I Love Gootie: My Grandmother's Story

by Max Apple

The author offers a nostalgic account of the life and times of Gootie Goodstein, his memorable grandmother, who emmigrated to the U.S. from a small village in Lithuania

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography

Hardcover

First published May 1, 1998

Reviews

[Catherine Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually liked this book more than Roommates, simply because it has a more lighthearted feel and it came to me at the right time, when I really wanted a lighthearted read. That being said, I think it makes the most sense to read Roommates first.

I feel like this book gave me a good glimpse into a world so different from my own and yet in my own backyard. The dichotomy of the American born child of foreign born immigrants is a story that is told over and over again, but this was definitely one of the more interesting ones I've read.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've had this book on my shelf for awhile and finally got around to reading it. To have a childhood like Max Apple and to know your grandparents so well. I kept thinking through it all, where are Max's parents and what are they doing to raise their son. Max's grandmother and grandfather were ALWAYS there. It was heart warming to see their relationship. Which was very real, not always a smooth ride for Max as his grandmother and grandfather were very set in their ways and had some strong opinions on the way things should be.

[Anne Vandenbrink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max Apple, continues his story about growing up with his Jewish grandparents. Not as good as Roommates, but just as humorous. Gootie is forever trying to tell Max how he should grow up and live. She doesn't venture out much, speaking very little English, but when she does, she needs Max to translate. She loves to weave stories from simple sentences or somebody she sees that is hilariously off-target. I'm sure she had a big influence in Max Apple's power of love and the art of storytelling.

[jimtown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is another book outside my realm of experience. I Love Gootie is an appealing and endearing memoir of a Jewish boy growing up with his grandparents. This book which was subtitled My Grandmother's Story, gave a very clear picture of both his grandparents, Rocky and Gootie.

Max grows up learning all the old world ways and tales at Gootie's side. He is much a grandma's boy. Gootie is stuck in a past that she left behind only in body, for her person is in America but her heart and mind are still living the old world ways of Serei. (Lithuania).

Max tells it like he remembers it, being the only boy he knows that shares a room with his grandfather. I believe there is more about that in his previous book, titled Roommates. Here Gootie is in the limelight.

Gootie not only worries but gives advice on everything from Max's choice of occupation to his tutoring nights with a pretty girl. She goes so far as to ride with one night to see just exactly what it is Max does when he goes out at night.

This is a hilarious look at the life of not just Jewish people, but old folks everywhere. The one paragraph that kind of summed it all up for me was, 'Out,' she said, 'all you say now is 'out.' Everything a person could want is in the house-a telephone, a television, every kind of food. What else can a person want?'

Americans were a puzzle to Gootie, one she didn't want to figure out. She gave Max everything she knew; the world as she knew it. Max loved her world even as he all along knew that America was out there waiting for him.

[John Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I happened upon this on my book shelf and Max apple and his beloved Grandmother Gootie convinced me that I needed to read this book right away. And now I love Gootie too!! Max opens up a whole new world of interesting characters. As a clueless goy I was fascinated. The fact that these characters and events are real makes them that much more compelling. As often happens, I now want to read another book. "Roommates" is actually the first book in the tale. It tells more of Max's relationship with his Grandfather who is also a prominent character in "I Love Gootie"

[Mary K · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved Max Apple's book about his gpa, but this one simply wasn't interesting. The first few stories allowed me to imagine his gma and seemed very authentic, while subsequent stories sounded like an entirely different voice and person altogether. Apple was right - you really can't translate Yiddish, or he just failed to make his gma interesting

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went to the same high school with Max Apple and my husband lived near him. I read the book for that reason but found it to be a really great book. I recognized a lot of places and streets in the story.

[Norma Endersby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story, warm, funny and very engaging. I've read it twice now.

[Yvonne]

Read about 1/8th of the book. What I read was ok. Just didn't hold my interest to want to keep reading it.

[Amber Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delightful read - I truly felt that I was "there" both in Serei and Grand Rapids. The Old World Jewish culture continues to fascinate me.

[Laurie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not my kind of book. What I read was okay but not interesting enough for me to finish it.