Before we get into the review, I wanted to share something with you. When I pick a book for reviewing, I do not research the book. I pick the book based on a description. I do not want my opinion of the book to be influenced (especially before I read it). After I finish a book is when I do research (is the book a part of a series, authors other novels, etc.). So when I picked Rich Friends (the novel I am reviewing today) for reading and reviewing, I did not know it was not a new release. I have also found out that Jacqueline Briskin passed away in 2014.
I just finished the newly
re-released 1976 novel Rich Friends by Jacqueline Briskin. The first third of the novel tells the story
of Em, Beverly, and Caroline (it is very important to note that Caroline and Em
are sisters). It starts in 1946 (just
after World War II) with the marriage of Em and Sheridan. Sheridan is going to college on the GI Bill
to become a pharmacist. Em becomes
pregnant on their honeymoon and gives birth to twin boys, Vlief (short for Van
Vlief) and Roger. Beverly Linde comes
from an assimilated Jewish family (they are Jewish, but do not flaunt it). Beverly falls for a nice Catholic boy and her
family does not approve (makes no sense since the family does not go to Temple,
follow Jewish holidays, etc.). They send
Beverly to New York where she meets Dan G, an orthodox Jew. Things do not work out between them and they
go their separate ways (for now). Beverly
marries Phillip and they have two children (their daughter, Alix and their son,
Jamie). However, twelve years later Dan
and Beverly meet again. After an affair
and a break-up, they cannot live without each other. Two divorces ensue and then a marriage (they
later end up having a son named Sam). Caroline
marries Gene Matheny who wants to be a writer (and teach at the
university). Unfortunately, the college
is requiring that all employees sign a loyalty oath. Gene refuses to sign and is fired. Gene goes into the Van Vliet grocery business
(and is quite good at it). Caroline and
Gene have one daughter, Cricket (nickname).
The couples grow apart until the
unthinkable happens. Jamie is murdered
by a man who thinks Dan cheated him out of money in a land deal. This incident will alter many of their lives.
Alix, Vlief, Roger, and Cricket
are the main focus of the remaining two-thirds of the novel (it is a very long
book). Roger and Vlief are coming home from Harvard
for the summer and Cricket wants them all to get together. Alix falls for Roger. Roger is interested, but he is not comfortable
around her (I do not get it). Alix
starts going out with Vlief. Cricket
(high school graduate and 16) is in love with Vlief. Vlief and Alix go out until Roger and Alix
spend a day together. Alix breaks up
with Vlief. Vlief who was going to
medical school, drops out, and goes to work at Van Vlief grocery chain. Alix and Roger go back East and live together
while Roger finishes medical school (his mother is not happy). Cricket is a hippie type of girl who likes
photography. After spending one night
with Vlief (the night Alix broke up with him) Cricket becomes pregnant. She ends up spending time at a commune. Unfortunately, the baby is born early and
does not survive. Cricket does not tell
Vlief about this for many years. Several
years later the four of them go to Carmel together. Cricket encounters her commune friends. One of the, Orion has a type of sore on his
face that Roger diagnoses as skin cancer.
The commune leader does not believe in getting medical care. Roger convinces Orion to get treatment and he
is thrown out of the commune. This one
act leads to three deaths.
Rich Friends contains every cliché you
can imagine from the 50's and 60's. In the 50’s
girls went to college (joined sororities) and supposed to get married and have
babies. The 60’s sexual revolution,
communes, protests, etc. The book is very stilted and choppy (lacks flow) going
from one event to another. I am afraid
that I did not enjoy reading this novel (even the ending was a big
letdown). I give Rich Friends 1.5 out of
5 stars. This is one novel that did not need to be published again!
I received a complimentary copy
of Rich Friends from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you for checking out my newest review. Have a great Saturday evening and Happy Reading!
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