This Is Not About Us

Fiction

De: Allegra Goodman

Narrado por: Kimberly Farr

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A kaleidoscopic portrait of a modern American family—steadfast, complicated, begrudging, and loving—from the bestselling author of Isola

“Wise, witty . . . a deliciously readable book [about] the delicate minutiae of family life, played beautifully, boldly, brightly in a major key.”—The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice)

“Goodman’s mature and deftly written book suggests that, in family as in art, there is no such thing as uncomplicated happiness.”—The Wall Street Journal

Was this just a brief skirmish, or the beginning of a thirty-year feud? In the Rubinstein family, it could go either way.When their beloved sister passes away, Sylvia and Helen Rubinstein are unmoored. A misunderstanding about apple cake turns into a decade of stubborn silence. Busy with their own lives—divorces, dating, career setbacks, college applications, bat mitzvahs and ballet recitals—their children do not want to get involved. As for their grandchildren? Impossible.

With This Is Not About Us, master storyteller Allegra Goodman—whose prior collection was heralded as “one of the most astute and engaging books about American family life” (The Boston Globe)—returns to the form and subject that endeared her to legions of readers. Sharply observed and laced with humor, This Is Not About Us is a story of growing up and growing old, the weight of parental expectations, and the complex connection between sisters—a big-hearted book about the love that binds a family across generations.

I gave up at chapter 7

The beginning of the story was interesting but then it got very tedious, especially the arguments about the Passover meal.

Disappointed

I was really looking forward to getting into this new book from Allegra Goodman, however it lacked a plot and direction. I kept listening, hoping to find a rhythm, but I found it to be disappointing and confusing from beginning to end. The narrator, unfortunately, failed to enhance the experience, even though I enjoyed her narration in other books. Sadly, I cannot recommend this book.

Complex family relationships

The Plot: This is a portrait of a modern Jewish American family and their complex relationships. When their beloved sister passes away, Sylvia and Helen Rubinstein struggle with moving forward and become estranged from one another. But their children, overwhelmed with their own busy and complicated lives, do not want to get involved. And their grandchildren find it all impossible to manage. As the story of these three generations unfolds, one thing remains true – family is everything.
The Review: 3 This is a story about family: The love, heartache, squabbles, forgiveness, expectations, disappointments, frustrations, and joy that come with familial connection. It is sharp-witted, touching, and honest. But it was very slow-moving and I never felt fully immersed in the storyline. I also found few redeeming qualities in any of the characters, making it difficult to remain invested in their life stories. I am a huge fan of Allegra Goodman (and was blown away by Isola), so I had high expectations for this newly released novel. Unfortunately, This Is Not About Us did not resonate with me. However, others are raving about it, so please make your own assessment. If you dive in, I recommend the audio version – Kimberly Farr is one of the best narrators I have encountered (though I have a hard time disassociating her voice with the wonderful Sybil Van Antwerp in The Correspondent).

The mess of family

Wonderful story of a big, messy family. Like any family- happy, sad, exhausted, frustrating, and full of emotions.

Boring

So bad and mundane Sorry like caring better a very burping person on a train