

“The New York of the plays, the movies, the books; the New York of The New Yorker and Vanity Fair and Vogue. It was a beacon, a spire, a beacon on top of a spire. A light, always glowing from afar, visible even from the cornfields of Iowa, the foothills of the Dakotas, the deserts of California. The swamps of Louisiana. Beckoning, always beckoning. Summoning the discontented, seducing the dreamers. Those whose blood ran too hot, and too quickly, causing them to look about at their placid families, their staid neighbors, the graves of their slumbering ancestors and say鈥 I鈥檓 different. I鈥檓 special. I鈥檓 more. They all came to New York.”
― The Swans of Fifth Avenue
― The Swans of Fifth Avenue

“He appreciated it, to a point. He also had no intention of having a second marriage like his first, a marriage in which the wife taught the husband, and didn鈥檛 care who knew it; in fact, took pains to let others see how much she had taught him, how much more she knew about art and politics and all the rest. That had been Dorothy Hearst Paley鈥檚 fatal flaw, one she recognized too late. Babe”
― The Swans of Fifth Avenue
― The Swans of Fifth Avenue

“There are some guys sitting at tables who all look at this one gorgeous girl, longingly, hoping for at least one dance or a blow job in Daddy鈥檚 car and there are all these girls, looking indifferent or bored, smoking clove cigarettes, all of them or at least most of them staring at one blond-haired boy standing in the back with sunglasses on. Julian”
― Less Than Zero
― Less Than Zero

“Men have sacrificed and crippled themselves physically and emotionally to feed, house, and protect women and children. None of their pain or achievement is registered in feminist rhetoric, which portrays men as oppressive and callous exploiters.”
―
―

“Sit up straight.鈥 鈥淒on鈥檛 fidget.鈥 鈥淲rite a thank-you note the minute you receive a gift or return home from a party.鈥 鈥淎lways have fresh flowers, no matter the cost.鈥 鈥淐lean gloves and shoes are the sign of a lady.鈥 鈥淣ever let the help get the upper hand.鈥 鈥淏e discreet.鈥 鈥淏e above gossip.”
― The Swans of Fifth Avenue
― The Swans of Fifth Avenue
Mariel鈥檚 2024 Year in Books
Take a look at Mariel鈥檚 Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
More friends鈥
Polls voted on by Mariel
Lists liked by Mariel