I don’t know why Bandbox caught my eye at the bookstore when I was down the beach earlier this summer. I had never heard of the author, Thomas Mallon. I now know he has a pretty reputable background, but I didn’t go looking for something of his to read. The cover kind of caught my eye, but I think what sealed the deal was the fact that the novel took place at a magazine.

I’m a sucker for almost anything inside the media. I love the rhythm of the newsroom and the unique relationships which form there. I thought the setting of this book – Prohibition Era New York – would make for a fun read.

Bandbox did not disappoint. Mallon mixes some zaniness with the interesting flavor of the era to keep the story moving. The competition between two magazines and the members of their staff made for some hilarious situations.

My only complaint was the fact that I had trouble keeping some of the characters straight at times. I thought it was just me, but my wife had the same issue. Since she’s definitely smarter and reads a lot more, I can’t just chalk it up to my feeble mind.

I really want to read some more of Mallon’s work now. I also hope Bandbox gets made into a movie at some point. I could see a carefully chosen ensemble cast making this into a great film