MINK ON WEEKDAYS

by Felioia Lamport ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 16, 1950

A devastating -- often caricature-wise funny -- picture of adolescence as lived by little rich girls and told with perceptive afterthought. The author's descriptions of family life, at home and abroad, and sisterly competition are precise in reporting and lively in memory. For Mother had definite ideas which were ruggedly executed. Father was powerful, blessed with a sense of the ludicrous, and grew less remote as Sara and Felicia grew older. There was also Joe, unfailing, dependable, their Japanese factotum, and Mademoiselle, unbending and strict as a governess, and assorted relatives and friends. ""Mink on weekdays and on Sundays"" led to carefully chosen regimes -- of golf, chickens, a lamb, music and tennis, school work on European trips, bar mitzvah, orthodox Kosher food and Jewish ceremonials -- but there were unexpected breakouts in secret codes, questions about sex and God and babies, shopping on the lower West side, decorating a new apartment, combatting on Italian instructor, and the girls' involuntary entry into an international beauty competition among others. Eventually college was the break that blocked Mother's autocratic rule. Extravagances -- and extravagant -- this is on a much plushier plane than two possible comparisons -- My Sister or Our Hearts Were young and Gay -- although there might be a comparable market.

Pub Date: May 16, 1950

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Houghton, Mifflin

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1950

Categories: NONFICTION