One Fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell

I am a devotee of Candace Bushnell. And if you have been reading any of these posts over the last few years you guessed that.

So, here I am reading the latest novel by her, and have come to a part in the story that has me raising an eyebrow. Her commentary on the way blogging has become a contact sport.

Let me start by saying I have not finished reading the book. I am about half way into it.

Therefore I am not too sure if she is meaning this plot line as pro or con for us bloggers. But a large chunk of the story is revolving around the use of blogs as a main writing tool. A large chunk of the story is about communication today in general.


I just finished reading this novel.
I managed to read it in under 3 days. Any other author's work would have that a record for me, but Candace Bushnell's books are like chocolate candies to me. Once you pick it up you can't stop till its gone.

Two characters I wish she had spent more time on- Philip and Schiffer. They were a fabulous idea but could have used some extra chapters on them as a couple. I hope Bushnell is thinking of bringing them back in other novels.

I found myself really really hating, just hating the character of Lola. I just kept waiting for something horrible to happen to her. I hated that character because she was written too well, like too many twenty-somethings I have to deal with in real life.

Without giving away too much of the story -it centers around a group of people living in a very colourful and gritty building on One Fifth Avenue in New York. Two married couples, a famous writer, a movie star, an aged society lady, and a tart. Toss in some stolen art, blackmail, sex and desperation and it is one hell of a read.

The gods must have been whispering in Bushnell's ear when she wrote this, because she peppered it with mentions of Sex and the City, which for fans of hers is all it would take to get the jokes.

This book is worth it to pick up hardcover. It is on my top list of recommends to my friends.


Originally written on Oct 21 and 22 as a two part blog by Ardeth Blood on Andrew and the Aluminumsidings