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55th out of 149 books
—
103 voters
All New People
by
Anne Lamott (Goodreads Author)
With generosity, humor, and pathos, Anne Lamott takes on the barrage of dislocating changes that shook the Sixties. Leading us through the wake of these changes is Nanny Goodman, one small girl living in Marin County, California.
A half-adult child among often childish adults, Nanny grows up with two spectacularly odd parents-a writer father and a mother who is "a constant
...morePaperback, 176 pages
Published
December 17th 1999
by Counterpoint
(first published 1989)
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Dec 07, 2008
Meen
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Meen by:
I either got it at a yard sale or on $1 clearance at Page & Pale
This was just lovely.
Simple and sweet and real. I want to read more of her stuff now. I love when just out of nowhere in the middle of the narrative there's a phrase that just leaps out at you and you have to close the book and find a pen so you can either underline it and dog-ear the page or write it down in your reader's notebook (you all have those, right?) in the case of library books. It's just a beautiful combination of words that may not even have much to do with the sentiment of the surr...more
Simple and sweet and real. I want to read more of her stuff now. I love when just out of nowhere in the middle of the narrative there's a phrase that just leaps out at you and you have to close the book and find a pen so you can either underline it and dog-ear the page or write it down in your reader's notebook (you all have those, right?) in the case of library books. It's just a beautiful combination of words that may not even have much to do with the sentiment of the surr...more
Like most people, I came to this book having first read and admired Lamott's essay "Shitty First Drafts" and her book Bird by Bird. And like most people, I tend to agree that her nonfiction is better than her fiction. But what I admired about this quiet character study were the occasional brilliant lines that are pure Lamott. In other words, they are what you read for.
First line: "I am living once again in the town where I grew up, having returned here several weeks ago in a state of dull tormen...more
First line: "I am living once again in the town where I grew up, having returned here several weeks ago in a state of dull tormen...more
As I read this book I ached with nostalgia for my old hometown before the town voted to build the industrial park and the two malls. We used to live off a country road where you had to wait if you were unlucky enough to drive through when the farmer was crossing his cows. Now the road has been widened and the traffic sped up accordingly. I even had a drunk Uncle Ed and an older brother. The author captured the sense that the world was changing much too fast and that change was causing huge disru...more
I have to say that I love Anne Lamott's way of looking at the world and would read anything she writes. I have read much of her non-fiction books, and I really looked forward to reading this fictional story. It, as with everything she writes, it is filled with beautiful words and feelings that seemed genuine and strong. It is not a plot driven story, but focuses rather on the characters, which she portrays as struggling and effected by the era in which the book takes place. The 60's were a chang...more
When I first started this book - during the first chapter or two, I thought I had made a mistake. Two mistakes, rather. The first mistake I thought I had made was choosing this book to read. Second, I thought I had prematurely declared my love for Anne Lamott after having only read Bird by Bird and watched her speak in a bunch of YouTube videos.
I wasn't immediately pulled into the story. There is no clearly defined plot. The book is more of an exploration of characters, of snippets of memories o...more
I wasn't immediately pulled into the story. There is no clearly defined plot. The book is more of an exploration of characters, of snippets of memories o...more
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This is an early novel (1989) of Anne Lamott's and it is a complete joy. They always say to write what you know and the reader gets the sense that, although this is a work of fiction, Lamott has an extreme empathy for Nanny--likely born of personal experience.
Funny, heartbreaking and heart warming, young Nanny Goodman grows up in the sixties across the bay from San Francisco amidst quirky adults with some pretty grown up problems: alcholism, depression, separation, infidelity, unplanned pregnanc...more
Funny, heartbreaking and heart warming, young Nanny Goodman grows up in the sixties across the bay from San Francisco amidst quirky adults with some pretty grown up problems: alcholism, depression, separation, infidelity, unplanned pregnanc...more
I liked this book, but I didn't like it as much as the other books I've read by Lamott.
The novel begins with Nan Goodman coming back to her hometown after the death of her father and her painful divorce. She goes to see a hypnotist who has her think back through all of the painful and shameful moments of her life, back to her earliest memories. Then, he has her step into each scene as an adult and comfort herself as a child. This helps her to view the events of her life not just through a child'...more
The novel begins with Nan Goodman coming back to her hometown after the death of her father and her painful divorce. She goes to see a hypnotist who has her think back through all of the painful and shameful moments of her life, back to her earliest memories. Then, he has her step into each scene as an adult and comfort herself as a child. This helps her to view the events of her life not just through a child'...more
A beautifully written and deeply flawed novel. The problem here, I think, may be that Lamott has written and fictional memoir and is trapped in her own device. The lyrical and moving writing doesn't measure up to the plot. Did I say plot? While it is widely accepted that a literary novel needs not have a plot in the same sense that, say, a mystery does, it is also expected that there is some sense of mounting tension that warrants the ending of the book. This is rather like the first three quart...more
I love a lot of Anne Lamott's descriptions of people, and in this book many of the descriptions are coming from a pre-teen girl, whose father smells "like a good clean goat." Very enjoyable. Always fun to read books that are set near somewhere I've lived, and this was no exception, giving an interesting picture of Marin in the 60's when gentrification was beginning to take place in a small railroad town. I got a bit of a scattered feeling as I was reading this one, having to go back a few pages...more
It annoys me that this is titled "a novel." First, because the detail is too endlessly personal (and the protagonists name too obviously a derivative of the author's) for this to be anything other than memoiric. And second, because NOTHING HAPPENS. I mean, it's brilliantly written and jam-packed with nuggets of truth and wisdom, but it comes off as more a ramble on real life. I guess I've been too influenced of late by my reading of Robert McKee's "Story," in that I find myself less patient with...more
checked this out because I enjoyed so much her book 'Operating Instructions' about the birth and first year of her son. Her fiction was very readable (good use of language) but wasn't particularly interesting. Not sure if I'll read anything else by her or not. I did like the thought behind the title: one character says something along the lines of 'why do we fret so much over our perceived problems? in a hundred years, there will be all new people here. it's not so important.' When I lived in Io...more
Not really a fan of Ann Lamott so not quite sure why I bought this book, probably a good deal at a yard sale. But it was an interesting enough quick read for a lazy Sunday. Nanny is growing up in a town near San Francisco in the 60's, turbulent due to readily available drugs, fathers leaving their families, her own family a mess with a depressed mother, a workaholic father, a stoned older brother, an uncle who fathers a baby with her mother's best friend. Gee...sounds like a real laugh fest, doe...more
Another main character I enjoyed so much. Our introduction to her through a hypnosis session was a bit odd, but it helps create a context for the rest of the novel to come. Right away it gives you get a sense of the struggle she's had in the past and is wrestling with in the present. I loved the source of the book's title--basically a character is stating that in the scheme of things, we should get some perspective on our problems and live more in the moment, because frankly in a hundred years o...more
Occasionally overwritten, when compared with Rosie, but overall some very good insights into the human condition and the relationship between family members. What keeps her from being too gothic or baroque is her overall fondness for her off-kilter characters; she never demeans or insults them for their flaws and indeed emphasizes their essential humanity. You can see the importance of her spiritual faith in her work overall, not just this novel, for she clearly views humans as flawed but deserv...more
Let me start by saying I love Anne Lamott. I have read most of her nonfiction books but this is my first try at one of her novels. I wasn't sure what to expect and was a little disappointed by the downbeat nature of the opening chapters. But it turned out to be a delicate, warm story about a loving family dealing with the turmoil of 1960's California. If you've read her nonfiction you will recognize Lamott and several of her family members and friends in this story. A slim, enjoyable novel that...more
Thinly veiled autobiography, though I don't think her mom had one nostril bigger than the other.
Quote: "...I said to her...'Why do we make it all seem like a crisis, over and over again? Why do we worry it all to death, like dogs with socks or chew-toys? Look at it this way,' he said to me. 'In a hundred years? ---All new people.'"
Quote: "...I said to her...'Why do we make it all seem like a crisis, over and over again? Why do we worry it all to death, like dogs with socks or chew-toys? Look at it this way,' he said to me. 'In a hundred years? ---All new people.'"
This is just the Lamott I needed. I can’t believe I let so much time go by before reading this, but maybe I knew all along that I should save a couple of her novels for this era when all she is publishing is the same cute essays over and over and over (see my review of Grace Eventually.)
This one is a slow moving, quiet, luscious reflection on the main character (Nanny, as always, layered with Annie) and her growing up years in Marin County during the sixties. There are so many familiar aspects...more
This one is a slow moving, quiet, luscious reflection on the main character (Nanny, as always, layered with Annie) and her growing up years in Marin County during the sixties. There are so many familiar aspects...more
This is my second Anne Lamott book. I like this one better, partly because I'm starting to get her, and now I like the first one better too. I like how she does the hypnosis sequence. That would be a nice exercise for a writing class or for a personal growth inquiry.
Lamott creates engaging characters and her writing style is accessible. I didn't find myself very attracted to the main character, though, and that made it difficult for me to care about the book as a whole. Overall, I didn't mind it, but I probably wouldn't read it again.
Coming of age story of narrator Nannie's Marin County 1950's-60's girlhood. Populated with leftist parents, an oddly deformed Christian mother, a druggie brother, and alcoholic uncle, Lamott manages to hit multiple stereotypes in one tiny volume.
Enjoyable. You can't help but love Nanny's view of the world and her family. Who doesn't relate to the crazy family dynamics, struggle for identity, and wrestling with the ever present 'Who am I?' that Lamott reveals through Nanny.
This book is pretty wonderful. The characters are so real. And she writes so well. There's pain and humour and wonderful, wonderful sentences. I love great sentences. An example:
"I am living once again in the town where I grew up, having returned here several weeks ago in a state of dull torment for which the Germans probably have a word."
Another exemplo:
"In a way I've never quite understood, the veil tore an inch for me that day, like it does every so often, when in the midst of all that is mun...more
"I am living once again in the town where I grew up, having returned here several weeks ago in a state of dull torment for which the Germans probably have a word."
Another exemplo:
"In a way I've never quite understood, the veil tore an inch for me that day, like it does every so often, when in the midst of all that is mun...more
How can you not fall in love with Anne Lamott? Her words wash over you like refreshing rain. I actually walked around the house reading excerpts to my husband and children so they could taste the sweet use of language for themselves!
With me at least, Anne Lamott is sort of a victim of her own success: I'm always much happier with her memoirs than I am with the semi-autobiographical fiction that covers much of the same territory.
Love Lamott and have read all her oops, but this was not my favorite. Still, worth reading. Theme of dysfunctional family and the ups and downs of the children and inter familial relationships.
Read 80 pages...just not all that into it. I ADORE Anne Lamott...when she's writing Non-fiction. This is my second try of a novel of hers...and they leave me feeling flat. Im on to other things I want to read. oh well
A chronicle of the Sixties through the eyes and experiences of Nanny. Those experiences include liberal parents, a hippie brother, a fast girlfriend, and more despair that happiness.
maybe reading all of ann lamotts books too close together is not a good thing. i enjoyed the book but its mostly the same themes and people even tho' it is a work of fiction.
Best concept; when things get tough, life is horrible, you just made a big mistake/embarassed yourself, whatever, just think...in 100 years, it'll be all new people!
This book was well-written and has lovely prose, because it is Anne Lamott, but generally, I found it pretty tiresome. It seemed to be only about the beauty and poignancy and horribleness of life. Which I think tends to go without saying. I needed a little bit more.
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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
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“...why do we make it all seem like a crisis, over and over again? Why do we worry it all to death, like dogs with socks or chew-toys? 'Look at it this way...In a hundred years? - All new people.”
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