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judithdcollins's review
5.0
Wacky, hilarious, and entertaining! Shaken and definitely, stirred. Just purchased Meister's two audiobooks, Farewell Dorthy Parker and The Other Life.
Dorothy Parker, an American poet, short story writer, critic, and satirist, best known for her wit, wisecracks, and 20th-century urban foibles returns in spirit for some contemporary literary fun and games in Dorothy Parker Drank Here.
As the book opens Parker is at the Blue Bar at the New York City Algonquin Hotel, where all her former literary drinks chums have died; however, she is staying at the hotel due to signing the old hotel manager’s magical guest book (which allows you eternity and to stay and drink—sounds like fun, right?)
Parker is focused on getting into the room of Ted Shriver, a seventies literary genius which is depressed and disgraced by a plagiarism scandal, and by the way, is dying. He is drinking heavily to drown his sorrows. She has to get him to sign the guest register prior to dying. However, he is not interested in the company and wants to be left alone. Parker wants his spirit to stick around to have more drinking buddies in the afterlife.
To add to the mix, Norah Wolfe, a young producer of a failing TV show, wants to advance her career by convincing Shriver to appear on her show. There are a few catches and surprises along the way in order for this to work.
Fun, Fun. . . I love books about witty and intriguing Dorothy Parker, and her ghost is even funnier with her scheming. This was my first book by Ellen Meister and enjoyed her humor and the clever way she allowed Parker to return in rare form.
If you enjoy literary icons from the past, mixed with humor, and magical spirits, this one is for you! Looking forward to reading the previous books and #3 in the series.
A special thank you to Penguin First to Read for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 Stars
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
Dorothy Parker, an American poet, short story writer, critic, and satirist, best known for her wit, wisecracks, and 20th-century urban foibles returns in spirit for some contemporary literary fun and games in Dorothy Parker Drank Here.
As the book opens Parker is at the Blue Bar at the New York City Algonquin Hotel, where all her former literary drinks chums have died; however, she is staying at the hotel due to signing the old hotel manager’s magical guest book (which allows you eternity and to stay and drink—sounds like fun, right?)
Parker is focused on getting into the room of Ted Shriver, a seventies literary genius which is depressed and disgraced by a plagiarism scandal, and by the way, is dying. He is drinking heavily to drown his sorrows. She has to get him to sign the guest register prior to dying. However, he is not interested in the company and wants to be left alone. Parker wants his spirit to stick around to have more drinking buddies in the afterlife.
To add to the mix, Norah Wolfe, a young producer of a failing TV show, wants to advance her career by convincing Shriver to appear on her show. There are a few catches and surprises along the way in order for this to work.
Fun, Fun. . . I love books about witty and intriguing Dorothy Parker, and her ghost is even funnier with her scheming. This was my first book by Ellen Meister and enjoyed her humor and the clever way she allowed Parker to return in rare form.
If you enjoy literary icons from the past, mixed with humor, and magical spirits, this one is for you! Looking forward to reading the previous books and #3 in the series.
A special thank you to Penguin First to Read for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 Stars
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
arinj30's review
3.0
A story about a ghost who doesn’t follow the white light and continues to hang out at the Algonquin Hotel where she frequently met her friends is not my usual read. Yet, I could not put Dorothy Parker Drank Here down. I love that Dorothy was a quirky, mouthy, noisy ghost that could only take form when the guestbook she signed is left open. She held her own, somehow always got her way, and drank a ton of alcohol all while making “friends” and causing havoc at the hotel. It is such a great story.
I did not find this to be a quick read. It had a lot of information, a lot of deals, and a lot of fun. There were promises made, promises broke, and promises kept. It seemed every character had a secret, whether they shared the secret with the others was all part of the story. There is so much going on in this story, so much fun.
I did not find this to be a quick read. It had a lot of information, a lot of deals, and a lot of fun. There were promises made, promises broke, and promises kept. It seemed every character had a secret, whether they shared the secret with the others was all part of the story. There is so much going on in this story, so much fun.
ldv's review against another edition
3.0
Not bad. Nothing terribly profound or intricate, but relatively interesting even if somewhat predictable. The Dorothy Parker character is colourful, even if the idea of the poltergeist somewhat idealistic and convenient. The main characters have enough depth, though Nora was more naive or single-sighted than I would have liked. the book kept my attention well enough for what it is.
hoosgracie's review
3.0
This was an interesting story, and the "character" of Dorothy Parker, in ghost form, was rather fun. However, the other characters were just OK and the plot was somewhat draggy.
norrin2's review against another edition
3.0
Ellen Meister does a great job of channeling Dorothy Parker's caustic wit which is why I gave this book three stars instead of one. The rest of the book with its literary recluse, a wife still bitter 25 years after the divorce and of course the long-last daughter, is maudlin and predictable, just the kind of writing Dorothy Parker would hate
diannel_04's review against another edition
4.0
Dorothy Parker still haunts the Algonquin Hotel. She wants celebrated and reclusive writer, Ted Shriver to sign the guest book and join her after he dies. The only problem is that she can't get to him because she can only go where the guest book goes and it never leaves the Blue Bar. Enter Nora Wolfe, a young TV producer anxious to save her failing show by getting Ted to do an interview.
Fun and some mayhem ensue. All in all a very enjoyable book.
Fun and some mayhem ensue. All in all a very enjoyable book.
mindsplinters's review
3.0
Hovering between a 2.5 and three - mostly because Dorothy was DELIGHTFUL. I read this as an ARC, though, so things might have changed some in the final publication. Part of me hopes so because, while Dorothy herself was well-done and the cranky author was well-done (and amazingly awful failure of a human being), the heroine felt less realized. In fact, she felt like a flat mash-up of various character traits with nothing binding them together at certain points. Sometimes even too naive to live and it's a wonder she can tie her own shoes when she has blinding moments of 'can't see past her own obsession.' Seriously, her beloved uncle should have put her in therapy when she was a young teen after The Loss. Other times she was kind of adorable in her attempts at fierce. But between the heroine and the author's ex-wife (holy cow, train wreck), thank god for Dorothy and the publisher's wife or we wouldn't have had any screentime with a balanced, capable female character.
I loved how the "magic" worked, the fly-by visits of other luminaries, the general feel of the world.
But when even I can see the plot "twists" coming a mile away, that means you're probably foreshadowing a bit too much. Unless you want people to guess? Then good on you.
I loved how the "magic" worked, the fly-by visits of other luminaries, the general feel of the world.
But when even I can see the plot "twists" coming a mile away, that means you're probably foreshadowing a bit too much. Unless you want people to guess? Then good on you.
chelton's review
3.0
Note: I received an advanced reading copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads.
When I won this book, I didn't realize that it was a sequel. I just saw Dorothy Parker's ghost and put in for it. Fortunately, not reading the first book did not inhibit my reading experience whatsoever. This book could be a perfectly fine standalone.
It was cute. Really cute. I love the premise. Dorothy Parker's ghost is hanging around the Algonquin Hotel, desperately seeking a dead soul to pass the time with. Meanwhile, she gets mixed up with a TV producer, Norah, who is trying to book a guest (reclusive author Ted Shriver) that might give a boost in the ratings to save her talk show. It's fast and fun.
That noted, I had a few issues. The tension never seemed high enough. I wasn't worried about the show, so I never cared if Shriver appeared on it. And Shriver is such a horrid little man that the big twist in the middle left me shrugging.
The book also has some interesting chapters that are dedicated to a few of the dead that passed through the Algonquin on the way to the other side. These left me torn. They're quick and like an extended inside joke, but almost entirely unnecessary.
I was disappointed with a passage dealing with a cross dresser. I don't think it was Meister's intention to be offensive, but it just rubbed me as being very off.
As to Dorothy Parker ... She had an acidic wit that I adore. At times Meister was able to channel that through her own version of the woman, but there are moments when it lands flat.
Above all, though, this remained a fun, outrageous read. The flash speed of its pacing allowed me to finish it in one sitting, and the zaniness of the situation kept me entertained throughout.
When I won this book, I didn't realize that it was a sequel. I just saw Dorothy Parker's ghost and put in for it. Fortunately, not reading the first book did not inhibit my reading experience whatsoever. This book could be a perfectly fine standalone.
It was cute. Really cute. I love the premise. Dorothy Parker's ghost is hanging around the Algonquin Hotel, desperately seeking a dead soul to pass the time with. Meanwhile, she gets mixed up with a TV producer, Norah, who is trying to book a guest (reclusive author Ted Shriver) that might give a boost in the ratings to save her talk show. It's fast and fun.
That noted, I had a few issues. The tension never seemed high enough. I wasn't worried about the show, so I never cared if Shriver appeared on it. And Shriver is such a horrid little man that the big twist in the middle left me shrugging.
The book also has some interesting chapters that are dedicated to a few of the dead that passed through the Algonquin on the way to the other side. These left me torn. They're quick and like an extended inside joke, but almost entirely unnecessary.
I was disappointed with a passage dealing with a cross dresser. I don't think it was Meister's intention to be offensive, but it just rubbed me as being very off.
As to Dorothy Parker ... She had an acidic wit that I adore. At times Meister was able to channel that through her own version of the woman, but there are moments when it lands flat.
Above all, though, this remained a fun, outrageous read. The flash speed of its pacing allowed me to finish it in one sitting, and the zaniness of the situation kept me entertained throughout.
claudiaswisher's review against another edition
4.0
Mrs. Parker is back...and she's as acid-tongued as ever. But she's lonely...she's lost her sweet puppy, Cliche, and she wants a companion in that inbetween life she lives, after death, but before going into the light.
She realizes an author who interviewed her just before her own death is holed up at the Algonquin Hotel...Ted Shriver is characterized so well, I actually looked him up online, certain he was real.
Shriver is dying, and if Parker can only get him to sign the fabled guestbook in the Blue Bar, she'll have a companion. But Norah Wolfe has other plans. She works for a talk show, and wants Ted to appear and tell the truth about the plagiarism scandal that ruined his career. She has a secret that she intends to share with no one, which gives purpose to her quest.
Norah is not a particularly likeable character...her sigle-minded pursuit seems so self-serving...There were times I got exasperated with her, but Mrs. Parker and her wit held me close and I continued the journey.
I loved the short chapters where Mrs. Parker greets others who have died...Lillian Hellman, especially. There was serious bad blood there. And Groucho Marx. Sweet portraits that added to the atmosphere.
The truth wills out -- and it's not what anyone expected.
I think Norah learns a lot from Dorothy Parker and Ted Shriver...I hope she's in a better spot now...
She realizes an author who interviewed her just before her own death is holed up at the Algonquin Hotel...Ted Shriver is characterized so well, I actually looked him up online, certain he was real.
Shriver is dying, and if Parker can only get him to sign the fabled guestbook in the Blue Bar, she'll have a companion. But Norah Wolfe has other plans. She works for a talk show, and wants Ted to appear and tell the truth about the plagiarism scandal that ruined his career. She has a secret that she intends to share with no one, which gives purpose to her quest.
Norah is not a particularly likeable character...her sigle-minded pursuit seems so self-serving...There were times I got exasperated with her, but Mrs. Parker and her wit held me close and I continued the journey.
I loved the short chapters where Mrs. Parker greets others who have died...Lillian Hellman, especially. There was serious bad blood there. And Groucho Marx. Sweet portraits that added to the atmosphere.
The truth wills out -- and it's not what anyone expected.
I think Norah learns a lot from Dorothy Parker and Ted Shriver...I hope she's in a better spot now...