Girls' Poker Night [Mass Market Paperback]

Jill A. Davis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 3, 2004

Dissatisfied both with writing a “Single Girl on the Edge/Ledge/Verge” column and with her boyfriend, Ruby Capote sends her best columns and a six-pack of beer to the editor of The New York News and lands herself a job in the big city. There, Ruby undertakes the venerable tradition of Poker Night—a way (as men have always known) to eat, drink, smoke, analyze, interrupt one another, share stories, and, most of all, raise the stakes. When Ruby falls for her boss, though, all bets are off. . . .

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Ruby Capote, the narrator of Girls' Poker Night, is your quintessential New York cynic. This persona serves her just fine in her job as a humor columnist; she's unafraid to write the most humiliating details about herself or her friends, because she truly doesn't care. But over the course of a year or so of Wednesday night poker parties with her pals, Ruby is forced to face her past--especially her sorrow over her father, who committed suicide after he left Ruby's mother. Meanwhile, Ruby comes to terms with her budding feelings for Michael, the editor of her newspaper, who, in a neat twist, turns out to be estranged from his only child (shades of Ruby's lost father). Davis, a former writer for The Late Show, does a fine job of maintaining Ruby's sharp humor while leading her through a minefield of emotional discovery. --Claire Dederer --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

When journalist Ruby Capote decides to flee boring Boston for the bright lights and hopefully more exciting world of New York City, she discovers love is still the same challenge it was in Bean Town. By turns endearing, funny and downright irritating, Capote ends one relationship with the annoying but handsome Doug and begins another with her editor boss Michael, all the while mulling things over with her circle of female poker pals. Rather like refugees from a bargain basement Sex and the City, the friends provide shaky support as Capote continues to search for meaning and happiness, both in her humor columns and in reality. Navigating the perilous waters of workplace romance, Capote wisecracks her way through until she discovers that she must deal with some real and poignant issues. Davis, herself an erstwhile newspaper columnist (and a writer for David Letterman), paints the newsroom universe and its inhabitants with colorful irony, while exuding empathy for single career women everywhere. Constructed of breezy chapters that often read like surreal "Lifestyle" columns, the trump card of this slim volume is its blend of humor and rueful sadness. The brittle Capote always has her guard up; she is quick with a quip and ready to run at a moment's notice the instant life gets serious. This amusing though somewhat dialogue-heavy first novel won't reveal the secrets of winning at poker, but it does teach an attentive reader that dealing from the bottom of the deck doesn't work. "You set yourself up for happiness or you set yourself up for sadness. Either way, it's your doing," notes Capote's therapist in an Ally McBeal-esque segment. Or in cardspeak: if you don't keep shuffling and playing, you'll never know when you'll have a winning hand. Deal.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (February 3, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345469674
• ISBN-13: 978-0345469670
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (210 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,374,344 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jill A. Davis, born in 1966, is an American author and television writer. She is a member of the Writers Guild of America. She was nominated for 5 Emmy awards for her 6 years of work as a writer for Dave Letterman. Her first novel, Girls' Poker Night, was a New York Times bestseller. It was published in 5 languages, and twelve countries. Her second novel, Ask Again Later, also a bestseller, is now held by almost 900 libraries.

Prior to working in television, Davis was a newspaper reporter and columnist. After leaving the Late Show, she created and executive-produced a television show pilot for Dreamworks starring Tracy Pollan, Anna Says. She also wrote and published a number of screenplays, teleplays, short stories and magazine articles.

Davis, originally from Pennsylvania, is a graduate of Endicott College and Emerson College, majoring in journalism. She has an Honorary PhD of Arts & Letters from Endicott.

She is married and lives in New York City with her husband and daughter.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book rocks!, February 22, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Girls' Poker Night (Hardcover)

I read this book in one day. I absolutely loved it. The voice of the main character, Ruby, is hilarious. Her observations are smart, poignant, and feel so real. I felt like I was reading the diary of a friend, or maybe even my own diary. There is something so intimiate about the way the story is told that it genuinely pulls you in.

Ruby moves from Boston to New York City. She thinks all of her fears will be resolved by packing up and starting over. When she gets to the city, she gets all of her old college friends together for a weekly poker game (I'm planning my own poker night). She starts her new job at a newspaper and falls for her editor.

This is a great story about an everygirl: how she grows up and learns to make tough decisions that will ultimately lead to a more complete life. It's also about recovering from your past, and making your own future. The comedy is great and I'm sure I've never read a novel that balances the humor and sadness so well or in such a satisfying way.

The book contains a series of very short chapters, which all read like diary entries or columns. They're touching, revealing, and so incredibly funny! It's the kind of book that you can pick up, and randomly read a chapter and get a laugh. I can't say enough about this book.I just wish it was longer.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Witty anecdotes from a neurotic New York columnist!, March 11, 2002

By 

CoffeeGurl - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Girls' Poker Night (Hardcover)

This book was so much fun to read. I picked up the book because it was about a neurotic journalist from New York City -- and I can relate to that -- but I got so much more than I bargained for! Wit doesn't even begin to describe this gem!

The cynical and neurotic Ruby Capote leaves her eccentric boyfriend behind and moves from Boston to NYC, where a new job as a comic columnist awaits. Capote chronicles her life in a witty way -- touching on subjects such as female bonding, love, her rather strange co-workers, her childhood traumas with her father, and Michael, the object of her desire who also happens to be her boss.

Davis wrote a novel about a real woman -- few heroines have had the sincerity Capote has. It illustrates love and relationships in a clearer (and hilarious) light. And I love the parts in which she plays poker with her girlfriends! They all have their own brand of cynicism and quirk. A true chick novel! I so recommend it!

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and uplifting, March 6, 2002

By 

"captainkathym" (Darien, CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Girls' Poker Night (Hardcover)

I'd read a lot about this book before buying it and suspected I was going to be dissapointed because there was so much hype. But it was great fun and I read it in a weekend. I can't remember the last time I did that.

I fell in love with the characters, especially Ruby, Michael, Skorka and the Cadaver. They seemed like people I know, or could know. Everyone once in a while we can all use a reminder that you can't win the big jackpot if you aren't willing to take personal risks.

Davis' writing is very funny, very real, endearing and smart. I know it's a cliche - but I did laugh out loud (a lot). To borrow a line from the book: It's cinematic, baby.