Nanaville

Adventures in Grandparenting

By: Anna Quindlen

Narrated by: Cynthia Farrell

A bighearted book of wisdom, wit, and insight, celebrating the love and joy of being a grandmother, from the Pulitzer Prize–winning columnist and #1 New York Times bestselling author

“I am changing his diaper, he is kicking and complaining, his exhausted father has gone to the kitchen for a glass of water, his exhausted mother is prone on the couch. He weighs little more than a large sack of flour and yet he has laid waste to the living room: swaddles on the chair, a nursing pillow on the sofa, a car seat, a stroller. No one cares about order, he is our order, we revolve around him. And as I try to get in the creases of his thighs with a wipe, I look at his, let’s be honest, largely formless face and unfocused eyes and fall in love with him. Look at him and think, well, that’s taken care of, I will do anything for you as long as we both shall live, world without end, amen.”

Before blogs even existed, Anna Quindlen became a go-to writer on the joys and challenges of family, motherhood, and modern life, in her nationally syndicated column. Now she’s taking the next step and going full Nana in this lively, beautiful, and moving book about being a grandmother. Quindlen offers thoughtful and telling observations about her new role, no longer mother and decision-maker but secondary character and support to the parents of her grandson. She writes, “Where I once led, I have to learn to follow.” Eventually a close friend provides words to live by: “Did they ask you?”

Candid, funny, frank, and illuminating, Quindlen’s singular voice has never been sharper or warmer. With the same insights she brought to motherhood in Living Out Loud and to growing older in Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake, this new nana uses her own experiences to illuminate those of many others.

©2018 Anna Quindlen (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved

Lackluster performance

Book does not contain the brilliance of Quindlen’s early work— not sure she had a books worth of insight to impart. Her main thesis would have made s good magazine article

Words of Wisdom

I would love to anonymously send this book out to some Nanas who are doing it wrong and would benefit so much to learn to bite their tongues as they frequently give unsolicited advice! I loved this book!

Very enjoyable !

This book is Full of good advice. Narrator is excellent. Take her advice to heart.

Narrator sounds robotic

I love Anna Quindlen and her insightful touching and humorous reflections on Grandparenting are spot on but this narrator made me wish I had purchased the print version instead the Audible one. Her voice lacked emotion at times and often sounded absolutely robotic, losing much of the humor and deep emotion that I am sure Ms. Quindlen imbued into her writing. This version was a disappointment.

An important book for every grandparent to read

Quindlen describes the hopes and dreams of a Nana- with observations and reflections on what to do and what to avoid for family harmony. An excellent book.