Diary of a Waitress

Author: Caroline Meyer
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Astra Publishing House, 2015
Pages: 288
Rating: Recommend

Synopsis: In 1926, droves of Americans traveled by train across the United States to visit the West. They ate at Harvey Houses, where thousands of well-trained waitresses provided first-class service. Diary of a Waitress tells the first-person story of one spunky girl, Kitty Evans, as she faces the often funny and painful experiences she and fellow waitresses Cordelia and Emmy endure. As Kitty writes about her escapades, a lovable teenager emerges; she embraces adventure, independence, her position as a Harvey girl, and a freelance writing career.

Review: Nearing the end of The Harvey Girls, I went down a rabbit hole. My search for additional historical fiction novels about Harvey Girls landed on this title and requested it from the library not realizing it's for ages 10-14. I decided to give it a try. I really liked it, and recommend it for all ages.

Other Novels by Carolyn Meyer
In Mozart's Shadow: His Sister's Story
Mary, Bloody Mary 
The Bad Queen

Of Mice and Men

Author: John Steinbeck
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Covici Fried, 1937*
Pages: 112
Rating: Of Mice and Men

Synopsis: An unlikely pair, George and Lennie, two migrant workers in California during the Great Depression, grasp for their American Dream. They hustle work when they can can, living a hand-to-mouth existence. For George and Lennie have a plan: to own an acre of land and a shack they can call their own. When they land jobs on a ranch in Salinas Valley, the fulfillment of their dream seems to be within their grasp. But even George cannot guard Lennie from the provocations, nor predict the consequences of Lennie's unswerving obedience to the things George taught him.

Review: Despite being an English major, there are very few classics that I actually enjoy. While this was a short, easy read I failed to see why it's considered a classic. It's clearly meant for a different place and time, but I think, for the most part, the story's message was lost on me.

*I read a version published in 2002, but included the original publisher information in this post.

The Harvey Girls

Author: Juliette Fay
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Gallery Books, 2025
Pages: 384
Rating: Recommend

Synopsis: 1926: Charlotte Crowninshield was born into one of the finest Boston society families. Now she's on the run from a brutal husband, desperate to disappear into the wilds of the Southwest. Billie MacTavish is the oldest of nine children born to Scottish immigrants in Nebraska. She quit school in the sixth grade to help her mother's washing and mending business, but even that isn't enough to keep the family afloat.

Desperate, both women join the ranks of the Harvey Girls, waitresses who serve in America's first hospitality chain on the Santa Fe railroad. Hired on the same day, they share three things: a room, a heartfelt dislike of each other. . .and each has a secret that will certainly get them fired.

Through twelve-hour days of training in Topeka, Kansas, they learn the fine art of service, perfecting their skills despite bouts of homesickness, fear of being discovered, and a run-in with the KKK. When they're sent to work at the luxurious El Tovar hotel at the Grand Canyon, the challenges only grow, as Billie struggles to hid her young age from would-be suitors, and Charlotte discovers the little-known dark side of the national park's history.

Review: Unfortunately, I was born about 75 years too late to be a Harvey Girl, but my imagination was off and running. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I love historical fiction and this novel had a satisfying ending. If anything, I wanted more.

Softly, As I Leave You

Author: Priscilla Beaulieu Presley
Genre: Memoir
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2025
Pages: 336
Rating: Do Not Recommend

Synopsis: Priscilla Presley's divorce from Elvis left his fans incredulous. How could she leave the man that every woman wanted. From the outside, life in Elvis' mansion looked glamorous and enviable, and in many respects, it was. But from inside the mansion, her husband was constantly surrounded by a male entourage while at the gates, beautiful women waited hopefully for an audience with the King. From the time she was seventeen years old, that life was all Priscilla had known. During her ten years with Elvis, it became painfully apparent that she had no idea who she was outside Elvis' world. The only way to find herself was to leave that world and seek a new life of her own, because leaving was the only way to survive, for herself and for her daughter.

Softly, As I Leave You, is the deeply personal story of what Priscilla lost and what she found when she walked away from the man she loved. Despite the legal separation, their love for one another was transformed into a touching and tender dynamic that endured until Elvis' untimely death four years later. Shattered by Elvis' passing, she had to reinvent herself a second time as the single mother of a talented, often headstrong daughter who never really recovered from her father's death. Priscilla's dedication to motherhood was enriched by the birth of her second child, and she gradually found her footing as a businesswoman, actress, designers, and legislative advocate. She transformed Graceland into an international destination and helped guide the development of Elvis Presley Enterprises. But the unexpected, shattering loss of three immediate family members years later brought Priscilla to her knees. 

Review: Sadly, I did not love this book. For some reason I had expected more reflective insights. Priscilla Presley met Elvis when she was very young and had a child when still practically a child herself. I don't doubt that she did the best she could. However, now in her 80s, I expected to have some accountability or take some responsibility for some of her children's issues, and I don't know that she has. She speaks matter-of-factly and says how there wasn't much she could have done. This memoir did not make me love Priscilla or cause me to feel much empathy toward her.