By far the durable of the novels on the 1958 bestseller list are The Winthrop Woman by Anna Seton and Anatomy of a Murder by Robert Travers.
Seton’s fictional biography draws on historical accounts of life in Puritan New England for its story and even its dialog, but there’s not a dust mote in sight. Seton [...]
Archive for the ‘1958 Bestselling Novels’ Category
My Pics of 1958
Posted in 1958 Bestselling Novels, My Top Pics on March 19, 2008 | Comments Off
Victorine Better Mystery than Romance
Posted in 1958 Bestselling Novels, Mystery, Romance, tagged rice, rice mill on March 5, 2008 | Comments Off
Victorine is a surprising novel for Frances Parkinson Keyes. It’s about half her usual length, and, though it sets out to be one of her typical romances, it turns out to be an engrossing murder mystery.
The Enemy Camp Takes Aim at Prejudice
Posted in 1958 Bestselling Novels, tagged antisemitism, Gentiles, Jews on February 27, 2008 | Comments Off
In The Enemy Camp, Jerome Weidman looks at Jewish-Gentile relations through a Jew’s eyes. Weidman is a fine storyteller with a keen eye for characterization. He weaves a complex story about a basically nice guy with a few blind spots.
The Winthrop Woman Makes History Live
Posted in 1958 Bestselling Novels, Adventure, Fictional biography, Historical, My Top Pics, Religious, tagged colonial America, Dutch, Massachusetts, Puritans, witchcraft on February 20, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Historical fiction doesn’t get any better than The Winthrop Woman, Anya Seton’s fascinating tale of Puritan America. The facts, dates, and circumstances are all true. Sexton said the story didn’t need any additions to make it exciting. (She’s right.) She even incorporated characters’ written words into the novel’s dialogue.
Ice Palace Value Has Melted
Posted in 1958 Bestselling Novels, Historical, Romance on February 13, 2008 | Comments Off
Edna Ferber dazzled readers in 1958 with Ice Palace, a tale that went behind the headlines of Alaska’s fight to become a state. Ice Palace is part travelogue, part tract. Ferber takes readers through Alaska with the enthusiasm of Rick Steen, then lambastes corporate greed with the zeal of John Bunyon.
Eloise Induces Christmas Depression
Posted in 1958 Bestselling Novels, Humor, Juvenile/Youth, Picture book, tagged Christmas, Hilary Knight, juvenile. Plaza Hotel on February 5, 2008 | Comments Off
Eloise at Christmastime is more merchandise than storybook: the literary equivalent of Disney character drinking glasses sold for 99ยข with a McDonald’s cheeseburger. There’s no real story here. It it weren’t for Knight’s drawings, there would be no book.
From the Terrace Is Downhill All the Way
Posted in 1958 Bestselling Novels, tagged banking, business, friendship on January 31, 2008 | Comments Off
John O’Hara is a fine writer, but he wrote some boring books. From the Terrace is one of them.
Around the World with Auntie Mame Is a Bad Trip
Posted in 1958 Bestselling Novels, Humor on January 23, 2008 | Comments Off
Around the World with Auntie Mame is broad farce, sprinkled with sophomoric humor. Dennis’s attempts to reproduce accents becomes irritation very quickly, too. As to characterization, the roles of Mame and Patrick could be played by Miss Piggy and Kermit.
Lolita Is Neither Smutty Nor Serious
Posted in 1958 Bestselling Novels, Psychological novel on January 16, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Lolita is not the novel the movie poster leads you to expect. Forget the heart-shaped sunglasses. This is not a book about a seductress. The narrator has to bribe and bully Loilta into sex. Afterward, she cries.
Anatomy of a Murder Is a Keeper
Posted in 1927Bestselling Novels, 1958 Bestselling Novels, Mystery, Suspense, tagged murder, Courtroom, insanity, defense, insanity defense on January 9, 2008 | Comments Off
Robert Traver’s Anatomy of a Murder is courtroom drama at its best.
Lieutenant Frederic Manion shot Barney Quill to death in front of a room full of witnesses in Quill’s hotel bar before turning himself in. Manion says Quill had raped his wife. The only legal defense open to Manion is insanity.
