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When Franny Stands Up
Nothing is more dangerous than a woman with a showstopping joke.
Franny Steinberg knows there's powerful magic in laughter. She's witnessed it. With the men of Chicago off fighting WWII on distant shores, Franny has watched the women of the city taking charge of the war effort. But amidst the war bond sales and factory shifts, something surprising has emerged, something Franny could never have expected. A new marvel that has women flocking to comedy clubs across the nation: the Showstopper.
When Franny steps into Chicago's Blue Moon comedy club, she realizes the power of a Showstopper—that specific magic sparked when an audience laughs so hard, they are momentarily transformed. And while each comedian's Showstopper is different, they all have one thing in common: they only work on women.
After a traumatic flashback propels her onstage in a torn bridesmaid dress, Franny discovers her own Showstopper is something new. And suddenly she has the power to change everything...for herself, for her audience, and for the people who may need it most.
Franny Steinberg knows there's powerful magic in laughter. She's witnessed it. With the men of Chicago off fighting WWII on distant shores, Franny has watched the women of the city taking charge of the war effort. But amidst the war bond sales and factory shifts, something surprising has emerged, something Franny could never have expected. A new marvel that has women flocking to comedy clubs across the nation: the Showstopper.
When Franny steps into Chicago's Blue Moon comedy club, she realizes the power of a Showstopper—that specific magic sparked when an audience laughs so hard, they are momentarily transformed. And while each comedian's Showstopper is different, they all have one thing in common: they only work on women.
After a traumatic flashback propels her onstage in a torn bridesmaid dress, Franny discovers her own Showstopper is something new. And suddenly she has the power to change everything...for herself, for her audience, and for the people who may need it most.
400 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2022
147 people are currently reading
5488 people want to read
About the author
Eden Robins
5 books123 followersMy second novel, REMEMBER YOU WILL DIE, is now available for preorder! My debut, WHEN FRANNY STANDS UP, is out now! I would love if you added and read and reviewed them.
I also write essays, the occasional short story, and one (1) mental health chatbot.
One time, I did stand-up comedy and no one booed. Another time, I went to the bottom of the ocean and didn't explode.
Hello!
I also write essays, the occasional short story, and one (1) mental health chatbot.
One time, I did stand-up comedy and no one booed. Another time, I went to the bottom of the ocean and didn't explode.
Hello!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
November 1, 2022
Happy Publication Day! ( November 1, 2022)
3.5⭐
On Christmas Eve, 1944 Franny Steinberg, still a teenager, manages to gain entry to the Empire Room of the Palmer Hotel in Chicago to catch a performance by notable comedian Boopsie Baxter and experience the much talked about “Showstopper” that she had been curious about. Earlier, the same day, her family received a telegram informing them that her older brother, who was fighting in the War, was missing.
Fast forward seven years, Franny and her friends sneak off to the Blue Moon Cocktail Lounge to see a Boopsie Baxter show the day before her best friend’s wedding only to be thrown out because of Franny’s ill-timed comments. But Franny is back the next day after a traumatic memory leads to her leaving the wedding party. Franny knows what she wants – which is to follow in her idol’s footsteps and perform on stage!
As the narrative progresses, we meet Franny’s family, her fun-loving father who believes in the importance of laughter in the most difficult of times, her mother who is concerned about Franny’s future and would rather Franny find a suitable husband, her brother who returned from the war front in 1945 but suffers from PTSD, friends, neighbors, fellow performers and the wife of a mob Boss, who owns and operated the Blue Moon Lounge as she finds her way in life, at home and in the profession of her choice – healing her own wounds and those of others close to her with the magic of laughter.
“ ‘Stress and fear”—Papa poked his chest tenderly—“it breaks your heart. The heart needs to laugh.’”
To be honest, my interest in this book stemmed from “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” vibes I got from the summary but there is so much more to this story than a young woman’s dreams to make it as a stand-up comedian - a profession that that attracted women performers and audiences during the war years but is now back to being dominated by men- as performers and in the audience. The author give us a glimpse of what society was like in the 50s - times were changing and and people were looking forward to more prosperous times since the war years but misogyny and gender politics , racism and bigotry and class distinction, anti-Semitism and discrimination were also woven into the narrative of day-to-day life. The Author’s Note at the end of the book mentions some of the true events that inspired certain segments in her novel.
" ‘Pressure can suffocate you. Comedians are like bottle openers. We relieve the pressure by making you laugh. Pressure can be painful, but it also has power. And potential. The world doesn't want us girls to have either.’"
With humor and insight, the author touches upon themes of family, friendship, PTSD, sexual identity, evolving societal norms of that era , expectations and gender roles and the healing power of laughter. With an interesting cast of characters and an endearing protagonist and elements of magic in a story that makes you smile, Eden Robin’s When Franny Stands Up is an engaging read.
Many thanks to Eden Robins, Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This book is due to be published on November 1, 2022.
3.5⭐
On Christmas Eve, 1944 Franny Steinberg, still a teenager, manages to gain entry to the Empire Room of the Palmer Hotel in Chicago to catch a performance by notable comedian Boopsie Baxter and experience the much talked about “Showstopper” that she had been curious about. Earlier, the same day, her family received a telegram informing them that her older brother, who was fighting in the War, was missing.
Fast forward seven years, Franny and her friends sneak off to the Blue Moon Cocktail Lounge to see a Boopsie Baxter show the day before her best friend’s wedding only to be thrown out because of Franny’s ill-timed comments. But Franny is back the next day after a traumatic memory leads to her leaving the wedding party. Franny knows what she wants – which is to follow in her idol’s footsteps and perform on stage!
As the narrative progresses, we meet Franny’s family, her fun-loving father who believes in the importance of laughter in the most difficult of times, her mother who is concerned about Franny’s future and would rather Franny find a suitable husband, her brother who returned from the war front in 1945 but suffers from PTSD, friends, neighbors, fellow performers and the wife of a mob Boss, who owns and operated the Blue Moon Lounge as she finds her way in life, at home and in the profession of her choice – healing her own wounds and those of others close to her with the magic of laughter.
“ ‘Stress and fear”—Papa poked his chest tenderly—“it breaks your heart. The heart needs to laugh.’”
To be honest, my interest in this book stemmed from “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” vibes I got from the summary but there is so much more to this story than a young woman’s dreams to make it as a stand-up comedian - a profession that that attracted women performers and audiences during the war years but is now back to being dominated by men- as performers and in the audience. The author give us a glimpse of what society was like in the 50s - times were changing and and people were looking forward to more prosperous times since the war years but misogyny and gender politics , racism and bigotry and class distinction, anti-Semitism and discrimination were also woven into the narrative of day-to-day life. The Author’s Note at the end of the book mentions some of the true events that inspired certain segments in her novel.
" ‘Pressure can suffocate you. Comedians are like bottle openers. We relieve the pressure by making you laugh. Pressure can be painful, but it also has power. And potential. The world doesn't want us girls to have either.’"
With humor and insight, the author touches upon themes of family, friendship, PTSD, sexual identity, evolving societal norms of that era , expectations and gender roles and the healing power of laughter. With an interesting cast of characters and an endearing protagonist and elements of magic in a story that makes you smile, Eden Robin’s When Franny Stands Up is an engaging read.
Many thanks to Eden Robins, Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This book is due to be published on November 1, 2022.
July 30, 2022
"Pressure can suffocate you. Comedians are like bottle openers. We relieve the pressure by making you laugh. Pressure can be painful, but it also has power. And potential. The world doesn't want us girls to have either." "If it hadn't been for the war...Emily Post complained in her etiquette book... that wartime comedy marked the death of good old-fashioned femininity...".
Christmas Eve, 1944. Dressed in a ratty coat and overly snug boots, seventeen year old Franny Steinberg talked her way into the Empire Room of the dazzling Palmer Hotel in Chicago. Franny just had to see raunchy comedian Boopsie Baxter. "Boopsie had...a legendary famous secret showstopper." Franny wanted what Boopsie had...if showstoppers were real...than magic was real. And if magic was real, she might just be able to bear this endless, dreary war."
Seven years later...1951. Franny Steinberg and Mary Kate Finnegan hadn't stayed in touch since high school. Mary Kate was getting married and Franny was chosen as a bridesmaid. Here was Franny, a bridesmaid in a seafoam-green dress with seafoam-green heels. Papa commented, "You look like a beautiful plant." An accidental shove...the loss of footing...a tremendous ripping sound of Mary Kate's wedding dress...The band stopped playing mid-note... She kicked off her seafoam-green heels and ran...she started to laugh. And laughing made her see how ridiculous she looked. Could she forget what she had done? Perhaps, with the magic of Boopsie Baxter's showstopper. Boopsie was performing at the Blue Moon Lounge...tonight!
Franny needed to worm her way into Blue Moon owner, Lottie Marcone's good graces. Christened "Peggy Blake", Franny would be allowed to perform during Amateur Hour. To earn a regular gig, she needed to tell a skit about being a runaway bridesmaid and make Lottie laugh. "Franny had never felt exactly right...she hadn't even known exactly right was a feeling a person could have. But the drips of laughter felt like muse's manna, and Franny considered that she (almost, maybe, possibly) was meant to wander in this particular desert." "Franny's gut was full of secrets about to burst. She had to stay tidy, had to keep it all tucked in...but she was now 'an explorer in a girly jungle'."
"Was it so hard to push away the bad and focus on the good?" Franny's brother Leon had returned from the war in June 1945. He would not speak about his wartime experiences. Laughter was no longer in his repertoire. He couldn't bear the idea of Franny laughing. Papa however, with memories of vaudeville, felt that laughter was the best medicine. Could laughter improve Leon's well being? Imagine a closeness between brother and sister if constant stress was tempered with relaxation and healing. A cast of characters at the Blue Moon were there to help and/or hinder Franny's quest to find her true self and help others embrace a more positive outlook on life.
What is it like to suddenly burst into a fit of nervous laughter? Returning home from a trip to Amsterdam as a teenager, I was terrified to go through customs. What did I have to declare? A windmill lamp/music box. I started to laugh and couldn't stop. Remembering this happening always creates renewed laughter especially when shared with others. Laughter...medicine that is priceless!
Highly recommended, particularly for fans of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Christmas Eve, 1944. Dressed in a ratty coat and overly snug boots, seventeen year old Franny Steinberg talked her way into the Empire Room of the dazzling Palmer Hotel in Chicago. Franny just had to see raunchy comedian Boopsie Baxter. "Boopsie had...a legendary famous secret showstopper." Franny wanted what Boopsie had...if showstoppers were real...than magic was real. And if magic was real, she might just be able to bear this endless, dreary war."
Seven years later...1951. Franny Steinberg and Mary Kate Finnegan hadn't stayed in touch since high school. Mary Kate was getting married and Franny was chosen as a bridesmaid. Here was Franny, a bridesmaid in a seafoam-green dress with seafoam-green heels. Papa commented, "You look like a beautiful plant." An accidental shove...the loss of footing...a tremendous ripping sound of Mary Kate's wedding dress...The band stopped playing mid-note... She kicked off her seafoam-green heels and ran...she started to laugh. And laughing made her see how ridiculous she looked. Could she forget what she had done? Perhaps, with the magic of Boopsie Baxter's showstopper. Boopsie was performing at the Blue Moon Lounge...tonight!
Franny needed to worm her way into Blue Moon owner, Lottie Marcone's good graces. Christened "Peggy Blake", Franny would be allowed to perform during Amateur Hour. To earn a regular gig, she needed to tell a skit about being a runaway bridesmaid and make Lottie laugh. "Franny had never felt exactly right...she hadn't even known exactly right was a feeling a person could have. But the drips of laughter felt like muse's manna, and Franny considered that she (almost, maybe, possibly) was meant to wander in this particular desert." "Franny's gut was full of secrets about to burst. She had to stay tidy, had to keep it all tucked in...but she was now 'an explorer in a girly jungle'."
"Was it so hard to push away the bad and focus on the good?" Franny's brother Leon had returned from the war in June 1945. He would not speak about his wartime experiences. Laughter was no longer in his repertoire. He couldn't bear the idea of Franny laughing. Papa however, with memories of vaudeville, felt that laughter was the best medicine. Could laughter improve Leon's well being? Imagine a closeness between brother and sister if constant stress was tempered with relaxation and healing. A cast of characters at the Blue Moon were there to help and/or hinder Franny's quest to find her true self and help others embrace a more positive outlook on life.
What is it like to suddenly burst into a fit of nervous laughter? Returning home from a trip to Amsterdam as a teenager, I was terrified to go through customs. What did I have to declare? A windmill lamp/music box. I started to laugh and couldn't stop. Remembering this happening always creates renewed laughter especially when shared with others. Laughter...medicine that is priceless!
Highly recommended, particularly for fans of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2022
This is a fucking powerhouse of a novel. If you think it's a fantasy Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, you're missing the wonderful and glorious nuance of this book. This is a book about comedy and trauma and family. It is funny and heartbreaking on every other page. I could not stop reading it, and I had deadlines and kittens that should have pulled me away. I love Franny and all her awkwardness and strength. I loved her family. The only things I didn't love were things that were supposed to make me uncomfortable and did it with mastery. Eden Robins is a helluva powerful writer. This book is a Showstopper.
November 13, 2023
when franny stands up centers on franny steinberg who comes across the comedy club, blue moon, who provide a marvel of some sorts called the showerstopper. franny comes to discover the power of the showstopper, and after a traumatic flashback, franny realizes she has a showstopper of her own.
i listened to the audiobook and enjoyed it because the narrator was fantastic and entertaining. despite being entertained, i was not particularly wowed.
i really wanted to love this book because i adore the marvelous mrs. maisel and i’ve read reviewers write that the two were similar.
spoiler: it’s not.
not that it’s bad or anything but given when franny stands up is described as a historical fiction/comedy i would say that is a little lie. i do think partially the reason why i didn’t find it funny is because it is set in the 1950s, so the humor went over my head. this shouldn’t be really a problem since i find the marvelous mrs. maisel witty. in addition, i also didn’t really find franny all that funny rather i found her stiff as a comedian.
while the story does center on a comedy club and a young woman wanting to become a comedian, the story tackles much serious issues such as antisemitism, sexual assault, ptsd and racism.
aside from the themes, there were a number of reasons why i didn’t connect with WFSU, including the plot and the concept of showstopper. at the beginning, franny is a bit isolated due to her protective parents, is naive, and lacks identity for herself. however, as the story progresses, i didn’t think franny was fleshed out. she was simply making decisions for the sake of plot, so it feels forced. as for the serious topics, i liked how they were discussed but it wasn’t developed or elaborated. i understand where it was heading but ultimately didn’t go anywhere.
the concept of showstopper is a bit confusing. it is derived as a form of magical realism although i didn’t really understand it. i couldn’t grasp if it was a metaphor for female orgasm or a type of healing property or something more in depth but i don’t think it was explained well.
however, i did enjoy the found family, the friendships and focus on trauma. franny’s trauma and her response to feels realistic and i applaud eden robbins for it.
overall, while i do think the concept is original, i unfortunately didn’t connect with the story.
— 𝟐.𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬!
𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔: antisemitism, sexual assault, racism, rape, ptsd, domestic violence, sexism, sexual harassment, sexual content, homophobia, drug use
i listened to the audiobook and enjoyed it because the narrator was fantastic and entertaining. despite being entertained, i was not particularly wowed.
i really wanted to love this book because i adore the marvelous mrs. maisel and i’ve read reviewers write that the two were similar.
spoiler: it’s not.
not that it’s bad or anything but given when franny stands up is described as a historical fiction/comedy i would say that is a little lie. i do think partially the reason why i didn’t find it funny is because it is set in the 1950s, so the humor went over my head. this shouldn’t be really a problem since i find the marvelous mrs. maisel witty. in addition, i also didn’t really find franny all that funny rather i found her stiff as a comedian.
while the story does center on a comedy club and a young woman wanting to become a comedian, the story tackles much serious issues such as antisemitism, sexual assault, ptsd and racism.
aside from the themes, there were a number of reasons why i didn’t connect with WFSU, including the plot and the concept of showstopper. at the beginning, franny is a bit isolated due to her protective parents, is naive, and lacks identity for herself. however, as the story progresses, i didn’t think franny was fleshed out. she was simply making decisions for the sake of plot, so it feels forced. as for the serious topics, i liked how they were discussed but it wasn’t developed or elaborated. i understand where it was heading but ultimately didn’t go anywhere.
the concept of showstopper is a bit confusing. it is derived as a form of magical realism although i didn’t really understand it. i couldn’t grasp if it was a metaphor for female orgasm or a type of healing property or something more in depth but i don’t think it was explained well.
however, i did enjoy the found family, the friendships and focus on trauma. franny’s trauma and her response to feels realistic and i applaud eden robbins for it.
overall, while i do think the concept is original, i unfortunately didn’t connect with the story.
— 𝟐.𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬!
𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔: antisemitism, sexual assault, racism, rape, ptsd, domestic violence, sexism, sexual harassment, sexual content, homophobia, drug use
January 29, 2023
While I appear to be in the minority, I have so many problems with this book. In no particular order:
* This is a book about comedy that isn't funny at all.
* On the contrary, it tries to tackle ALL the ills of the world: sexism, racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, PTSD, sexual assault, disfunctional families, and men thinking women aren't funny.
* I'm no prude, but I can't decide if the so-called "show-stopper" is more weird or vulgar.
* The idea that you could heal serious mental illness in the way suggested is offensive.
* And finally, almost every review references The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, most in a positive way. I don't understand this. How does this book even get published? The author steals every element of that charming show and removes every bit of charm. Post-war setting; Jewish protagonist; inadvertent, secret comedy career; lesbian promoter, etc. How much do you have to copy for it to be plagiarism?
Oh, and it's overly long! NOT recommended!!
* This is a book about comedy that isn't funny at all.
* On the contrary, it tries to tackle ALL the ills of the world: sexism, racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, PTSD, sexual assault, disfunctional families, and men thinking women aren't funny.
* I'm no prude, but I can't decide if the so-called "show-stopper" is more weird or vulgar.
* The idea that you could heal serious mental illness in the way suggested is offensive.
* And finally, almost every review references The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, most in a positive way. I don't understand this. How does this book even get published? The author steals every element of that charming show and removes every bit of charm. Post-war setting; Jewish protagonist; inadvertent, secret comedy career; lesbian promoter, etc. How much do you have to copy for it to be plagiarism?
Oh, and it's overly long! NOT recommended!!
November 6, 2022
I so wanted to love WHEN FRANNY STANDS UP, but there was too much going on in this chaotic story about an all-women's comedy club in Chicago. It's a different take on WWII, set in America where women have assumed many jobs once held by men. Elements of magical realism blend -- with mixed results -- with issues that might trigger readers (sexual assault, PTSD, antisemitism, racism.) An ambitious effort, certainly, but just not for me.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2022
Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
When Franny Stands Up by Eden Robins is a debut historical novel that made me laugh, but, it’s so much more than just a comedy. It’s emotional, inspirational, and very unique. It has humor, and a bit of magical realism along with emotion, trauma, and found family.
Story Recap:
Franny Steinberg lives with her parents and older brother in a suburb of Chicago, a wealthy area of mostly Catholic families. The Steinbergs, a quiet Jewish Family, live in a strong Catholic neighborhood. One evening, Franny goes to the Blue Moon Club where she witnesses female comedians and experiences a “Showstopper”, a joke told so well that it gives the listener a sense of euphoria. A Showstopper only works on women, and only when told by a woman.
When Franny suffers a traumatic event at her friend's wedding, she escapes to the Blue Moon Club, and she goes onstage and discovers she has her own Showstopper. And that power can change her life. But will it?
My Thoughts:
When Franny Stands up was a very different story. I expected a romantic comedy but instead got a beautiful story about friends, found family, discrimination, personal trauma and so much more.
The humor was a bit hit or miss for me, and I think this is partially due to the time period of the story. What we found humorous in the early 1950s, doesn’t always translate well to modern times. What I did enjoy was the banter and humor of the friends and characters of the Blue Moon when they were off stage, their friendship and love for each other was the highlight of the story.
The book also tackles many of the issues of the day. First is Franny’s desire to tell jokes at a nightclub. That is certainly not a job for a proper woman of the time. Also, the book looks at discrimination and segregation and the effects of WWII. Leon, Franny’s older brother goes away to the war and comes back a shell of the boy who left.
When Franny Stands Up was a very unique, funny, and enjoyable read. This story will stay with me for a while.
Recommendation:
I highly recommend When Franny Stands Up to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
When Franny Stands Up by Eden Robins is a debut historical novel that made me laugh, but, it’s so much more than just a comedy. It’s emotional, inspirational, and very unique. It has humor, and a bit of magical realism along with emotion, trauma, and found family.
Story Recap:
Franny Steinberg lives with her parents and older brother in a suburb of Chicago, a wealthy area of mostly Catholic families. The Steinbergs, a quiet Jewish Family, live in a strong Catholic neighborhood. One evening, Franny goes to the Blue Moon Club where she witnesses female comedians and experiences a “Showstopper”, a joke told so well that it gives the listener a sense of euphoria. A Showstopper only works on women, and only when told by a woman.
When Franny suffers a traumatic event at her friend's wedding, she escapes to the Blue Moon Club, and she goes onstage and discovers she has her own Showstopper. And that power can change her life. But will it?
My Thoughts:
When Franny Stands up was a very different story. I expected a romantic comedy but instead got a beautiful story about friends, found family, discrimination, personal trauma and so much more.
The humor was a bit hit or miss for me, and I think this is partially due to the time period of the story. What we found humorous in the early 1950s, doesn’t always translate well to modern times. What I did enjoy was the banter and humor of the friends and characters of the Blue Moon when they were off stage, their friendship and love for each other was the highlight of the story.
The book also tackles many of the issues of the day. First is Franny’s desire to tell jokes at a nightclub. That is certainly not a job for a proper woman of the time. Also, the book looks at discrimination and segregation and the effects of WWII. Leon, Franny’s older brother goes away to the war and comes back a shell of the boy who left.
When Franny Stands Up was a very unique, funny, and enjoyable read. This story will stay with me for a while.
Recommendation:
I highly recommend When Franny Stands Up to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
December 5, 2022
The closest thing I can compare this to is "Mrs Maisel if she was in The L Word," but honestly that's incredibly misleading. If you write a book about a standup comedian, you might want to write a few jokes to go into it. Franny was never funny to me, definitely not funny enough to justify EVERYONE treating her like a golden cow/threat to their livelihoods. And god, when there ARE jokes, get ready to hear them over and over and over again. "If you didn't think it was funny the first time, maybe it will grow on you by the seventh."
I also don't know how to describe my dislike for the narrator. She DID do a good job with different voices for different characters, acting out sighs and laughs and yawns, which is admirable. But she just irked me. Something about the energy she gave everything was... exhausting.
I might have enjoyed this book a lot more if it had been half as long. But as it is, it's drawn out and intensely interested in only the most boring bits of the story.
I also don't know how to describe my dislike for the narrator. She DID do a good job with different voices for different characters, acting out sighs and laughs and yawns, which is admirable. But she just irked me. Something about the energy she gave everything was... exhausting.
I might have enjoyed this book a lot more if it had been half as long. But as it is, it's drawn out and intensely interested in only the most boring bits of the story.
November 3, 2022
2.5 stars.
In When Franny Stands Up, women’s comedy clubs are struggling to survive in the 1950s, after male comedians become popular on TV and grab all the attention. But women know a secret: in the live stand-up shows for women only, certain talented comedians have Showstoppers — moments of magic where the performer induces certain special effects on the women in the audience as they laugh.
For Franny, she first encounters a Showstopper years earlier, sneaking away from her protective parents’ home in a Chicago suburb to see the famous Boopsie Baxter perform. But Franny is not at all prepared for her powerful reaction to Boopsie’s Showstopper, and runs back home in shame and fear, only to discover that her soldier brother has gone missing in action in Europe. For Franny, these two events become very much linked, and she determines to be good and give up her interest in comedy forever.
But as the main part of the story opens, 23-year-old Franny is burdened by her daily life, her worries over her brother, now home but suffering from PTSD, and her alienation from her former best friend, who’s about to get married, and whose family is responsible for one of Franny’s worst memories. When events at the wedding go badly, Franny runs off yet again, and finds herself at the Blue Moon club, where a whole new world awaits.
Sadly, so much of this story simply didn’t make sense to me. Franny’s interest in comedy, especially in becoming a stand-up comedian, seems to come out of nowhere, and isn’t well explained. And why the club owner and other performers take an interest in Franny or immediately sense her potential talent — well, I have no idea.
There are many interesting concepts scattered throughout the story, but whether it’s the writing itself or the approach to the plot, it never particularly gelled for me. I found the writing style choppy, with descriptions and plot actions not quite making sense to me. As new occurrences and situations popped up, I often felt like I must have accidentally skipped some pages — just how did we get from point A to point B? Some characters as well just never made sense — I can think of one in particular who, by the end of the story, I still didn’t know if she was supposed to be sympathetic or an antagonist, and that definitely did not seem like an intentional construction of a morally gray characters. Instead, it was just another example of a writing approach that didn’t work for me.
The idea of the Showstopper concept is pretty cool, absolutely — but the plot, inconsistent character depictions, dropped or under-developed storylines, and unclear character motivation all got in the way of my enjoyment of When Franny Stands Up. There are some interesting ideas here, but sadly, the book as a whole just didn’t work for me.
In When Franny Stands Up, women’s comedy clubs are struggling to survive in the 1950s, after male comedians become popular on TV and grab all the attention. But women know a secret: in the live stand-up shows for women only, certain talented comedians have Showstoppers — moments of magic where the performer induces certain special effects on the women in the audience as they laugh.
For Franny, she first encounters a Showstopper years earlier, sneaking away from her protective parents’ home in a Chicago suburb to see the famous Boopsie Baxter perform. But Franny is not at all prepared for her powerful reaction to Boopsie’s Showstopper, and runs back home in shame and fear, only to discover that her soldier brother has gone missing in action in Europe. For Franny, these two events become very much linked, and she determines to be good and give up her interest in comedy forever.
But as the main part of the story opens, 23-year-old Franny is burdened by her daily life, her worries over her brother, now home but suffering from PTSD, and her alienation from her former best friend, who’s about to get married, and whose family is responsible for one of Franny’s worst memories. When events at the wedding go badly, Franny runs off yet again, and finds herself at the Blue Moon club, where a whole new world awaits.
Sadly, so much of this story simply didn’t make sense to me. Franny’s interest in comedy, especially in becoming a stand-up comedian, seems to come out of nowhere, and isn’t well explained. And why the club owner and other performers take an interest in Franny or immediately sense her potential talent — well, I have no idea.
There are many interesting concepts scattered throughout the story, but whether it’s the writing itself or the approach to the plot, it never particularly gelled for me. I found the writing style choppy, with descriptions and plot actions not quite making sense to me. As new occurrences and situations popped up, I often felt like I must have accidentally skipped some pages — just how did we get from point A to point B? Some characters as well just never made sense — I can think of one in particular who, by the end of the story, I still didn’t know if she was supposed to be sympathetic or an antagonist, and that definitely did not seem like an intentional construction of a morally gray characters. Instead, it was just another example of a writing approach that didn’t work for me.
The idea of the Showstopper concept is pretty cool, absolutely — but the plot, inconsistent character depictions, dropped or under-developed storylines, and unclear character motivation all got in the way of my enjoyment of When Franny Stands Up. There are some interesting ideas here, but sadly, the book as a whole just didn’t work for me.
November 10, 2022
3.5⭐️When Franny Stands Up is a historical fiction debut perfect for fans of Marvelous Mrs. Maisal. Set in the Chicago during the 1950s, it follows Franny, a young Jewish woman who gets involved in the world of standup comedy. While there is jokes, sarcasm and laughter, I will say this is so much more than just a comedy book as the author covers more serious themes such as PTSD from the war, sexual assault, gender identity, racism and antisemitism. I listened to the audio and thought the narrator did a fantastic job! The only piece I did not really love was the magical realism as I did not think it was needed to better the story. And sadly that was a good chunk of it all.
Read if you like:
-Magical Realism
-Found family themes
-Jewish representation
-1950s Historical Fiction
Read if you like:
-Magical Realism
-Found family themes
-Jewish representation
-1950s Historical Fiction
November 19, 2022
DNF at 50%
This book started off great and I really enjoyed the first 100 pages. Then it took a turn and I found myself as confused as the main character Franny. After the next 100 pages I figured out what was going on, but I no longer cared.
Thank you to Sourcebooks’ Early read program for a free ebook ARC.
This book started off great and I really enjoyed the first 100 pages. Then it took a turn and I found myself as confused as the main character Franny. After the next 100 pages I figured out what was going on, but I no longer cared.
Thank you to Sourcebooks’ Early read program for a free ebook ARC.
September 2, 2022
A caveat before I get to When Franny Stands Up, the debut fantasy novel by Chicago writer Eden Robins. Eden is a friend of mine. I met her something like twelve years ago, when I still lived in that windiest of cities. We were introduced by a mutual friend who brought a few of his favorite people together on a quick trip through town. It turned out Eden had attended the Clarion West Workshop a couple of years earlier. I’d gone to Clarion at Michigan State a couple-three decades earlier, so we had plenty to talk about.
About a year later, Eden and I started a small writers group, which evolved into one of the hubs of my working and social lives in Chicago. I read a lot of her work, I attended her wedding, met up with her and her husband in London during one of their many extended adventures across the globe. When I moved back to New York City, Eden took over my position as a co-host of the Tuesday Funk reading series and made it a far more inclusive institution than I had ever managed. I always admired the no-bullshit way she approached her interactions with the world.
As for her debut novel, When Franny Stands Up, I’m happy to report—no bullshit—that it is excellent. Set mostly in 1951, it tells the story of Franny Steinberg, a young Jewish woman who gets caught up in the distinctly unladylike world of standup comedy. If that description (not to mention the cover art) makes you think of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, friend, you’ve got another think coming.
Franny lives with her parents and older brother just outside of Chicago, in the nominally progressive suburb of Oak Park. The Irish Catholic neighbors treat the Steinbergs with a sort of amused, paternalistic tolerance, but not even the Steinbergs can be bothered to extend the hand of welcome to the Black family that has moved in across the street.
Franny is wrapped up in her own tsuris, to be sure. Her older brother Leon has not been the same since returning from the war, his public fits causing her endless frustration and embarrassment. She can’t seem to get on with her own life either, not since something happened to her at the hands of the handsome Finnegan boy from next door—something she can barely think about herself, let alone imagine explaining to anyone else. Everyone seems to have a nice young man they want to set her up with, but wiseass Franny can’t stomach the idea of settling down and starting a family.
On the eve of her friend Mary Kate’s wedding, fate conspires to bring Franny to the Blue Moon, a struggling comedy club in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood that caters to women only. Owned by the wife of infamous Mob boss Fingers Marcone, the Blue Moon was a gold mine during the war, when female comedians stepped into the void left by the enlistment of their male colleagues. It was also the birthplace of the Showstopper, a powerful magical experience that some comics can conjure for their audiences. Only women can create Showstoppers, and only women can feel them.
Franny’s awkward tendency to spout off and make a scene wherever she goes gets her and her friends tossed out of the club that night—and ruins Mary Kate’s wedding the next day. But something keeps drawing her back to the Blue Moon, where the gang backstage see something in her that her friends and family do not. Franny’s always been a funny girl with a big mouth, but maybe with a little work she can learn to turn her pain into jokes. And just maybe, if she learns how to conjure a Showstopper of her own, she can use those jokes to heal instead of hurt.
When Franny Stands Up is a novel with a keen awareness of trauma—the ways it colors our perceptions of ourselves and of the world, the ways it prevents people from truly understanding one another’s needs and motivations, and the ways its effects only multiply the longer it goes unaddressed. The most obvious example is Franny’s brother Leon, who suffers from what folks in the neighborhood call “combat fatigue,” which we today easily recognize as PTSD. But not all traumas are so visible. Most every character here has their own issues, and the way all those secret histories butt up and grate against each other drives much of the conflict.
The book is steeped in concepts that we have names for but the characters do not—toxic masculinity, rape culture, gender dysphoria. Watching Franny and the others feel their way around the edges of these ideas and come to some understanding of them, and of one another, is part of what makes the story so compelling.
That may sound heavy, but When Franny Stands Up is anything but. Sprightly, fast-moving, and bawdy, filled with a host of distinct and colorful characters, this novel wears its seriousness like summer linen, always there but never getting in the way of a good time. Along the way it touches on an astonishing range of topics—gender equality, power dynamics, family secrets, sexual politics, domestic violence, race relations, indigenous erasure, workplace safety, blockbusting, even the Holocaust—while remaining as funny, naughty and thought-provoking as a well-constructed comedy set. Careful readers will even catch a subtle plot point that turns on a trans-affirming question of identity. It’s a high-wire performance, pulled off with panache.
But even more so, this novel is a comic meditation on the artistic process, exploring both the responsibilities of an artist toward her audience and the limits of what that art can achieve. Franny’s struggle to build a tight five-minute set and to discover the nature of her own Showstopper quietly calls out not the value of comedy itself but the inherent violence of comedy as it is too often practiced. (Is it any accident that the acme of success in the field is to “slay” or “kill”?)
It’s also a reminder that the funniest work springs from the deepest wells. As a famous comedian tells Franny early on, “You can’t escape yourself when you’re up there, if that’s what you’re hoping. You don’t want to put in the work, you should walk out that door right now because you’re just wasting everyone’s time.”
Eden Robins has put in the work, I can tell you that, and When Franny Stands Up is more than worth your time.
About a year later, Eden and I started a small writers group, which evolved into one of the hubs of my working and social lives in Chicago. I read a lot of her work, I attended her wedding, met up with her and her husband in London during one of their many extended adventures across the globe. When I moved back to New York City, Eden took over my position as a co-host of the Tuesday Funk reading series and made it a far more inclusive institution than I had ever managed. I always admired the no-bullshit way she approached her interactions with the world.
As for her debut novel, When Franny Stands Up, I’m happy to report—no bullshit—that it is excellent. Set mostly in 1951, it tells the story of Franny Steinberg, a young Jewish woman who gets caught up in the distinctly unladylike world of standup comedy. If that description (not to mention the cover art) makes you think of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, friend, you’ve got another think coming.
Franny lives with her parents and older brother just outside of Chicago, in the nominally progressive suburb of Oak Park. The Irish Catholic neighbors treat the Steinbergs with a sort of amused, paternalistic tolerance, but not even the Steinbergs can be bothered to extend the hand of welcome to the Black family that has moved in across the street.
Franny is wrapped up in her own tsuris, to be sure. Her older brother Leon has not been the same since returning from the war, his public fits causing her endless frustration and embarrassment. She can’t seem to get on with her own life either, not since something happened to her at the hands of the handsome Finnegan boy from next door—something she can barely think about herself, let alone imagine explaining to anyone else. Everyone seems to have a nice young man they want to set her up with, but wiseass Franny can’t stomach the idea of settling down and starting a family.
On the eve of her friend Mary Kate’s wedding, fate conspires to bring Franny to the Blue Moon, a struggling comedy club in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood that caters to women only. Owned by the wife of infamous Mob boss Fingers Marcone, the Blue Moon was a gold mine during the war, when female comedians stepped into the void left by the enlistment of their male colleagues. It was also the birthplace of the Showstopper, a powerful magical experience that some comics can conjure for their audiences. Only women can create Showstoppers, and only women can feel them.
Franny’s awkward tendency to spout off and make a scene wherever she goes gets her and her friends tossed out of the club that night—and ruins Mary Kate’s wedding the next day. But something keeps drawing her back to the Blue Moon, where the gang backstage see something in her that her friends and family do not. Franny’s always been a funny girl with a big mouth, but maybe with a little work she can learn to turn her pain into jokes. And just maybe, if she learns how to conjure a Showstopper of her own, she can use those jokes to heal instead of hurt.
When Franny Stands Up is a novel with a keen awareness of trauma—the ways it colors our perceptions of ourselves and of the world, the ways it prevents people from truly understanding one another’s needs and motivations, and the ways its effects only multiply the longer it goes unaddressed. The most obvious example is Franny’s brother Leon, who suffers from what folks in the neighborhood call “combat fatigue,” which we today easily recognize as PTSD. But not all traumas are so visible. Most every character here has their own issues, and the way all those secret histories butt up and grate against each other drives much of the conflict.
The book is steeped in concepts that we have names for but the characters do not—toxic masculinity, rape culture, gender dysphoria. Watching Franny and the others feel their way around the edges of these ideas and come to some understanding of them, and of one another, is part of what makes the story so compelling.
That may sound heavy, but When Franny Stands Up is anything but. Sprightly, fast-moving, and bawdy, filled with a host of distinct and colorful characters, this novel wears its seriousness like summer linen, always there but never getting in the way of a good time. Along the way it touches on an astonishing range of topics—gender equality, power dynamics, family secrets, sexual politics, domestic violence, race relations, indigenous erasure, workplace safety, blockbusting, even the Holocaust—while remaining as funny, naughty and thought-provoking as a well-constructed comedy set. Careful readers will even catch a subtle plot point that turns on a trans-affirming question of identity. It’s a high-wire performance, pulled off with panache.
But even more so, this novel is a comic meditation on the artistic process, exploring both the responsibilities of an artist toward her audience and the limits of what that art can achieve. Franny’s struggle to build a tight five-minute set and to discover the nature of her own Showstopper quietly calls out not the value of comedy itself but the inherent violence of comedy as it is too often practiced. (Is it any accident that the acme of success in the field is to “slay” or “kill”?)
It’s also a reminder that the funniest work springs from the deepest wells. As a famous comedian tells Franny early on, “You can’t escape yourself when you’re up there, if that’s what you’re hoping. You don’t want to put in the work, you should walk out that door right now because you’re just wasting everyone’s time.”
Eden Robins has put in the work, I can tell you that, and When Franny Stands Up is more than worth your time.
March 22, 2023
Franny Steinberg wants to be a comedian. More importantly, she strives to get a "showstopper" - when a crowd laughs raucously this occurs (it can present itself in different ways for each comedian - the innocous feeling of having a bus arrive at the stop to just the right place or the extreme can be an orgasm).
Set in Chicago post WWII, it all feels like a lot. We have the undertone of antisemitism happening; sexism; racism; queer community; PTS - everything and the kitchen sink!
I sometimes didn't understand the scenes I was reading. I felt like the dialogue didn't fit the scene. It felt like I could see the effort of creating the scenes. I also feel Franny isn't the most likeable protagonist. She feels like she wants to be strong yet she rarely stands up for herself.
I kept waiting for a big pay off, but it never really arrives. I did speed through the book, but like Franny, I never got the Showstopper!
Set in Chicago post WWII, it all feels like a lot. We have the undertone of antisemitism happening; sexism; racism; queer community; PTS - everything and the kitchen sink!
I sometimes didn't understand the scenes I was reading. I felt like the dialogue didn't fit the scene. It felt like I could see the effort of creating the scenes. I also feel Franny isn't the most likeable protagonist. She feels like she wants to be strong yet she rarely stands up for herself.
I kept waiting for a big pay off, but it never really arrives. I did speed through the book, but like Franny, I never got the Showstopper!
December 31, 2022
I really wanted to love this book but it was too much and not enough at the same time.
I've seen a lot of comparisons to "Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" and yes, they both feature Jewish women post-WWII trying to make it in comedy but the biggest difference between the two is that in the show, we get to see Midge Maisel actually be funny. Franny never is. No one is, really. The story is loaded down with so many issues - racism, anti-Semitism, PTSD, sexual assault, domestic violence, homophobia, I could go on... - that it's overwhelming. There's also a magical realism element that didn't work for me which kept me from completely getting on board with the premise. Robins is a talented writer and I look forward to what she does next - this one just wasn't for me.
Thanks to Sourcebooks for the copy to review.
I've seen a lot of comparisons to "Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" and yes, they both feature Jewish women post-WWII trying to make it in comedy but the biggest difference between the two is that in the show, we get to see Midge Maisel actually be funny. Franny never is. No one is, really. The story is loaded down with so many issues - racism, anti-Semitism, PTSD, sexual assault, domestic violence, homophobia, I could go on... - that it's overwhelming. There's also a magical realism element that didn't work for me which kept me from completely getting on board with the premise. Robins is a talented writer and I look forward to what she does next - this one just wasn't for me.
Thanks to Sourcebooks for the copy to review.
Read
March 11, 2023When Franny Stands Up is a historical fiction novel set in Chicago during the years after World War II. Franny Steinberg wants to be a stand-up comedian, which is seen largely as a man’s domain, especially in the early age of television. Franny discovers a women’s-only nightclub that features only female comedians, and Franny becomes embroiled in the dramatis personae of the Blue Moon. Each comedienne tries to develop a Showstopper, an elusive moment that induces an audience into an orgasmic fever dream signifying the comedienne’s greatness. Debut author Eden Robins captures the feel of this time period when gender, racial, and religous stereotypes are rampant and seem to be fair game in monologues and conversation. A book about stand-up comedy needs to be funny, and Robins delivers a lot of humor, not just in the on-stage routines but in the dialogue, as might be expected when comics talk to each other. In the interest of full disclosure, I knew Eden Robins as a high school student twenty-some years ago, and I’m glad we have recently reconnected.
October 16, 2022
I guess I just didn’t get this book. I thought it would be different based on the description, about a woman (Franny) who tries to be a stand up comic and finds herself in this new avenue.
Instead, I found myself extremely confused, especially by the showstopper element. I had a hard time following the story, and I felt like Lottie was a horrible character. The part I understood the most was Franny’s experience with sexual assault. She described what happened to her and I could feel how she felt.
Overall, this book just wasn’t for me. I’m clearly in the minority as many people love it, but I just didn’t get it.
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Instead, I found myself extremely confused, especially by the showstopper element. I had a hard time following the story, and I felt like Lottie was a horrible character. The part I understood the most was Franny’s experience with sexual assault. She described what happened to her and I could feel how she felt.
Overall, this book just wasn’t for me. I’m clearly in the minority as many people love it, but I just didn’t get it.
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2022
3.5⭐️When Franny Stands Up is a historical fiction debut perfect for fans of Marvelous Mrs. Maisal. Set in the Chicago during the 1950s, it follows Franny, a young Jewish woman who gets involved in the world of standup comedy. While there is jokes, sarcasm and laughter, I will say this is so much more than just a comedy book as the author covers more serious themes such as PTSD from the war, sexual assault, gender identity, racism and antisemitism. I listened to the audio and thought the narrator did a fantastic job! The only piece I did not really love was the magical realism as I did not think it was needed to better the story.
Read if you like:
-Magical Realism
-Found family themes
-Jewish representation
-1950s Historical Fiction
Read if you like:
-Magical Realism
-Found family themes
-Jewish representation
-1950s Historical Fiction
December 17, 2022
I’m not sure why I finished this book as it was kind of ridiculous plot line, and characters not fully or well developed. The fantasy element was just bizarre.
December 9, 2022
Complex historical fiction/magical realism with a fascinating and endearing main character. There's found family, LGBTQ characters (including the MC), mob drama, old fashioned stand up comedy, and an exploration of the trauma left on all by WWII. Excellent fiction
November 14, 2022
This was not the lighthearted read I thought it would be. I was hoping for a young girl finding her voice through standup and while that is what happens in the book, the story was far from lighthearted. There is a lot of drama, which gives you a good idea of what it was like for women in Chicago after the war. I enjoyed learning about this aspect but could have done without the sexual abuse, assault, and other topics covered by this novel. The story moved slowly and didn't draw me in. It just wasn't what I was expecting.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
January 16, 2023
I didn't like this book . It seemed as though a lot of the first part of the book and even some of the characters were copied or based on the series The Marvolous Mrs. Maisel. There were some funny bits but not as many as one would think. Also, as the book progressed it also seemed as though the author was trying to throw every social issue of the 50's into the mix . Just not successfully.
November 25, 2022
A very fun romp through mid-20th century Chicago. A whiff of magical realism combined with a fun, cartoony but somehow relatable cast of characters, this novel finds a wonderful balance between entertaining the reader and providing them something a bit deeper to chew on, whether it relates to gender, race, trauma, or just the challenges and joys of our all-too-human relationships and the people we have them with. I highly recommend!
January 5, 2023
#readingchallenge2022 (my extra books!)
Where were the jokes?
Incredibly misbranded as a parallel to the wonderful tv show Marvelous Miss Maisel this novel shares nothing even remotely similar to the depth, character strength.
The novel attempted to cover important topics, including the roles of women, PTSD, sexual assault, and power of friendships, but if I wasn’t just bored, I was lost- I even stopped at one point to check is this was meant to be literal ‘magic’ or was this just poorly written euphemisms.
I believe the intent of the novel was to promote women- an aspect of feminism, in which the author takes something taboo for women- i.e women comedians in a 1950’s world staged by men-and writes “we can do it too!”. Great premise, bring on the jokes- except the novel was anything but funny- I actually finished feeling like the novel set women back.
The author’s approach towards, “we can do it too!” was to say women can not only be funny but so funny they actually cause comedy orgasms…but only for other women. Like it’s some secret punchline joke. The annoying, “I want to sneak out to go feel a showstopper” -it felt so cheesy in a negative way.
Why couldn’t women just be up on stage, be funny, everyone (men/women) enjoying jokes- the author left everything hush hush women for women small world, chaotic characters, lack of development-
Where were the jokes?
Incredibly misbranded as a parallel to the wonderful tv show Marvelous Miss Maisel this novel shares nothing even remotely similar to the depth, character strength.
The novel attempted to cover important topics, including the roles of women, PTSD, sexual assault, and power of friendships, but if I wasn’t just bored, I was lost- I even stopped at one point to check is this was meant to be literal ‘magic’ or was this just poorly written euphemisms.
I believe the intent of the novel was to promote women- an aspect of feminism, in which the author takes something taboo for women- i.e women comedians in a 1950’s world staged by men-and writes “we can do it too!”. Great premise, bring on the jokes- except the novel was anything but funny- I actually finished feeling like the novel set women back.
The author’s approach towards, “we can do it too!” was to say women can not only be funny but so funny they actually cause comedy orgasms…but only for other women. Like it’s some secret punchline joke. The annoying, “I want to sneak out to go feel a showstopper” -it felt so cheesy in a negative way.
Why couldn’t women just be up on stage, be funny, everyone (men/women) enjoying jokes- the author left everything hush hush women for women small world, chaotic characters, lack of development-
October 26, 2022
This wasn’t the book for me. I wouldn’t call our main character a comic... At no point is Franny remotely funny. We rarely see her do standup and when she does, it’s awkward and awful. I think the book covers some important topics, PTSD and sexual assault, but doesn’t flesh them out enough to feel meaningful. The fantasy aspect felt out of place and unnecessary. I had to force myself to get through the story and it took me ages. Disappointing as I was hyped for this.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 17, 2022
Lots of missed opportunities with this book but I was compelled to finish it. The Chicago setting excited me but Robins didn't develop a strong sense of place at all. There were too many characters to keep track of and too many storylines didn't get fully developed. But I did appreciate the LGBTQ representation and the peek into the world of stand-up comedy for women in the 195o's was interesting.
October 23, 2022
By turns hilarious and heart wrenching, “When Franny Stands Up” takes a fantastical premise – what if comedy didn’t just make you laugh but had a truly magical effect? – and runs with it so many surprising directions. I couldn’t put it down.
November 10, 2022
3.5 stars.
What I Liked:
-The Midge Maisel vibes
-Women breaking barriers
-Self-discovery, found family themes
-Discussion of PTSD and sexual assault in a thoughtful way
-Jewish representation
What I Didn't Like:
-Magical realism of "The Showstopper"
-Too much going on
-Plot choices that seemed a bit too over the top
What I Liked:
-The Midge Maisel vibes
-Women breaking barriers
-Self-discovery, found family themes
-Discussion of PTSD and sexual assault in a thoughtful way
-Jewish representation
What I Didn't Like:
-Magical realism of "The Showstopper"
-Too much going on
-Plot choices that seemed a bit too over the top
April 26, 2023
I really wanted to love this book as it has all of the elements of things I love: feisty Jewish comedians, history, nuance, and brisket. However, it fell short. For a book about comedy, it was not all that funny. Additionally, the magical realism took me out of the story, as well as some of the choppy prose which mostly made me feel confused.
October 23, 2022
This s a different twist on the recent rash of WWII novels. The story of women comics in Chicago is important, but this wasn’t my favorite read, mostly because I’m not a comedy fan and the WWII pieces took a backseat. Fans of standup will want to seek it out.
June 14, 2023
I had just finished watching Mrs.Maisel and this book caught my eye. I am always amazed by stand up comedians - I find them clever, brave and observant in the best way. Franny is all of this and more. In post WW2 Chicago, she finds herself defying gender expectations - rather than go on dates with nice Jewish boys and settling down, she is learning how to be a stand up comedienne, figuring out what she wants, and helping to heal some family wounds in the process.
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