Book Review: A Cup of Tea

A Cup of Tea: A Novel of 1917 by Amy Ephron, Harper Perennial (June 28, 2005), ISBN-10: 0060786205

Rating: 2 of 5 STARS
Source: Randomly picked up at Goodwill

From Amazon: New York City, in the uncertain days of World War I, is home to Rosemary Fells, who is the sort of woman with the time to strike stunning poses and rearrange her curls; Eleanor Smith, whom Rosemary finds under a street lamp, miserable and shivering, is certainly not. Miss Fells indulges a whim of beneficence, whisking "the creature" home to share warmth, tea, and a change of clothing. Once clean and dry--fortified with sandwiches and brandy--young Eleanor and Rosemary's fiancé meet in the hallway and exchange a look, the kind of look that will forever change the course of their lives.

This was basically a long short-story. Very short chapters, super easy prose, fast-paced plot. It was also not very good literature. I kind of felt like I was reading a Harlequin romance or something, although there wasn't any titillating sex scenes. I suppose my biggest problem with the story was that it seemed to excuse adultery if you're "in love" or "thrown together by destiny." Ugh.

The best thing I have to say is that it was a fast read. And, I did actually finish it, so I suppose that says something. I wouldn't recommend it and am glad I only paid 50 cents for it. The cover said "National Bestseller." I don't get it.

The cover says the story was inspired by a short story by Katherine Mansfield, who I've never heard of, but here's her A Cup of Tea online. Much better than this book. I think I might give one of her collections a try.