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A Cup of Tea
Born to privilege, Rosemary Fell has wealth, well-connected friends, and a handsome fiancé, Philip Alsop. One cold and rainy night she sees, under a streetlamp, the mysterious Eleanor Smith huddled against the elements. In a moment of beneficence, Rosemary invites the penniless young woman home for a cup of tea.
Arriving on the scene, Philip notices Eleanor warming herself by the roaring fire. When Rosemary sees them exchange an unmistakable look, she promptly sends the girl packing. But too late. In that one brief moment, Rosemary's carefully sculptured life has cracked beyond repair…
Arriving on the scene, Philip notices Eleanor warming herself by the roaring fire. When Rosemary sees them exchange an unmistakable look, she promptly sends the girl packing. But too late. In that one brief moment, Rosemary's carefully sculptured life has cracked beyond repair…
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 447 reviews
December 29, 2016
Ephron's A Cup of Tea is a quick read but not one I'd personally recommend. I almost didn't finish it. The novella is based on the similarly titled short story by Katherine Mansfield. Set during WWI, the story begins when the privileged Rosemary Fell decides to bring home a poor young lady from the street for a cup of tea. Her motives are more based on romanticized notions than pure altruism. This chance encounter sets in motion a love triangle with devastating consequences.
My primary faults with the story include an array of poorly developed characters. I felt no deep connection to these characters but instead a true disdain. The plot at times was cliched. I also never really felt the romantic connection between Eleanor and Philip. I would have probably given the book a 2 star rating, but the twist at the end really caught me by surprise. It was a jarring ending that I'm not sure felt fitting, but it didn't even bother me. I'm guessing the moral of this one is to never bring home an attractive female stranger for tea.
The short story, on the other hand, is an excellent little read. It's a great examination of character. I think I need to check out The Garden Party.
My primary faults with the story include an array of poorly developed characters. I felt no deep connection to these characters but instead a true disdain. The plot at times was cliched. I also never really felt the romantic connection between Eleanor and Philip. I would have probably given the book a 2 star rating, but the twist at the end really caught me by surprise. It was a jarring ending that I'm not sure felt fitting, but it didn't even bother me. I'm guessing the moral of this one is to never bring home an attractive female stranger for tea.
The short story, on the other hand, is an excellent little read. It's a great examination of character. I think I need to check out The Garden Party.
February 7, 2010
SPOILER ALERT!!! I picked this book up this morning while drinking my own cup of tea and didn't put it down until it was finished. Obviously a quick read, this book is a beautifully written love tragedy that takes place during WWI. A homeless woman named Eleanor is taken home for a cup of tea by a flighty woman named Rosemary. Rose is engaged to a dashing man names Phillip who falls instantly in love with Eleanor as soon as he lays eyes on her. Rose kindly sends El on her way, but Phillip manages to find her and thus, the affair begins. Phillip and Rose get married, but El is preggers with Phil's child. He's off at war and it's rumored that he dies, but he ends up turning up the way these cheating men have a habit of doing. He sees his kid and decides, I'm leaving Rose for El and baby. Rose decides to have the last word and kills him dead with a letter opener. And there you have it.
I really do think the book was beautifully written though...sad.
I really do think the book was beautifully written though...sad.
May 12, 2017
I found this little gem in a used book bookstore when I was looking for that" something good" to pick up and get into in the course of a weekend. Read this about 3 times now before I joined Goodreads, need to pick this one up again. There are just some books you can go back to over and over again because you love them so much and this is one of them for me.
August 28, 2021
Read this entire book on an early morning flight, coffee in hand, sunrise on the horizon.
This book reminds me that in writing, less is more. A few choice words (or subtle allusions) have as much power as a paragraph of text. The story itself isn’t particularly riveting or original, but I love the simple writing style - hard to find nowadays. Also loved the feminist themes within (Jane is my favorite character) and the WW1 setting details. Highly recommend for an afternoon read.
This book reminds me that in writing, less is more. A few choice words (or subtle allusions) have as much power as a paragraph of text. The story itself isn’t particularly riveting or original, but I love the simple writing style - hard to find nowadays. Also loved the feminist themes within (Jane is my favorite character) and the WW1 setting details. Highly recommend for an afternoon read.
May 25, 2011
An elderly lady handed me this book while I was browsing a Half Price Books and told me to read it. I did and enjoyed it trememdously. A delightful tale of romance set against the backdrop of New York society during World War I. What a "sleeper."
January 30, 2011
The ending of this book was so unecessary and so upsetting I wanted to throw it across the room - I will never read another book by this author. I would have given it only 1 star but I did enjoy the atmosphere and it had an interesting short story feel to it that I did like. I just don't understand why the author thought it neccesary to end the book in the way she did ruining the atmosphere and leaving me with a horrible taste in my mouth - totally trashed its potential. I am not familiar with the short story this is based on but I wonder how many liberties the author took with it in creating her novel.
December 1, 2008
From my wonderful friends getting ready to travel the world through campsite and bicycle..see you in Laos!
WHAT?!! I finished it last night and just about threw the damn thing across the room and into the wall to hit and fall with a satisfactorily thud. my god...Ok, so, the ending was a bit ridiculous. so sudden and...what?!!! But, I guess it is up to the writer's art..I guess the story needed to end? ...but the characters were so beautifully established and described.
True, the drama was somewhat annoying. The things the characters did and ways in which they were choosing to live were a little low...but it was so wonderfully told. I could hardly put the book down. I esp loved all the tiny chapters. Makes for a great bathroom book! And she had some great details about how little things would actually have been during that time. Good stuff.
...ok, and I guess the letter opener in the ending was like a poetic justice or something..psshh...I dunno. I think there were a number of ways it could have ended. Though, Philip had a little more manning up to do in order to ..well, really out of respect for Rosemary's needs. i mean, where she is in her level of emotional development.. If he had any love for her... I don't think he could have handled the situation worse. But a wonderful read. Thank you, Elise. It made bathroom time all the more exciting.
WHAT?!! I finished it last night and just about threw the damn thing across the room and into the wall to hit and fall with a satisfactorily thud. my god...Ok, so, the ending was a bit ridiculous. so sudden and...what?!!! But, I guess it is up to the writer's art..I guess the story needed to end? ...but the characters were so beautifully established and described.
True, the drama was somewhat annoying. The things the characters did and ways in which they were choosing to live were a little low...but it was so wonderfully told. I could hardly put the book down. I esp loved all the tiny chapters. Makes for a great bathroom book! And she had some great details about how little things would actually have been during that time. Good stuff.
...ok, and I guess the letter opener in the ending was like a poetic justice or something..psshh...I dunno. I think there were a number of ways it could have ended. Though, Philip had a little more manning up to do in order to ..well, really out of respect for Rosemary's needs. i mean, where she is in her level of emotional development.. If he had any love for her... I don't think he could have handled the situation worse. But a wonderful read. Thank you, Elise. It made bathroom time all the more exciting.
January 17, 2013
Well, here is a book that would deter anyone from doing a good deed. Rose is about to get married when she comes across a woman in the street. When the woman asks for some money for a cup of tea, she decides to take her home and feed her. She gives her some dry clothes, when her fiancé walks in. Philip is instantly smitten and it basically deteriorated from this point. The entire book is filled with shit-bags. Rose was ok, up until the last few pages and then she also gets thrown on the shit-bag list.
I think I despised Philip the most- he should have taken responsibility for his actions earlier and saved everyone the pain and anguish. Frankly, this book was short and terrible- like giving blood at the lab. It doesn't take long, but it's not a pleasant experience. Not something I recommend.
I think I despised Philip the most- he should have taken responsibility for his actions earlier and saved everyone the pain and anguish. Frankly, this book was short and terrible- like giving blood at the lab. It doesn't take long, but it's not a pleasant experience. Not something I recommend.
March 30, 2014
MELODRAMA!!!!!! If that's your cup of tea, then "A Cup of Tea" is for you, Otherwise save the two hours it will take to read this slip of a book.
January 27, 2014
This book fell extremely short of its potential. It was quick and surfacey, giving no time and depth to the world or its characters. In the Reader's Guide Ephron says, "For me, the best books are the ones in which you can lose yourself" and "The thing you hope for the most is that the characters come to life and exist in some way for readers." She didn't achieve either of these crucial things. I was very much on the outside of the story looking in, like a passive parade watcher, clearly set apart from the action. The characters were one dimensional and I had no investment in any of them. Rosemary is unlikable from the start, her "generous" offer of tea little more than a pat on her own back for the excitement and self-satisfaction of helping someone. Even down-on-her-luck Eleanor doesn't come off as a sympathetic or endearing girl; a certain hardness and ability to manipulate waft around her, and I was left with an extreme taste of skepticism in my mouth. Philip is bland and spineless, coming nowhere near to the charming, trapped-between-two-worlds, good-intentioned man I assume we are suppose to take him for. Eleanor and Philip's relationship struck me as simply a physical affair, and for Philip a tantalizing escape from his expected life, not some deep, romantic meant-to-be connection. Jane was the one character who seemed to have some solidity and interest to her, but like everything else in the story, she is truncated and never reaches her full potential.
I was also irritated by Ephron's persistent use of question marks and exclamation points in tandem, and her asking a question and punctuating it with a period instead of a question mark.
While this book was set up with a good number of interesting elements, they were never fully explored or developed, creating a story that instead seemed contrived and unbelievable, creating no connection or impact.
I was also irritated by Ephron's persistent use of question marks and exclamation points in tandem, and her asking a question and punctuating it with a period instead of a question mark.
While this book was set up with a good number of interesting elements, they were never fully explored or developed, creating a story that instead seemed contrived and unbelievable, creating no connection or impact.
October 20, 2022
I thought this was only going to be three stars and I was getting more and more bored trying to finish it when suddenly there was an amazing and very surprising TWIST. It ended up being very satisfying! I don't want to say more as I could spoil it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2018
This book was a quick read. I liked it. I could imagine this maybe happening in war times...yet not sure the wealthy would invite the poor into their home. The ending was so quick and surprising.
May 29, 2011
Eleanor Smith is a woman on the street with nothing but a thin sweater to her name. Rosemary Fell stands in an antique shop, just down the street, lavishly spending money, if only to keep up with appearances. When Eleanor asks Rosemary if she could have enough money to buy a cup of tea, Rosemary thinks of how great it would look to take this woman under her wing, and decides to take her home and freshen her up. This small encounter changes Rosemary and Eleanor’s lives forever, whether they are aware of it or not. Set in 1917, Amy Ephron’s A Cup of Tea explores the differences between riches and rags, and how feelings of entitlement can be the biggest downfall a person can have.
Review (Not necessarily spoiler free)
Firstly, this book is the quickest full-length novel I have ever read. It only took me about two hours to read. The chapters are extremely short, but the plot was so continuous it didn’t bother me at all.
However, what really makes this novel are the characters. Although this book takes place during WWI, most of the story encompasses the lives of the women left behind in New York City. Rosemary represents the girl with all the riches in the world. She is also optimistic to the point of insanity. Jane, her best friend, is also wealthy, but more levelheaded. Eleanor comes from nothing, and takes the book (and reader) by storm. Central to this book is the emotions these women experience and what happens because of what they feel. Because emotion is so central to the story, the characters and plot are timeless. This is a story that anyone can enjoy, and truly should be read by everyone, if only for thematic quality.
The only thing that bothered me about the story was the ending. It was too abrupt. And, while Ephron sets the reader up to be able to figure out what happens to all the characters, I think she could have added either an epilogue or another chapter simply so the reader could experience what Eleanor was feeling first hand. Perhaps it’s my own twisted head, but I think a spinoff book about Rosemary, post-Philip’s murder would be extremely interesting. Ephron is truly a genius.
Review (Not necessarily spoiler free)
Firstly, this book is the quickest full-length novel I have ever read. It only took me about two hours to read. The chapters are extremely short, but the plot was so continuous it didn’t bother me at all.
However, what really makes this novel are the characters. Although this book takes place during WWI, most of the story encompasses the lives of the women left behind in New York City. Rosemary represents the girl with all the riches in the world. She is also optimistic to the point of insanity. Jane, her best friend, is also wealthy, but more levelheaded. Eleanor comes from nothing, and takes the book (and reader) by storm. Central to this book is the emotions these women experience and what happens because of what they feel. Because emotion is so central to the story, the characters and plot are timeless. This is a story that anyone can enjoy, and truly should be read by everyone, if only for thematic quality.
The only thing that bothered me about the story was the ending. It was too abrupt. And, while Ephron sets the reader up to be able to figure out what happens to all the characters, I think she could have added either an epilogue or another chapter simply so the reader could experience what Eleanor was feeling first hand. Perhaps it’s my own twisted head, but I think a spinoff book about Rosemary, post-Philip’s murder would be extremely interesting. Ephron is truly a genius.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2012
I can’t believe how much I loved this book. Amy Ephron penned this story in the style of some of the classic writers, almost reminding me of the Bronte sisters. It’s so enthralling, I finished it in one day … I absolutely could not put it down!
The story concerns only a handful of characters living in New York City in 1917. The U.S. has entered the war and there is a different sort of atmosphere – people are trying desperately to add some excitement to their lives and pretend the war doesn’t exist. However, with families receiving telegrams and visits from the war department on a daily basis to tell them of lost loved ones, there is an underlying desperation that leads them to react to things differently than they normally would.
And that’s exactly the basis of this story.
Rosemary has always lived somewhat in her own world of wealth and prestige, often spending much of her time alone or with a select group of friends. On rainy night, she spots a young woman huddled under a lamp post in the rain. The woman is cold and hungry. Rosemary invites the woman, Eleanor, to her home to have a cup of tea and warm her weary bones. She also provides her with some clean clothes. Rosemary’s fiancé Philip shows up and is immediately smitten by this lovely young lady he finds sitting in front of the fireplace and comments to Rosemary about her. He simply cannot take his eyes off Eleanor.
This concerns Rosemary, who tells Eleanor she must leave. She hands Eleanor a few dollars and sends her on her way. However, her friend, who is also at the house, follows Eleanor and gives her a lead on a job. Setting off a chain reaction, this series of acts changes all of their lives forever – leading up to the surprise ending of the book.
The story concerns only a handful of characters living in New York City in 1917. The U.S. has entered the war and there is a different sort of atmosphere – people are trying desperately to add some excitement to their lives and pretend the war doesn’t exist. However, with families receiving telegrams and visits from the war department on a daily basis to tell them of lost loved ones, there is an underlying desperation that leads them to react to things differently than they normally would.
And that’s exactly the basis of this story.
Rosemary has always lived somewhat in her own world of wealth and prestige, often spending much of her time alone or with a select group of friends. On rainy night, she spots a young woman huddled under a lamp post in the rain. The woman is cold and hungry. Rosemary invites the woman, Eleanor, to her home to have a cup of tea and warm her weary bones. She also provides her with some clean clothes. Rosemary’s fiancé Philip shows up and is immediately smitten by this lovely young lady he finds sitting in front of the fireplace and comments to Rosemary about her. He simply cannot take his eyes off Eleanor.
This concerns Rosemary, who tells Eleanor she must leave. She hands Eleanor a few dollars and sends her on her way. However, her friend, who is also at the house, follows Eleanor and gives her a lead on a job. Setting off a chain reaction, this series of acts changes all of their lives forever – leading up to the surprise ending of the book.
September 9, 2013
This is a short novella that I practically devoured in the course of two hours or so. At the halfway point, I started to dwell a bit on how similar the atmosphere of this story is to The Great Gatsby, but by the end of it, less so. I really enjoyed Amy Ephron's writing style - she has a gift for writing descriptively and painting a picture so well that it feels as if you've just watched a movie, which is why this has been put on my list of favorites. This novel had the potential to earn a five star rating from me, but the ending ruined it for me. It was needlessly tragic and left a bad taste in my mouth, but I find it hard to approve of any story that doesn't end happily (the hopelessly optimistic side of me), which really limits my ability to branch out in my quest for good writing. Regardless, I would still recommend this to anyone interested.
February 13, 2017
This book is perfect for a quick morning/afternoon read while drinking your own cup of tea. The story was short and bittersweet; a typical period romance. I didn't particularly care for any of the characters, but I did enjoy seeing where the story took them.
Favorite lines:
"What's the danger? Or, if there is one, doesn't that make it all the more exciting?"
Philip: "...I don't mean it the way it sounds, but it's such a fuss for a single afternoon."
Rosemary: "Not such a fuss to start an entire life."
"And though she might not be able to control the rest of her life, it was clear she was going to have whatever she wanted for dinner."
"When someone dies, time seems to take on a dimension of its own. Minutes expand to sometimes seem like hours and silence is filled with memories of what had been."
Favorite lines:
"What's the danger? Or, if there is one, doesn't that make it all the more exciting?"
Philip: "...I don't mean it the way it sounds, but it's such a fuss for a single afternoon."
Rosemary: "Not such a fuss to start an entire life."
"And though she might not be able to control the rest of her life, it was clear she was going to have whatever she wanted for dinner."
"When someone dies, time seems to take on a dimension of its own. Minutes expand to sometimes seem like hours and silence is filled with memories of what had been."
June 26, 2018
Amy Ephron depicts this World War I era in Manhattan so well. This small novel with its short chapters was lovely to read. No wasted, extraneous detail, but just enough to whet your imagination. I had an inkling what might happen before the book ended, and that compelled me to keep reading to see if I was right. This book was like sipping a slender glass of iced tea with a sprig of mint on a hot summer's day. You'll enjoy it.
October 9, 2019
A quick, short read with an intriguing setting but not enough character development for my tastes. I need to read more books set in the time period.
April 3, 2025
An easy and sad read . I had hoped for a sweet ending to this love story but quite a sad ending.
March 10, 2024
I should have known after reading the short story on which this was based that this book would be terrible. What elaboration would add to a story like that? The thing about well-written short stories is that they have meaning hidden under simplicity. Amy Ephron takes the beautiful understatement of Katherine Mansfield and fills in every single blank so that it's no longer a subtle sketch but a gaudy over-embellished nothing. I'm going to go read more Mansfield to take the bad taste out of my mouth.
March 1, 2018
A quick, and easy novella. Almost every human feeling is jam packed into this tiny book. I couldn’t attach myself to a character like I usually do, so it was difficult to finish.
Not my cup of tea!
Not my cup of tea!
October 22, 2024
True depiction of "If I can't have him,no one else will.''
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2024
The perfect novella to read in an afternoon.
June 16, 2014
This fast paced novella (I read it in one afternoon) tells the tragic story of a love triangle set in 1917. Based on a short story by Katherine Mansfield, which I have regrettably not read, the title refers to the simple act that sets the course of events in motion. Wealthy Rosemary Fell, seemingly on a whim, asks a poor woman down on her luck home with her to have a cup of tea. That woman, the beautiful and mysterious Eleanor Smith, is able to find a job and lodging as a result of her encounter with Rosemary. But she also meets Philip Alsop, Rosemary's fiancé, and the two fall in love, leading to the destruction of Rosemary's orderly and privileged life.
In many ways this novel seems to be an indictment of Rosemary. Although she is generous towards Eleanor, the author clearly indicates that she is generous for selfish reasons; "It was like something one would read about, to find a girl in the dusk and bring her home for tea. [...] And think how she would feel if she could successfully show this poor creature that life could be wonderful, that all women were sisters, that the world was full of possibilities" (8). Later, when Eleanor returns the money Rosemary gave her by mail, Rosemary again seems delighted, asking Philip, "Do you think maybe I helped her?" (69). Rosemary is portrayed as naïve, selfish, and self absorbed and she undoubtedly is in many ways.
On the other hand, Ephron is too kind in her depiction of Eleanor and Philip. After all, they are the ones that have an affair, even though Philip is engaged. The novel seems to indicate that "true love" is excuse enough for betraying someone.
I did think the portrayal of class relations was interesting. As Ephron says in the afterward, 1917 was one of the first periods where it would have been thinkable for a woman of Rosemary's status to interact with a poor woman living on the streets like Eleanor. I also liked that Philip had known both wealth and poverty, so he seemed uniquely suited to interact with the two women on opposite ends of the extreme. Although the author leaves out details about Eleanor's background, I think it would have added to my understanding of her as a character if I could have seen how she ended up on the street corner, begging for money in the rain.
The ending of this was very upsetting, but it was a concise ending to a love story that was otherwise messy and that would have caused great scandal socially if it had become publicly known. An interesting look into the social pressures of the time and the way love can captivate and instantly change the trajectory of many lives.
In many ways this novel seems to be an indictment of Rosemary. Although she is generous towards Eleanor, the author clearly indicates that she is generous for selfish reasons; "It was like something one would read about, to find a girl in the dusk and bring her home for tea. [...] And think how she would feel if she could successfully show this poor creature that life could be wonderful, that all women were sisters, that the world was full of possibilities" (8). Later, when Eleanor returns the money Rosemary gave her by mail, Rosemary again seems delighted, asking Philip, "Do you think maybe I helped her?" (69). Rosemary is portrayed as naïve, selfish, and self absorbed and she undoubtedly is in many ways.
On the other hand, Ephron is too kind in her depiction of Eleanor and Philip. After all, they are the ones that have an affair, even though Philip is engaged. The novel seems to indicate that "true love" is excuse enough for betraying someone.
I did think the portrayal of class relations was interesting. As Ephron says in the afterward, 1917 was one of the first periods where it would have been thinkable for a woman of Rosemary's status to interact with a poor woman living on the streets like Eleanor. I also liked that Philip had known both wealth and poverty, so he seemed uniquely suited to interact with the two women on opposite ends of the extreme. Although the author leaves out details about Eleanor's background, I think it would have added to my understanding of her as a character if I could have seen how she ended up on the street corner, begging for money in the rain.
The ending of this was very upsetting, but it was a concise ending to a love story that was otherwise messy and that would have caused great scandal socially if it had become publicly known. An interesting look into the social pressures of the time and the way love can captivate and instantly change the trajectory of many lives.
March 19, 2020
Though a well-written book, "A CUP OF TEA" reads much like a melodrama one finds in a Harlequin or Mills and Boon romance novel.
The drama begins on a nighttime street in Manhattan in January 1917. A ill-clothed young woman shudders against a street light, hoping for succour. But not the kind of succour a man discreetly offers her as he walks by. Then along comes Rosemary Fall, a wealthy young woman blessed with all the advantages affluence and social connections can give. Rosemary at first kindly offers the young lady a few dollars to help her make ends meet. And then, Rosemary invites the shivering, ill-clad woman to her home (with she shares with her widowed father) for a cup of tea.
What resulted from that cup of tea would set in train a series of events that would radically change the course of Rosemary's life and the lives of 2 of her closest friends. To say more would give away the gist of the story.
"A CUP OF TEA" is very, very readable. The chapters were usually about 5 pages long. But there were some glaring inconsistencies in the story that I couldn't ignore. One involves the work Rosemary carried out as a volunteer nurse in a VA Hospital. There was NO VA Hospital in 1910s America. The VA (Veterans Administration) wasn't established until July 1930! There was also mention of a ship sailing from America to Britain as "an American carrier", which was sunk by a German U-boat. As far as ocean-going vessels are concerned, a 'carrier' is a warship that carries warplanes in its hold for use in offensive operations against an enemy. During the First World War, the U.S. did NOT have aircraft carriers. That wouldn't take place until the 1920s!
Were I to assess "A CUP OF TEA" on the basis on its writing style, I'd rate it 3 stars. But because of the inconsistencies in it that I cited earlier - and the elongation of some of the time sequences that made the story in certain instances depart from reality, I can at best give "A CUP OF TEA" two stars.
The drama begins on a nighttime street in Manhattan in January 1917. A ill-clothed young woman shudders against a street light, hoping for succour. But not the kind of succour a man discreetly offers her as he walks by. Then along comes Rosemary Fall, a wealthy young woman blessed with all the advantages affluence and social connections can give. Rosemary at first kindly offers the young lady a few dollars to help her make ends meet. And then, Rosemary invites the shivering, ill-clad woman to her home (with she shares with her widowed father) for a cup of tea.
What resulted from that cup of tea would set in train a series of events that would radically change the course of Rosemary's life and the lives of 2 of her closest friends. To say more would give away the gist of the story.
"A CUP OF TEA" is very, very readable. The chapters were usually about 5 pages long. But there were some glaring inconsistencies in the story that I couldn't ignore. One involves the work Rosemary carried out as a volunteer nurse in a VA Hospital. There was NO VA Hospital in 1910s America. The VA (Veterans Administration) wasn't established until July 1930! There was also mention of a ship sailing from America to Britain as "an American carrier", which was sunk by a German U-boat. As far as ocean-going vessels are concerned, a 'carrier' is a warship that carries warplanes in its hold for use in offensive operations against an enemy. During the First World War, the U.S. did NOT have aircraft carriers. That wouldn't take place until the 1920s!
Were I to assess "A CUP OF TEA" on the basis on its writing style, I'd rate it 3 stars. But because of the inconsistencies in it that I cited earlier - and the elongation of some of the time sequences that made the story in certain instances depart from reality, I can at best give "A CUP OF TEA" two stars.
November 2, 2008
A love tale set in the New York of 1917. A rich girl picks up a mysterious beggar. She treats her to a good meal and some new clothing. When rich chick’s boyfriend sees here there, and offers a compliment the party is over and rich chick send rag doll on her way. However rich chick’s friend follows the waif and directs her to a milliner where she begins a successful career. Trouble begins when the rich chick’s boyfriend happens by and re-sparks the attraction. Things lead to other things and waif winds up preggers as the guy is heading off to WW I. Rich chick, never the most stable, deteriorates on news of her boyfriend’s demise, then recovers somewhat when news of his death proves premature. But she has been deteriorating for a while now and when her friend informs her that her (now) husband has a child with the waif, it is too much. She snaps in a startling ending.
This is a short book, a very quick read, but very engaging and satisfying despite its brevity. One shortcoming for me was that the author floats so high above the characters. Also, the mystery of the waif prevented me from identifying too much. I was always wondering if she was at root a baddie. Also, and this is not a criticism but an observation, all the action in the book is external. It is as if it had been written primarily as a screenplay rather than a novel.
This is a short book, a very quick read, but very engaging and satisfying despite its brevity. One shortcoming for me was that the author floats so high above the characters. Also, the mystery of the waif prevented me from identifying too much. I was always wondering if she was at root a baddie. Also, and this is not a criticism but an observation, all the action in the book is external. It is as if it had been written primarily as a screenplay rather than a novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2016
I actually really enjoyed this book even though it was a little predictable and I had a sense of deja vu at the end (I really felt that either I had read it before or had seen it played out in a movie, I'm not sure which). I didn't feel those aspects took away from the story. It's a very short novel that's based on a short story and circles around a love triangle. It explores societal values in the early 1900s and discusses, to a point, the effect WWI has on New York City society. The prose is sparse, but it works well at conveying the action and sentiment of the novel. I appreciated the light detail and how quickly the story progressed. It was also intriguing that Ephron included some atypical relationships, especially for that time period. I would recommend this to someone who likes historical fiction and also appreciates a book that makes you think about and consider the motivations/drives of the characters.
June 15, 2023
Stars: 5 / 5
Recommendation: Who would have guessed that a single cup of tea could create a hurricane in the lives of three people - unexpected charity leads to forbidden attraction to shameless adultery to simple bigamy to mindless murder. Wonderful period detail about the 1920s New York City and the uncertainty of World War I creeps into this plot.
A Cup of Tea: A Novel of 1917 is a seductive romance novel by Amy Ephron first published on July 23, 1997. The story is set in New York City during the World War I and tells a tale of two women - Rosemary Fell and Eleanor Smith - who pursue the same man - Philip Alsop, Rosemary's fiancé.
This novel is inspired by the 1992 short story A Cup of Tea by Katherine Mansfield. Ephron uses the same key characters and the basic plot from the original story. Ephron acknowledges the same in the opening page of the book.
I have been going to Afternoon Teas with a few of my friends for a few years now. We as a group love to venture and find new places to enjoy this age-old British custom of afternoon tea. Naturally when one of my friends who champions these afternoon tea sojourns lent me this book I had to read it. Although there was no Afternoon Tea experience in the plot.
Recently I happen to go to this pretty tea room with my friends which came at an appropriate time when I finished reading this book. Look at the feast we had.
Rosemary and Eleanor are very different by not just virtue of their birth, but also circumstances, character and perspective towards one's life situations. Rosemary comes off as haughty and superior of wealth although she is sweet, charming and benevolent per her whim. She has a very narrow view of perspective, where she feels she want to help only to make it an adventurous and fantastic tale to tell her friends. Even feel superior about helping someone in need. However, her character evolves a little in the middle of the plot, but basically she is snobbish with a limited capacity to think of others.
Eleanor on the other hand is shy and innocent looking at the same time there is something about her that says she is not as pure as she projects. She is strong-willed and definitely knows how to protect herself. Yet, she falls for the failure of her heart causing a rift in so many ways - among people, among her own ethics and a fight within herself. She is an enigma all through the book except for a brief look into her past. She largely left to reader's imagination on how they want to perceive her.
Philip, the object of these two women's affection, on the other hand has seen the world from both of their perspectives. Growing up poor, he had worked hard to build an empire in contrast to Rosemary's upbringing as an upper social elite. With his two different backgrounds between childhood and adult life, its no wonder he was attracted to the forbidden. He should have been man enough to make the right decision before toying with the lives of three people.
The story goes beyond the original short story by Katherine Mansfield. The first few chapters are from the original, everything after is Ephron's imagination. Although Ephron brings in the last dialogue of the original story ("Am I Pretty?") into the middle of this story.
A tale that begins with a simple cup of tea takes us though the uncertain days of World War I, period detail about the 1920s New York City. Within the plot Ephron manages to weave in the gay and lesbian society that is hidden and forbidden for that time period. She also briefly indicates the impacts of war and being shellshock that leads to PTSD in soldiers.
She brings forth the social differences between women breaking down. One can see that the bubble of life that Rosemary built will no longer be the same with the likes of Dora and Eleanor encroaching it. Ephron puts in bits and pieces of duty and honor in the mix, but they get clouded with the selfish act of kindness and affairs of the heart.
I cant help buy pity for Rosemary despite her faulty view of world or her superior feeling. A small act of kindness leads to a travesty in her life. Eleanor and Philip are projected the better people, but in the end we see that they are not as superior as Rosemary either. In fact may be a little more inferior.
Author Ephron has a reader's guide at the end of the book that forms sort of an interview. Also she included "Reading Group Questions and Topics for Discussion" with thought provoking points to ponder upon.
Who would have guessed that a single cup of tea could create a hurricane in the lives of three people - unexpected charity leads to forbidden attraction to shameless adultery to simple bigamy to mindless murder. Wonderful period detail about the 1920s New York City and the uncertainty of World War I creeps into this plot.
Spoiler Alerts:
1. Book Trivia and Plot Reveals:
a. Characters in the plot: Mr. Rhenquist, antique shop owner; Gertrude, Rosemary's housekeeper; Jane Howard, Rosemary's best friend; Josie Kennedy, Eleanor's neighbor at the boarding house; Henry Fell, Rosemary's father; Dora, the proprietress of the hat shop; Jimmy Donahue, Josie's boy friend and co-actor; Robert Doyle, producer of Josie's shows.
b. Jane and Dora are lovers, a lesbian concept that was forbidden.
c. Robert Doyle is fascinated by Eleanor and her child, Tess (father: Philip), yet Eleanor doesn’t marry him.
2. Grammatical / Character / Plot / Geographical / Historical / Mythological Errors:
a. On Pg. 21, when Eleanor fist meets Philip for the first time, the author doesn’t show any interaction between them other than each looking at each other. When introduced Eleanor doesn’t speak either, just looks. However, On Pg. 59 when Philip meets her at the hat shop he recognizes her by her voice and not by her looks. How did he recognize her voice when he hadn't heard her speak during the first meeting?
b. On Pg. 182, Line 2, it should be "…Have I been…"
Recommendation: Who would have guessed that a single cup of tea could create a hurricane in the lives of three people - unexpected charity leads to forbidden attraction to shameless adultery to simple bigamy to mindless murder. Wonderful period detail about the 1920s New York City and the uncertainty of World War I creeps into this plot.
A Cup of Tea: A Novel of 1917 is a seductive romance novel by Amy Ephron first published on July 23, 1997. The story is set in New York City during the World War I and tells a tale of two women - Rosemary Fell and Eleanor Smith - who pursue the same man - Philip Alsop, Rosemary's fiancé.
This novel is inspired by the 1992 short story A Cup of Tea by Katherine Mansfield. Ephron uses the same key characters and the basic plot from the original story. Ephron acknowledges the same in the opening page of the book.
I have been going to Afternoon Teas with a few of my friends for a few years now. We as a group love to venture and find new places to enjoy this age-old British custom of afternoon tea. Naturally when one of my friends who champions these afternoon tea sojourns lent me this book I had to read it. Although there was no Afternoon Tea experience in the plot.
Recently I happen to go to this pretty tea room with my friends which came at an appropriate time when I finished reading this book. Look at the feast we had.
Rosemary and Eleanor are very different by not just virtue of their birth, but also circumstances, character and perspective towards one's life situations. Rosemary comes off as haughty and superior of wealth although she is sweet, charming and benevolent per her whim. She has a very narrow view of perspective, where she feels she want to help only to make it an adventurous and fantastic tale to tell her friends. Even feel superior about helping someone in need. However, her character evolves a little in the middle of the plot, but basically she is snobbish with a limited capacity to think of others.
Eleanor on the other hand is shy and innocent looking at the same time there is something about her that says she is not as pure as she projects. She is strong-willed and definitely knows how to protect herself. Yet, she falls for the failure of her heart causing a rift in so many ways - among people, among her own ethics and a fight within herself. She is an enigma all through the book except for a brief look into her past. She largely left to reader's imagination on how they want to perceive her.
Philip, the object of these two women's affection, on the other hand has seen the world from both of their perspectives. Growing up poor, he had worked hard to build an empire in contrast to Rosemary's upbringing as an upper social elite. With his two different backgrounds between childhood and adult life, its no wonder he was attracted to the forbidden. He should have been man enough to make the right decision before toying with the lives of three people.
The story goes beyond the original short story by Katherine Mansfield. The first few chapters are from the original, everything after is Ephron's imagination. Although Ephron brings in the last dialogue of the original story ("Am I Pretty?") into the middle of this story.
A tale that begins with a simple cup of tea takes us though the uncertain days of World War I, period detail about the 1920s New York City. Within the plot Ephron manages to weave in the gay and lesbian society that is hidden and forbidden for that time period. She also briefly indicates the impacts of war and being shellshock that leads to PTSD in soldiers.
She brings forth the social differences between women breaking down. One can see that the bubble of life that Rosemary built will no longer be the same with the likes of Dora and Eleanor encroaching it. Ephron puts in bits and pieces of duty and honor in the mix, but they get clouded with the selfish act of kindness and affairs of the heart.
I cant help buy pity for Rosemary despite her faulty view of world or her superior feeling. A small act of kindness leads to a travesty in her life. Eleanor and Philip are projected the better people, but in the end we see that they are not as superior as Rosemary either. In fact may be a little more inferior.
Author Ephron has a reader's guide at the end of the book that forms sort of an interview. Also she included "Reading Group Questions and Topics for Discussion" with thought provoking points to ponder upon.
Who would have guessed that a single cup of tea could create a hurricane in the lives of three people - unexpected charity leads to forbidden attraction to shameless adultery to simple bigamy to mindless murder. Wonderful period detail about the 1920s New York City and the uncertainty of World War I creeps into this plot.
Spoiler Alerts:
1. Book Trivia and Plot Reveals:
a. Characters in the plot: Mr. Rhenquist, antique shop owner; Gertrude, Rosemary's housekeeper; Jane Howard, Rosemary's best friend; Josie Kennedy, Eleanor's neighbor at the boarding house; Henry Fell, Rosemary's father; Dora, the proprietress of the hat shop; Jimmy Donahue, Josie's boy friend and co-actor; Robert Doyle, producer of Josie's shows.
b. Jane and Dora are lovers, a lesbian concept that was forbidden.
c. Robert Doyle is fascinated by Eleanor and her child, Tess (father: Philip), yet Eleanor doesn’t marry him.
2. Grammatical / Character / Plot / Geographical / Historical / Mythological Errors:
a. On Pg. 21, when Eleanor fist meets Philip for the first time, the author doesn’t show any interaction between them other than each looking at each other. When introduced Eleanor doesn’t speak either, just looks. However, On Pg. 59 when Philip meets her at the hat shop he recognizes her by her voice and not by her looks. How did he recognize her voice when he hadn't heard her speak during the first meeting?
b. On Pg. 182, Line 2, it should be "…Have I been…"
December 30, 2018
I really like this author. I'm rereading her books for the book club I organize at BPL. I just re-read three others. I'll update those too.
November 9, 2009
Despite all the bad reviews on GR, I liked this book. Extremely unexpected ending that was so surprising, when I finished it on the train, I actually gasped aloud. I liked the story; one negative would be that I didn't think it was very well written. Ms. Ephron ended quite a few sentences with prepositions which is a huge pet peeve of mine. Overall, worth the 2 hours or less it will take you to read it!
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