The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street by Susan Jane Gilman

Title: The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street
Author: Susan Jane Gilman
Genre: Fiction

Synopsis: This novel follows the life of a woman who immigrated to the United States from Russia as a young child. She encounters many hardships on her way to becoming a famous ice cream mogul.

My Thoughts

I have to admit, the cover and title of this book are what really drew me in. It looked so good to me I even paid full price (gasp!) for it. This novel was worth every penny. 500 pages and not once did it feel too long. It is seriously so, so good.
While the ice cream cone is why I picked it up, this story is about so much more than ice cream. An elderly Lillian Dunkle (aka. Lillian Dinello, Malka Bialystoker, Malka Treynovsky) narrates her life, semi-chronologically. While it jumps around a little in time, it is still easy to follow and keeps the reader wanting to know more.
 I really loved how this story is packed with history. As we move through Lillian's life the effects of each decade change how she lives and runs her business. It is so interesting to see how much changes in one person's lifetime. And all of this is intertwined with the evolution of ice cream in America, what could be better?
I could not recommend this book more. I think everyone should go out and get this one, it is a great summer read. (or an anytime read!) 
Let me know what you think of this book in the comments below!

To buy this book from amazon now, click on the image at the top of the post.
To see more from Susan Jane Gilman, visit her website linked above.