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Upper West Side Story
Meet Bettina Grosjean, a professor of Women’s History, and her husband, a high-ranking environmental policymaker in the New York City mayor’s office. Once a pair of student radicals, they are now raising their two brainy children on New York’s Upper West Side. Upper West Side Story is the tale of fierce parental love tested in a startling eruption of racial hostility and political chicanery within the very community they have long loved and helped to build. Despite the deep love and affection they have for each other, their domestic life is suddenly thrown into crisis by a shocking and tragic During a school field trip, their son Zach and his best friend, Cyrus, are horsing around when, in a freak accident, Cyrus falls down a flight of stairs. The fact that Cyrus is black, that his mother is Bettina’s closest friend, that jealousy, suspicion and resentment have long been simmering in the community, and that there are powerful political forces at work as well—all conspire to reveal an ugly underbelly of the community the Grosjeans have worked so hard to fashion into a model of an enlightened, multiracial world. Upper West Side Story is also the story of a remarkable multi-racial friendship, a love of two women united by their ideals and their devotion to their children, then divided by events that spiral out of control.
264 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 27, 2015
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May 18, 2015
“Our true nationality is mankind.”
----H.G. Wells
Susan Pashman, an American author, debuts as an author with her novel, Upper West Side Story that revolves around the relationships and friendships beyond color and how dirty politics can put innocent people behind the bars.
Synopsis:
The narrator, Bettina Grosjean, is a professor of Women’s History, and her husband, a high-ranking environmental policymaker in the New York City mayor’s office. Once a pair of student radicals, they are now raising their two brainy children on New York’s Upper West Side.
Their fierce parental love is tested in a startling eruption of racial hostility and political chicanery within the very community they have long loved and helped to build. Their world is suddenly thrown into crisis by a shocking and tragic event: During a school field trip, their son Max and his best friend, Cyrus, are horsing around when, in a freak accident, Cyrus falls down a flight of stairs, and dies a few days later.
The fact that Cyrus is black, that his mother is Bettina’s closest friend--that jealousy, suspicion and resentment have long been simmering in the community, and that there are powerful political forces at work as well--all conspire to reveal an ugly underbelly of the community the Grosjeans have worked so hard to shape into a model of an enlightened, multiracial world.
Upper West Side Story portrays a remarkable multi-racial friendship, the love of two women united by their ideals and their devotion to their children, then divided by events that spiral out of control.
With cries for racial justice again rising up all over our country, Upper West Side Story is a story you will want to read.
Max and Cyrus, and along with them their moms too, have an unbreakable interracial friendship. But one sudden school trip changes the course of that friendship, when Cyrus dies in a fall and everyone from that trip started blaming Max for the offense. Things get worse when Max is convicted and sent to a Juvenile detention center and consequently, the whole town from the so-called friends and other folks from Max's father's co-workers point finger on Max. Will Cyrus' mother ever forgive Max? Or worse, will be ever get out of prison?
The writing is quite flawless and the author have included so many technical know-hows behind the world of politics, especially she featured the dark side of politics. The author have layered her plot with great details and right emotions, I mean, the more I read, the more it infuriated me with anger and at the same time, it made me sad. The narrative is very catchy thus giving a fast pace to the storyline.
The characters are all very well-developed, especially the primary character, Bettina, max's mother, who is a perfect epitome of a loving and fighting mother. The author have made us contemplate with her character by occasionally throwing us with a lot of back story. Her motherly love and especially her love for a black woman is unmatched and because of her determination and for not giving-up, I loved her character a lot. Max is a smart character, and we get to know him through his journals and I liked how being so young, he acted like a mature boy.
Moreover the relationships between not only two friends but the relation between a husband and a wife is depicted compassionately and how this conviction brings them together apart from their differences. The book screams with hope and I loved how with the progress of the story, the author brought light into the fact that hope is the only thing that lets us see the light at the end of a dark tunnel.
Overall it's an interesting as well as an emotional story that brings people from different races together and fight for one thing.
Verdict: A perfect book for all the contemporary fiction lovers.
Courtesy: I received the book for a blog tour.
----H.G. Wells
Susan Pashman, an American author, debuts as an author with her novel, Upper West Side Story that revolves around the relationships and friendships beyond color and how dirty politics can put innocent people behind the bars.
Synopsis:
The narrator, Bettina Grosjean, is a professor of Women’s History, and her husband, a high-ranking environmental policymaker in the New York City mayor’s office. Once a pair of student radicals, they are now raising their two brainy children on New York’s Upper West Side.
Their fierce parental love is tested in a startling eruption of racial hostility and political chicanery within the very community they have long loved and helped to build. Their world is suddenly thrown into crisis by a shocking and tragic event: During a school field trip, their son Max and his best friend, Cyrus, are horsing around when, in a freak accident, Cyrus falls down a flight of stairs, and dies a few days later.
The fact that Cyrus is black, that his mother is Bettina’s closest friend--that jealousy, suspicion and resentment have long been simmering in the community, and that there are powerful political forces at work as well--all conspire to reveal an ugly underbelly of the community the Grosjeans have worked so hard to shape into a model of an enlightened, multiracial world.
Upper West Side Story portrays a remarkable multi-racial friendship, the love of two women united by their ideals and their devotion to their children, then divided by events that spiral out of control.
With cries for racial justice again rising up all over our country, Upper West Side Story is a story you will want to read.
Max and Cyrus, and along with them their moms too, have an unbreakable interracial friendship. But one sudden school trip changes the course of that friendship, when Cyrus dies in a fall and everyone from that trip started blaming Max for the offense. Things get worse when Max is convicted and sent to a Juvenile detention center and consequently, the whole town from the so-called friends and other folks from Max's father's co-workers point finger on Max. Will Cyrus' mother ever forgive Max? Or worse, will be ever get out of prison?
The writing is quite flawless and the author have included so many technical know-hows behind the world of politics, especially she featured the dark side of politics. The author have layered her plot with great details and right emotions, I mean, the more I read, the more it infuriated me with anger and at the same time, it made me sad. The narrative is very catchy thus giving a fast pace to the storyline.
The characters are all very well-developed, especially the primary character, Bettina, max's mother, who is a perfect epitome of a loving and fighting mother. The author have made us contemplate with her character by occasionally throwing us with a lot of back story. Her motherly love and especially her love for a black woman is unmatched and because of her determination and for not giving-up, I loved her character a lot. Max is a smart character, and we get to know him through his journals and I liked how being so young, he acted like a mature boy.
Moreover the relationships between not only two friends but the relation between a husband and a wife is depicted compassionately and how this conviction brings them together apart from their differences. The book screams with hope and I loved how with the progress of the story, the author brought light into the fact that hope is the only thing that lets us see the light at the end of a dark tunnel.
Overall it's an interesting as well as an emotional story that brings people from different races together and fight for one thing.
Verdict: A perfect book for all the contemporary fiction lovers.
Courtesy: I received the book for a blog tour.
June 7, 2015
"Upper West Side Story" which I won through Goodreads/First Reads is an enthralling story set in a multiracial community in New York City's Upper West Side where Bettina Grosjean a Professor in Women's Studies and her husband Stephen an environmental policymaker in the New York City Mayor’s office live with their two highly intelligent children - thirteen year old Max and nine year old Nellie. Although their marriage is floundering because of differing views - hers a zest to right injustice in the city and his as a suspicious cynic bred by a corrupt political system - both are struggling for a semblance of stability in their lives when tragedy strikes.
On a field trip Max Grosjean has accidently knocked Cyrus Nightingale his best friend down a flight of stairs. The police believe it to be the unfortunate result of two youngsters horsing around, before the young black boy is rushed to the hospital in a coma. Through the political design of a corrupt politician the incident quickly escalates into a criminal offense that not only divides the community but sends Max to a juvenile detention center after Cyrus dies. Into a story that delves into the issue of racial prejudice, the author blends a strong multiracial friendship, shattered relationships, the revival of a marriage , and the unconditional love of two mothers for their children.
Told in a narrative by Bettina Grosejean and through her son's journal entries, Susan Pashman weaves a well-written, intense and emotionally-charged plot that's diluted occasionally with bursts of humor when Max shows his verbal brilliance and Nellie demonstrates her innate wisdom. The plot progresses quickly and smoothly with underlying messages about love, loss, acceptance and forgiveness, and ending with a promise of hope.
Masterfully Susan Pashman captures the personalities of her unforgettable characters, each struggling to rise above their flaws and faults. Bettina Grosjean is an obsessive, loving mother who feels like she's drowning but never gives up as a whirlwind of events threaten the incarceration of her son. Fearful but determined she challenges even an unprincipled black opportunist like Marcus Hake to save him while desperately trying to hold onto her friendship with her dearest friend, Cyrus's mother. Similarly Viola Nightingale Bettina's best friend and an advocate of their student enrichment program at the school, shattered by the loss of her beloved son maintains her high ethical values; forgiving and compassionate she tackles the evil that threatens to destroy her "second son's" life. Max Grosjean is the young white boy haunted by the accident that killed his best friend who's crushed by insensitive remarks and a lack of support at school. A brilliant student and chess player he tries to find a sense of balance in his grief; even tattooing a "C" on his chest in remembrance of a devastating loss. Stephen Grosjean is a man caught in the crosshairs of a political storm, a failing marriage and his son's dilemma. Yet through it all he is calm and patient, a persistent negotiator.
"Upper West Side Story" is a thoroughly enjoyable and intense story with a captivating plot inspired by racial tension evident in newscasts even today as well as characters that emotionally grip you from the first page to the last. It is well-worth reading .
On a field trip Max Grosjean has accidently knocked Cyrus Nightingale his best friend down a flight of stairs. The police believe it to be the unfortunate result of two youngsters horsing around, before the young black boy is rushed to the hospital in a coma. Through the political design of a corrupt politician the incident quickly escalates into a criminal offense that not only divides the community but sends Max to a juvenile detention center after Cyrus dies. Into a story that delves into the issue of racial prejudice, the author blends a strong multiracial friendship, shattered relationships, the revival of a marriage , and the unconditional love of two mothers for their children.
Told in a narrative by Bettina Grosejean and through her son's journal entries, Susan Pashman weaves a well-written, intense and emotionally-charged plot that's diluted occasionally with bursts of humor when Max shows his verbal brilliance and Nellie demonstrates her innate wisdom. The plot progresses quickly and smoothly with underlying messages about love, loss, acceptance and forgiveness, and ending with a promise of hope.
Masterfully Susan Pashman captures the personalities of her unforgettable characters, each struggling to rise above their flaws and faults. Bettina Grosjean is an obsessive, loving mother who feels like she's drowning but never gives up as a whirlwind of events threaten the incarceration of her son. Fearful but determined she challenges even an unprincipled black opportunist like Marcus Hake to save him while desperately trying to hold onto her friendship with her dearest friend, Cyrus's mother. Similarly Viola Nightingale Bettina's best friend and an advocate of their student enrichment program at the school, shattered by the loss of her beloved son maintains her high ethical values; forgiving and compassionate she tackles the evil that threatens to destroy her "second son's" life. Max Grosjean is the young white boy haunted by the accident that killed his best friend who's crushed by insensitive remarks and a lack of support at school. A brilliant student and chess player he tries to find a sense of balance in his grief; even tattooing a "C" on his chest in remembrance of a devastating loss. Stephen Grosjean is a man caught in the crosshairs of a political storm, a failing marriage and his son's dilemma. Yet through it all he is calm and patient, a persistent negotiator.
"Upper West Side Story" is a thoroughly enjoyable and intense story with a captivating plot inspired by racial tension evident in newscasts even today as well as characters that emotionally grip you from the first page to the last. It is well-worth reading .
April 1, 2015
While the underlying theme of "Upper West Side Story" is urban parenting amidst racial unrest and distrust, the most compelling element is a mother's fight to do anything possible to save her teenage son from unjust imprisonment. It's a story of unexpected friendships and eye-opening views on unconscious racial bias. Wonderfully written!
May 13, 2015
Upper West Side Story by Susan Pashman is a 2015 Harvard Square Editions publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't know quite what to expect when I began reading this book. Race relations is always a hot button topic, and I wasn't sure what angle the story was going to represent or how is was going to be handled. However, as I neared the end of the book I realized this story was not just centered around race as I had originally thought. Yes, the book is an eye opening portrait of how bitterness breeds hatred, the enormous gap between the races , the skewed ideas of equality and how to achieve it, dirty politics, and how in times of crisis we may find ourselves utterly alone, fighting an uphill battle against strong and powerful forces. But, in the end, the power of friendship, of good moral people, and love, brought about healing and forgiveness, and thwarted injustice by working together as a team. I have used this adage several time recently, but it is just as true with this book, if not more.. Two wrongs do not make a right...
Two women with children the same age, attending the same school in Manhattan, forge a deep friendship. Bettina is white, mother of Max, Viola is black, the mother of Cyrus. The women begin a special enrichment program at the school, and pretty soon, as the women grow closer, so do their sons. Bettina and Viola are from very different backgrounds, and their friendship may have seemed unlikely, but Bettina and Viola are as close a sisters. However , on one October day, Cyrus and Max leave for a field trip where a horrific event will have a domino effect that changes all their lives forever.
As events unfold, the reader gets a glimpse inside of Bettina's personal life, where her mother is unwell, her marriage is teetering on an precipice, with Stephen's job as a public servant coming between them, and her precocious daughter challenging her in a blunt, honest way, that makes her uncomfortable at times, but Max is the absolute love of her life and while things are not perfect in her world she feels like she, as an academic, teaching, and working in the enrichment program, living in a coveted area of Manhattan, enjoying the view from her apartment, and all the vast advantages of city life at her feet, she is an enlightened soul, doing all the right things. Maybe the reader even senses a certain smugness in Bettina, with her lofty views and high brow education. But, she is also extremely naïve and sheltered from the many harsh realities others deal with on a daily basis. Her husband Stephen is no better that Bettina really, but he chides her and judges her views , until he finds himself in an unbelievable situation and the wool is pulled from his eyes.
Viola's life is not examined fully, since for much of the book she is in a grief induced stupor and her family appears to not only shelter her from Bettina , and the on going crisis with Max, but from the reader as well. Viola was a wonderful lady and I wish we could have been given a deeper insight into her personality and the trials she faced as the story developed.
While we get Bettina' perspective for the most part, we also get Max's point of view and see his struggles as his entire world is upended and even his parents can't seem to protect him. He becomes an example, a pariah, a victim. With his mother immersed in the battle to keep him safe, he winds up more alone than ever with his parents stretched to the breaking point. But, he is a strong kid, resilient and as a parent, I often wanted to reach down into the pages of the book and comfort him.
There were times when I didn't know what to think or feel with the community divided, with the people Bettina thought she knew, thought would help her, turning their backs on her, or worse, remaining neutral under the advice of an attorney. Stephen was totally behind the system believing they could work within it to help Max. I didn't trust that system and felt bad for Bettina who appeared to be fighting this thing on her own. Even the family therapist was quite hard on her, also calling her out about her moral high road. But, at the same time, I wanted to scream at her, believing many of her actions were only making things worse for Max and for herself too. But, in the process she learned some really hard lessons and definitely came down off her high horse a little, as did her husband.
This story touches on some very difficult and delicate topics and is sure to evoke many different emotions ranging from empathy, sympathy, sadness, anger, frustration, and shock, but don't lose sight of the main message of the story which goes back to the beginning of the book- Viola and Bettina's friendship. Viola, while her perspective wasn't outlined verbally, was the star of the show, the example to follow, the light that shines in the very gloomy darkness of tragedy. She rises up out of the ashes and pulls herself upright, and comes through for Bettina and Max which helps her heal, giving her peace of mind, and highlights her great integrity. She could have placed blame on a thirteen year old boy, could had become bitter and full of hate, could have sought vengeance, but instead she saw the situation for what it really was, new what was happening to Max was wrong, and did what she could to forgive and hopefully prevent a gross miscarriage of justice.
Bettina's often neglected daughter steals the spotlight as she also chronicles the year her family went through an unforgettable crisis and trauma that changed their entire outlook on life , but also brought them closer together, made them stronger, opened their eyes to the way of life they had been so proud of only a short time ago and gave them a new purpose with a more realistic view of things. They will come to cherish the little things, each other, and a slower, less fraught way of life.
Very disturbing on one hand, very though provoking in another, but ultimately I have chosen to feel good about the bonds of parents and children, of husbands and wives, and of deep abiding friendships, and the lessons we can all learn from this type of story. 4.5 stars
I didn't know quite what to expect when I began reading this book. Race relations is always a hot button topic, and I wasn't sure what angle the story was going to represent or how is was going to be handled. However, as I neared the end of the book I realized this story was not just centered around race as I had originally thought. Yes, the book is an eye opening portrait of how bitterness breeds hatred, the enormous gap between the races , the skewed ideas of equality and how to achieve it, dirty politics, and how in times of crisis we may find ourselves utterly alone, fighting an uphill battle against strong and powerful forces. But, in the end, the power of friendship, of good moral people, and love, brought about healing and forgiveness, and thwarted injustice by working together as a team. I have used this adage several time recently, but it is just as true with this book, if not more.. Two wrongs do not make a right...
Two women with children the same age, attending the same school in Manhattan, forge a deep friendship. Bettina is white, mother of Max, Viola is black, the mother of Cyrus. The women begin a special enrichment program at the school, and pretty soon, as the women grow closer, so do their sons. Bettina and Viola are from very different backgrounds, and their friendship may have seemed unlikely, but Bettina and Viola are as close a sisters. However , on one October day, Cyrus and Max leave for a field trip where a horrific event will have a domino effect that changes all their lives forever.
As events unfold, the reader gets a glimpse inside of Bettina's personal life, where her mother is unwell, her marriage is teetering on an precipice, with Stephen's job as a public servant coming between them, and her precocious daughter challenging her in a blunt, honest way, that makes her uncomfortable at times, but Max is the absolute love of her life and while things are not perfect in her world she feels like she, as an academic, teaching, and working in the enrichment program, living in a coveted area of Manhattan, enjoying the view from her apartment, and all the vast advantages of city life at her feet, she is an enlightened soul, doing all the right things. Maybe the reader even senses a certain smugness in Bettina, with her lofty views and high brow education. But, she is also extremely naïve and sheltered from the many harsh realities others deal with on a daily basis. Her husband Stephen is no better that Bettina really, but he chides her and judges her views , until he finds himself in an unbelievable situation and the wool is pulled from his eyes.
Viola's life is not examined fully, since for much of the book she is in a grief induced stupor and her family appears to not only shelter her from Bettina , and the on going crisis with Max, but from the reader as well. Viola was a wonderful lady and I wish we could have been given a deeper insight into her personality and the trials she faced as the story developed.
While we get Bettina' perspective for the most part, we also get Max's point of view and see his struggles as his entire world is upended and even his parents can't seem to protect him. He becomes an example, a pariah, a victim. With his mother immersed in the battle to keep him safe, he winds up more alone than ever with his parents stretched to the breaking point. But, he is a strong kid, resilient and as a parent, I often wanted to reach down into the pages of the book and comfort him.
There were times when I didn't know what to think or feel with the community divided, with the people Bettina thought she knew, thought would help her, turning their backs on her, or worse, remaining neutral under the advice of an attorney. Stephen was totally behind the system believing they could work within it to help Max. I didn't trust that system and felt bad for Bettina who appeared to be fighting this thing on her own. Even the family therapist was quite hard on her, also calling her out about her moral high road. But, at the same time, I wanted to scream at her, believing many of her actions were only making things worse for Max and for herself too. But, in the process she learned some really hard lessons and definitely came down off her high horse a little, as did her husband.
This story touches on some very difficult and delicate topics and is sure to evoke many different emotions ranging from empathy, sympathy, sadness, anger, frustration, and shock, but don't lose sight of the main message of the story which goes back to the beginning of the book- Viola and Bettina's friendship. Viola, while her perspective wasn't outlined verbally, was the star of the show, the example to follow, the light that shines in the very gloomy darkness of tragedy. She rises up out of the ashes and pulls herself upright, and comes through for Bettina and Max which helps her heal, giving her peace of mind, and highlights her great integrity. She could have placed blame on a thirteen year old boy, could had become bitter and full of hate, could have sought vengeance, but instead she saw the situation for what it really was, new what was happening to Max was wrong, and did what she could to forgive and hopefully prevent a gross miscarriage of justice.
Bettina's often neglected daughter steals the spotlight as she also chronicles the year her family went through an unforgettable crisis and trauma that changed their entire outlook on life , but also brought them closer together, made them stronger, opened their eyes to the way of life they had been so proud of only a short time ago and gave them a new purpose with a more realistic view of things. They will come to cherish the little things, each other, and a slower, less fraught way of life.
Very disturbing on one hand, very though provoking in another, but ultimately I have chosen to feel good about the bonds of parents and children, of husbands and wives, and of deep abiding friendships, and the lessons we can all learn from this type of story. 4.5 stars
May 27, 2015
BOOK REVIEW:
Upper West Side Story – a book that will change your perspective on a lot of things, including the things that you believed would remain just as same as they always are. The author paints a very different canvas with multiple layers and subtle colors with each line interwoven to form one huge story that has more than a few valuable lessons. The summary would, by itself, give the reader an idea of how the book is going to evolve. But the real picture is a much more brilliant, unexpected story.
Bettina Grosjean is an academic married to Stephen, who is a policy maker in the New York City Mayor’s office. Stephen sees politics and the serious power play of people with vested interests in every aspect of his life. Bettina, on the other hand, (of course with her high academician ideals) refuses to believe that everything is not what it seems. She has devoted herself to pursue with zeal the causes she believes in, not quite waking up to reality. Stephen, on the other hand has become a hardcore cynic who distrusts everything that surrounds him. Ideals clashing, the couple realise that their marriage is slowly falling apart.
All of a sudden, a freak accident turns their life upside down. A long standing friendship is tested, already strained relationships are pushed to their extreme, a whole life becomes meaningless. But a small ray of hope and belief holds tight. An accident becomes ground for political racism and innocent people are made scapegoats while people who least expected it are made targets. A mother’s love for her lost son and a mother’s love for a son who is getting targeted in a racial war are portrayed beautifully.
The book is full of powerful dialogues and scene placement. Written alternatively in first person narratives and journal entries, each perspective (that of the adult woman and the adolescent boy) offers something to think about, take back and chew over. The opening part of the book is true in every word and made an impression on the mind of the reader who would by then clearly understand what the book would be like.
The journal entry is moving and brilliant, worded perfectly. Special mention: the part where Max insults the other kids with spelling bee words – a mild humour and an adolescent smugness that is evident in those words of a child struggling to find a balance. The book is filled with powerful dialogs.
“Would this terrible turn of events turn asunder all we'd so lovingly put together” – in description of the fear of the unknown, the uncertainty of it all.
“Those horned and hairy monsters we read about with our children really do exist, and when they appear in our lives, they do so by springing suddenly up from their pitch-black hell and tearing the entire world apart in an eye blink. There is nothing normal about them.” – and there we have the right wording to describe the inner monster everyone faces.
“Down every street, behind every window, lives were being ruined—choked by greed, poisoned by ambition, obliterated by self-interest.” – a unique way of describing the politics and petty squabbles of the human minds.
The book started as a story about the underlying racism despite the best efforts of people, but by the time we read the last chapter and Nell’s words, we realise that it really was much more than that. Cliched though it may sound, the book is all about love, loss, legal tangle and how forgiveness is a necessity not only for those who have sinned, but also those who have been victimised. Powerful messages masquerade as dialogs and the book needs to be treasured.
RATING: 4.8/5
Upper West Side Story – a book that will change your perspective on a lot of things, including the things that you believed would remain just as same as they always are. The author paints a very different canvas with multiple layers and subtle colors with each line interwoven to form one huge story that has more than a few valuable lessons. The summary would, by itself, give the reader an idea of how the book is going to evolve. But the real picture is a much more brilliant, unexpected story.
Bettina Grosjean is an academic married to Stephen, who is a policy maker in the New York City Mayor’s office. Stephen sees politics and the serious power play of people with vested interests in every aspect of his life. Bettina, on the other hand, (of course with her high academician ideals) refuses to believe that everything is not what it seems. She has devoted herself to pursue with zeal the causes she believes in, not quite waking up to reality. Stephen, on the other hand has become a hardcore cynic who distrusts everything that surrounds him. Ideals clashing, the couple realise that their marriage is slowly falling apart.
All of a sudden, a freak accident turns their life upside down. A long standing friendship is tested, already strained relationships are pushed to their extreme, a whole life becomes meaningless. But a small ray of hope and belief holds tight. An accident becomes ground for political racism and innocent people are made scapegoats while people who least expected it are made targets. A mother’s love for her lost son and a mother’s love for a son who is getting targeted in a racial war are portrayed beautifully.
The book is full of powerful dialogues and scene placement. Written alternatively in first person narratives and journal entries, each perspective (that of the adult woman and the adolescent boy) offers something to think about, take back and chew over. The opening part of the book is true in every word and made an impression on the mind of the reader who would by then clearly understand what the book would be like.
The journal entry is moving and brilliant, worded perfectly. Special mention: the part where Max insults the other kids with spelling bee words – a mild humour and an adolescent smugness that is evident in those words of a child struggling to find a balance. The book is filled with powerful dialogs.
“Would this terrible turn of events turn asunder all we'd so lovingly put together” – in description of the fear of the unknown, the uncertainty of it all.
“Those horned and hairy monsters we read about with our children really do exist, and when they appear in our lives, they do so by springing suddenly up from their pitch-black hell and tearing the entire world apart in an eye blink. There is nothing normal about them.” – and there we have the right wording to describe the inner monster everyone faces.
“Down every street, behind every window, lives were being ruined—choked by greed, poisoned by ambition, obliterated by self-interest.” – a unique way of describing the politics and petty squabbles of the human minds.
The book started as a story about the underlying racism despite the best efforts of people, but by the time we read the last chapter and Nell’s words, we realise that it really was much more than that. Cliched though it may sound, the book is all about love, loss, legal tangle and how forgiveness is a necessity not only for those who have sinned, but also those who have been victimised. Powerful messages masquerade as dialogs and the book needs to be treasured.
RATING: 4.8/5
May 29, 2015
Susan Pashman in her new book, “Upper West Side Story” published by Harvard Square Editions introduces us to Bettina Grosjean.
From the back cover: Meet Bettina Grosjean, a professor of Women’s History, and her husband, a high-ranking environmental policymaker in the New York City mayor’s office. Once a pair of student radicals, they are now raising their two brainy children on New York’s Upper West Side.
Here is the tale of their fierce parental love as it is tested in a startling eruption of racial hostility and political chicanery within the very community they have long loved and helped to build. Despite the deep love and affection they have for each other, their domestic life is suddenly thrown into crisis by a shocking and tragic event: During a school field trip, their son Max and his best friend, Cyrus, are horsing around when, in a freak accident, Cyrus falls down a flight of stairs, and dies a few days later.
The fact that Cyrus is black, that his mother is Bettina’s closest friend–that jealousy, suspicion and resentment have long been simmering in the community, and that there are powerful political forces at work as well–all conspire to reveal an ugly underbelly of the community the Grosjeans have worked so hard to fashion into a model of an enlightened, multiracial world.
Upper West Side Story is also the story of a remarkable multi-racial friendship, of two women united by their ideals and their devotion to their children, then divided by events that spiral out of control.
With cries for racial justice rising up all around our country, we must stop and consider how recent headlines are impacting our children, kids raised to believe in an America that is different from the one now showing its face.
Sidney Poitier and Tony Curtis did it the best in their movie, “The Defiant Ones”. A white man and a black man have racial issues, want to kill each other but need each other to survive and by the end find out they like each other. Susan Pashman has given us something similar except for two escaped convicts this story takes place on the Upper West Side. Bettina Grosjean’s marriage may be falling apart. Her son, white, is involved with the death of his best friend, black, and that is the tension that runs through the book. Will the Upper West Side explode because of this? There is racial unrest, political nastiness and friendship. The story is phenomenal. The themes are perfect and the characters seems to leap off the page. This is one engrossing experience. Well done.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from IRead Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the back cover: Meet Bettina Grosjean, a professor of Women’s History, and her husband, a high-ranking environmental policymaker in the New York City mayor’s office. Once a pair of student radicals, they are now raising their two brainy children on New York’s Upper West Side.
Here is the tale of their fierce parental love as it is tested in a startling eruption of racial hostility and political chicanery within the very community they have long loved and helped to build. Despite the deep love and affection they have for each other, their domestic life is suddenly thrown into crisis by a shocking and tragic event: During a school field trip, their son Max and his best friend, Cyrus, are horsing around when, in a freak accident, Cyrus falls down a flight of stairs, and dies a few days later.
The fact that Cyrus is black, that his mother is Bettina’s closest friend–that jealousy, suspicion and resentment have long been simmering in the community, and that there are powerful political forces at work as well–all conspire to reveal an ugly underbelly of the community the Grosjeans have worked so hard to fashion into a model of an enlightened, multiracial world.
Upper West Side Story is also the story of a remarkable multi-racial friendship, of two women united by their ideals and their devotion to their children, then divided by events that spiral out of control.
With cries for racial justice rising up all around our country, we must stop and consider how recent headlines are impacting our children, kids raised to believe in an America that is different from the one now showing its face.
Sidney Poitier and Tony Curtis did it the best in their movie, “The Defiant Ones”. A white man and a black man have racial issues, want to kill each other but need each other to survive and by the end find out they like each other. Susan Pashman has given us something similar except for two escaped convicts this story takes place on the Upper West Side. Bettina Grosjean’s marriage may be falling apart. Her son, white, is involved with the death of his best friend, black, and that is the tension that runs through the book. Will the Upper West Side explode because of this? There is racial unrest, political nastiness and friendship. The story is phenomenal. The themes are perfect and the characters seems to leap off the page. This is one engrossing experience. Well done.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from IRead Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
June 12, 2015
Upper West Side Story by Susan Pashman
ISBN:9781941861035
Published: May 27, 2015
Published by: Harvard Square Editions
Trade paperback, 280 pages
This is an excellent book, a very emotional one. The title is perfect as it refers to a classic story that was made into a Broadway success, but with a different twist. The book cover is brilliant!
The story is told through the eyes of Bettina, a professor of Women's History in New York's ultra-liberal Upper West Side, and that of her 13-year-old son, Max. When Max becomes embroiled in controversy following an accident involving his best friend, Cyrus, who also happens to be black, racial hostility erupts engulfing their families and the community. Political tensions arising from the accident threaten to destroy people and friendships especially that of white Bettina and black Viola, Cyrus' mother.
The author deftly weaves the threads of jealousy, simmering resentment, racial prejudice and suspicion to produce a tapestry of modern-day life in America, as recent events have shown. It is a novel that is of the moment, that touches on some very delicate topics, race and poverty among them.
My favourite person is Max. I wanted to hug him. His entire world is changed in a moment and he subsequently becomes a victim in a bewildering set of heart-rending circumstances. His strong character and resilience enable him to endure.
I would have liked to know more about Viola who came across as a wonderful person from the few things we learned about her. No wonder Bettina desperately wanted to maintain their friendship.
I felt sorry for Bettina at times. Not only is her fierce protectiveness of her beloved son tested, but so is her view of people she thought she knew and respected. Even her therapist doesn't seem sympathetic. At other times I was angry with her for provoking problems that could have been avoided. In short, a well-meaning, but naive person with her head in the clouds in some respects, completely unaware of resentment on the part of some in her community towards her.
I liked the author's word choice. For example, she writes, "City Hall, like any workplace, has its subterranean rivers and streams, and messages that sail, like notes in bottles, down through the corridors, spouting out at water coolers, drifting from one cluttered office cell to another, and creating what comes to be perceived as "the air." There's something in the air," people say; "there's word going around."
The subjects of friendship, race, fear, strong family ties, resilience and forgiveness are highlighted in this novel that I highly recommend.
ISBN:9781941861035
Published: May 27, 2015
Published by: Harvard Square Editions
Trade paperback, 280 pages
This is an excellent book, a very emotional one. The title is perfect as it refers to a classic story that was made into a Broadway success, but with a different twist. The book cover is brilliant!
The story is told through the eyes of Bettina, a professor of Women's History in New York's ultra-liberal Upper West Side, and that of her 13-year-old son, Max. When Max becomes embroiled in controversy following an accident involving his best friend, Cyrus, who also happens to be black, racial hostility erupts engulfing their families and the community. Political tensions arising from the accident threaten to destroy people and friendships especially that of white Bettina and black Viola, Cyrus' mother.
The author deftly weaves the threads of jealousy, simmering resentment, racial prejudice and suspicion to produce a tapestry of modern-day life in America, as recent events have shown. It is a novel that is of the moment, that touches on some very delicate topics, race and poverty among them.
My favourite person is Max. I wanted to hug him. His entire world is changed in a moment and he subsequently becomes a victim in a bewildering set of heart-rending circumstances. His strong character and resilience enable him to endure.
I would have liked to know more about Viola who came across as a wonderful person from the few things we learned about her. No wonder Bettina desperately wanted to maintain their friendship.
I felt sorry for Bettina at times. Not only is her fierce protectiveness of her beloved son tested, but so is her view of people she thought she knew and respected. Even her therapist doesn't seem sympathetic. At other times I was angry with her for provoking problems that could have been avoided. In short, a well-meaning, but naive person with her head in the clouds in some respects, completely unaware of resentment on the part of some in her community towards her.
I liked the author's word choice. For example, she writes, "City Hall, like any workplace, has its subterranean rivers and streams, and messages that sail, like notes in bottles, down through the corridors, spouting out at water coolers, drifting from one cluttered office cell to another, and creating what comes to be perceived as "the air." There's something in the air," people say; "there's word going around."
The subjects of friendship, race, fear, strong family ties, resilience and forgiveness are highlighted in this novel that I highly recommend.
May 25, 2015
This novel promises a yarn about two former student radicals, Bettina Grosjean, a professor of Women’s History, and her husband Stephen, an environmental policymaker in the New York City Mayor’s office, as they deal with various racial and political issues compounded by the fall of a black student down a flight of stairs. In the brief preface, Bettina, the primary narrator for the story, warns not to take the gift of children for granted, and discovers a diary kept by her son Max when he was thirteen, the novel’s action beginning on October 7 at 8:45 pm. In the first main chapter, Bettina mentions that she is a morning person, her son Max is in eighth grade and about to take a class trip to Washington, D.C., and that she’s daughter to Holocaust survivors.
The main inciting incident of the novel is the plight by a black student named Cyrus Nightingale down a flight of stairs and consequential coma, believed by the police to be the result of students horsing around. The third chapter is the first time Max narrates the story himself, likely through his diary, when on Monday October 11, 10:20 pm, he’s freaked out by his friend Cyrus, whom he states was named by Persian Emperor Cyrus the Great. The coma victim is taken to the derelict Harlem-Manhattan hospital, and Max ultimately receives blame for his friend’s coma as he was nearby when it occurred. At first, life seems to continue normally for Max and his family, who are nonreligious in spite of Jewish roots.
However, thanks to the pressure of an activist named Marcus Hake, Max is eventually sent to a juvenile detention center faced with the charges of causing his friend’s coma, the issue of Max being white and Cyrus being black playing a significant role in the incarceration. Family and friends suspect a conspiracy, with the woven tale for the most part being enjoyable, a nice break from other racial injustice stories where members of minorities are typically the discrimination victims, this issue very much challenging the leftist leanings of the Grosjeans and their friends from college and beyond. There are some minor parts that this reviewer missed and which drove him to go back and reread sessions, although he would highly recommend this tale.
The main inciting incident of the novel is the plight by a black student named Cyrus Nightingale down a flight of stairs and consequential coma, believed by the police to be the result of students horsing around. The third chapter is the first time Max narrates the story himself, likely through his diary, when on Monday October 11, 10:20 pm, he’s freaked out by his friend Cyrus, whom he states was named by Persian Emperor Cyrus the Great. The coma victim is taken to the derelict Harlem-Manhattan hospital, and Max ultimately receives blame for his friend’s coma as he was nearby when it occurred. At first, life seems to continue normally for Max and his family, who are nonreligious in spite of Jewish roots.
However, thanks to the pressure of an activist named Marcus Hake, Max is eventually sent to a juvenile detention center faced with the charges of causing his friend’s coma, the issue of Max being white and Cyrus being black playing a significant role in the incarceration. Family and friends suspect a conspiracy, with the woven tale for the most part being enjoyable, a nice break from other racial injustice stories where members of minorities are typically the discrimination victims, this issue very much challenging the leftist leanings of the Grosjeans and their friends from college and beyond. There are some minor parts that this reviewer missed and which drove him to go back and reread sessions, although he would highly recommend this tale.
January 14, 2016
Bettina and Stephen Grosjean have two kids, 13 year old Max and 9 year old Nellie. Both have high pressure jobs that look at the world from almost opposing sides. This has strained their marriage. Max is on a field trip and accidently pushes his best friend, Cyrus down some stairs. Cyrus is rushed to the hospital and initially the event is figured to be an accident by the police. But when Cyrus dies the fact that he is black makes everyone believe this is a racially fueled, intentional incident. Max finds himself in juvenile detention and Bettina and Stephen find themselves fighting for their child.
With the current events in our country today this is a great story to go along with them. Max and Cyrus are best friends and this is clearly a horrible accident. But once the media and everyone else learns that Cyrus is black they instantly turn it into a racial issue. I loved how Bettina and Stephen come together to fight this charge. I really liked how both mothers where there for their kids too.
This story is well told with a lot of truths in it. The characters are beautifully described and it broke my heart to follow along with Bettina. The story is told from Bettina’s perspective and journal entries from Max. I really liked that even though this is all happening, Bettina still struggles to keep her friendship with Cyrus’ mother. But even better is Stephen, he is wrapped up in the political view of Cyrus’ death. Usually you see politicians folding for the popular vote. I loved how he stuck to his guns, fought for his marriage, and was still there for his son.
This is a great story that really fits with present day situations. I think everyone should read this book.
I received a copy of Upper West Side Story for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
With the current events in our country today this is a great story to go along with them. Max and Cyrus are best friends and this is clearly a horrible accident. But once the media and everyone else learns that Cyrus is black they instantly turn it into a racial issue. I loved how Bettina and Stephen come together to fight this charge. I really liked how both mothers where there for their kids too.
This story is well told with a lot of truths in it. The characters are beautifully described and it broke my heart to follow along with Bettina. The story is told from Bettina’s perspective and journal entries from Max. I really liked that even though this is all happening, Bettina still struggles to keep her friendship with Cyrus’ mother. But even better is Stephen, he is wrapped up in the political view of Cyrus’ death. Usually you see politicians folding for the popular vote. I loved how he stuck to his guns, fought for his marriage, and was still there for his son.
This is a great story that really fits with present day situations. I think everyone should read this book.
I received a copy of Upper West Side Story for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
February 24, 2015
Upper West Side Story began over Thanksgiving dinner when a relative expressed glee over the prospect of some black 'disadvantaged' children being admitted to his children's school, providing them with an opportunity to better know 'the other side of the tracks'. The author wondered what would happen if the roles were reversed - if his white kids were to enter an all-black school - and thus the nucleus of Upper West Side Story was born.
The title is simply brilliant: it sets the stage through precedent, referring to and building upon a classic story but providing a different twist. The author wondered if society could truly adopt a colorblind vision; and thus was born the novel she presents here, grown solidly on the roots of American social and racial reality.
The premise is simple: a liberal, Upper West Side white family is changed when their son Max's black best friend Cyrus dies in a school field trip accident, affecting not only two families and their close relationship, but sparking a fire in two very different communities.
It's hard to find a novel so candid in its portrayals; so hard-hitting in its examples, and so realistic. The dialogues parents and children share over poverty, loss, racial prejudice and observation, are shining examples of what transpires in many an American home to explain the incongruities of not only racial interactions, but the effects of poverty.
Crime and punishment, truth and lies, divided communities and divided lives: it's all here, bound together by friendship, loss, and a boy's experiences which lead him to form a bigger goal in life. Upper West Side Story is the kind of novel that reaches out and grabs you with familiarity - and once you begin its journey, you can't quit. It's that compelling.
The title is simply brilliant: it sets the stage through precedent, referring to and building upon a classic story but providing a different twist. The author wondered if society could truly adopt a colorblind vision; and thus was born the novel she presents here, grown solidly on the roots of American social and racial reality.
The premise is simple: a liberal, Upper West Side white family is changed when their son Max's black best friend Cyrus dies in a school field trip accident, affecting not only two families and their close relationship, but sparking a fire in two very different communities.
It's hard to find a novel so candid in its portrayals; so hard-hitting in its examples, and so realistic. The dialogues parents and children share over poverty, loss, racial prejudice and observation, are shining examples of what transpires in many an American home to explain the incongruities of not only racial interactions, but the effects of poverty.
Crime and punishment, truth and lies, divided communities and divided lives: it's all here, bound together by friendship, loss, and a boy's experiences which lead him to form a bigger goal in life. Upper West Side Story is the kind of novel that reaches out and grabs you with familiarity - and once you begin its journey, you can't quit. It's that compelling.
June 3, 2015
I really enjoyed reading Upper West Side Story. Here's why:
** I kept forgetting I was reading fiction. At one point, I confused myself so much on whether it was fiction or non-fiction, I had to look it up. Duh. To me, this is one sign of good writing. Thanks, Susan Pashman for sucking me into your story.
** The duel viewpoints of the story made it even more realistic. The mother is telling the story; however, she has found her son's diary and is reading from that as well so the reader gets his viewpoint too.
** The underbelly of racial tension in the school neighborhood is a hotbed. Pashman does an excellent job of pulling from the various races within this NYC neighborhood to showcase what their probable concerns and fears are regarding the tragedy as well as unknown non-tragedy related observations.
** As if racial tension isn't enough, she throws in political motives and all the scurvy things municipalities and people with political ambitions do to their communities in the name of "justice." Oh, I was fuming.
** I like how Pashman used the mother's occupation as a history profession to show the parallel in her son's predicament and history.
** In my Kindle, I noted this simile because I enjoyed the visual it created. "The snow had started forming a crust on her coat and hair, making her look like a bit of Christmas candy." Isn't it a nice image?
** I kept forgetting I was reading fiction. At one point, I confused myself so much on whether it was fiction or non-fiction, I had to look it up. Duh. To me, this is one sign of good writing. Thanks, Susan Pashman for sucking me into your story.
** The duel viewpoints of the story made it even more realistic. The mother is telling the story; however, she has found her son's diary and is reading from that as well so the reader gets his viewpoint too.
** The underbelly of racial tension in the school neighborhood is a hotbed. Pashman does an excellent job of pulling from the various races within this NYC neighborhood to showcase what their probable concerns and fears are regarding the tragedy as well as unknown non-tragedy related observations.
** As if racial tension isn't enough, she throws in political motives and all the scurvy things municipalities and people with political ambitions do to their communities in the name of "justice." Oh, I was fuming.
** I like how Pashman used the mother's occupation as a history profession to show the parallel in her son's predicament and history.
** In my Kindle, I noted this simile because I enjoyed the visual it created. "The snow had started forming a crust on her coat and hair, making her look like a bit of Christmas candy." Isn't it a nice image?
May 20, 2015
Upper West Side Story by Susan Pashman Have you ever read a book about justice that going on in your world that important to all. You thought it was dealt with in a movement that happens 50 years.
You see it still going on today. Well, a book called "Upper West Side Story", bring it to light and questions if our race is still an uphill battle among us. I got this feeling while I was reading the story. We meet a mother who will do anything to protect her son. This story really turns out to be a well written about a boy who is white and a friend with a black boy. We learn about friendships. Matt and Curtis are best friends. Everything changes after a freak accident.
The real issues come out during this time. It affects the whole family but mostly Matt. Viola losses everything but does the community realize that Matt is a child of Viola as well as Curtis is to Bettina. It happens during a time when they were fooling around or goofing around. Racial issues and political issues arise will they overcome or will the charges damaged all including the boy and his family.
You see it still going on today. Well, a book called "Upper West Side Story", bring it to light and questions if our race is still an uphill battle among us. I got this feeling while I was reading the story. We meet a mother who will do anything to protect her son. This story really turns out to be a well written about a boy who is white and a friend with a black boy. We learn about friendships. Matt and Curtis are best friends. Everything changes after a freak accident.
The real issues come out during this time. It affects the whole family but mostly Matt. Viola losses everything but does the community realize that Matt is a child of Viola as well as Curtis is to Bettina. It happens during a time when they were fooling around or goofing around. Racial issues and political issues arise will they overcome or will the charges damaged all including the boy and his family.
June 2, 2015
This book reminds me that so many people get judged for how they look or where they are from. America is a melting pot of all different people and you would think that it is true especially in New York. The author really made me think about how things change over time, and yet some things always remain the same. I really liked that the author focused on the characters and their love for their children. The ending was good as well. There were some words that I had to look up meanings for, however I loved when the author used Latin. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own.
July 8, 2015
Set in New York City, this is the story of two families, one black, one white. The mothers and their 13-year old sons are best friends. A tragic accident occurs which rocks not only the families but the community.
The author apparently knows a lot about the politics of justice and deals with that subject well. Max (one of the boys) is a very bright and gifted student and a lot of the story is told through a journal he keeps. I liked that plot device, however, I found his voice rang a bit untrue for me. He possessed an outlook on life beyond any 13-year old children I have known.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
The author apparently knows a lot about the politics of justice and deals with that subject well. Max (one of the boys) is a very bright and gifted student and a lot of the story is told through a journal he keeps. I liked that plot device, however, I found his voice rang a bit untrue for me. He possessed an outlook on life beyond any 13-year old children I have known.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
August 8, 2016
An excellent read! A well written story of the relationship between two young boys of different racial backgrounds. Tragedy ensues and the surviving boy becomes the center of a political ploy in a corrupt
City government involving the City Mayor, the District Attorney and a Community Activist who is attempting to use the surviving boy's current situation to get three of his young clients a reduced charge on crimes they have committed and of which they are obvious guilty.
City government involving the City Mayor, the District Attorney and a Community Activist who is attempting to use the surviving boy's current situation to get three of his young clients a reduced charge on crimes they have committed and of which they are obvious guilty.
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