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Alexandra Chronicles #2
West End
The riveting, glamorous story of a young anchorwoman in the roaring Reagan years. (A sequel to Van Wormer’s first novel, Riverside Drive.)
In the first scene, Alexandra Waring makes headlines when a deranged admirer fires a gun at her while she’s reporting on the air. This violent act foreshadows her tempestuous rise in the world of television , wooed away from her network by Jackson Darenbrook—a dashing, womanizing , Southern media mogul— who is determined to use Waring’s drive, talent and magnetism to redesign television news. Darenbrook also recruits other major talents to launch an entire alternative crack executive Cassy Cochran, certainly the most beautiful off-camera woman in television; Jessica Wright, the fiery auburn-haired talk-show host extraordinaire, whose personal life is even more sensational than her show; and gifted miniseries producer Gordon Strenn, the young and handsome man the network is counting on to marry Alexandra.
But Alexandra Waring is not easily packaged for public consumption and her secrets, and her desires, can possibly bring down the whole endeavor.
Reviews
Kathleen Beckett, Harper’s Bazaar
Alexandra Waring is too good to be true. She has the well-bred good looks of Diane Sawyer, the sharp mind of Connie Chung, the cool professionalism of Mary Alice Williams—and the off-screen traumas of the late Jessica Savitch… The superstar news anchor of the Darenbrook Broadcasting System appears to enjoy the best of the respect of her colleagues, the adoration of her audience, great clothes, a great lover and an even greater apartment. But there’s trouble in paradise, for America’s darling of the airwaves has a secret. Alexandra Waring likes women.
USA Today
The top TV news ranks today are packed with outstanding women, so, naturally, a novel has come along that dissects their world the way Jack Collins carves up Hollywood… Sensation aside, West End has a solid grounding in TV’s high-tech and low-office politics.
Susan Toepfer, People
Everybody gets suitable paired off in the end, and the reader has learned a great deal about the television news business. Why, Connie and Leslie and Barbara are probably dulling up with this one right now!
Irma S. Mirante , Cranford Chronicle
“West End” has been called a “fat fall read”—your reviewer calls it an utterly engrossing must-read.”
In the first scene, Alexandra Waring makes headlines when a deranged admirer fires a gun at her while she’s reporting on the air. This violent act foreshadows her tempestuous rise in the world of television , wooed away from her network by Jackson Darenbrook—a dashing, womanizing , Southern media mogul— who is determined to use Waring’s drive, talent and magnetism to redesign television news. Darenbrook also recruits other major talents to launch an entire alternative crack executive Cassy Cochran, certainly the most beautiful off-camera woman in television; Jessica Wright, the fiery auburn-haired talk-show host extraordinaire, whose personal life is even more sensational than her show; and gifted miniseries producer Gordon Strenn, the young and handsome man the network is counting on to marry Alexandra.
But Alexandra Waring is not easily packaged for public consumption and her secrets, and her desires, can possibly bring down the whole endeavor.
Reviews
Kathleen Beckett, Harper’s Bazaar
Alexandra Waring is too good to be true. She has the well-bred good looks of Diane Sawyer, the sharp mind of Connie Chung, the cool professionalism of Mary Alice Williams—and the off-screen traumas of the late Jessica Savitch… The superstar news anchor of the Darenbrook Broadcasting System appears to enjoy the best of the respect of her colleagues, the adoration of her audience, great clothes, a great lover and an even greater apartment. But there’s trouble in paradise, for America’s darling of the airwaves has a secret. Alexandra Waring likes women.
USA Today
The top TV news ranks today are packed with outstanding women, so, naturally, a novel has come along that dissects their world the way Jack Collins carves up Hollywood… Sensation aside, West End has a solid grounding in TV’s high-tech and low-office politics.
Susan Toepfer, People
Everybody gets suitable paired off in the end, and the reader has learned a great deal about the television news business. Why, Connie and Leslie and Barbara are probably dulling up with this one right now!
Irma S. Mirante , Cranford Chronicle
“West End” has been called a “fat fall read”—your reviewer calls it an utterly engrossing must-read.”
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1989
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About the author
Laura Van Wormer
38 books22 followersLaura Van Wormer grew up in Darien, Connecticut, graduated from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, and has spent most of her adult life working in publishing. She is the author of eleven previous novels. The Kill Fee is the fifth in the Sally Harrington series, although some of the characters - most notably the group at DBS News - are in her earlier novels Riverside Drive, West End, Any Given Moment and Talk.
Laura divides her time between Manhattan and Meriden, Connecticut.
Laura divides her time between Manhattan and Meriden, Connecticut.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 17, 2012
One of my favorite things about Laura Van Wormer's books is that if you find a character you enjoy, you're likely to find this character in other books of hers as well.
That gives the reader a real sense that the world that Laura Van Wormer has created for her characters is real. And it's true, she's created a very believable, multi-layered universe to place all her characters in. Across all her books, the characters share friendships and events, casual and otherwise.
One of my favorites of all the Van Wormer books is "West End".
"West End" is an excellent story, centered mainly on the interesting world of network news; told very much from the inside prospective of a core group of characters.
We are presented with newscaster Alexandra Waring, talk show host Jessica Wright and Executive Producer Cassy Cochran.
As with most of the Van Wormer books, the storylines are almost always female character driven, and "West End" is no different.
On a bright note - this is a good thing, as Van Wormer seems gifted with the ability to give three strong female characters very distinct, yet different, voices.
"West End" is a favorite of mine solely for the fact that it features the wonderfully enigmatic newswoman Alexandra Waring. Alexandra is the most complex character that Van Wormer has created, in my humble opinion. Alexandra is a wonderful amalgam of professional perfection and personal turmoil. She's got a history and it's not one she's often comfortable with.
Alexandra is a complex character and Van Wormer has captured her energy, pain and emotional life perfectly. She is a flawed heroine which, as it does here, means a more interesting character to read about.
The most compelling reason to buy any book is it's entertainment value and this book delivers. The story is complex, the characters fun and interesting to get to know.
I don't want to give away any of the plot twists or turns but suffice to say that I recommend this book.
Be warned though, once you get a glimpse into the world of Alexandra and her friends, you'll want to know them better, and follow their lives. Thankfully, Laura Van Wormer has written the follow-up books that allow you to do so.
Note, however, that all the books Laura Van Wormer has written are not identical. Not in the least. Some are simply great stories, and more recently, she's brought her world of characters into the realm of sophisticated mysteries.
I'd suggest starting with the first published Van Wormer book, which I believe is "Riverside Drive" (several characters that appear in "West End" are first mentioned in "Riverside Drive" ) and just settling in.
She's written 10 books as of November 2001, so you do have some catching up to do.
However, if you become enamoured with Alexandra Waring, you'll want to start with "West End" and be properly introduced to this wonderfully complex character.
I will be adding reviews of the other Van Wormer books in the future, speaking specifically to Alexandra's appearance in them. Should you find Alexandra and Jessica so very engaging ( as I do ), your next purchase after "West End" should be "Talk".
To the Alexandra specific fan - A major event in Alexandra's life is dealt with beautifully in "Any Given Moment".
That gives the reader a real sense that the world that Laura Van Wormer has created for her characters is real. And it's true, she's created a very believable, multi-layered universe to place all her characters in. Across all her books, the characters share friendships and events, casual and otherwise.
One of my favorites of all the Van Wormer books is "West End".
"West End" is an excellent story, centered mainly on the interesting world of network news; told very much from the inside prospective of a core group of characters.
We are presented with newscaster Alexandra Waring, talk show host Jessica Wright and Executive Producer Cassy Cochran.
As with most of the Van Wormer books, the storylines are almost always female character driven, and "West End" is no different.
On a bright note - this is a good thing, as Van Wormer seems gifted with the ability to give three strong female characters very distinct, yet different, voices.
"West End" is a favorite of mine solely for the fact that it features the wonderfully enigmatic newswoman Alexandra Waring. Alexandra is the most complex character that Van Wormer has created, in my humble opinion. Alexandra is a wonderful amalgam of professional perfection and personal turmoil. She's got a history and it's not one she's often comfortable with.
Alexandra is a complex character and Van Wormer has captured her energy, pain and emotional life perfectly. She is a flawed heroine which, as it does here, means a more interesting character to read about.
The most compelling reason to buy any book is it's entertainment value and this book delivers. The story is complex, the characters fun and interesting to get to know.
I don't want to give away any of the plot twists or turns but suffice to say that I recommend this book.
Be warned though, once you get a glimpse into the world of Alexandra and her friends, you'll want to know them better, and follow their lives. Thankfully, Laura Van Wormer has written the follow-up books that allow you to do so.
Note, however, that all the books Laura Van Wormer has written are not identical. Not in the least. Some are simply great stories, and more recently, she's brought her world of characters into the realm of sophisticated mysteries.
I'd suggest starting with the first published Van Wormer book, which I believe is "Riverside Drive" (several characters that appear in "West End" are first mentioned in "Riverside Drive" ) and just settling in.
She's written 10 books as of November 2001, so you do have some catching up to do.
However, if you become enamoured with Alexandra Waring, you'll want to start with "West End" and be properly introduced to this wonderfully complex character.
I will be adding reviews of the other Van Wormer books in the future, speaking specifically to Alexandra's appearance in them. Should you find Alexandra and Jessica so very engaging ( as I do ), your next purchase after "West End" should be "Talk".
To the Alexandra specific fan - A major event in Alexandra's life is dealt with beautifully in "Any Given Moment".
October 6, 2009
I don't know if this was horrible because it was an abridged version or if it just sucked. If you don't have an interest in television broadcast news, I would skip this one. Too many characters, too many money issues (embezzlement and misappropriation of funds) which just tend to confuse the storyline. The abridged version read like a newspaper article of the stock market - seemed disjointed and rushed.
I've enjoyed Laura Van Wormer mysteries but this was too rushed and the ending too pat (again could be due to the abridgement as I don't think they did a stellular job of it.) Believe me if you're gonna read this, get the unabridged version otherwise you'll be wasting your time.
I've enjoyed Laura Van Wormer mysteries but this was too rushed and the ending too pat (again could be due to the abridgement as I don't think they did a stellular job of it.) Believe me if you're gonna read this, get the unabridged version otherwise you'll be wasting your time.
November 16, 2014
I read this book years ago in its original form "West End" and followed Alexandra through her hit and miss appearances in the rest of Ms. Van Wormer's efforts. When I saw she had "revised" West End to more appropriately reflect her intent, I was hopeful. After reading the result I was not. She should have either completely rewritten West End or left well enough alone.
March 11, 2011
Even more thrilling than Riverside Drive. I think I'm reading Laura Van Wormer 10 years late, but definitely a great find
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews