Butterfield 8

Of course, John O'Hara did not picture Liz Taylor in 1935 as Gloria in the Butterfield 8 movie, the wild young lady in Depression America, but certainly someone like her, intense, stylish, bosomy and oh-so-clever with men. But, then, Gloria had been molested, and carefully taught, and O'Hara must have known a few these girls back when he was 29 and starting out with his writing, his cataloguing, of facts, steamships, cabbies, bars, bar stools and men hang-dogging around, stifled by marriage, and almost as angry as Bill Maher now, in one of his stand-up harrangues against the cages we call marriage in 2008. And O'Hara saw it all, the dalliances, the provocative banter, the mink coats, the anger and revenge, and more. But accidental death catches up to many, particularly those who imbibe too much, love too much, and expect a happy ending in their lives, when "whoof" it's gone totally. But who speaks up for those wives who trap husbands so unsuitable for much, and who braves the rancid air of speakeasies to "shoosh" these erring men home to wives who sit or nap or practice their bridge games? Who, indeed, but John O'Hara, himself coming home from a roaring drunk to insult his wife and have another drink.

I can't add much to the wonderful customer reviews that come before mine, except to say that I highly recommend this riveting book. I just reread my copy (I first read it when I was 16 [!] and I'm 56 now) and my life experiences have tremendously enhanced my appreciation for the work of that brilliant word-spinner, John O'Hara. Forget the Oscar-winning Elizabeth Taylor movie, which was not filmed as a period piece, but in contemporary 1960 surroundings. This book simply reeks of 1930s New York atmosphere (not that I was there, but I'm a native New Yorker) and the movie makers did the novel a disservice by not retaining the speakeasy flavor of the original. If you're thinking about buying this book, do so immediately; it's a real treat!

I have enjoyed O'Hara in the past and I had always wanted to read this book. When I saw that Fran Leibowitz wrote the introduction, I thought "it's time."O'Hara sets the book in the early 1930's in New York City. He focuses his sharp powers of observation on the "speakeasy" class of New York: those individuals with still enough wealth to spend time in illegal bars drinking their worries away. At first, you think "ah, these are the beautiful people." Of course, soon you realize that these individuals are anything but beautiful.The heroine, or anti-heroine, Gloria, is a beautiful, young woman of loose morals and some inherited wealth. She is smart-we're told she could have gone to Smith-and underneath everything, kind. But sexual abuse early on triggered a rampant promiscuity. O'Hara specializes in delineating the subtle class differences-the Catholics who went to Yale as opposed to the Wasps-that existed at this time. He structures class systems in his novels as rigidly as any Brahmin. I would recommend this book for individuals who enjoy contemporary fiction, particularly books set in New York that depict wealthy, beautiful people. (If you like Fitzgerald, you'll like this book.) Both men and women can enjoy this book-as Fran Leibowitz says in her introduction, "it's a young man's book" in many ways. I would not recommend this book for individuals who dislike "dated" fiction (though this book is surprising fresh in many ways) or books that verge on melodrama. One note about the Leibowitz's introduction: I found it excellent. She has some acute observations-sex is an animal desire, the perception of it human and changing according to mores in vogue-that have stayed with me.

I haven't read the book, but thanks to "A Reader from Bryn Mawr"'s review title, I don't have to. PLEASE do not display titles like "Did she fall? Did she jump? Was she pushed?" Wow, I can't wait to get to the end of the book now! The ending isn't going to be much of a surprise, is it?

I'm not telling you the answer, but I will tell you that the movie is wrong. ;-) "BUtterfield 8" is one of John O'Hara's most famous novels, and its fame is well-deserved. Gloria Wandrous, the novel's ill-fated heroine, is a testament to O'Hara's ability to create characters. She inspires pity, annoyance, admiration, and just about every other emotion you can imagine. "BUtterfield 8" reads smoothly and paints a vibrant picture of New York. It also marks the first appearance of O'Hara's fascinating alter-ego, Jimmy Malloy. A good read for those who have never heard of John O'Hara as well as those who have read all 14 novels and 400+ short stories.