May 2019

In NANAVILLE: Adventures in Grandparenting, her honest and oft-times wry memoir, Anna Quindlen talks about being the grandmother to her first grandchild, Arthur. She nails the role of grandparents in a child’s life and offers thoughtful and telling observations about it, as she is 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?’”

I listened to NANAVILLE, and Cynthia Farrell is a wonderful narrator. Her manner of narrating felt so personal that for a long while I thought it was Anna reading the book. It sounded like she knew Arthur and had bonded with him! This is the book that I am going to give every new grandmother. Seriously. There are so many favorite lines that I could quote, and so many scenarios that just made me smile. While it’s for those of a certain age, every new mom can also read it and get some insight into how grandma is feeling as the new wee one comes home. Oh, and I would really like to meet Arthur, who is Anna’s grandson. He sounds like he is such fun to be with!

I dare you to read it and not find yourself walking away with a few tips, no matter what side of the parenting aisle you are on. And I am betting you do a lot of smiling as well.