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Wednesday, November 24, 2010

READ THIS: The Recessionistas by Alexandra Lebenthal


"...because as everyone knew, anything that you needed in the city could be made possible by connections with the right people." p. 5, The Recessionistas....well, doesn't that sound like the whole concept of Whom You Know!



When Peachy Deegan is not eating at Swifty's, she likes to read about other people eating at Swifty's and when on page four of The Recessionistas Swifty's is mentioned, Mover and Shaker Alexandra Lebenthal had us hooked.  See Alexandra as a Mover and Shaker: http://www.whomyouknow.com/2010/11/movers-and-shakers-alexandra-lebenthal.html
We only wish that The Peachy Deegan was around before she wrote this book...but we hope you enjoy one there now, Alexandra!  

The hommage to Swifty's continues on page 66 and 67; you know we talk about Swifty's in every other sentence and we love how Alexandra is trying to enlighten the world about our favorite restaurant on earth.  Peachy hasn't been there in 2 days but is going there for lunch.

It's not who you know, it's Whom You Know and we do know Alexandra...and Peachy spent many, many years in municipal bonds as a banker.  And a trader...but our personal opinion is that the world is not evolved enough to appreciate female traders.  However, the world IS evolved enough to appreciate The Recessionistas and we just loved it from beginning to end.  

How funny how on page 6 it says: "But thankfully Blake worked at Lehman Brothers, not Bear Stearns."  Peachy worked for each and strongly preferred Lehman (and noticed on page 60 the phone number; we believe Lehman started with 212-552 but maybe you have to change it for legal reasons...) and of course no longer are with us.  With each detail, Alexandra expertly weaves a tale that draws you into each character and a plot that is like no other.  And she is certainly writing about what she knows...characters have breakfast at The Regency and that is what Peachy did when she met Alexandra.    We know exactly the world she is writing about and she has it down to a T.  Peachy even worked at 9 West 57th Street, but not at Flying Point Capital...

A work of fiction that has tremendous ups and downs, The Recessionistas will capture your interest immediately and you won't be able to put it down.   There is even mention of a Peachy Nails salon which we surmise is a play on Pinky Nails.  Also proving that the world is smaller than you think, on page 142 the 21 Club is mentioned by a character named Sasha, but we think it should be spelled Sascha because Mover and Shaker Sascha Rothchild's grandfather started the 21 Club, and you ought to read her book too. 

We aren't going to give too much away, because we want you to read The Recessionistas, and this long weekend is a great time for it.

Bravo, Mover and Shaker Alexandra Lebenthal!  Whom You Know Highly Recommends The Recessionistas, and perhaps you will read it with your lunch at Swifty's drinking The Peachy Deegan!

***

It's the day after Labor Day, 2008, and the elite universe of New York's Upper East Side is about to unravel along with the economy. Socialite Grigsby Somerset is barely aware of her changing world, and has no idea her investment banker husband Blake is about to enter into a devil's bargain with hedge fund owner John Cutter. As autumn unfolds, Grigsby's fairytale life starts to unwind. Street-smart Renee Parker has been hired as John's executive assistant and is convinced that something is amiss with her new boss.


Category:





FICTION


Format:





TRADE PAPERBACK


Publish Date:





8/15/2011


Price:





$14.99/$16.99


ISBN:





9780446563680


Pages:





320


Size:





5-1/4" x 8"


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