GRAND Magazine - July/August 2019 - 12

books

Quindlen's wise and witty memoir
on becoming the grandparent she wants to be
BY COLLEEN SELL

Nanaville: Adventures in Grandparenting
Anna Quindlen, Random House, April 2019

buy here
12 GRAND

JULY-AUG 2019

s a long-time fan of Anna Quindlen-the bestselling
And this passage, on the last page of the last chapter,
author and Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist whose
where Quindlen imagines herself an octogenarian with
novels, memoirs, columns, and essays explore the
adult grandchildren:
real lives of American families-I looked forward to reading
her new book, Nanaville. As Gramma to seven grands, ages
One of the differences between grandchildren and grand10 to 30 years, and Gigi to two great-grands, ages three and
parents is that grandchildren think they have all the time
five years, I expected to read experiences, thoughts, and
in the world, and grandparents only wish they had.
emotions that resonated with me. And I did. I did not expect
I love them so, but it is an undemanding love. Through
to learn anything new about grandparenting. But I did.
them I found myself capable of that...
Nanaville is classic Quindlen: a compelling story filled
In sixth grade one of them made a family tree, as so
with observations and opinions, laced with poignant and
many sixth graders have before, and there I was, below
funny anecdotes, and sprinkled with historical and sociothe trunk, right at the roots. If I live another decade
logical context. In Nanaville, Quindlen also shares notes-toor so, I might be a great-grandmother, the tree growself that do double duty as messages-in-a-bottle to readers.
ing, expanding, flowering. That would be something,
I've opted not to cite any of those nuggets of wisdom here
wouldn't It? That would really be something.
because it is far more enjoyable and impactful to discover
them within Quindlen's lively narrative and to decide for
yourself which ones strike a chord.
About the reviewer
Instead, I am sharing two passages that hit home with
me. This one, early in the book:
Colleen Sell is a writer and editor whose
There are many thrilling things about being a grandmother-who knew it would be so satisfying at my age
to put my right foot in, to take my right foot out, and to
shake it all about?-but for me one of the most thrilling
is watching my eldest child be a first-rate parent.

career spans more than 30 years and
encompasses the collaborative creation of
more than 200 books and several magazines,
including as the former editor-in-chief of
GRAND.
You can contact Colleen at
colleensell@gmail.com

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GRAND Magazine - July/August 2019

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