Nobody Will Tell You This But Me: A true (as told to me) story Hardcover – March 17, 2020

I will start by saying that the writing in this novel is gorgeous. The movement from memory to memory and the style with which they are delivered is done through very pretty writing. For someone who likes pretty writing, I give this an A+ on that aspect alone.This story brought me to tears on multiple occasions and even caused me to laugh and cry simultaneously. The hope and joy that this novel gave me for the world in a dark time is overwhelming. I was unable to put the book down and finished it in two nights.Bobby and Bessie travel through all of the emotions that make us human. They are never scared to be as they are with each other. 'Nobody Will Tell You This But Me' is encouraging me to think positively about what a closeness between family members could be and is even pushing me to consider ways in which I could bring more open communication and friendship-based love into my familial relationships. I would take the bad to experience the good that is portrayed in this novel, any day. If you are looking to sprinkle some beauty onto your life, I can't recommend this novel more.

My grandson is only seven months old. I adore him like a grandma Bobby adores her granddaughter. I don't know how long I'll be around but I pray that sweet boy knows how much I love him when I'm alive and when I'm gone. This book is a treasure and he first one I've read that I resonate with grandmother rather than the mother or daughter.

If you’ve been lucky enough to live well into adulthood before saying goodbye to an ever loving, present, grandmother, you will find much comfort in Kalb’s writing. The power of memories, stories, humor, and love; the gut wrenching pain of saying goodbye and the ever present space left in your life thereafter - it’s all there. In writing her own story through life, love, laughter, and grief, Kalb is giving words to all of us; our shared human experience.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, diving into it each evening before bed. I finished it in just a few days and was sad to come to the end. The author tells a rich and varied story of her grandmother's life (and of a her whole family by extension), full of vulnerability and the most real / hard moments in life, but also so full of humor and joy that I often found myself laughing out loud. I feel like I know this grandmother so well and can hear her voice come alive in these pages. I definitely recommend this book to everyone and am already sharing copies with my family members.

I loved every minute of this book. It’s like a beautiful love letter to the author’s grandma and mom. I saw so much of my own family in this, and it was moving and inspiring and just such an incredible read. Highly, highly recommend.

I started this book twice. The first time, I stopped after 10% on my Kindle. I couldn't quite connect with the way the narrative unfolded. The second time, I restarted and finished the book. I found much to like - the grandmother was feisty but, I like a few others, grew weary of the privileged tone that kept creeping in. My parents started life as the poorest of the poor and climbed into the middle class. They raised four children, three college educated, but neither my parents or my brothers would dream of going on about it.The relationship between granddaughter and grandmother was charming in its own way but I cringed at the way in which the grandmother had admittedly treated her own daughter. She would grow bored and frustrated and would take off on trips all over the world with her husband, leaving behind her children. Yes, I know it was the times but it seemed dismissive. It was troubling to me that the only way that the daughter could gain a workable relationship with her mother was to become a mother.I understand that the author was recounting the past, not creating it, but since she was trying to celebrate her grandmother, her choice of vignettes didn't wow me with warmth. Clearly, however, it did many people. I applaud Kalb's honesty and writing style, however, and am glad that she and her grandmother had a warm and enduring relationship. Her recognition of the value of that relationship is a good enough reason to read this book.

This is a beautiful story of special relationship between a grandmother and her granddaughter! I only knew 1 of my grandma’s but because of distance and age we didn’t have the opportunity to develop such a relationship. Now with grandchildren of my own, I aspire to be a memorable figure in their lives. I am working toward this end but will take examples from Bobby to do this.

I follow Bess Kalb on Twitter and love her sense of humor. When I saw she was coming out with this book, I bought a copy for myself and my grandmother, a 95 year old Jewish immigrant who grew up in New York. She called me the day after it was delivered, to rave about how funny it was and how nostalgic it made her feel about her younger years. She plowed through the book in one day, and while I haven't finished it yet, I am really enjoying it. The conversations in the book will probably ring true for anyone who's grown up in or became part of a Jewish family like the author's.