This Is Not About Us

Fiction

By: Allegra Goodman

Narrated by: 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.

The mess of family

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

meh

many parts were good, did not love the narrator who’s attempts at accents were distracting at times

Familiar themes

Many vignettes familiar to reform Jews, quite entertaining. At times the narrator was over the top, too hysterical.

Excellent read

I loved the way the author wove the stories between different family members beautifully. She then made the point of the story, the title, at the end. Great character development.

Family stories

I enjoyed listening to this tale of how families work over generations. I love listening to the narrator too