Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Rosie (Rosie Ferguson #1)

by Anne Lamott (Goodreads Author)

3.65 of 5 stars 3.65 · rating details · 2,231 ratings · 179 reviews

In Anne Lamott’s wise and witty novel, the growing pains of motherhood are portrayed with rare humor and honesty. If Elizabeth Ferguson had her way, she’d spend her days savoring good books, cooking great meals, and waiting for the love of her life to walk in the door. But it’s not a man she’s waiting for, it’s her daughter, Rosie—her wild-haired, smart-mouthed, and wise-b...more

Paperback, 288 pages

Published June 1st 1997 by Penguin Books

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore

San Francisco Bay Area Fiction

43rd out of 148 books — 101 voters

Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

Some of My Favorite Books

5th out of 13 books — 3 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jun 21, 2012 TBV rated it 3 of 5 stars

Rosie is one of Lamott's earlier novels. It's honest in its presentation of characters and their flaws. Elizabeth, the main character, is kind of detached from life; she has no direction or desire. When she get's pregnant with Rosie, at first she wants to get rid of the child via an abortion, but decides to keep her.This changes Elizabeth's life. Rosie is the key to her existence and as Elizabeth raises her, she gains purpose, a reason to exist.

Lamott throws several situations at her characters...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 28, 2013 Shaya rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, realistic-fiction

Up until halfway through the book I was considering putting it down. The narration takes a hard look at the characters which was sometimes hard to read. Elizabeth is an alcoholic and it's often hard to read about how she treats people or what she thinks about people as the book is written from her perspective. It's also hard to have much sympathy for her when we are told over and over again that she is very attractive, intelligent and has plenty of money. Why can't she just pull it together?

Ros...more

like · see review

Dec 04, 2010 Tiffany rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I read this book for the first time about 10 years ago, when I first discovered Anne LaMott. I love LaMott's sense of humor, remember loving this book and its sequel--Crooked Little Hearts--so when I found out she'd written a third novel about Rosie, her mother, Elizabeth, and step-father James, I decided to re-read Rosie before tackling it. It makes you wish you had been as hilariously precocious as Rosie when you were 8. One of my favorite passages comes near the end:

Later, Grace would say, "...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 23, 2010 Knucklefish rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

Aug 31, 2012 Booknblues rated it 3 of 5 stars

I love Anne Lamott's writing with her gentle humor and quirkiness and her characters' inner struggles. Lamott has a gift for immersing the reader in the tribulations of her character's lives. Rosie is another fine example of Lamott's skill.

Rosie is a story about a mother, Elizabeth and her daughter, Rosie who are alone in the world after Rosie's father dies in an accident. Often Rosie seems as if she is more adult than her mother. Rosie, is a free spirit, wise beyond her years and Elizabeth, alt...more

like · see review

Aug 11, 2011 Doreen Fritz rated it 4 of 5 stars

I approached this book with trepidation -- not usually liking books written about horrible childhoods. The title character's father was killed in an accident, and her mother is an alcoholic, and so the summary described Rosie as a precocious 9-year-old who is basically raising herself. But Lamott is such an excellent writer, I was very quickly absorbed into both the writing AND the characters. Rosie is indeed precocious, and her mother Elizabeth appreciates her and interacts with her - there is...more

1 like · like · see review

Dec 28, 2009 Cathie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

Jan 28, 2011 Kendra Parker rated it 5 of 5 stars

Anne Lamott is an author who manages to creep under my skin in that way that some others have. Her writing becomes a part of who I am for as long as I'm reading the book and then part of her lingers forever after. I read this book many years ago and remember thoroughly enjoying it. But about six months ago I picked it up again and read it in one sitting. The characters stirred me.

Lamott can do more with her imperfect characters than most authors can do with their flawless characters. Every chara...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 25, 2013 Colby rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm glad I read this one after the others, instead of in the right order. Even so - I love the characters in this family. I want to be their friend; I want to be them.

"Elizabeth, out loud, ponders the golden mean, *le juste milieu*, whether a human body is equidistant between the infinitesimally small and large, between quarks and stars." p.162

The acid trip was my favorite part.

"'i
want to do with you what spring does to the cherry trees' -neruda" p.175

"Mavis Lee's mother sat weeding a begonia be...more

like · see review

Mar 28, 2012 Pam rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was my first Anne Lamott book and I read it around 10 years ago. I wanted to recommend "Blue Shoe" to my book club based on reviews I had heard about it so decided to read this one first because it was short and I knew I'd be able to finish it quickly.
Turns out I did like it although there were times when I didn't like Rosie or Elizabeth (Elizabeth more than Rosie because, afterall, Rosie was just a child; Elizabeth was an alcoholic who was trying to figure out her life) and she dealt with...more

like · see review

Nov 17, 2009 Leila T. rated it 2 of 5 stars

I read Lamott's "Operating Instructions" when my baby was a newborn. Then I read and fell in love with her "Bird by Bird". I really like Lamott's literal and bald-faced honesty; there is so much (for me) to relate to in her neuroses and human foibles, especially those that are never admitted to.

"Rosie", at the beginning, took my breath away with how much I related to its main character. A few chapters in, my interest is flagging. I think what I need is (a) more sleep, if only my child would let...more I read Lamott's "Operating Instructions" when my baby was a newborn. Then I read and fell in love with her "Bird by Bird". I really like Lamott's literal and bald-faced honesty; there is so much (for me) to relate to in her neuroses and human foibles, especially those that are never admitted to.

"Rosie", at the beginning, took my breath away with how much I related to its main character. A few chapters in, my interest is flagging. I think what I need is (a) more sleep, if only my child would let me, and (b) a sense of the direction of this plot.

Further "review" forthcoming.

Update 16/11/09: Okay so I'm really not liking and not getting this book. It's so disappointing. And I think I've figured out why I find it so unlikable/frustrating: After reading two of her non-fiction books, "Bird by Bird" and "Operating Instructions", I feel like I know some of what the author, Anne Lamott, is about. I know a bit of her history, I know some of the way she thinks, or at least the way she thinks on paper. And the characters of "Rosie" just feel like fragments of Lamott's own personality, her neuroses, her weaknesses, her foibles. One character is an alcoholic, one is screwed up about men, another is a neurotic writer. It's too easy, too direct a line from the writer to the personalities of her characters. I have heard that you should "write what you know", but I'm beginning to wish that I'd read at least one of Lamott's novels before getting to know her as herself. And I LOVED her non-fiction stuff; it's why I picked up a couple of her novels, wanting MORE of her stuff! I couldn't get enough of her honesty, her letting-it-all-hang-out style.

So not only do the characters feel too transparent as facets of the author's psyche, but they all read too alike, too much the same. They're meant to be different people, obviously, from different backgrounds and interests and motivations. But in dialogue, of which there is plenty, I frequently can't distinguish who's who. Even the eight-year-old from the alcoholic mother. It's driving me a bit crazy.

And the neuroses are relentless. I just finished a bit of the book where the protagonist and her best friend go on a six-hour hike. The sentences---I started to write "passages", but they're not long enough for that---the sentences that describe the transformational nature of Nature are lovely, really inspiring and evocative of natural beauty. But they're so brief, and poof! Back to negativity, complaining, neuroses. I appreciate that that's what the character is about; I get that she's not into hiking or whatever, but every time there's a scene that could potentially be calm, beautiful, or uplifting, it reverts to neurosis. Maddening. Like watching too many Woody Allen films without coming up for air.

Pop culture/literary references are another thing. I don't get them. And if, as they seem to appear, they are necessary to establishing personality and mood, then not understanding them means that I'm losing context and ambiance in the reading of this book. Also maddening. On top of this, I just don't know people who quote obscure books or movie lines like this; I've never seen it happen in real life with absolutely anyone. If just one of the characters did this, I would be able to write it off as just one of the characters who would always be a bit enigmatic to me. But it's not. It's several or many of the characters. I can look up an unusual word in a dictionary to understand it if it appears in a book; if I wanted to understand the movie/literary/musical references that frequently appear in "Rosie", I'd have to look up the quote on the internet, and then either watch the whole movie/read the whole book/read a synopsis on wikipedia to attempt to understand what Lamott's characters are talking about. And that's WAY too much effort for what feels like a pretty directionless story.

Hopefully it'll get better, but at least I feel a bit better now that I've got this frustration out of my system.(less)

like · see review

Sep 11, 2012 L rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have worked backwards as far as reading Anne Lamott's works. I recently read her last novel, "Imperfect Birds (2010)", then moved backwards in time to her "Traveling Mercies (1999)", and now have read "Rosie(1983)". This novel was at times dark and sad, but was an honest portrayal of a single mother's battle with alcoholism, the loneliness of widowhood, and the raising of a brilliant but often wayward daughter who is dealing with the effects of what the mother is handling. I wish I had read th...more

like · see review

Aug 27, 2009 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

this is a good book. not great, but good. the characters are strong and complex and compelling... elizabeth the alcoholic, bored, emotionally confused creative and tortured mom, rosie the smart and precocious child, james the sensitive writer, rae the chubby talented artist. snippets of everyday life are rendered with high emotional quotient - and sticky subjects [molestation:] are handled truthfully.

i had always wanted to read something by lamott as i've heard so many good things. but i also h...more

like · see review

Aug 22, 2009 Bean rated it 3 of 5 stars

The first 20 pages were brilliant, the rest was...tolerable. In the time it was written it was probably original, but a lot of the concepts were tired, and the characterization was inconsistent - this from a woman who wrote an instructional novel on writing. And i feel that there wasn't enough about Rosie. I hated James and we were to love him. Maybe i am just disenchanted. I think Lamott was in love with the idea of Elizabeth, but did not know how to carry that idea out in a believable manner....more

like · see review

Mar 14, 2013 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own

CAUTION review contains spoilers!! In many ways, I loved this book. But in many ways, I didn't like it. Lamott is a good writer. She is not the greatest novelist on the planet, but "Rosie" is what I might call a good modern novel, when a lot of modern novels today are junk. Lamott portrays life the way it is, even when we don't like what life really is. Her style of narrative often mirrored well the way that we take in the world--through senses. She is a sensory writer, and I loved her descripti...more CAUTION review contains spoilers!! In many ways, I loved this book. But in many ways, I didn't like it. Lamott is a good writer. She is not the greatest novelist on the planet, but "Rosie" is what I might call a good modern novel, when a lot of modern novels today are junk. Lamott portrays life the way it is, even when we don't like what life really is. Her style of narrative often mirrored well the way that we take in the world--through senses. She is a sensory writer, and I loved her descriptions of objects, people, and places. She developed characters brilliantly. I had such strong perceptions of every character of the novel, and I connected with each of them, felt like they could be real people. The dialogue she writes also felt very real to me. And she does a fabulous job of incorporating thought process in between dialogue. She (for the most part...) shows, rather than tells. But, on this note, I did NOT like the beginning. After finishing the novel I went back and read it again, and found it distant, general, and summary-like. She summarizes Elizabeth through the perspective of the town-people, who don't actually matter very much for the rest of the story. And the information this provides doesn't feel necessary or relevant to who Elizabeth really is. The style of narration in the beginning doesn't resemble the rest of the novel, for me, and I don't like it at all. I also found the ending strange and abrupt.

First of all, with the ending, she marries the guy! Even though he cheats! She has a suspicion that he cheats on her, but doesn't investigate it, and marries him! I don't like what this communicates to the reader. Maybe it's realistic--yeah, guys cheat and we marry them anyway and put up with it a lot of times--but it felt like she was just marrying him because she was too terrified to be alone again. Lamott couldn't imagine breaking them up. James already wasn't a perfect guy to Elizabeth, I don't understand why Lamott felt that she had to write James as a cheater. I think this communicates a VERY damaging message to women reading the book. It's also inconsistent with the novel. Elizabeth counsels Rae through getting over her ex-boyfriend Brian, who is also manipulative and a cheater. So, if Elizabeth knows it's wrong (and perhaps Lamott as well...), WHY is it suddenly okay for her to be with a guy who will turn out to be a Brian later down the road? Not good, Lamott. Not good.

And another thing. The alcoholism. Throughout the novel, everyone is commenting on what a great mother Elizabeth is. Yes, she loves her daughter extraordinarily, and Rosie is wonderful and perfect, but Elizabeth is an alcoholic who is dependent on her daughter for happiness and stabilization! In real life, an alcoholic mother would have damaged Rosie and the relationship between mother and daughter more than what is portrayed in the book, I think. Also, this especially bothers me, Elizabeth doesn't even quit drinking on her own. She goes YEARS telling herself that she'll quit, and then doesn't. She can't quit drinking for Rosie's sake. She "tries." She doesn't. She needs James in order to quit. She needs him also quitting with her, before she can finally do it. I would have been more impressed with Elizabeth's true love for her daughter if she could have done it by her own will and strength.

And, she never gets a job. Great. The lady goes nearly her whole life not working, being miserable by not working, and then finally gaining "happiness" because she has a man again to fill up her time. What a great example that sets for readers. And what a great, strong, finish to the novel (NOT!).

Felt like this book ended with too many loose ends, or "ends" that I didn't like. But it's not just that I personally didn't prefer them, it's that I believe novels are supposed to teach us something about life that will improve us and help us become better people. If what I'm supposed to learn from this novel is that you can't quit alcoholism without someone to carry you through it, and that you need a man in order to be happy, and you can still raise a happy, fulfilled, brilliant child while being an alcoholic, and that it's okay to be lazy and sit around your house all day not working and sponging off other people's money, then fine. If this is the case, I will openly say: Anne Lamott, I don't agree with you and I don't like your book. But, granted, she can sure describe a child's perspective on the world in a way that is more amazing, beautiful, and accurate than I would have ever though possible. Kudos for that. I would like to have a conversation with Lamott. Maybe then I could work through the things I disagreed with about the novel.(less)

like · see review

Aug 15, 2009 Megan rated it 3 of 5 stars

The story of a little girl and her mother. The mother desperately loves her daughter, but can't seem to pull it together after her husband dies: sleeps around, drinks way too much, and can't decide what she'd like to do with her life. She meets Rae who becomes her best friend and a man who is an intellectual (but not physical) match for her.
Meanwhile, Rosie, the young daughter, has to be the responsible one. She spends a lot of time with a girl friend whose father ends up being a creep and devel...more

like · see review

May 11, 2011 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

I decided to read Anne Lamott so I will quit getting her name mixed up with those of other authors named Anne or Annie or Ann (Lindbergh? Dillard? Patchett?). I don't know why I have this brain filing system thing--Austria/Australia--good thing I have Goodreads. Anyway, this is Anne Lamott's first novel, and I hope not her best. It was fine, I enjoyed it, it was easy to read and had some interesting and funny and well-done parts. Some issues did not get resolved--the author shirked her duty; wha...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 14, 2012 Alisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-fiction

I read this years ago and apparently forgot it completely enough that I picked it up to read again with only a little bit of déjà vu. About a third of the way in, I did figure out this wasn't my first reading, but I was enjoying it enough that I decided to go ahead and finish it a second time. Pretty good book with interesting and well-drawn characters that are flawed but likeable. It offers a unique look at parenthood. I may pick up the related book, Crooked Little Heart, that follows Rosie as...more

like · see review

Jan 26, 2013 Jess rated it 3 of 5 stars

I approached this book with high expectations, which is always a mistake. I love most of Lamott's non-fiction work and had read a positive review or two of Rosie.

The first half was hard going and I had to talk myself out of giving up on it more than once. Slow moving and too much detail. It picked up in the 2nd half and I ended up finishing the last 100+ pages in one hit. I really enjoyed Lamott's ability to tap into the world of little girls - how they think and act, and I also found her depic...more

like · see review

May 21, 2012 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars

My only complaint was toward the end the dialogue started to read like a strategically crafted public service announcement. The book up until then really, really had my complete and utter attention. And even at that point, I forgave and finished, so happy to have stumbled on Anne Lamott novels! I plan on reading more (shout out to Bill at the WC Library!)This book did make me ponder the difficulties involved in ending a story. What authors really stick the landing? Why am I asking a question in...more

like · see review

Aug 28, 2010 Iva rated it 3 of 5 stars

This uneven and sometimes dated (1983)novel had many fresh and entertaining aspects. The strength was in well-developed characters who had fascinating relationships with each other. Elizabeth's drinking problem was so well done, it seemed like a memoir at time. Rosie, the child was memorable, especially her relationship with her best friend. This would be an excellent choice for book discussions--many issues to discuss.

like · see review

May 13, 2013 Debbie Wilson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Anne Lamott has such a powerful way of connecting us to her characters. This book was full of quirky characters, and I loved the way she pulled me into each of their lives. The main character, Rosie, is a nine year old girl who is wildly funny, precocious, and must adapt to many loses in her life. This book had me laughing one moment and crying the next. For a rather short book, this one is packed with much human experience. I loved it.

2 likes · like · see review

Sep 07, 2012 Joe Brewer rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read this to introduce myself to Anne Lamott's work. I am glad I did. Despite its title, at first the story seemed to be about Elizabeth Ferguson, Rosie's mother, and the people who populate her life: Andrew, Rosie, Rae and James. The story seems to unfold as a tiny family saga, from Elizabeth's mother to Elizabeth to Rosie. But there is an imperceptible shift, from Elizabeth's tumultuous inner life to Rosie's life of becoming herself in a world where her one constant is her flawed, beautiful,...more

like · see review

Jul 28, 2010 Madalene rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Madalene by: Lucy

Loved this book! From beginning to end, it not only kept my attention, the story line never waned. I really enjoyed Lamott's writing style; the characters' voices seem very real, probably because they are presented in a way that I could imagine myself speaking and thinking. I enjoyed reading a story where everything didn't end up perfect, but instead ended "pretty good." I'm already thinking of reading the next book focused on Rosie.

like · see review

Mar 03, 2010 Zibby rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love that one of the main characters in this book is a woman named Elizabeth who doesn't know what she wants to do with her life so instead drinks alot and keeps her house clean. It was charming and quirky and all but I felt bad for Rosie, the daughter, because I don't think in real life, with a mom like Elizabeth, she'd be so "well" adjusted.

like · see review

Mar 13, 2008 Nic rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have not been so wholly engaged in the life of a character in a long time. Elizabeth is so flawed, smart and funny, but so desperately alcoholic, that I was constantly worried about her and her daughter. I cared about these characters so much that I literally lost sleep over them, and finally had to limit my reading to daytimes and not before bed. I don't think I can give a work of fiction higher praise.

As a writer, I found the way Lamott presents dialogue almost revolutionary. She often will...more

like · see review

Apr 27, 2013 Jeff Lewis rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am a father of 2. I am a husband and lover. I love life and light. I loved this book. Quick read. I could relate to all the characters, I cared what happened to them by the end.

This is a book that I want to buy several copies and share with the wonderful women in my life. Spend a few hours in Rosies world, you won't regret it.

like · see review

May 02, 2011 Mary rated it 3 of 5 stars

Easy and fun read but I didn't really get this book. It was kind of like attending a long long AA meeting. By the grace of God, I am not an alcoholic and I don't think I will ever 100% understand the alcoholic state of mind.

A little bit predictable.. but still a good read. I love Anne but I think I like her non fiction better.

like · see review

Aug 01, 2009 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am so in love with Anne Lamott right now. Especially in this book I'm reading so many of my own thoughts, only better said and funnier. That was true with Operating Instructions as well. This one is about a stay at home mom and its really resonating. So far, every time there is a page that resonates I notice that it has already been dog eared by a previous reader so I go ahead and dog ear it myself as well so I can go back and read it again before I have to return the book.

This is probably the...more

like · see review

Mar 14, 2012 Anchal Bibra added it

Such an amazing book. I love Lamott's style of writing, and you can clearly see that her struggle with alcoholism is reflected in this book. Although the adults get on your nerves sometimes- I love the portrayal of everyone in this novel, Rosie especially. Elizabeth (Mom)'s character is complicated and Lamott's writing makes her a monster and a-mazing all at the same time. A must read!

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (4)

Genres

Novels

9 users

Contemporary

6 users

Book Club

5 users

Adult Fiction

5 users

Literature

4 users

Literature > American

3 users

Literary Fiction

2 users

Young Adult > Coming Of Age

2 users

Adult

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Anne Lamott

Anne Lamott is an author of several novels and works of non-fiction. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, her non-fiction works are largely autobiographical, with strong doses of self-deprecating humor and covering such subjects as alcoholism, single motherhood, and Christianity. She appeals to her fans because of her sense of humor, her deeply felt insights, and her outspoken views on topics such...more

More about Anne Lamott...

Books by Anne Lamott

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith

Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Rosie

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Rosie
avg rating	preview: Rosie Goodreads rating: 3.65 (2231 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12536.Rosie?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348248644l/12536.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12536.Rosie?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Rosie by Anne Lamott[/url]

Rosie (Rosie Ferguson #1)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website