Our Tomato reviewers have three compelling suggestions. A novel that takes an up-close look at the subculture of Old Money in Brooklyn. Another novel features family drama, lies, secrets, abuse, affairs, a missing family member, and broken friendships.  And for anyone who loves Broadway theater, here’s a must read book about Harold Prince.

Liberally sprinkled with wit and secrets, the book is full of good, human drama!

Jenny Jackson creates a compelling story in her book Pineapple Street, taking an up-close look at the subculture of Old Money on the “fruit streets” of Brooklyn. The fluid plot delves seamlessly into multi-layered issues of American social classes, the politics of money, and family secrets while delivering a juicy read.

We follow the upper-crust Stockton family as they make the rounds of lavish social events and venues, expensive homes and apartments, private schools and colleges. A close-knit family, clustered near each other in Brooklyn, they frequently get together for a game of tennis, a bite of lunch, or an impromptu visit.

Tilda and Chip Stockton, the parents, are challenged by their millennial children who question their values and established lifestyle choices. Darley, the eldest daughter, followed her heart, marrying Malcolm, an Asian.  Confident in his ability to support her and not wanting to require him to sign a pre-nup, she traded her job and inheritance for motherhood, giving up the security and comfort that money can buy.

Cord, the middle child and son, married Sasha, a middle-class New England girl who the family treats as a social-climbing outsider. She is supposed to feel honored that they are allowed to live in the former family home, maintaining childhood rooms of Cord’s siblings exactly how they left them. Her kindness to the family at different times is routinely appreciated and then promptly disregarded.

Georgiana, the baby, is the youngest by far.  She works for a non-profit and realizes that her values do not mesh with her family’s. She also falls for an unattainable man, whom she just can’t quit because of the amazing chemistry between them.

The intricacies of family dynamics and interpersonal relationships is beautifully written here, while bringing to surface some of the challenges of being born to wealth. Liberally sprinkled with wit and secrets, the book is full of good, human drama! GET THE BOOK.

~Joan Pagano, NYC, Joan Pagano Fitness

A Five Plus Stars Book

Get ready for a page turner read with Scent of Magnolia by Ashley Farley.  This story is full of family drama, lies, secrets, abuse, affairs, a missing family member, and broken friendships.  Ashley Farley is a favorite author of mine.  I have read every single book she has written and hosted her in my home.  This is my very favorite book of hers.

Scout Montgomery has turned her search for her missing brother into a career.  Her brother, Ford disappeared at the age of 18.  When Scout leaves for college, she decides to go off on her own search for her brother instead of going to college.  She settles in Seattle, becomes a detective with the Seattle Police Department.  Not knowing what happened to her brother, Scout is stuck in the past and unable to move on with her own life.

Scout’s parents June and Buford Montgomery are a well- respected couple in their small Alabama community.  Buford is a United States Senator while June is a homemaker.  They are a glamours couple, showing off their beautiful home in magazine articles and throwing lavish parties.

Kate is a fashion designer who lives in New York.  She was raised by her father after her mother disappeared when she was a child.   One of Scout’s other childhood friends Mary Beth stayed in town.  She is now married with a young son.  Scout’s parents helped raise Mary Beth.  She has always thought Mary Beth knew something about her brother’s disappearance.

Kate and Scout are coming home to Alabama for a funeral of a mutual friend.  This story begins to slowly unfold with chapters in the past as well as in the current time.  Excellent suspenseful drama with a big surprise at the end.

Ashley Farley is one of our wonderful local authors here in Richmond, VA.  I absolutely loved this book, and I could not put it down.  I only wish I was able to give it more than five stars.  Highly recommend.  GET THE BOOK.

~Francene Katzen, Richmond, Virginia, advocate for parents who have children with drug addictions.

For anyone who loves Broadway theater, particularly the American musical, this book is a must read. 

After touring the wonderful Museum of Broadway with The Three Tomatoes group on January 22, I was inspired to re-read this book, Harold Prince: from Pajama Game to Phantom of the Opera by Carol Ilson.  It was originally given to me by my friend, Bernie Ilson, in honor of his late wife Carol who wrote this fascinating book as the basis for her doctoral dissertation at CUNY.

For anyone who loves Broadway theater, particularly the American musical, this book is a must read.  Harold Prince during his over four decade career in the theater has been THE best producer and director of musicals thus far.  From “West Side Story”, “Fiddler on the Roof”, “Cabaret”, “Sweeney Todd”, to “Phantom of the Opera”, and many others, Hal Prince singularly shaped the Broadway Musical taking it to new heights as attested by his winning an astounding 21 Tony Awards!

In this insightful book, you will follow a play through Hal’s eyes; from concept to stage production, with all the pitfalls, challenges, changes, and yes, flops along the way.

Far from being a “fact book”, Ms. Ilson’s carefully researched description of Hal’s career provides a compelling 3-D portrait of Hal as both a man and a remarkable theater artist; truly a visionary genius.  Readers are given a sense of actually being on stage with Hal, smack in the middle of a rehearsal.

During his theatrical career, Hal often drew upon his life experiences.  For example, the vision for Cabaret began when Hal was in the Army, stationed in Stuttgart Germany in 1951.  He hung out in a club called Maxims in the basement of a bombed out church.  There was a little M.C with lipstick, eye shadow, false eyelashes who told terrible tacky jokes.  Those images, and the chunky bar girls, formed the ideas for Cabaret.  Hal believed that the theater was better when it talked about real things.  In his own words, “You can’t be interesting within the theater if you have no interest outside it”.  He pushed musical theater in an audience challenging, as opposed to simply audience-pleasing direction.  Mr. Prince’s singularly significant role in shaping the Broadway musical during the second half of the 20th century was attested to by the Tony Award for lifetime achievement he received in 2006

This book is a treasure trove of fascinating insights, never before revealed stories from behind the stage, the challenges, the risks, the costs of what it takes to bring a play from concept to fruition.   After reading this book, you will see the American Musical in a whole new light. If you are a lover of Broadway theater as I am, do yourself a favor and read it.   You will then see why the late great Harold Prince, aptly named “The Prince of Broadway” was given a place of highest honor at the Museum of Broadway. GET THE BOOK.

~Ellen Seymour, Hershey, Pennsylvania, retired caterer, avid gardener and cook