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The Operator: 'Great humour and insight . . . Irresistible!' KATHRYN STOCKETT

By Gretchen Berg
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Check link for latest rating. ( 6,849 ratings, 1,233 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Operator by Gretchen Berg is a charming and witty novel set in a small 1950s Midwestern town. It follows Vivian Dalton, a switchboard operator who enjoys eavesdropping on conversations. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she overhears a scandalous secret about her own family, leading to unexpected chaos and self-discovery.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy stories set in the 1950s with a mix of humour and drama. It offers a delightful exploration of small-town dynamics through the experiences of an eavesdropping telephone operator who discovers more than she bargained for. If you like tales about secrets, gossip, and the complexities of human relationships, this could be a charming read for you.

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A delightful, uplifting and moving novel about a 1950s switchboard operator who learns a shocking secret when she eavesdrops on a phone conversation. 'Irresistible' Kathryn Stockett, author of THE HELP

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
What if you could listen in on any phone conversation in town? Irresistible! Kathryn Stockett, bestselling author of The Help Glorious, gossipy, delicious and perfect Jill Mansell, bestselling author of And Now You're Back READERS LOVE THIS BOOK!
  • Unique and quirky . . . You will definitely see Vivian and co. in your mind's eye! The Booktrail
  • Moving and ultimately uplifting . . . A wonderful novel Jo's Book Blog
  • The small town feeling is portrayed really well . . . Great Short Book and Scribes
  • A joy to read . . . Wonderful, witty, intriguing and heart-felt Emma's Biblio Treasures
  • Delightfully written and cleverly woven. I enjoyed getting to know all the characters and learning their secrets Locky Loves Books

It's 1952. The switchboard operators in Wooster, Ohio, love nothing more than to eavesdrop on their neighbours' conversations, and gossip about what they learn. Vivian Dalton is no different (despite her teenage daughter's disapproval), and always longs to hear something scandalous. But on the night of December 15th, she wishes she hadn't. The secret that's shared by a stranger on the line threatens to rip the rug of Vivian's life from under her.

Vivian may be mortified, but she's not going to take this lying down. She wants the truth, no matter how painful it may be. But one secret tends to lead to another . . .

This moving, heart-felt and ultimately uplifting novel brilliantly weaves together an irresistible portrayal of a town buzzing with scandal, and an unforgettable story of marriage, motherhood and the unbreakable ties of family.

Funny, sweet, secretive, and full of fascinating 1930s, 40s, and 50s period details... a poignant look at life in a small town with its nosy neighbours, thorny families, imperfect romances, scandalous pasts, and gratifyingly just deserts Laurie Frankel, bestselling author of This Is How It Always Is

Funny and fast-paced Heat

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Operator by Gretchen Berg is praised for its humour and insightful portrayal of 1950s America, drawing comparisons to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. The book offers a lively, gossipy tale of small-town life filled with secrets, scandals, and nostalgia. It combines comic drama with a vivid depiction of the era, weaving unexpected twists into its story.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781472264138

Publisher: Headline Publishing Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 16 March 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Headline Review

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 240g

Pages: 352

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Gretchen Berg Literary Fiction

About the Author

Gretchen Berg grew up in the US Midwest and now lives in Chicago. She has always been curious about history and families, and has a personal family tree of over 16,000 people. Her family research started with her own grandmother's little brown notebook full of details, and it was the story of her grandmother - herself a switchboard operator in Wooster, Ohio, in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s - that inspired THE OPERATOR.

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