West End

by Laura Van Wormer

Book Overview

A popular new TV network called DBS installs its broadcast center in Manhattan's wealthy Upper West Side, and those who work both in front of and behind the cameras try to build their careers amid... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385244681
• ISBN13: 9780385244688
• Release Date: August 1989
• Publisher: Doubleday Books
• Length: 595 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Excellent Book - Complex Characters and Good Story

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

A fun, but at times tedious, read

This is the third Van Wormer book I read. Unfortunately, I'm reading the books in reverse order but in the process I can appreciate how Van Wormer's style has matured. In her later books, I'm pleased to see that she's gotten over her distracting use of "and so" (ie, "This happened, and so that happened."). The story is interesting, though. It starts with the shooting of anchorwoman Alexandra Waring and her recovery and exodus to the upstart network, DBS. We're also indroduced to Jessica Wright, and see her through her alcohol problems and subsequent recovery. The likely romance between Cassy and Jackson begins, and by the end of the book DBS is solidly established. It's a good story that held my interest, but so much of it was extraneous to the plot and cumbersome with detail. I did some skimming through certain parts, like the blow-by-blow account of Alexandra getting dressed to go out jogging. However, you'll definitely need to read this one to enjoy Talk, Expose, and The Last Lover to their fullest. All three are excellent and got me hooked on Van Wormer's work.

A Good Bad Book

I don't know how I started reading these books, but they are so much fun. I'm absolutely addicted to Laura van Wormer's stuff, and it's all because of Riverside Drive. The characters are fun and engrossing, and I appreciate the way the author continues to use the same protagonists to keep the reader addicted. West End was not as good as Riverside Drive, but still worth the effort.