"Purgatory Gardens"

Peter Lefcourt is a refugee from the trenches of Hollywood, where he has distinguished himself as a writer and producer of film and television.

He applied the Page 69 Test to his new novel, Purgatory Gardens, and reported the following:

Page 69, in its entirety:

Chris and Edie had no doubt cruised them, interviewing them as possible additions to their swinging parties. Edie had approached Marcy one day at the pool and suggested that she show up with one of the new guys for a couple of mai tai’s and a little you-know-what. Marcy passed, explaining that she didn’t indulge publicly in you-know-what.

“You don’t what you’re missing.”

“I’m afraid I do.”


The night of the mold meeting the contestants were face to face. It was obvious to her, and probably to them, that they were in competition. Didier was cordial, jovial, diplomatic, but Sammy looked like he wanted to put his rival through a wall. Frankly, she wasn’t sure which of the two attitudes was more attractive. Primitive was, as Stanley said, primitive. But a touch of the Neanderthal wasn’t entirely unappealing. Though Marcy considered herself a feminist – what woman who supports herself isn’t? – she wasn’t above being titillated by the thought of a man throwing her over his shoulder and dragging her off into a cave. At this point of her life, however, the cave would preferably have running water and a microwave.

Sammy hadn’t wanted to vote for the mold removal until she and Didier had. Marcy wasn’t sure whether this meant that he was cheap or that he was smart. Even though she certainly didn’t need a special assessment in their monthly homeowners’ dues, she wound up voting for the mold busters in memory of Stanley, who had initiated a number of improvements to the property: the

It’s obviously difficult to take any 200 odd word fragment and evaluate it without context, but think the writing style of a writer is on every page. I don’t know about you, but I read for the author’s voice. And you should find it on page 69 of any book.

Visit Peter Lefcourt's website.

My Book, The Movie: Purgatory Gardens.

--Marshal Zeringue