The Marzipan Pigeon

By Alyssa Donati

Viewed through the not-yet-jaded eyes of Salty Spencer, a tough-talking, sarcastic, 23-year-old, this novel is a contemporary story about love and loss and coming of age in the lost generation.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671868896
• ISBN13: 9780671868895
• Release Date: June 1994
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 300 Pages
• Weight: 1.07 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 1.3" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

Loved this Character! Loved this Book!

I took this book with me on vacation and practically finished it on the plane. I'm not usually a huge fan of stories told in the first person, but I loved this character. She's sort of a hybrid between Bridget Jones and Holden Caufield. She's vulnerable, raw and comedic, and her vivid inner monologues and careening emotions make it hard to extricate yourself. The best parts of the book are when you are observing some of the other eccentric characters through Salty's eyes. Especially some of the people on the art world and on the set of her soap opera. The soap opera scenes are really uproarious and there definitely could have been more of them. I wouldn't recommend this book to someone who craves suspense, but of you like a powerful love story and electric, break-the-mold characters, this is a must read.

A Memorable Ride

Even though the plot is slightly wobbly I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The main reason to read it is for the narrator, who grabs you and drags you right into her world. Salty's character can be cynical, but her humor and innocence are totally refreshing. This protagonist's wit and energy kept me entranced right to the end.This is essentially a love story and although there are some flaws in its construction Salty's character carries it. She is like the movie star who Oscar-worthy performance transforms an ordinary film into an exceptional one. She makes it a memorable ride.

Looking for more...

I picked up The Marzipan Pigeon for $1 at a used book store because I thought the cover looked cool. That's how graphic designers usually shop. But as I started reading it, I was very impressed by Alyssa Donati's voice. Her style of writing really got me, even the occasional cliche one-liners made me laugh. Though the ending to this particular story became pretty obvious by about halfway through the book, it still made a great read. I am very interested in reading more by Donati, but it looks like this is the only work she's had published -- even though the author bio on the dust jacket of Marzipan Pigeon says she was already busy with her second book. Curiouser and curiouser...

An Exceptional Read

My God is Salty something or what? I can believe how strong she was yet, the vulnerabilty and her willingness to give of herself shows her as a heroine in this New York City love story. The appeal for me was the honest - gritty depiticon of Donati's portrait of New York and it's characters! Simply Splendid and Facinating!

A frightening portail of NY in our 30 something younth!

Oh! wow be careful if you lived near this life ever, a little too close for home. KEEP away if you respect your current life... they will still fish you out.Nobody in politics. The L. Tripp of real life.Light irony of life really. The truth always hurts.