What do you think?
Rate this book
The Ups and Downs of Miss Margaret Landings
It is June 1955, and Miss Margaret Landings returns to Ohio to discover that hiding her past is impossible in a “small town’s entwined life.” Nearly thirty and unmarried, Miss Landings finds she can no longer hide behind her clandestine dress-up moments as Bette Davis, nor can she deny a smoldering passion for her boss John Graham, avoid “The Very Big Secret” that drove away her ex-beau Howard or use the author pseudonym that becomes her undoing. She fancies herself as a writer but takes the only job available—as elevator operator in the town’s only department store. Each time the elevator doors close, the hidden stage where lives – and lies – unravel, Miss Margaret Landings comes closer to the truth about herself. As familiar a story in the 1950s as it is for women today, this intimate journey of self-discovery is a page-turner of suspense, humor and poignancy from the opening unveiling of secrets to the final shocking revelation. And that’s no lie, because nothing stays secret forever.
Show more
Show less
Show more
Show less
256 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2013
156 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 24, 2013
I liked this book and would recommend it. Albaugh takes her reader back to the innocent time of small town America in the 1950’s. The ease of these genteel times is well balanced with the blind ignorance and intolerance we’d all like to forget. Her characters, setting and story bring Liberty, Ohio and Margaret’s story to life. Ms. Albaugh is a talented author and I hope to see more from her.
April 17, 2023
I no longer remember how I came across this book, but I am glad I did.
Margaret Landings is a young woman who left small town Ohio in the 1950's to forge a life for herself in large town Pittsburgh. She returns home to care for her ill, widowed mother. Margaret has big secrets and a bit of uncertainty about leaving the anonymity of Pittsburgh behind.
I particularly enjoyed the first portion of the book. Margaret, who aspires to be a writer, takes a job as an elevator operator for a department store. She uses the opportunity to observe the riders and create storylines and characters.
As the story develops, so does Margaret, while facing multiple challenges. The author, Ms. Albaugh, does not take any shortcuts in Margaret's development, which I appreciated. Although this is not a long book, the author doesn't rush through any of the conflicts the protagonist faces. I feel this book lends itself to a sequel so readers can further experience what life has in store for Margaret.
There were a few plot elements that were a little hard to believe, but overall I thought this was a well-done book.
I also enjoyed the details of the era that the author provides. For example, the cable that cars would drive over at service stations which emitted a bell-like sound to alert attendants of a customer. In these days of self-service, I had almost forgotten about those cables, and it was a fun reminder of some long-gone details of the past.
A strong debut. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Margaret Landings is a young woman who left small town Ohio in the 1950's to forge a life for herself in large town Pittsburgh. She returns home to care for her ill, widowed mother. Margaret has big secrets and a bit of uncertainty about leaving the anonymity of Pittsburgh behind.
I particularly enjoyed the first portion of the book. Margaret, who aspires to be a writer, takes a job as an elevator operator for a department store. She uses the opportunity to observe the riders and create storylines and characters.
As the story develops, so does Margaret, while facing multiple challenges. The author, Ms. Albaugh, does not take any shortcuts in Margaret's development, which I appreciated. Although this is not a long book, the author doesn't rush through any of the conflicts the protagonist faces. I feel this book lends itself to a sequel so readers can further experience what life has in store for Margaret.
There were a few plot elements that were a little hard to believe, but overall I thought this was a well-done book.
I also enjoyed the details of the era that the author provides. For example, the cable that cars would drive over at service stations which emitted a bell-like sound to alert attendants of a customer. In these days of self-service, I had almost forgotten about those cables, and it was a fun reminder of some long-gone details of the past.
A strong debut. I look forward to reading more from this author.
August 11, 2013
Being an unmarried "thirty-something" was not what a young woman wished for herself in the 1950s. Nor was giving up her much-loved job in the big city to return home to small town judgement and care for her ailing mother. Whether Margaret finds trouble or trouble finds Margaret, there is always a new drama in her life. Gossip abounds and Margaret is looking to avoid being the subject, but finds herself in the whirlwind of its temptation.
The Ups and Downs of Miss Margaret Landings is a charming, easy read. The use of language is delightful. I particularly enjoyed the "pearls of wisdom" sprinkled throughout the book guiding Margaret on her path. The most notable for me came from Margaret's mother... "A mother's job is not to make her children happy, it is to prepare them to live their life."
A truly enjoyable book. I look forward to the next novel to follow Margaret on her journey through life.
The Ups and Downs of Miss Margaret Landings is a charming, easy read. The use of language is delightful. I particularly enjoyed the "pearls of wisdom" sprinkled throughout the book guiding Margaret on her path. The most notable for me came from Margaret's mother... "A mother's job is not to make her children happy, it is to prepare them to live their life."
A truly enjoyable book. I look forward to the next novel to follow Margaret on her journey through life.
August 25, 2013
I won this book as a FirstRead.
After receiving a phone call from her mother's pastor, Margaret Landings gives up her job as assistant to a magazine editor in Pittsburgh to move back home to Liberty, Ohio to be with her ailing mother. In Liberty, women are not hired to work for the newspaper, other than as secretaries, and the only job she can find is as the elevator operator for the town's department store.
Margaret Landings is far from a perfect person, but she does grow throughout the book. I enjoyed reading about the situations she got herself into!
After receiving a phone call from her mother's pastor, Margaret Landings gives up her job as assistant to a magazine editor in Pittsburgh to move back home to Liberty, Ohio to be with her ailing mother. In Liberty, women are not hired to work for the newspaper, other than as secretaries, and the only job she can find is as the elevator operator for the town's department store.
Margaret Landings is far from a perfect person, but she does grow throughout the book. I enjoyed reading about the situations she got herself into!
December 11, 2013
This is a great read from cover to cover. Just when you think you have things figured out, the author adds another plot twist. This is a well-written, thoughtfully developed novel that brings a lot of emotion to the page. An exceptional debut novel and I look forward to the next book about Margaret Landings. I find myself missing her already after having finished the book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews