B.G. Firmani’s Time’s a Thief takes place in 1980s New York, and early 2000s New York. We follow Francesca “Chess” Varani through her years at Barnard. Coincidentally also where Firmani attended. Immediately we meet Kendra Marr-Lowenstein, a wild child from a high class family. Chess is instantly taken with Kendra and her crazy ways. Throughout Firmani’s novel, we follow the ups and downs of Chess and Kendra’s friendship as well as just how deeply Chess finds herself in the Marr-Lowenstein family and the number they do on her.

While Time’s a Thief was easy to fall into and very easy to read, I found myself annoyed with the incessant lists of poets, composers, and literaries that seemed to add nothing to the story other than to flaunt Firmani’s knowledge. Beyond that, the novel read like a stream of consciousness writing. Very Bohemian and Kerouac-esque. I didn’t love the book but I didn’t hate it. I won’t give anything away but the ending seemed very bland to me as if nothing had actually happened through the entire story.

Still, if you’re looking for a novel to kill the time then Time’s a Thief is a good choice. As Firmani’s first novel it could use some work.

Thank you for the chance to review this book, however, unfortunately, I was unable to read and review this title before it was archived.

Loved this book
Didn't want it to end
Highly recommended

When comparing themselves to the British, American's often pride themselves that their country doesn't have a rigid class system. Rich and poor, alike, can mingle. No one really cares about if your family has money or not. To which I say:

Time's a Thief, by B.G. Firmani, explores themes of entitlement and assumptions, between working-class and wealthy college co-eds at Columbia University. It is a love letter to 80's New York City, and the optimism that only twenty-somethings can possess.

What I Liked:
Characters:
Chess dreams of going to school in New York, and quickly assimilates into college life at Barnard College. With her working class background, she is easily dazzled by her rich new friends, particularly Kendra. Always a people pleaser, she becomes enmeshed in Kendra's family and nearly becomes their servant. She puts up with this treatment because of her own insecurity. I liked how Chess finally comes to terms with her background, and whether Kendra's family will ever consider her their equal. She has a road to travel to understand her own worth.

Jerry is Kendra's brother and later becomes involved with Chess. He is the charming bad boy that everyone wants to save. While I didn't "like" his character, I think he served a purpose in this book. He demonstrates how entitled people make assumptions about others. The bubble he lives in is indicative of white male privilege. He is clueless as to how much Chess does for him, and what she sacrifices to be with him.

Character progression:
Chess narrates the story that spans over twenty years. One of the things I found fascinating was how she went from an optimist to a pessimist, and then found some peace. I think most twenty-somethings have the outlook that the world is their oyster and they will all accomplish great things. As we get older and realize that most of us won't make a serious impact, we can become bitter. I liked how Chess worked through those feelings.

1980's New York:
While I have never been to New York, I was a young person at that time. New York always seemed like the most glamorous place in America. With all the characters going out, even when they don't have money, New York nightlife is showcased. The author does a wonderful job of evoking this time and place.

What I Was Mixed About:
Do all rich people need to be jerks? It seems like every single rich person in this novel is terrible. Each and every one of these characters were truly awful people. I don't think I would want to hang out with them. I found this to be a bit extreme.

There were really so many times that I wanted to put this book down, but I kept thinking that it would get better. Then I would get called away and come back to it and read a little and think I should find another book. Then again, I would get called away, come back to it and again think I should find another book. This kept happening to me. I think I only finished it because all of that happened. It is very rare that it takes me five days to read a book.

I do have to say that the there were a few highlights when some places were mentioned that I remember. Of course, that's not saying much.

I really found Francesa needed a life, a real life. She certainly was not getting one with the Loewstein family even if she thought she was. All of those people used her. A sad, sad story about a sad, sad girl with a sad, sad life.

Thanks Doubleday Books for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing a free e-galley in exchange for an honest unbiased review.

I very rarely stop reading a book, but I found this tedious. There are too many details and it strays too far from the strands that might be interesting.

I am really disappointed since I thought the topic would interest me, but I simply couldn't stay involved long enough.

This was that kind of book that you begin and then just fall into – it was engaging and effortless to read. There have been so many stories set in Manhattan and here we go, another one, but I mean, how many narrators give you two coming-of-age stories?!

At the core were Francesca Variani, Italian Catholic, and the Jewish Kendrick Lowenstein, who met as students at Barnard. Chess (Francesca) is inadvertently engulfed in Kendra's dysfunctional family, but her own family was so dysfunctional that she couldn't be objective. I thought it an interesting note that both girls shared the experience of cold emotionless mothers and useless fathers, one distant, the other cruel.

I loved this book on so many levels. The author's descriptions of New York neighborhoods and subways give the setting genuine depth. When she said that Los Sures had Dominican or Puerto Rican flags hanging which looked like something from a Childe Hassam painting, I knew exactly what she meant.

There's a small roster of characters, some more preplexing than others, but you're not left trying to keep track of who did what.. She nailed Clarice in one paragraph: "Lunch with Clarice was an exercise in what it was to be a WASP. Oddly, it seemed to grow in complexity over the course of the week, like the New York Times crossword puzzle."

Chess fell blindly in love with the damaged Jerry, Kendra's brother, and gave up her own ambitions to support his, six passionate and lost years. Her inability to find what she wants to do with her life until well into her 30s seems to be a contemporary phenomena. It's when she looks at her life, compares it to where she's been and the promise she felt was hers, she remembers a song - Love is pure gold and time a thief.

I appreciate a book that entertains me and makes me think at the same time and this book gave me both and more. I'm going to suggest it to my book club.

This book weaves a captivating tale as we journey across a well drawn world. The author writes a vivid world that truly draws you in as you can not set this book down!