April 30, 2016 / Leslie

Audiobook Review: Three-Martini Lunch

A Rapid Review

Three-Martini Lunch by Suzanne Rindell

Publisher: Penguin Audio | April 2016
Format: Audio Download | 17 hours | Rating: 4½ stars
Audio Listening Level: Easy – intermediate

In Three-Martini Lunch, Suzanne Rindell has written both a pause-resisting morality tale and a captivating look at a stylish, demanding era – and a world steeped in tradition that’s poised for great upheaval.

Setting: 1958, Greenwich Village; an exciting time and place poised on the brink of change.

Three young people from very different backgrounds are each trying to succeed in the publishing business. Cliff is the son of a successful book editor who doesn’t understand why his father can’t see the greatness in his less than brilliant writing. Eden longs to become an editor and is willing to start at the bottom in the secretarial pool, but as a young Jewish female finds her options for advancement are limited. Miles is a poor but talented black writer from Harlem who encounters discrimination in multiple ways.

The story is told in alternating points of view by these three distinct voices. It was a little slow in the beginning as the characters and situations were developed, but once their lives intersected, it began to pick up. Each of these interesting but flawed characters were richly developed, as were a few unsavory secondary character we meet along the way.

While New York in the late 1950s considered itself progressive, many discriminatory practices were the norm. The author did an excellent job portraying the atmosphere and prejudices of the era.

Audio production:
Narrators: Will Damron, J. D. Jackson, and Rebecca Lowman
The story was told in three alternating points of view, each voiced by a different narrator. This was very effective and makes it easier for the listener, especially when the characters are so distinctly different. At almost 17 hours in length, I was happy that the narrators maintained a good pace and all three were pleasant to listen to.

Audio Sample:

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Source: Review copy provided by PRH Audio.
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