The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street by Susan Jane Gillman.

On July 15, Carol Branson hosted us at her Mystic Bay home
to discuss Susan Jane Gilman's book "The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street"

Carol prepared a lovely summer meal and Kathy brought 

several Haagen Daas flavors for us to sample. As Kathy

said it was a book about ice cream and who doesn't like ice cream?

Members in attendance were Julie, Nancy, Madeleine, Carol,

Sarah, Betsy, Nettie, Kathy and Donna.

 

We had a very good discussion led by Kathy. One of the main

topics was the immigrant experience. It seemed that we

unanimously agreed it was a difficult experience for all

whether they were Jewish, Irish, Italians. Poverty was the

great equalizer.

 

Our main character Lillian was discussed  at length. She was

admired for her hard work, strength and cunning that she

used to overcome adversity. Orphaned and crippled at

6 she had to invent herself to make it through the depression.

We did not admire her in the end when she became a selfish

loud mouthed drunk. The author stated that she purposely

gave Lillian good and bad characteristics because that is

really how people are made up.

 

We liked the fact that the book though fictitious had been

based on history. The development of ice cream by Tom Carvel,

the link between polio and ice cream, the depression,

prohibition were all part of Gilman's research. Kathy had

an article supporting the polio and ice cream scare that

was published by a Dr. Sandler.

 

Madeleine liked the New York setting and all the Yiddish

phrases that were used. She felt at home with the book.

 

Sarah chose a book called "The Dinner" by Herman Koch.

Some critics called it the European version of  "Gone Girl".

It was originally written in Dutch and translated to English.

I believe we chose August 12 to be our next meeting but I am

unsure. So sue me if I am wrong!