The View from Penthouse B

By: Elinor Lipman

Narrated by: Mia Barron

Unexpectedly widowed Gwen-Laura Schmidt is still mourning her husband when her sister, Margot, invites her to join forces as roommates in Margot's luxurious Village apartment. For Margot, divorced amid scandal, then made Ponzi-poor, it's a chance to shake Gwen out of her grief and help make ends meet. To further this effort she enlists a third boarder, the handsome Anthony. As the three swap money-making schemes and Gwen ventures back out into the dating world, the arrival of Margot's paroled ex in the apartment downstairs creates not just complications but the chance for all sorts of unexpected forgiveness. A sister story about love, loneliness, and new life in middle age, this is a cracklingly witty, deeply sweet novel from one of our finest comic writers.

©2013 Elinor Lipman (P)2013 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Classic Lipman Fun

As with most of her books, Elinor Lipman has assembled an appealing cast of characters. They are all equally flawed and charming, and in this story, help each other rebuild broken or interrupted lives. Even the minor characters -- including personals ads respondees -- have the Lipman touch, supported by the nuanced reading of Mia Barron. Take a break from your more serious fiction and non-fiction books and just enjoy this easy-going, fun story.

A very enjoyable listen

Don't let the title fool you - not once did the characters of this book look out their penthouse window and wax poetic about life. That did not take away from the special of this story though.

I loved that this story was an every day story with every day issues and how to get through life, post crisis. The story did not rely on any sinister forces in the background manipulating the characters, or a missed communication opportunity that leads to a series of misunderstandings. It was a true-to-life depiction of two sisters and a male roommate, trying to figure out the next in their worlds. Lipman penned a story that made the characters very real and very relatable.

The narrator was excellent!! In a story with no accelerants or melodramatic buildups to a climatic end, it's the narrator that keeps you in it. This was a very enjoyable listen.

A fresh start and a not-so-fresh one

Cute story about relationships (family & friends)at mid-life. 60 is the new 40 after all!

A Must-Listen Lipman Novel

Ellie Lipman succeeds where too many authors fail: the reader cares about every single character. You want all to live happily ever after.
The narrator of this audio book gives a stellar performance!

A Story Worth Reading Again

Didn't want it to finish. Characters captured perfectly, story flowed nicely, reader was perfect match to characters personality I want to read more from this author!in