One Sunday Morning

by Amy Ephron

Amy Ephron navigates the social contradictions of New York society, a world in which freedom was celebrated even while Prohibition and the strictest social conventions were in force. She brings to life this time and place through the stories of five socialites whose lives are irrevocably changed because of gossip, indiscretion, secrets, and betrayal.

Four women at a bridge party in the elegant Gramercy Park Hotel see a beautiful young woman, whom they all know, leaving a nearby hotel with a man who is not her husband. The sight of twenty-year-old Lizzie Carswell with Billy Holmes is shocking and potentially ruinous, and though they do not know the whole story and despite their mutual promise to keep what they've seen to themselves, it is only a matter of time before one of them talks -- with heartbreaking consequences for them all.

One Sunday Morning is a drama of the strictures of polite society tragically coming to conflict with the liberated spirit of the Jazz Age. With all the romance of Gatsby's New York and the seduction of Josephine Baker's Paris, Ephron's tale is compelling all the way to its surprising and satisfying ending.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Adult Fiction, Historical, Modern, Literary Fiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Anne (Booklady) Molinarolo · Rating 1 out of 5]

‘“She never did understand what it meant to be proper” said Betsy Owen as she turned away from the window in a sweeping motion as though her skirt alone propelled her across the floor. And, there it was, in that one understated sentence, an indictment of all that Lizzie Carswell had ever hoped to be and an acknowledgement that there was a story behind the seemingly innocent act they had all witnessed.’

Perhaps if the story centered on answering numerous questions, rather than NYC gossip of four young women prior to going to Paris to continue speculation of Billy Holmes and Lizzie Carswell during the height of the Jazz Era in 1926, ONE SUNDAY MORNING may have been an enjoyable novel. But Amy Ephron tried too hard to marry Edith Wharton and Jay Gatsby. The end result was a horrid, but quick read. Mary got exactly what she deserved. Iris, so judgmental, behaved her character’s polar opposite. And Betsy approved Geoffrey’s behavior toward Mary and Lizzie, though she decreed that Lizzie doesn’t understand what it meant to be proper.

We readers get a cheap patchwork of a couple of plotlines and characters who are not well defined. We are also left with many questions. Is Billy Holmes a drunk, drug addict and homosexual? Why would Clara marry him if he was any of three? What really happened that Saturday night prior to the ladies sight of Holmes and Lizzie coming out the Gramercy Park Hotel? Why take the story to Paris? Unfortunately Amy Ephron never answers these questions to this reader’s satisfaction; she just ends the book with the same passage she opened the small novel.

[Debbie Robson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amy Ephron has done it again! Just as in "A Cup of Tea" - set during World War I - she has written a short but exquisitely crafted novel. This time the setting is the elusive Twenties. Characters flit in and out. They have the time and money to stay out half the night at nightclubs. Most of them don’t work. There is the inconvenience of Prohibition, there is gossip but more than anything else there is Paris, beckoning across the ocean.

In "One Sunday Morning" gossip sets everything in motion. When Lizzie Carswell is seen leaving the Gramercy Park Hotel with a man early Sunday morning wearing the clothes she had on the night before....well, the inevitable happens. Word spreads and lives change after that morning.
Ephron cleverly distils the mores of the times, sometimes in a few short sentences. Such as:

"Mark Tarkenton was standing next to one of the large pillars in the corner of the lobby speaking to Mrs. Renfrew, and was that Iris Ogleby's mother by their side? The moment they saw her, they stopped talking. Lizzie smiled and got no acknowledgement in return. She wondered if this was what it was like to be cut, then?"

The fashion, the temperaments, the lifestyles are all cleverly portrayed. My only criticsm is that I wished the novel could have been longer. I’m hoping Ephron has plans to write a novel for each decade. I would happily read each one.

[Sewlyfluff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend recommended 'A Cup of Tea' to me - and once I read it I wanted to read more by Ephton. While her books can be hard to find (particularly in the library) I'm glad I picked this one up. It is a timeless period piece that brings you into the world of the 1920's and explores how gossip and broken promises can lead you astray.

I love the way Ephron writes and dives into the characters minds and thoughts and perfectly captures the time period and allows you to feel as if you are there.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Sunday Morning is a delightful novel. Ephron's writing is is magical. She moves the story along, without rushing. Ephron's prose keeps a rythmic balance and flow throughout. I kept turning the pages, devouring the characters and setting along the way. The last paragraph of the book was a bit dissapointing, considering how tight the rest of it was. It threw in an unexpected turn, that was unnecessary and brought down the rest of the book.

All in all, I loved the book. I tried to stretch One Sunday Morning out as long as I could, but it really is the perfect length to read in one sitting. I even loved the physical qualities of the book. The paper has texture and rough edges and adds to the experience and the pages are more square than rectangular.

[Faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a perfect little read. This book brings new meaning to the phrase "to come full circle" and I loved the ending. I think it reflects the interesting way that writers often observe the world, and I found myself oddly similar to the character of Mary Nell. She manages to observe the little details and nuances in the lives of others but misses the glaringly obvious in her own life. She misses opprotunities because she is a classic overthinker. While shocked in the end, she is not devistated which I love. She simply evaluates it all, internalizes it and uses it to her advantage. The other characters are also remarkably rich for a novela.

[Jaime · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not sure what the point of this was, other than to serve as a snapshot of 1920s New York society. It wasn’t *bad*, there just wasn’t a lot to it. It felt more like a short story than a novel, and the line in the synopsis, "with heartbreaking consequences for all" ends up looking a little overwrought. It didn’t seem like anyone’s heart was particularly broken at the end of the story. I’d say that this author just isn’t my cup of tea.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the criticism of the brevity of this book, I really enjoyed it. As someone who loves reading about this era in history (1920s America and Europe), it's rare to find a book that is actually written in similar prose as novels that were published back then. (I had to remind myself several times that One Sunday Morning was actually written only 8 years ago.) Ephron pays beautiful homage to Wharton, Fitzgerald, even Hemingway, with her lovely writing.

[Sherrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is what I call a "goodnight" book -- the one I keep on my bedside table to read just before falling asleep. Or let's say something to put me to sleep, a little bit of fluff. Nothing substantial here. A very short book with a somewhat shallow story line. But I like the time period, I like the mix of characters, and as I said, it's good to fall asleep with.

[Leslie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an ok story: a fairly quick & light read and a page-turner, just because I wanted to find out what happened with Lizzie & Billy. But the ending really didn't answer that. I had a lot of questions at the end and found that frustrating. but it was a nice break from the other serious books I've been reading.

[KayDee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four women at a Sunday morning bridge party see an acquaintance emerging from the Gramercy Park hotel on the arm of a gentleman they all know named Billy Holmes. It may be the Jazz Age where anything goes, but Although they do not know the whole story, at least one of them begins spreading rumors with tragic results.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an elegant, well written little book. The setting is New York City during the Jazz Age. The author tells the story of a group of young women who hold the reader's interest until the surprising ending.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading A Cup of Tea by Amy Ephron, I was really looking forward to reading this book. However, I was rudely disappointed. The characters, the story... nothing was really working for me with this book.

[1950s PinUp · Rating 1 out of 5]

So, completely disappointed. I kept reading it thinking it would get a whole lot better and it never did. I love the the 1920s era and I was expecting to sit down and read an exciting book - this wasn't it. Don't waste your time.

[Marian Beaman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amy Ephron’s novelette, One Sunday Morning, is a period piece from the 1920s in which four young New York society women spot another member of their circle leaving a hotel with another woman's fiancé. The plot spins out from there and finally lands in Paris with a main character’s not-so-unpredictable discovery.

With its short chapters and just enough suspense to titillate a reader with time on her hands, I can imagine this books being published as a serial in The Ladies Home Journal.

If light mystery is your preference, the Jazz-Age fashionistas of Gramercy Park, New York City may be your Cup of Tea, actually the title of another one of Ephron’s novels. I found the book not fully engrossing or satisfying, much preferring her sister Norah’s prose.

[Abby Ozrovitz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok you know that episode in sex and the city where Charlotte gets mad a Samantha for talking explicitly about sex so she goes to hang out with her old college friends but when she brings up how Trey can’t get hard and all of Charlotte’s college friends act so shocked and disturbed, this book is about those college friends. Like the women in this book are so gossipy with each other but when it comes to relationships they’re like “oh don’t speak that way” or “we shouldn’t be discussing this” and I get it this is supposed to be set in the 20s but like y’all are too prudish for my taste. The book was fine but just scattered honestly.

[Bev Hitchins · Rating 5 out of 5]

From my perspective the early 20th century is a charming time period. Amy Ephron's short novel captures the mood and tone of the times. Her chapters are short, yet they reveal a slowly cascading series of events and personalities. I found the characters complex as she weaves her plot with simplicity. The story is based on one New York socialite's statement about a woman who isn't part of her circle, "She never did understand what it meant to be proper." In her gentle way, Ephron compels you to know the true story.

[Jules · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my second book by Amy Ephron. It read quickly and very enjoyably. Her novels feel similar to Edith Wharton as they deal with similar subjects. Though this book was very enjoyable it is not on par with any of Edith Wharton's novels.

At its heart the novel deals with social morals of a particular period through the women characters. My interest was definitely held through the breezy read, but there is a lack of substance felt once the book is completed.

[Sadie Owen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay. It was a quick read and I was immersed enough to read the majority of it in one sitting. But it kinda fell flat for me.
For one thing, the timeline was unclear and the events felt very random. Not to mention, the main plot of the book was allegedly supposed to be about Lizzie being seen with Billy, but that didn’t feel like it was very prominent in the book. It followed the other characters and other events more than the whole Lizzie situation.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable and easy, but with some weird quirks that weren't clearly intentional or accidental. The handful of (inconsequential but still annoying) historical inaccuracies make me think they weren't purposeful. It felt like it could have been a great book if there had been a really talented editor involved.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read some really great books of short stories this year( Friday Black), so this slight novel was quite a disappointment. A great writer can establish place, character, and time with very little. And please--just because an author has characters that are gossipy and rich, that doesn't make her Edith Wharton.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Purchased at WPL Sale - Small, short book, very interesting, well written about an interesting time in history. Interesting contrast of perception, scandal and love in society during the time of Gatsby.

[Wiebke Kuhn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read about young women trying to figure out the world around them and having to discover that people are not always honest -- and all of this set in 1926 New York and Paris. If anything, the book shows how nothing has changed.

[Alisa Larsen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing special. Fine, somewhat entertaining, but I don't feel the need to ever read it again. I also felt like most of the important questions were never even answered, so that was annoying. It just wasn't a complete story for me.

[Susan Liston · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn't terrible, but seemed a bit pointless overall. Very little plot, no memorable characters or moments. An in one ear and out the other sort of book.

[Angela Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book. Read it in two separate night staying up way to late, or I guess early, to read. Just felt like it ended like a short story and didn’t truly have an ending.

[Claudia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just wasn't my type. Dull and didn't make sense.

[Amber Hastcoat · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very quick and easy read. A simple story of the lives of a group of young women in prohibition era New York. It wasn’t a strongly compelling story but it was light and simple.

[phoela˚｡⋆࣪ ִֶָ☾ · Rating 2 out of 5]

what is this book

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story.

[Brianne Ehmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the storyline and the characters - wanted to know so much more about each of them. Someone else wrote it is more like a short story than a novel and that resonates.