Meet the Newmans

A Novel

De: Jennifer Niven

Narrado por: Marin Ireland, Tim Campbell

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Niven, a novel about America’s favorite TV family, whose perfect façade cracks, for fans of Lessons in Chemistry and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. This program includes narration by actor and Audie Award–winning narrator Marin Ireland, who has appeared in The Irishman and Feud: Capote vs. The Swans.

“I loved Meet the Newmans!” —Judy Blume, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"Warm, witty, and wise." —Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, New York Times bestselling author

For two decades, Del and Dinah Newman and their sons, Guy and Shep, have ruled television as America’s Favorite Family. Millions of viewers tune in every week to watch them play flawless, black-and-white versions of themselves. But now it’s 1964, and the Newmans’ idealized apple-pie perfection suddenly feels woefully out of touch. Ratings are in free fall, as are the Newmans themselves. Del is keeping an explosive secret from his wife, and Dinah is slowly going numb—literally. Steady, stable Guy is hiding the truth about his love life, and the charmed luck of rock ‘n roll idol Shep may have finally run out.

When Del—the creative motor behind the show—is in a mysterious car accident, Dinah decides to take matters into her own hands. She hires Juliet Dunne, an outspoken, impassioned young reporter, to help her write the final episode. But Dinah and Juliet have wildly different perspectives about what it means to be a woman, and a family, in 1964. Can the Newmans hold it together to change television history? Or will they be canceled before they ever have the chance?

Funny, big-hearted, and deeply moving, Meet the Newmans is a rich family story about the dual lives we lead. Because even when our lives aren’t televised weekly, we all have a behind-the-scenes.

"[Marin] Ireland, a veteran audiobooks reader....creates strong personas for each of the main characters." — The Valley Breeze


A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books

Loved This Book, But.....

I really enjoyed this book and the narrator's performance. But I have to wonder if anyone who was alive in 1964 ever reviewed this manuscript before it was published. I was only a young child, but even I knew some things that were referenced and some language used were simply NOT in the world in 1964. Anyone else catch these things and find them annoying? Examples:
- The F*** word would never have been in a Life Magazine article
- She called Sid when he was somewhere noisy - well that would have been his home or his office, and she'd have known what number she dialed. His "attached to the wall" phone was one place or the other.
- No one said "no worries" or "I'm good" in conversation
- Panty hose were not even introduced until 1959 and not widely used until the 1960s, but in the story context, they are mentioned as being in used in the 1950s
-Anyone who Grand Marshalled the Tournament of Roses Parade would have called it that and not the Rose Bowl Parade
- Heavy rain and low temperatures in the 30s are EXTREMELY rare in Los Angeles, especially in Mid-April. Some rain, yes. A major winter cold front, very unlikely
- At one point, trash was put in a trash bag before being taken out. There really were no such dedicated things until the 1970s. A paper grocery sack did the trick, if garbage simply didn't go straight into a kitchen can and then directly into the metal can outside
- No post-it notes in 1964
- No morning after pill, little use of the word abortion (more vague references to "getting rid of it" would have been common), and "sexual harassment," while it definitely existed, would not have been called that

They also make mention of a TV Remote, which, it seems, did exist in primitive versions on some TVs back then, but most people would not have owned a TV that had one until much later than 1964.

Anyway, you get my point. If this book were written 25 years from now, when almost no one old enough to remember the era was still alive, no one would notice. But I just kept hearing these things over and over, until it became a game to find the next one.

Still, an enjoyable listen with a feel-good ending!

Must-Read!

Entertaining and touching, and relevant as hell. I’d consider it a must-read for anyone.

Yes.

This was my 3rd book of the year and it's going to be really tough to beat!! Great story, great narration. Reminded me of lessons in chemistry. 5+ stars

Good historical read circa Mad Men

Always love hearing how things were in this timeframe. A nice story with no surprises.

Just the best read in a long time!

This story had me at the start and I didn’t want it to end..although the ending was perfect. The performance by my favorite narrator, Ms. Ireland, has once again, brought the story to life! Although a “lighter” book, it tackles issues women still see today. 5 stars all around!