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persnickery's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
jbcbasket's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
megangraff's review against another edition
3.0
I started listening to this as an audiobook before the holidays but didn't get very far. I read the e-book in a day on a long bus ride and it was perfect for that. Listening to the beginning of the audiobook gave me a voice with a Boston accent for the narrator which was a bonus.
khuizenga's review against another edition
4.0
Adorable and heartfelt, this was fun to read as someone who has spent a good amount of time in Boston and as someone who has some Jewish heritage. I was shocked by how many of the Yiddish words my family has been using that I had no idea where they came from until I was listening to this book. Also props to the person who read the audiobook for having the impossible, a decent Boston accent.
cemoses's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the book and felt it was a welcome change from crime and other types of fiction which are currently been published.
This book about Addie Baum the first American born child of Russian Jewish immigrants who was born in Boston in 1900. She is telling her granddaughter in 1985 the story of her life. It a rags-to-middle-class story. A lot of the book shows how the settlement programs for immigrants provided the children of immigrants opportunities for education and friendship. I liked the fact that the book was about poor immigrants; Many Americans are forgetting about their poor immigrant roots.
However, I thought the ending of the book lacked a punch. The book needed some kind of climax. Furthermore, the book lacked a strong message. It missed some of the qualities of top fiction such as conflict between characters and a lead character who will mature and grow over time.
Despite these shortcomings I enjoyed the book and found it a entertaining book to read.
This book about Addie Baum the first American born child of Russian Jewish immigrants who was born in Boston in 1900. She is telling her granddaughter in 1985 the story of her life. It a rags-to-middle-class story. A lot of the book shows how the settlement programs for immigrants provided the children of immigrants opportunities for education and friendship. I liked the fact that the book was about poor immigrants; Many Americans are forgetting about their poor immigrant roots.
However, I thought the ending of the book lacked a punch. The book needed some kind of climax. Furthermore, the book lacked a strong message. It missed some of the qualities of top fiction such as conflict between characters and a lead character who will mature and grow over time.
Despite these shortcomings I enjoyed the book and found it a entertaining book to read.
christie_esau's review against another edition
4.0
Not my genre of choice but a good book spanning the life of an interesting woman character. Not remarkable but a solid 3.5.
mmotleyu's review against another edition
4.0
As many other reviewers state, I loved The Red Tent, and I purchased this book when it first came out but just now got around to reading it when it was one of my book club selections for December. I listened to the audio version narrated by Linda Lavin-- loved this audio performance! I enjoyed the historical fiction elements of this novel, which made me appreciate anew all the rights I now have as a woman. I envied Addy all the close friendships she maintained throughout her life. I could so relate to how she spent her life trying to win her mother's approval and affection and cried at the deathbed scene. One of the GoodReads reviews kept ringing through my head as I was reading "another plucky immigrant girl making good in America" story. This tainted my experience only a bit (because it is true!)... still liked Addy and Boston and the family and love and personal growth shown in this story.
nb61's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Good historical fiction.
shirleytupperfreeman's review against another edition
I really enjoyed this! Addie Baum, born in 1900 to Jewish immigrant parents in Boston, tells the story of her life to her 22 year old granddaughter. Addie is a delightful personality – kind, generous and full of spunk. Addie’s life spans four wars, the depression, a flu epidemic and striking changes in the role of women. Through it all, Addie remains true to herself.