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Oct 12, 2020
Book Concierge
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
20th-century,
historical-fiction,
massachusetts,
audio,
library,
concierge,
strong-women,
coming-of-age
Digital audiobook performed by Linda Lavin
85-year-old Addie Baum is interviewed by her “favorite” granddaughter for a project. And so she begins to relate her life from the beginning. Her parents emigrated in the late 1890s from Russia, along with her two older sisters. Addie was born in Boston in 1900 and has lived her entire life in that city. In many ways this was an ordinary life, but Addie’s telling shows how even “ordinary” people can have extraordinary events in their lives.
I just loved ...more
85-year-old Addie Baum is interviewed by her “favorite” granddaughter for a project. And so she begins to relate her life from the beginning. Her parents emigrated in the late 1890s from Russia, along with her two older sisters. Addie was born in Boston in 1900 and has lived her entire life in that city. In many ways this was an ordinary life, but Addie’s telling shows how even “ordinary” people can have extraordinary events in their lives.
I just loved ...more
This was of the very pleasurable books I have read recently.
This is a story of a child born into a newly immigrated jewish family who have settled in Boston. Now she is an 85 year old telling her story to her granddaughter as she navigates life in the early 1900s Boston. There are some naked honest emotions that made me put the book down for a bit before moving on to the next chapter. Scenes of her date dealing with PTSD on the beach or her sister cutting herself. There are many references of s ...more
This is a story of a child born into a newly immigrated jewish family who have settled in Boston. Now she is an 85 year old telling her story to her granddaughter as she navigates life in the early 1900s Boston. There are some naked honest emotions that made me put the book down for a bit before moving on to the next chapter. Scenes of her date dealing with PTSD on the beach or her sister cutting herself. There are many references of s ...more
This was a read for my library book club in February and I read and listened to it at the same time. I really enjoyed listening to Linda Lavin narrating the story of Ava. The story was interesting following Ava in the 1900’s and the life that a Jewish woman could have.
I loved listening to this book. It was like listening to a one man/woman theatrical even -- the reader was wonderful and the accent drew me in. I love doing oral history so that format was spot on for me. May not be exciting enough for everyone, but for me it was wonderful to listen to this life history -- and she ended up as a social worker, too!
Really enjoyed this look at immigrant life in Boston during depression era. The voice was a fun way to tie the present to the past. Lived up to expectations after Red Tent which I consider one of my favorite books I've read
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Loved it! Highly recommend for anyone who is interested in historical novels or women's history, strong independent women.
...more
This type of character-driven novel isn't always my thing but I loved Addie's story as told to her granddaughter. It was read by Linda Lavin, who did a great job with the Boston Jewish accent (she's originally from Maine) but her cadence was jarring at times, especially at chapter ends.
...more
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