In that way, it follows in the traditions of great American books
like Winesburg, Ohio, and Peyton Place. The residents of this actual historical
edifice in New York City, however, are fresh and fascinating. The building
contains matrons of NY society, as well as seductive social climbers, which
makes the read a scintillating mix of sex and social studies.

The main characters include Mrs. Louise Houghton, who I suppose is modeled
on Mrs. Brooke Astor, as she is an ancient lady with the best apartment (3
stories, including a ballroom) in the building. As such, her place is the envy of the
other tenants, which include her good friend Enid Merle (a gossip columnist), her
nephew Philip OaKland (a screenwriter), and his far-too-young-for-him
researcher/girlfriend Lola Fabrikant, who is pushing for a marriage proposal since
her parents have lost all their money trying to keep her in the lifestyle to which
she wants to become accustomed. Also a resident is famous actress Schiffer
Diamond, who is an old flame of Philips, and who is far more human (and age
appropriate for him) than his new squeeze. Mrs. Houghton's death sets off a
chain reaction that brings in new tenants, Paul and Annalisa Rice, who are
hedge-fund billionaires, just the type who think that their money (even though it's
new) can buy them anything they want. Because of his endless resources and
arrogance, Paul makes an enemy of the head of the condo association, Mindy
Gooch, whose husband James is also a writer, but one who hasn't produced
much in the past few years, which relegates them to living in what was once the
building's luggage storage rooms. Class struggles among the super rich? You betcha.

There are twists and turns, some expected, some bizarre, and characters who
are unforgettably well drawn. This is the kind of book you stay up later than your
bedtime reading, just so you can see what happens next to the people you love,
and the one's you hate. Whether or not you like New York, this book is a
rollicking good time, filled with pithy one-liners that you'll want to write down so
you can reuse them at your next social gathering. Worth every minute spent
reading it. .. Can't wait to read more by Bushnell.

Submitted by Gerti