Frank H. (perryfran) reviewed on 7/21/2017 + 1183 more book reviews

When I first started reading this, I was somewhat perplexed and was patiently waiting for something to happen. The novel takes place in 1928 at the height of prohibition and not long before the stock market fall and the beginning of the depression. The story revolves around the day-to-day operations of a popular magazine of the time called Bandbox which is defined at the beginning of the book as "a neat box of pasteboard or thin wood, usually cylindrical, for holding light articles of attire, orig. for the bands [clerical collars] of the 17th century. Also, attrib., flimsy; unsubstantial; as a bandbox reputation." Well this book seemed to match its definition when I first started reading...it seemed both flimsy and unsubstantial and contained way too many characters to try to keep track of. But as it progressed, I became engrossed in the story of the magazine's struggle to stay afloat and the circumstances involving the mob, the NYC vice squad, a kidnapped subscriber, and a starlet with a very questionable past. The characters are well portrayed, especially the writers and editors of the magazine including one who is obsessed with the fair treatment of animals used in some of the magazine stories as props for its photography. Overall, I would recommend this and I found it to ultimately be quite enjoyable and full of humor.

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