• 5 Star Reads
  • Audiobooks
  • Books on Screen
  • Children’s Books
  • Christian
  • Fiction
  • Giveaways

5 Minutes For Books

  • Home
  • About
    • Who Are We? Reviewer Bios
    • 5 Star Reads
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us
  • Join In
    • 5 Minutes for Books Bookclub
    • Children’s Classics
    • Kids’ Picks
    • What’s on Your Nightstand
  • Link To Us
  • Contact
    • Advertise

Summer at Tiffany

June 9, 2010 by Carrie

As I mentioned, I received a copy of Summer at Tiffany in our bags that we were given at the Book Blogger Conference in New York. The cover art captured my attention right away and when I flipped the book over to read the back cover, I was sold!

Set in New York City in summer of 1945, author Marjorie Hart (nee Jacobson) tells the story of a summer she has never quite forgotten. She and her friend Marty Garrett arrive in the big city, fresh from Iowa. Their dream is to acquire summer jobs working in a fashion boutique in the city. They are out for adventure and to discover new things of themselves when they land a job working at Tiffany, the infamous jewelry store.

This memoir is clean, good fun! I read it on my airplane ride home and was taken with the descriptions of life in World War II (my favorite time period in history) and of New York City itself. Having just left there, I could hear the city sounds in Hart’s writing. I loved that she included her’s and Marty’s budget which really help date the book – back when you could buy lunch for $0.15 and it costs only a nickel to ride the subway!

I enjoyed hearing about Marjorie and Marty’s job at Tiffany. The two girls were hired to be the first female pages that Tiffany had ever employed. Their job was to take jewelry from the salesmen at the counter and carry it to repair. They observed customers such as Judy Garland and Marlene Dietrich walk through their doors and her descriptions of these famous actresses brought a grin to my face and made me want to indulge in some Garland tunes. Everything about this book just took me back to a different time and place and I found it enchanting and refreshing.

Simply put, I cannot NOT recommend Summer at Tiffany. It is irresistibly 1940’s New York – crowds, midshipmen, high heeled shoes and all – and I enjoyed every single page of it!

I’m giving this one a famous Five Star Reads label around here because it deserves it!

Ok, and just for fun (to help take YOU back…) here’s a clip from one of my favorite Judy Garland WWII themed-movie. It also featured a soon-to-be well known actor in his own right. This was his debut film. Recognize the face?

Have fun!

Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know.

Filed Under: 5 Star Reads, Carrie, Memoir

« Summer Bridge Activities 2010
Books on Screen: The Fabulous Beekman Boys »

Comments

  1. Katy says

    June 9, 2010 at 12:49 pm

    What a great review! I saw this a couple of times around the blogosphere after the BBC, but I didn’t know what it was about! Sounds great. 🙂

  2. Lisa says

    June 9, 2010 at 1:50 pm

    I’ve been desperately seeking some reading! My latest “finds” have been duds, so I’ve rushed over to my library web site and requested “Summer at Tiffany”!!! Thanks!

  3. Jennifer (5 Minutes for Books) says

    June 9, 2010 at 2:47 pm

    I know absolutely nothing about old movies. Nothing. I can’t really focus on black and white or something. I’m a weirdo.

    However, I can’t wait to read this.

  4. Beth says

    June 9, 2010 at 3:05 pm

    I read this a couple of year ago when I found it as an ARC. I absolutely loved and have since recommended it to many people.

  5. Carly Kendall says

    June 9, 2010 at 3:46 pm

    I read this book a few years ago when the hardcover first came out and I loved it. I enjoyed your review and I’m glad you liked it.

  6. Carrie, Reading to Know says

    June 9, 2010 at 3:55 pm

    See? It has a proven track record! =D I’m glad you ladies liked the story – and Jennifer! Oh, oh, oh……

    I don’t know what to say.

    Cary Grant?

  7. Amy says

    June 9, 2010 at 4:56 pm

    This sounds great!

    Would the actor be Bob Hope? This is probaably a ridiculous guess, but I haven’t watched the clip–I’m just going by the semi-profile I can see. 🙂

  8. Carrie, Reading to Know says

    June 9, 2010 at 5:01 pm

    Nope. Incorrect! =)

  9. Elizabeth says

    June 9, 2010 at 5:25 pm

    I read this book a few days ago and loved it! WWII is my favorite time period of history also, and the descriptions of the girls’ time in New York absolutely captivated me. It made me want to visit and go in all the fancy shops. I would totally not fit it, but it would be so fun!

  10. Holly says

    June 9, 2010 at 10:05 pm

    This one was simply delightful. I read it last year and loved it!

  11. Barbara H. says

    June 9, 2010 at 10:20 pm

    Sounds good. I love that era.

  12. Lisa writes... says

    June 10, 2010 at 8:52 am

    On my wishlist!

  13. Sarah says

    June 10, 2010 at 12:01 pm

    You’re talking about the guy with the mustache… Or do you mean that this was Gene Kelly’s first film?

  14. Sarah says

    June 10, 2010 at 12:02 pm

    Oops, hit submit too soon. Becuase it was Gene Kelly’s debut film, so I’m assuming you mean him.

  15. Marjorie Hart says

    June 11, 2010 at 1:31 am

    Thank you for your excellent review! I enjoyed reading it and the comments as much as I did writing it!

  16. Sherry Early says

    June 11, 2010 at 11:26 pm

    I knew it was Gene Kelly, even before they started dancing.. He looks just like he does in Singin’ in the Rain, only younger.

    Thanks for the book recommendation.

  17. Framed says

    June 12, 2010 at 9:59 am

    This book sounds wonderful. Thanks for the recommendation. I enjoyed the clip. I love black and white movies. My favorite is The Philadelphia Story. Beautiful cinematography.

  18. Debnance at readerbuzz says

    June 13, 2010 at 1:22 pm

    I read this one last year, perhaps also as a giveaway (library conference). It felt almost like going back in time.

  19. Elizabeth says

    June 14, 2010 at 5:31 pm

    I’ve been reading so many good things about this one. I’m not usually a memoir reader, but I’ve added it to my TBR.

  20. Carol says

    August 6, 2010 at 12:04 am

    Can’t wait to read this summer book!

  21. Sheila (Bookjourney) says

    August 26, 2010 at 6:29 pm

    Fantastic review! I am doing a Summer At Tiffany theme at Book Journey and asking people who have reviewed the book to feel free to use the Linky I set up today to add their reviews and thoughts on the book.
    Tomorrow I will add an interview with Marjorie Hart and then following will be a giveaway for a hard copy signed edition of the book.

    Please feel free to link to the review if you like. 😀

  22. Benjina says

    March 16, 2012 at 5:07 am

    That is a great book!!!. I read this book last year and I recommend it to my friends. I enjoyed your blog. Many thanks.

Trackbacks

  1. Recap (June 6-12) « bekahcubed says:
    June 13, 2010 at 1:30 am

    […] Summer at Tiffany by Marjorie Hart I’m a sucker for memoir, for “the olden days”, and for slightly glamorous encounters. This memoir of a woman who worked as a page for Tiffany’s in the 1940s sounds just up my alley. […]

  2. Sunday Salon: Gleaned from the Saturday Review | Semicolon says:
    June 13, 2010 at 9:50 am

    […] at Tiffany by Marjorie Hart. Recommended by Carrie at 5 MInutes for Books. Carrie is a trusted source, and if she gives it such a high commendation . . . this memoir must be […]

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Welcome to 5 Minutes for Books. We are a team blog dedicated to sharing reviews and information about children's lit, fiction, memoir, and more. Read More…

Reviews

5 Minutes for Books

Jennifer Donovan
Managing Editor

MEET OUR TEAM



Connect With Us


Pinterest

Community

Cybils Logo Draft 3

Disclosure:

Find out about our relationships with publishers and affiliate networks in our full disclosure statement.

Recent Posts

  • Devil’s Delight
  • The Color Line
  • Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun
  • The Greenleaf Murders
  • Chaos at Carnegie Hall

Categories

Privacy Policy    |     Disclosure Policy
Terms & Conditions
© 5 Minutes for Mom

Let’s Socialize

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Pinterest is Our FAVORITE!

Find and Follow Us at
pinterest.com/5min4books

Copyright © 2023 · Tasteful theme by Restored 316