The best writers write what they know - and Candace Bushnell knows New York City. Best known as the author of Sex and the City, which was turned into the hit TV show of the same name, Bushnell has proven that no one writes about New York City like she does. Known for her biting, witty, and tongue-in-cheek insights into the psyches of New Yorkers, she gives everyone a taste of one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the United States, America's relative center of art and culture. Her new book, One Fifth Avenue, proves her reputation well-deserved and does not disappoint. She once again gives the reader a look into the seemingly fabulous lives of Manhattan's elite, the so-called middle class of New York, and those struggling to become members of that exclusive set. Bushnell borrows themes from F. Scott Fitzgerald's novels; decades later, Bushnell's characters search for the elusive concept of "having it all" in a world where it is abundantly clear that it is impossible to do so. They lust for money, power, marriage, and social prominence, convinced that the more they have, the happier they will be, and inevitably find that money does not buy happiness - it only makes misery more comfortable and buys considerably more art.
One Fifth manages to compare "new" money with the traditional "old" money set, the new entitlement generation with the baby boomers, and exemplify the degradation of relationships in today's world. The novel is a provocative and delicious pleasure, the perfect chick-flick novel - deliciously shallow on the surface, and full of biting observations about the differences between life today and the past. Her characters hail from all generations: There's Enid, the aging gossip columnist, one of the last remaining tenants with an anchor to the former glory days of One Fifth; Philip, Schiffer Diamond, and James and Mindy Gooch, the middle-aged set; new power couple Annalise and Paul Rice, who rapidly rise to prominence in the New York social scene with their "new" money; and Lola Fabrikant, a 22-year-old social-climbing brat who exemplifies the entitlement generation to the extreme. All of them inhabit the exclusive "One Fifth" complex and have varying ties to one another. James and Mindy live on the bottom floor and after half a lifetime of writing so-called "literary" novels, James hits it big with the commercialization of his latest novel. The Gooches get the success they had always wanted, but quickly find that money can't fix their problems. Philip gets involved with needy, clingy and 23-years-younger Lola, all the while holding a candle for his true love, successful actress Schiffer Diamond. Philip struggles with coming to terms with the fact that he is now middle-aged and faces a lifetime alone; yet cannot find it within himself to settle down. Lola is demanding and narcissistic, certain of her beauty and ruthless in her quest to get what she wants. She wants fame and money; but is unwilling to lift a finger to get it. She believes she deserves the world served to her on a silver platter, and spends her day on Facebook and YouTube instead of working, and mooches off Philip. She is undoubtedly one of the most irritating characters in the novel, but unfortunately, she represents a good portion of our current generation. Power couple Annalise and Paul find that the more money they acquire, the unhappier they become. Annalise, a former lawyer accustomed to no makeup, is forced to spend her days furnishing her apartment, collecting pricy art, and eating society lunches with highly shallow people. The inhabitants of One Fifth all have varying degrees of money and success, yet all strive for the same thing: happiness.
Bushnell has always had the ability to capture the essence of a "New York Minute" at any moment. With each new book she probes a little deeper and widens her range, and One Fifth Avenue is no exception. As an avid reader of her previous novels, I would have to say I liked this one the best. Some of her earlier efforts were at times too shallow and had an edge that turned me off - but One Fifth has added a deeper dimension to her characters to the point where they feel truly real. Her social politics are so fresh that you can almost believe that apartment-stealing, black market deals with priceless artifacts, ruthless sex blogs, and fortunes that can be amassed and lost in a day are everyday occurrences. So if you're in the mood for some chick lit, but feel guilty reading anything not considered "literary," read this. Unlike her characters, this book does have it all - and does it with style. A-
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