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    Dorothy Parker Drank Here
    Dorothy Parker Drank Here
    Dorothy Parker Drank Here
    Audiobook9 hours

    Dorothy Parker Drank Here

    Written by Ellen Meister

    Narrated by Donna Postel

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    The acid-tongued Dorothy Parker is back and haunting the halls of Algonquin with her piercing wit, audacious voice, and unexpectedly tender wisdom.

    Heavenly peace? No, thank you. Dorothy Parker would rather wander the famous halls of the Algonquin Hotel, drink in hand, searching for someone, anyone, who will keep her company on the side of eternity.

    After forty years she thinks she's found the perfect candidate in Ted Shriver, a brilliant literary voice of the 1970s, silenced early in a promising career by the devastating plagiarism scandal. Now a prickly recluse, he hides away in the old hotel slowly dying from cancer, which her refuses to treat. If she can convince him to sign the infamous guest book of Percy Coates, Dorothy Parker might be able to persuade the jaded writer to spurn the white light with her. Ted, however, might be the only person living or dead who's more stubborn then Parker, and he rejects her proposal outright.

    When a young TV producer, Norah Wolfe, enters the hotel in search of Ted Shriver, Parker sees another opportunity to get what she wants. Instead, she and Norah manage to uncover such startling secrets about Ted's past that the future changes for all of them. 
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHighbridge Company
    Release dateFeb 24, 2015
    ISBN9781622316373
    Dorothy Parker Drank Here
    Author

    Ellen Meister

    Author of The Rooftop Party, Love Sold Separately, Dorothy Parker Drank Here, Farewell Dorothy Parker, and other novels, Ellen Meister is also an editor, book coach, and contributor to Long Island Woman. She has been published in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and elsewhere, and has appeared on NPR. Ellen teaches creative writing at LIU Hutton House Lectures. More at ellenmeister.com.

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    Reviews for Dorothy Parker Drank Here

    4/5

    35 ratings14 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I love Ellen Meister’s books for the way she integrates magical realism in such a believable way. Before I read Harry Potter, I was never really one for magic or spells or anything, but Meister handles it beautifully. Her books are literary fiction, but the hint of magic is wonderful. And I say hint even though the whole book is based on the ghost of Dorothy Parker living in an autograph book. It is just presented in a very plausible way, so the story flows without the premise being “hokey”. The story is fascinating and her writing style is beautiful, so I highly recommend all of her books!
    • 5/5
      Meister's best book by far! Complicated, intriguing, and multilayered, this gem takes you on a wild ride with Dorothy Parker, Ted Shriver, and Norah that will leave you guessing, hoping, praying, and reading right through to the end. The best book I've read in a while.
    • 4/5
      I'm a fan of Dorothy Parker, which is why this novel got my attention. And it kept it, from the first page to the last one. Every time I thought I knew what would happen, the plot changed. The characters were well thought out and I loved Dorothy Parker.
    • 4/5
      Dorothy Parker Drank Here by Ellen MeisterMrs Parker “wakes” to find herself sitting at her favorite bar alongside her favorite pal, Mr Benchley. He’s been waiting for her quite some time. Since he died, in fact. He wanted to escort her over. The rest of “the table” gave up long ago, but Benchley held firm to his friendship and bided time. But she isn’t ready. She has no reason. He leaves, she stays. Drink in hand, beloved pooch in lap, Dorothy Parker drinks on.Alive and dying of a brain tumor, is Ted Shriver, an author currently staying at the Algonquin, but reclusively after a plagiarism claim ended his career.Dorothy is lonely. Her haunting limited to the bar, she seeks a like-minded drinking companion. Sights set on Shriver, she sets about to convince him to also shun the white light for eternal drinks with her.Their first encounter is in his room, as he tries to drug away the pain with Vicodin and martinis. When Dorothy appears, he blames the drugs, the tumor, the drinks. But she maintains, as Dorothy does best, with snark and circumstance.Back in the day, through the hoodoo of Madame Lucescu, the once manager, Percy Coates, was given a guest book that would allow those who signed it to “live on” at the Algonquin forevermore. Well, as long as they were dead. Needless to say, the Algonquin Round Table attendees were all asked to sign. They kept their reservations, but tired of tat party to, crossing over, one by one. Being the last, Dorothy now argues to keep Ted, once he dies.Then comes Norah Wolfe, a spunky TV talkshow worker with a startling resemblance to the 3 main women in Shriver’s romantic past. Hoping to snag the recluse for an episode, maybe clear his name, chat up her long-time literary idol, she checks into the hotel and soon knocks on his room’s door. His favorite gin bottled up to present.Secrets are divulged, feelings are hurt, guns are pulled, and drinks are poured with a lot of jobs on the line between it all. With more twists than a full bar of martinis, the characters flesh out fully and conceivably.As comical as one would expect a novel consisting of Dorothy Parker snarkisms, there is little let down. There is also deceit, mystery, tenderness, and the paranormal. A couple surprise turns that are really expected, hopefully. Nicely wrapped up with no over-the-top sentimentality.
    • 5/5
      Actually hilarious.
    • 3/5
      Interesting idea, that the ghost of Dorothy Parker haunts the Algonquin Hotel. The story was entertaining but not fabulous.
    • 4/5
      Dorothy Parker was a real person of 1920’s fame, but this is not historical fiction, per se. It is more about Norah Wolfe who works for TV talk show, Simon Janey Live. The company is failing and if they don’t soon secure a phenomenal interview with someone ultra-famous, the show will be cancelled. When Norah was thirteen, she’d read Dobson’s Night by famous author, Ted Shriver. The story resonated so much with her, she became obsessed with him. But several years ago, he seemed to drop off the face of the earth after a scathing accusation of plagiarism. She now knows he’s hiding out in a room at the Algonquin Hotel. She also knows he’s gone there to die as a brain tumor ravages his mind. She knows … OK, she’s hoping … that if she could get five minutes of his time, she could convince him to come forward in an interview.It’s at this historic hotel Norah meets Dorothy (Dotty) Parker. At first Norah thought the hotel had hired ‘look-alikes’ to dress and act like the famous authors who’d signed the commemorative guest book. Those authors were dubbed ‘The Algonquin Round Table’. They used to lunch together frequently at The Algonquin during their day. Slowly, it begins to dawn on Norah that this is THE Dorothy Parker. Parker refuses to go to the light. She can remain in bodily form as long as the guest book remains open. Dorothy knows Ted and if she can get him to sign the guest book, he can keep her company after he dies. Everyone else has chosen to ‘cross over’. Dorothy conspires with Norah – her version of ‘I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine’. Can they both get what they want?Author Ellen Meister does a great job of carrying forth the wisecracks and classic witticism that would likely have come from Dorothy Parker’s mouth. It’s also a very moving and emotional story that I didn’t quite expect. I loved the cameo appearances made by Tallulah Bankhead, Lillian Hellman, Groucho Marx, and even Dotty’s poodle, Cliché. Just when you think you’ve got the story figured out, there’s a tender little twist that ‘ups the ante’ for the reader. This is Meister’s second Dorothy Parker book, the first being Farewell Dorothy Parker. It’s a fun, almost magical, journey into ‘what if’. Rating: 4 out of 5.
    • 1/5
      The premise I thought was kind of cute in the first one didn't really carry over in the second.
    • 5/5
      A dead lush, a dead creep, a broken man, a couple broken women, a cameo by Groucho Marx, and several more charismatic characters... put them together and you've found an interesting and enjoyable read! I had the ending figured out, and then I didn't... you've got to love when that happens. Did anything become obvious? Sure, but all in all, surprises abound!
    • 4/5
      Norah Wolfe has a long standing obsession with has-been author Ted Shriver. When her mother gave her a copy of one of his books when she was 13, his words touched her so deeply she almost couldn’t finish the book. So when the TV show Norah works for gets canceled, she says she can get Shriver on the show, even though they’ve never met. This would be a big deal because many years ago, at the height of his fame, Shriver was accused of plagiarism. He never explained, and vanished from sight. Shriver is staying at the Algonquin Hotel, home of the famous Algonquin Round Table during the 1920s. There is another guest at the hotel, too, one that while famous goes unnoticed by most. This is Dorothy Parker, in phantom form. She has chosen to stay in the hotel rather than passing on through the white light, and is desperately lonely. She wants to make a deal with Shriver, too. Shriver, for his part, doesn’t give a damn about either woman. He’s dying of a brain tumor, feels that’s best for the world, and just wants to be left alone in his hotel room with his Vicodin and booze. There is a great deal of running around; of deals made and deals broken with an ex-wife, an ex-best friend, the ex-best friend’s wife, the sister of the deceased hotel manager, and more. Most everyone is at cross purposes and it’s a miracle anything gets accomplished. It does, though, even though it doesn’t work out the way anyone envisioned. It’s a fun little book, and Meister seems to have Parker’s voice down pat. While most of the plot revolves around Shriver and Norah, Parker is really the star of the book. Which is as it should be.
    • 5/5
      A special thank you to Penguin First to Read for an ARC in exchage for an honest reivew. Wacky, hilarious, and entertaining! Just purchased Meister's two audiobooks, Farewell Dorthy Parker and The Other Life. (can't wait to dive in) Dorothy Parker, an American poet, short story writer, critic and satirist, best known for her wit, wisecracks, and 20th century urban foibles returns in spirit for some contemporary literary fun and games in Dorothy Parker Drank Here. As the book opens Parker is at the Blue Bar at the New York City Algonquin Hotel, where all her former literary drinks chums have died; however, she is staying at the hotel due to signing the old hotel manager’s magical guest book (which allows you eternity and to stay and drink—sounds like fun, right?) Parker is focused on getting into the room of Ted Shriver, a seventies literary genius which is depressed and disgraced by a plagiarism scandal, and by the way, is dying. He is drinking heavily to drown his sorrows. She has to get him to sign the guest register prior to dying. However, he is not interested in company and wants to be left alone. Parker wants his spirit to stick around to have more drinking buddies in the afterlife. Too add to the mix, Norah Wolfe, a young producer of a failing TV show, wants to advance her career by convincing Shriver to appear on her show. There are a few catches and surprises along the way in order for this to work. Fun, Fun. . . I love books about witty and intriguing Dorothy Parker, and her ghost is even funnier with her scheming. This was my first book by Ellen Meister and enjoyed her humor and the clever way she allowed Parker to return in rare form. If you enjoy literary icons from the past, mixed with humor, and magical spirits, this one is for you! Looking forward to reading the previous books and #3 in the series.
    • 4/5
      For a couple of years, my husband has been bombarding me with Dorothy Parkerisms that he has gleaned from the Facebook page created in her name. This author has successfully recreated Ms. Parker's snarky wit in this work. It is a fun, quick read, based on the premise that when we die, before we walk into the bright light, we find ourselves in a middle ground, in a location familiar to us, and we then get the opportunity to decide if we want to join our loved ones in the light or remain in the holding tank. In her case, Ms. Parker returns to her stomping ground of the Algonquin Hotel. In the bar, of course. She has no loved ones to rediscover, so, she is determined to remain in the bar of the hotel. There is intrigue and humor all round when the writer, Ted Shriver, arrives in the hotel, determined to live out his last days in seclusion. Dorothy desires him to stay with her and a junior media type is over-eager to get his last live interview. The credits at the end of the book include a listing of all of the members of Ms. Parker's Facebook page. Yes, there is my husband's name. He is most impressed for the credit. My thanks to the author and Penguin's First to Read program for a complimentary copy.
    • 4/5
      I received an advance copy of this, though the advance copy was *supposed* to be for Tim Dowling's "How to be a Husband."Not being picky, I read what I was given, and man, was it a fun read. I really liked the premise, the Dorothy Parker character, which made me want to read more into her life (and I'm pretty sure the short bios I've read about her are *very* slim on details about the time she's spent as a ghost, haunting the Algonquin Hotel).I was very glad to get this by accident.
    • 5/5
      This entertaining novel featuring the ghost of witty Dorothy Parker is, of course, full of tart-tongued repartee, but along with the humor is a surprisingly moving story of friendship and family. Though no longer among the living, Dorothy Parker is still hanging around the Algonquin Hotel in corporeal form as long as mysteriously powerful guest book she signed years ago is open, but she’s lonely because most of her friends from back in the day have moved on--even Groucho Marx and Lillian Hellman chose to “go to the light” rather than spend eternity trading quips and downing cocktails in the hotel’s bar. Fortunately Parker may have found the perfect afterlife companion in Ted Shriver, a brilliant but jaded author recluse who had his novel writing career cut short by accusations of plagiarism. He’s dying, but if Parker can just get him to sign that magic guestbook he’ll have the ability to stick around once he’s passed on. Unfortunately he’s just as obstinately unyielding as Parker and he won’t do it.Enter Norah Wolfe, a determined television producer and long time fan of Shriver’s writing. She hopes to save her about-to-be-cancelled talk show by booking Shriver as a guest so he can finally explain the plagiarism charge, but of course he won’t do that either. Parker and Norah form an uneasy alliance, embarking on a hijinks filled quest of discovery in order to convince Shriver to change his mind about both of their projects. This is the second book in Ellen Meister’s exceedingly fun series starring Dorothy Parker’s clever, opinionated ghost--I’m looking forward to the third one.