The Family Markowitz

by Allegra Goodman

Book Overview

A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK - From the author of The Chalk Artist, this beloved collection of linked stories is "one of the most astute and engaging books about American family life to have come our... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671013882
• ISBN13: 9780671013882
• Release Date: October 1997
• Publisher: Washington Square Press
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.68 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 1.0" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

To Know 'Em is to Love 'Em!

When I first started to read this book I wasn't sure if I was going to like it or even finish it. I had already read Ms Goodman's novels, KAATERSKILL FALLS and PARADISE PARK, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. I just wasn't sure if this would be more of the same ... the same characters...the same issues. ...But I stuck with it because I enjoy her writing so much and I was pleasantly surprised!THE FAMILY MARKOWITZ is a compilation of short stories describing different members of this complex family. From Rose, the family matriarch, to her sons, Henry and Ed, her daughters-in-law and her grandchildren, these stories span a period of about 15 years and delve into issues that face many families - religion, intermarriage, drug addiction, sibling rivalry, aging parents, etc. I didn't love all the characters but I don't think you were supposed to - they are "real" people, created so well by an author whose true talent lies in her masterful characteriztion as well as with her literary ability.I'd like to pick up a copy of her first collection of stories, TOTAL IMMERSION, next!

A superb, thoughtful novel -- A real treat

In a series of interwoven stories covering approximately fifteen years in the life of a large family, the author conveys the difficulty and comedy in family relationships. The members of the family include a demanding and childlike aging grandmother, an overly-adult granddaughter, and several members of the middle generation who are still struggling to come to terms with their own identities. Because the chapters differ in central character and focus, the reader is never bored, and there is always a high level of humor shining through the rather cerebral plot. One of the best novels I have read in years. Don't miss it.

Loved this! Lots of silliness..

Oy vey, "The Family Markowitz" is what every WASP imagines every Jewish family is really like. And perhaps it is what every Jewish family might read and shake their heads at - for the truth captured within. I don't know. I do know that I alternately grinned and groaned with every guilt trip, every piece of cognitive dissonance, every whine, and every solution. Goodman writes a good story, and one that seems entirely plausible and accurate in its dialogues, descriptions, and hang-ups. The reader learns all about Mama Rose, her two sons, Ed and Henry, their wives, and Ed's children who range in type from "born again orthodox Judaism" to "Did I hear you say Avi's girlfriend isn't Jewish?". They deal with their own minds and souls while they combat and juggle the anguish of their family members. No one really listens, and no one really hears, but in the end everyone seems to understand perfectly. A fun read, and for someone who appreciates the Jewish-American world - a hilarious open window on the community as it is portrayed.

Touching accounts

Everyone finds someone to root for and someone to scorn in this delicious collage. The author obviously had strong and tender attachment to each of her characters, and you will too. This book should be used in English classes to teach character development.

Fast-reading and amusing. I truly enjoyed it.

If you've ever been to a family reunion, you can certainly relate to this book. The author gives each character a chapter of his/her own -- at least one, and one comes away understanding that every family, every life has a little craziness in it. Very warm and even inspiring.