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There are currently 25 member reviews
for Everybody Rise
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Barbara G. (Acworth, GA)
Money Did't Make People Interesting
"You'll never regret bringing a Lily Pulitzer dress to a summer weekend."
It's all about what you wear, who you know, and where you're seen. Evelyn, the main character, works hard to accomplish what she feels is the ultimate mark of success.
The writing style of the author begins with much flourish which reminds one of Edith Wharton from more than a century ago. She then reverts to a more Nora Roberts style only to return to Edith Wharton at the close. It was a quick read that really captures the reader ever wanting to find out Evelyn's next success or misstep. The characters are well developed loving and hating many of them simultaneously. I enjoyed the book very much finding it quite similar to experiences of my past.
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Book Lover
climbing the social ladder
A young woman sets out to become part of the "upper crust" in New York City, not seeing (as the reader does) how shallow and careless those people are. The book is something of a take-off on Edith Wharton's novels, and does a pretty good job of telling its morality tale. The plot sags somewhat in the middle, but mostly it is quite readable and the characters are interesting if not edifying. I wish the ending hadn't wrapped things up quite so tidily, but I guess that's what morality tales are supposed to do. A very respectable debut novel, and I have the feeling the author can do even better with the next one.
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Eileen F. (Drexel Hill, PA)
New York, New York
This is between average and good. Evelyn is a very entertaining character who makes some poor decisions and pays the price. The story is about class, upward mobility and friendship. It was a little overdone in the middle. And did remind me of Bonfire of the Vanities.
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Beth M. (NY, NY)
Evelyn's climb to the top
This is a quick read about social climbing by a New York Times award winning writer who clearly know the territory. Evelyn Bergen, the protagonist, has learned from her mother the ambition to fit "in with the upper class. Reminiscent of Edith Wharton and more recently Amor Towles's Rules of Civility, this debut novel takes you inside this moneyed world. Evelyn's journey becomes more tense and painful as her little lies become bigger as she claws her way up the social ladder. While few of the characters were likeable, they were believable. Their search for an identity was something I could relate to.
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Katherine (Seaford, VA)
Ladies Who Lunch...
"Everybody Rise" is compulsively readable, though the main character is unlikable. Evelyn is her parents' daughter and yet she criticizes them for their social climbing and crass (criminal) ways. Clifford's writing is sharp and quick paced and she captures NYC 2006 well, punctuating the pages with designer bags, dresses and society parties. Evelyn will do anything to fit in. It's painful to be in her mind as she lies her way to the top. Strangely, I enjoyed reading this book, but I was so turned off by Evelyn, that I was cheerfully rooting for a cab to run her over.
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Diane C. (Nashville, TN)
Fun for some readers
Evelyn never captured my heart, and so my perception of the book is that it ran a bit shallow. For me, it read like a series of shenanigans that got progressively difficult to witness. The writing, however, is crisp and literate. Clifford has a terrific ear for dialogue as well. For readers who enjoy voyeuristic glimpses into elite social circles, this novel fits the bill.
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Judith, Upstate NY
Disappointing
The reviews on the covers of the book comparing this author to Edith Wharton overshadowed my opinion from the very beginning. The story is humorous at times. Descriptions of the Adirondacks are well done. The characters are underdeveloped, come across as vacuous and difficult to imagine as believable. Ms Clifford is not in a league with Wharton or Wolfe. This book might appeal to non-serious readers.
