I was sad to miss reading Last Summer at the Golden Hotel in 2021 and impulsively downloaded the audiobook for my road trip on the last weekend of August 2022 - it was a delightful way to pass the driving time. Taking a multi-week summer vacation in the Catskills is far from my experience, but the original Dirty Dancing movie and season 2 of Marvelous Mrs. Maisel helped me picture The Golden Hotel and its patrons.
Founded 60 years ago by good friends Amos Weingold and Benny Goldman, the hotel had its glory days of full occupancy, fine dining, and endless lists of activities. But now vacancies outnumber bookings, the menus are outdated, The Golden's competitors have closed, and Benny Goldman passed away. When the families receive an offer from a casino developer, three generations of Goldmans and Weingolds gather at the hotel to vote to sell or reinvent the property for a new generation of patrons.
I enjoyed the tone of Elyssa Friedland's writing - sentimental yet humorous and practical. Many family members are keeping secrets, and the ways they were revealed were believable. I appreciated the use of newspaper articles and social media to advance the story and the realistic and hopeful ending.
Founded 60 years ago by good friends Amos Weingold and Benny Goldman, the hotel had its glory days of full occupancy, fine dining, and endless lists of activities. But now vacancies outnumber bookings, the menus are outdated, The Golden's competitors have closed, and Benny Goldman passed away. When the families receive an offer from a casino developer, three generations of Goldmans and Weingolds gather at the hotel to vote to sell or reinvent the property for a new generation of patrons.
I enjoyed the tone of Elyssa Friedland's writing - sentimental yet humorous and practical. Many family members are keeping secrets, and the ways they were revealed were believable. I appreciated the use of newspaper articles and social media to advance the story and the realistic and hopeful ending.
as cliched a story as this is, it's more. if you are a jewish new york baby boomer, chances are you knew the catskills scene back in the 60's and 70's. i spent my summers at sleep away camp minutes away from all of the borscht belt hotels. they were legendary. in the early 2000's i had the opportunity to work as a massage therapist at the last hotel still in operation. the place was falling apart but the nostalgia and charm and energy was still alive. this book has a bittersweet vibe to it.
it is the story of two families who become one family. it includes 4 generations and i found myself growing to love them the further i read. there are tons of current terms in the book which rub up against the vintage feel of the golden hotel. but somehow, it works! a good beach read.
it is the story of two families who become one family. it includes 4 generations and i found myself growing to love them the further i read. there are tons of current terms in the book which rub up against the vintage feel of the golden hotel. but somehow, it works! a good beach read.
