Jinny Williams, Library Assistant

This was recently featured on AwfulLibraryBooks.com and I had to check it out. Appropriately, my copy came from a library school. They're likely keeping it for the same novelty value that attracted me. The best part is the extensive list of other Career Romances on the back, including two other library-related titles. Mostly nurses, of course. Anyway, this actually worked quite well as a way to introduce teenage girls to a career field in the 1960s. There's even some question as to which boy she'll finally choose, plus some nice lip service to not wanting to settle down and get married right away, unlike many of her friends. Weird use of levis (lower-case) as a generic term for jeans. An amazing amount of energy spent on describing show more everyone's clothing and furniture. The most interesting (to me) part was when she was at work. The office politics are still remarkably contemporary. The villain is a freshly-minted MLS librarian who is constantly yelling at poor Jinny for daring to attempt professional-level work. If you work in a library today, those scenes make it worth the two hours or so of reading time right there. show less

Perky Jinny Williams is working as a page at the Ranford Public Library. Jinny's the kind of girl who thinks being a secretary might be "rewarding." But she gets sidetracked into one of those other woman jobs as she's appointed junior assistant at the library. Of course, she soon realizes that this is "serious, responsible work" and buttons down to become the gol darndest bestest junior assistant the library's ever seen. Heck! Once she learns everything, she can move up to "qualified library assistant." Jinny does, indeed, have big ambitions and aspirations.

But wait! There is a romantic triangle in the offing. Will Jinny eventually choose Joe Grant, the handsome (yet dumb) mechanic? Or will she choose Paul Cunningham, the dashing show more intellectual interested in theatre, music, and literature?

Ok, she chooses Joe Grant.

This book is a great snapshot of a bygone era. Reading this aloud is an adventure in high comedy. Try reading the following aloud to someone nearby:

(begin quote)

She stamped the books and returned the card. "I'm one of these clever people too," she said. "You'll never guess how I found out your name. It was on your card! Brilliant, Mr. Cunningham?"

He placed both hands on the desk and looked down at her. Shaking his head as though he were in awe of her genius, he said, "My! You are an intellectual, aren't you? You should be working in a library."

(end quote)

Now don't think Jinny is a simple Miss Prissy Pants. She actually QUARRELS with the reference librarian! And perfect? Not. If only she had put the coin collection in the safe, it wouldn't have been stolen. Poor, poor Jinny.

Anyway, I really, really love this book. Really. And I think you will love it too. show less

Robot Reviewer loves vintage cheesy romance and career books. In addition to this one, RR owns a copy of Joan Foster, Sophomore (1948) and Hotel Nurse (1967). The book we're reviewing is part of a large series of books called Career Romances for Young Moderns which appear to be marketed towards up and coming females aspiring to be more than just a housewife. The titles say it all including classics such as Janice: Airline Hostess, Kathie: The New Teacher, Lynn Pamet: Caterer. But Jinny Williams stands head and shoulder above all of those classics.You see, Jinny aspires to eventually move up from her newly appointed position as "Junior Library Assistant" to "Qualified Library Assistant." The girl certainly does have ambition. show more Unfortunately, she has a run in with the lady reference lieberrian, Mrs. Bender (a GREAT name for a character according to RR). Jinny and Mrs. Bender just don't see eye to eye (Mrs. Bender is smarter than Jinny and doesn't let poor Jinny forget that). Anyway, Jinny has all sorts of lieberry adventures. In one, she misplaces an expensive coin collection. Where oh where did that 1804 silver dollar go? In between all of this she has to choose between the hunky dummy or the sophisticated nerd.She of course chooses the hunk which led to a sequel, Jinny Williams, Serially Abused Sex Object. I'm still trying to locate a copy.

Jinny Williams, Library Assistant gets our highest rating of "Klaatu nikto barada" due to a cool retro cover and cheesy dialog.

A Robot Review video, and this review, have been posted at the Robot Reviewer blog at: http://robotreviewer.blogspot.com/2011/02/robot-reviewer-no-2-jinny-william.html show less