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Go Ask Fannie Farmer
Everyone has baggage. The Blaire siblings are just taking theirs home for the long weekend.
When Murray Blaire invites his three grown children to his New Hampshire farm for a few days, he makes it clear he expects them to keep things pleasant. The rest of his agenda–using Ruth and George to convince their younger sister, Lizzie, to break up with her much older boyfriend–that he chooses to keep private. But Ruth and George arrive bickering, with old scores to settle. And, in a classic Blaire move, Lizzie derails everything when she turns up late, cradling a damaged family cookbook, and talking about possible criminal charges against her.
This is not the first time the Blaire family has been thrown into chaos. In fact, that cookbook, an old edition of Fannie Farmer, is the last remaining artifact from a time when they were a family of six, not four, with a father running for Congress and a mother building a private life of her own. The now -obscured notes written in its pages provide tantalizing clues to their mother’s ambitions and the mysterious choices she once made, choices her children have always sought without success to understand. Until this weekend.
As the Blaire siblings piece together their mother’s story, they come to realize not just what they’ve lost, but how they can find their way back to each other. In this way, celebrated author Elisabeth Hyde reminds readers that family survival isn’t about simply setting aside old rivalries, but preserving the love that’s written between the lines.
When Murray Blaire invites his three grown children to his New Hampshire farm for a few days, he makes it clear he expects them to keep things pleasant. The rest of his agenda–using Ruth and George to convince their younger sister, Lizzie, to break up with her much older boyfriend–that he chooses to keep private. But Ruth and George arrive bickering, with old scores to settle. And, in a classic Blaire move, Lizzie derails everything when she turns up late, cradling a damaged family cookbook, and talking about possible criminal charges against her.
This is not the first time the Blaire family has been thrown into chaos. In fact, that cookbook, an old edition of Fannie Farmer, is the last remaining artifact from a time when they were a family of six, not four, with a father running for Congress and a mother building a private life of her own. The now -obscured notes written in its pages provide tantalizing clues to their mother’s ambitions and the mysterious choices she once made, choices her children have always sought without success to understand. Until this weekend.
As the Blaire siblings piece together their mother’s story, they come to realize not just what they’ve lost, but how they can find their way back to each other. In this way, celebrated author Elisabeth Hyde reminds readers that family survival isn’t about simply setting aside old rivalries, but preserving the love that’s written between the lines.
291 pages, Hardcover
First published April 10, 2018
77 people are currently reading
3162 people want to read
About the author
Elisabeth Hyde
14 books147 followersElisabeth Hyde is the author, most recently, of GO ASK FANNIE, winner of the 2019 Colorado Book Award in General Fiction. She has also written five other critically acclaimed novels, including IN THE HEART OF THE CANYON, a NY Times Editor’s Choice and a People Magazine Great Read. Her fourth novel, THE ABORTIONIST'S DAUGHTER, became a best seller in Great Britain after being selected as a Summer Read by The Richard and Judy Show (Britain’s Oprah, at the time). Trained as a lawyer, she tried cases for the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., for several years, a day-job that still gives her stomachaches just to think about it. Realizing that she preferred written conflict over face-to-face argument, she eventually left the law to write fiction, and never looked back. She lives in Boulder with her husband and the best dog in the whole world.
She generally lists only books she has loved.
She generally lists only books she has loved.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 226 reviews
April 4, 2018
Go Ask Fannie was such a beautifully written family drama that I tore through it and couldn't put it down. Murray Blaire invites his 3 children to his home to spend the weekend together, something that hasn't happened in a long time. As Ruth, George, and Lizzie come together old hurts are brought to the surface and family secrets are revealed. Told through various perspectives, we see each child and their father muck through family trials and find a way to come together as a family over the course of this weekend. The story of their mother, long deceased, is also told and I thoroughly enjoyed the insights from all of these perspectives. The past and present is told in an intricately woven tale and I very much enjoyed this beautiful story. Thank you @putnambooks for this advance reader in exchange for my honest review.
April 12, 2018
This was a great family drama! Flawed characters trying to just get through life and survive each other. Really enjoyed it!
January 29, 2018
Thank you Negalley!!!!I enjoyed this despite it being a very basic ho hum kind of story. We have three siblings(who were once 4) who come to spend the weekend with their aging father. The book is basically about the characters. There wasn't a big plot or anything surprising but I like that kind of reading. I enjoy interesting characters who live realistic lives. Ruth is the oldest and is in an unhappy but wealthy marriage. She works as a lawyer and has 2 children and the same number of homes. She's a control freak bossy woman who really wants dad to be put in a home. George is the middle kid. He's a nurse and a marathoner who can't stop eating and his love life is blah because he's afraid to commit and have children. Lizzy is the baby and she's having an affair with a writer who is almost twice her age. But they broke up and she went to get a cookbook- a book their mother used for all their staple meals and dubbed it, Go Ask Fanny- from the writer he had damaged it beyond repair and she got upset and poured scalding water on his laptop and also on his hand.
But looming over everything is the memory of their mother who died when Lizzy was just six. She got into an accident killing their 4th sibling, Daniel. (not a spoiler alert).
We get to spend a good amount of time with their mother who was by far the most interesting character, a writer too of short stories and co-pilot to their father's campaign when he was running for office.
I recommend this as an easy read for people not looking for anything crazy or spectacular. If you like straight domestic fiction this is for you.
But looming over everything is the memory of their mother who died when Lizzy was just six. She got into an accident killing their 4th sibling, Daniel. (not a spoiler alert).
We get to spend a good amount of time with their mother who was by far the most interesting character, a writer too of short stories and co-pilot to their father's campaign when he was running for office.
I recommend this as an easy read for people not looking for anything crazy or spectacular. If you like straight domestic fiction this is for you.
March 26, 2018
Go Ask Fannie
By
Elisabeth Hyde
What it's all about...
Three adult children return home at the request of their father...Murray. Their mother and brother have long been dead...there are hints about how they died in the book but nothing is really clarified for a long time. The book tells about their childhood or rather the time they had with their mother. Lillian was innovative, clever and a writer although nothing of hers was ever published. She commandeered their third floor guest room for her writing room. Her Smith-Corona was kept there and the floor was literally littered in paper. She had a rope across the stairs so that her children would not enter her writing world.
Why I wanted to read it...
I thought that this book would have more to do with a cookbook called The Fannie Farmer Cookbook and it did but in a unique way. Lillian would write notes in this book but they may or may not have been related to cooking. The cookbook was very precious to her three remaining children.
What made me truly enjoy this book...
The relationships among these adult children was often mildly volatile...Ruth...the eldest was the bossiest...and Lizzie the youngest was the most messed up...the middle brother..George...just seemed to coast along.
Why you should read it, too...
Readers who love well written family dramas...will love this book. I did!
I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss and Amazon. It was my choice to read it and review it.
By
Elisabeth Hyde
What it's all about...
Three adult children return home at the request of their father...Murray. Their mother and brother have long been dead...there are hints about how they died in the book but nothing is really clarified for a long time. The book tells about their childhood or rather the time they had with their mother. Lillian was innovative, clever and a writer although nothing of hers was ever published. She commandeered their third floor guest room for her writing room. Her Smith-Corona was kept there and the floor was literally littered in paper. She had a rope across the stairs so that her children would not enter her writing world.
Why I wanted to read it...
I thought that this book would have more to do with a cookbook called The Fannie Farmer Cookbook and it did but in a unique way. Lillian would write notes in this book but they may or may not have been related to cooking. The cookbook was very precious to her three remaining children.
What made me truly enjoy this book...
The relationships among these adult children was often mildly volatile...Ruth...the eldest was the bossiest...and Lizzie the youngest was the most messed up...the middle brother..George...just seemed to coast along.
Why you should read it, too...
Readers who love well written family dramas...will love this book. I did!
I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss and Amazon. It was my choice to read it and review it.
April 13, 2018
When Murray Blaire invites his three grown children to his New Hampshire farm for a few days, he makes it clear he expects them to keep things pleasant. The rest of his agenda--using Ruth and George to convince their younger sister, Lizzie, to break up with her much older boyfriend--that he chooses to keep private. But Ruth and George arrive bickering, with old scores to settle. And, in a classic Blaire move, Lizzie derails everything when she turns up late, cradling a damaged family cookbook, and talking about possible criminal charges against her.
This is not the first time the Blaire family has been thrown into chaos. In fact, that cookbook, an old edition of Fannie Farmer, is the last remaining artifact from a time when they were a family of six, not four, with a father running for Congress and a mother building a private life of her own. The now -obscured notes written in its pages provide tantalizing clues to their mother's ambitions and the mysterious choices she once made, choices her children have always sought without success to understand. Until this weekend.
As the Blaire siblings piece together their mother's story, they come to realize not just what they've lost, but how they can find their way back to each other. In this way, celebrated author Elisabeth Hyde reminds readers that family survival isn't about simply setting aside old rivalries, but preserving the love that's written between the lines.
My Thoughts: From the very first page of Go Ask Fannie, the reader is offered a peek into the squabbles between two adult siblings who are on their way to their dad’s home in New Hampshire.
Ruth, the eldest, an attorney who lives in Washington, D.C., is full of criticism and advice, trying to immediately take control of the situation. George, who is a nurse, gives back his point of view, too, but he shows a bit more empathy. The two are fighting about what should happen to their father, Murray, who is 81 and so far maintaining his independence.
Upon arrival, the third sibling enters the picture, with her own battles to fight. Her much older boyfriend has ruined the family’s Fannie Farmer cookbook, the one legacy they have from their mother, Lillian, who had died thirty-two years ago, along with their brother Daniel.
Between the lines, we learn more about the family dynamics as the author shows us what those interactions look like, while the multiple narrators take us back and forth in time. By the end of the story, we have a clearer picture of the family’s secrets, the untold wishes and dreams, and the mistaken beliefs they each held.
A story with distinct characters one could easily love and hate at the same time, this one offered us a glimpse of what life could look like if each of them shared these hidden truths. 5 stars.
This is not the first time the Blaire family has been thrown into chaos. In fact, that cookbook, an old edition of Fannie Farmer, is the last remaining artifact from a time when they were a family of six, not four, with a father running for Congress and a mother building a private life of her own. The now -obscured notes written in its pages provide tantalizing clues to their mother's ambitions and the mysterious choices she once made, choices her children have always sought without success to understand. Until this weekend.
As the Blaire siblings piece together their mother's story, they come to realize not just what they've lost, but how they can find their way back to each other. In this way, celebrated author Elisabeth Hyde reminds readers that family survival isn't about simply setting aside old rivalries, but preserving the love that's written between the lines.
My Thoughts: From the very first page of Go Ask Fannie, the reader is offered a peek into the squabbles between two adult siblings who are on their way to their dad’s home in New Hampshire.
Ruth, the eldest, an attorney who lives in Washington, D.C., is full of criticism and advice, trying to immediately take control of the situation. George, who is a nurse, gives back his point of view, too, but he shows a bit more empathy. The two are fighting about what should happen to their father, Murray, who is 81 and so far maintaining his independence.
Upon arrival, the third sibling enters the picture, with her own battles to fight. Her much older boyfriend has ruined the family’s Fannie Farmer cookbook, the one legacy they have from their mother, Lillian, who had died thirty-two years ago, along with their brother Daniel.
Between the lines, we learn more about the family dynamics as the author shows us what those interactions look like, while the multiple narrators take us back and forth in time. By the end of the story, we have a clearer picture of the family’s secrets, the untold wishes and dreams, and the mistaken beliefs they each held.
A story with distinct characters one could easily love and hate at the same time, this one offered us a glimpse of what life could look like if each of them shared these hidden truths. 5 stars.
May 31, 2018
Ruth, George, and Lizzie are home visiting their 81-year old father, Murray. He's doing okay, but certain things are slipping and they all know it. Ruth is ready to talk about putting Murray in a care facility. George is trying to keep everyone happy. And Lizzie is just trying to keep her crazy life---caused mostly by colossally bad decision-making---in order. As the three siblings reminisce, though, secrets about their mother and older brother, both now long-since passed, begin to emerge. The siblings try to make sense of what they learn while also caring for their ailing father.
* * * * *
I thought I was going to enjoy this book a lot more than I did. I like the whole "dysfunctional family reunion" angle, but, good grief, the story is slow, boring, and depressing to boot. Author Elisabeth Hyde tries (very hard...) to keep things light and quirky, but it just doesn't work. Her writing isn't funny, and the characters aren't charming or complicated---they're emotionally limited and obnoxious. It doesn't help either that so much of the family's story is sad: past, present, future, it's all looking grim.
All I can say is that this book is uninspired and tired. I liked the brief middle section written from Lillian's perspective a bit more, but it wasn't enough to save the whole thing. Overall, a disappointing read.
Thank you GP Putnam's Sons and Amazon Vine for the ARC!
See more of my reviews at www.BugBugBooks.com!
* * * * *
I thought I was going to enjoy this book a lot more than I did. I like the whole "dysfunctional family reunion" angle, but, good grief, the story is slow, boring, and depressing to boot. Author Elisabeth Hyde tries (very hard...) to keep things light and quirky, but it just doesn't work. Her writing isn't funny, and the characters aren't charming or complicated---they're emotionally limited and obnoxious. It doesn't help either that so much of the family's story is sad: past, present, future, it's all looking grim.
All I can say is that this book is uninspired and tired. I liked the brief middle section written from Lillian's perspective a bit more, but it wasn't enough to save the whole thing. Overall, a disappointing read.
Thank you GP Putnam's Sons and Amazon Vine for the ARC!
See more of my reviews at www.BugBugBooks.com!
April 6, 2023
GO ASK FANNIE
Elisabeth Hyde
I almost let this one go back to the library without reading it. But we can't do that, so I sat down and devoured it quite quickly, and you know what? it wasn't hard to do and I loved it. I laughed and cried with this one and in particular, I loved George (my son's name). He was a peacemaker between the daughters.
I have a thing for books that spy on families and tell about their lives and as I am aging faster than I ever thought was possible, I like that Murray was elderly and living alone on a farm. It sounds familiar to me, as I live on a goat farm but am not as old as Murray.
Murray has called his children together for a weekend on his beautiful sunflower and dairy farm where he has lived for 10 years. His wife and one child have been dead for years, more than he ever thought would pass. So his adult children show up and revert to their positions as children while they try to get along and make decisions about what is going to happen. How true, how true...
Lucky Murray, he didn't worry about his cows but I shall continue to worry about the girls and what might become of them.
5 Stars
Happy Reading!
Elisabeth Hyde
I almost let this one go back to the library without reading it. But we can't do that, so I sat down and devoured it quite quickly, and you know what? it wasn't hard to do and I loved it. I laughed and cried with this one and in particular, I loved George (my son's name). He was a peacemaker between the daughters.
I have a thing for books that spy on families and tell about their lives and as I am aging faster than I ever thought was possible, I like that Murray was elderly and living alone on a farm. It sounds familiar to me, as I live on a goat farm but am not as old as Murray.
Murray has called his children together for a weekend on his beautiful sunflower and dairy farm where he has lived for 10 years. His wife and one child have been dead for years, more than he ever thought would pass. So his adult children show up and revert to their positions as children while they try to get along and make decisions about what is going to happen. How true, how true...
Lucky Murray, he didn't worry about his cows but I shall continue to worry about the girls and what might become of them.
5 Stars
Happy Reading!
February 13, 2018
I was excited to see Elisabeth Hyde had a new book out because I LOVED The Abortionist's Daughter and In the Heart of the Canyon. Go Ask Fannie didn't disappoint and I became completely immersed in it. I felt like I was in New Hampshire with the Blaire family.
Murray's three adult children are heading home for the weekend. Murray wants his oldest daughter, Ruth, to talk to Lizzie about breaking up with her much older boyfriend. Naturally, things do not go as planned. A beloved ruined cookbook sets up the weekend. There's talk of jail, visits by police, many hospital visits and fighting among siblings. There's also revelations of what happened that fatal day in November.
I enjoyed reading about the Blaire family and Murray's run for political office. The book revolved around family and the love they had for each other. I loved the characters, story and writing style. I definitely recommend this book.
Thanks to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and the author, Elisabeth Hyde, for a free electronic ARC of this novel.
Murray's three adult children are heading home for the weekend. Murray wants his oldest daughter, Ruth, to talk to Lizzie about breaking up with her much older boyfriend. Naturally, things do not go as planned. A beloved ruined cookbook sets up the weekend. There's talk of jail, visits by police, many hospital visits and fighting among siblings. There's also revelations of what happened that fatal day in November.
I enjoyed reading about the Blaire family and Murray's run for political office. The book revolved around family and the love they had for each other. I loved the characters, story and writing style. I definitely recommend this book.
Thanks to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and the author, Elisabeth Hyde, for a free electronic ARC of this novel.
May 1, 2018
This was a bittersweet read for me. The timing was awful; I won't go into a lot of details because I'll be spewing spoilers. For those who have read the book, I experienced a significant life-altering event on April 29th, several years ago much like the characters in this book. So, that said it triggered a lot of emotions that I like to keep buried; I don't like to cry.
I thought the writer did a great job with this topic that many of us have or will be going through as we grow older.
I would like to thank First-to-Read for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
I thought the writer did a great job with this topic that many of us have or will be going through as we grow older.
I would like to thank First-to-Read for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
January 21, 2018
GO ASK FANNIE is the kind of book that envelops the reader in a small, beautifully wrought family moment, while skillfully interweaving its sad history. Hyde focuses on these feelings during a few days in the life of a family, deeper in crisis than they know.
It is the “drowning “ of the Fannie Farmer cookbook and its’ perpetrator that serve as both the catalyst and comic relief. The loss of the book, full of a mothers’ musings, helps unite the very disparate children of the Blaire family. The lives of these adult children are well developed by the author, using few words, none wasted.
The children have come together to help transition their father and remove youngest sister, Lizzie, from an unhealthy relationship. While the reader expects a slow pace within the bucolic setting of New Hampshire. Hyde moves the plot along quickly, never wasting words or introducing extraneous characters or subplots. .
I loved the book and the very skilled writing. I am an impatient reader who hates to be spun around in circles, so this really worked for me. I recommend this for book clubs and reading groups since it is so full of issues that will gives readers fodder for rich discussions and debate.
It is the “drowning “ of the Fannie Farmer cookbook and its’ perpetrator that serve as both the catalyst and comic relief. The loss of the book, full of a mothers’ musings, helps unite the very disparate children of the Blaire family. The lives of these adult children are well developed by the author, using few words, none wasted.
The children have come together to help transition their father and remove youngest sister, Lizzie, from an unhealthy relationship. While the reader expects a slow pace within the bucolic setting of New Hampshire. Hyde moves the plot along quickly, never wasting words or introducing extraneous characters or subplots. .
I loved the book and the very skilled writing. I am an impatient reader who hates to be spun around in circles, so this really worked for me. I recommend this for book clubs and reading groups since it is so full of issues that will gives readers fodder for rich discussions and debate.
March 5, 2018
Elisabeth Hyde's new novel features the Blaire family, Murray and Lillian and their four children, who live in New England in the early 1980s. The events of 1984 in particular have long-reaching effects that are still felt in present day as the now adult children worry about their father as he ages. Murray's political ambitions and Lillian 's needs for greater creative fulfillment feel real and familiar, as do the demands of four young children. And the sibling rivalry that still exists among the siblings as adults feels equally real. Fears about parents aging and whether we truly know our loved ones, regrets and old wounds...Hyde captures so much of real life while presenting a dynamic family. Enjoyable and thought provoking.
We learn early on that Lillian and one of the children died unexpectedly and that Murray and the children, Ruth, George and Lizzie, have been shaped by this over the years but never shared their feelings with each other. Only as Murray nears end of life do more facts come to light that help the remaining Blaires work through the events that have haunted them for decades.
Thanks to NetGalley for the free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
We learn early on that Lillian and one of the children died unexpectedly and that Murray and the children, Ruth, George and Lizzie, have been shaped by this over the years but never shared their feelings with each other. Only as Murray nears end of life do more facts come to light that help the remaining Blaires work through the events that have haunted them for decades.
Thanks to NetGalley for the free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 16, 2018
I received a free digital ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The beginning of Go Ask Fannie is compelling and fun; Hyde is snappy and witty as she introduces a dysfunctional family with interesting characters. Before the end of the first section it feels like Hyde is spinning her wheels and the book loses a bit of focus. The book lost a lot of my interest in the second section, which is a flashback to the family in the 1980s that features the matriarch, Lillian (who we know passes away from the start of the book). I don't enjoy the trope of a struggling novelist within a novel and Lillian is otherwise not an entirely enjoyable or interesting character. While the reader does gain some insight into the characters' pasts, this section is too long and detracts from the book. The majority of the rest of the book takes place over a single weekend and I found myself doubting that so many major life events and discussions would occur over a single weekend. However, this is a quick read with some strong characters, and the interactions between the siblings feels genuine.
The beginning of Go Ask Fannie is compelling and fun; Hyde is snappy and witty as she introduces a dysfunctional family with interesting characters. Before the end of the first section it feels like Hyde is spinning her wheels and the book loses a bit of focus. The book lost a lot of my interest in the second section, which is a flashback to the family in the 1980s that features the matriarch, Lillian (who we know passes away from the start of the book). I don't enjoy the trope of a struggling novelist within a novel and Lillian is otherwise not an entirely enjoyable or interesting character. While the reader does gain some insight into the characters' pasts, this section is too long and detracts from the book. The majority of the rest of the book takes place over a single weekend and I found myself doubting that so many major life events and discussions would occur over a single weekend. However, this is a quick read with some strong characters, and the interactions between the siblings feels genuine.
April 16, 2018
Received free from Penguin First to Read, my thoughts are my own.
A book about family ties, love, and loss. It's about the stories we tell ourselves, our children, and spouses, some more true than others. And the roles we expect them to fill, with mixed success.
I found it a slow start, and difficult to warm up to the adult children, or their parents from the flashbacks. But as I got more of their story, while I didn't warm up to all of them, I did to some--and I was interested to see where things were going.
There is, be warned, a lot of tragedy, large and small. Petty squabbles to death, all treated fairly seriously by some of the characters. I most liked the mother, who lived a rather constrained life. She hid away a part of herself, leaving her children to try to guess the reality of her later in life, but for all that, she's vibrantly alive in other ways.
A book about family ties, love, and loss. It's about the stories we tell ourselves, our children, and spouses, some more true than others. And the roles we expect them to fill, with mixed success.
I found it a slow start, and difficult to warm up to the adult children, or their parents from the flashbacks. But as I got more of their story, while I didn't warm up to all of them, I did to some--and I was interested to see where things were going.
There is, be warned, a lot of tragedy, large and small. Petty squabbles to death, all treated fairly seriously by some of the characters. I most liked the mother, who lived a rather constrained life. She hid away a part of herself, leaving her children to try to guess the reality of her later in life, but for all that, she's vibrantly alive in other ways.
April 16, 2018
I really enjoyed Go Ask Fannie by Elisabeth Hyde. The characters were very well-defined, as well as likeable, and the story progressed so, so well and it was a very satisfying read from start to finish.
Fannie, is not the character I presumed her to be! But a clever feature of the story that I really enjoyed! The three siblings followed, Lizzie, George and Ruth, as well as they patriarch of the family, Murray, are going through some stuff. A LOT of stuff. There are secrets, and fighting, and lots of unspoken words. It was a sneak peek into a weekend of this family, and all the issues they possess. And also all the Love.
I'm a big fan of Elisabeth Hyde now - and will definitely look out for anything else she has written! I received a copy of Go Ask Fannie as part of the Penguin First to Read program in exchange for my honest review.
Fannie, is not the character I presumed her to be! But a clever feature of the story that I really enjoyed! The three siblings followed, Lizzie, George and Ruth, as well as they patriarch of the family, Murray, are going through some stuff. A LOT of stuff. There are secrets, and fighting, and lots of unspoken words. It was a sneak peek into a weekend of this family, and all the issues they possess. And also all the Love.
I'm a big fan of Elisabeth Hyde now - and will definitely look out for anything else she has written! I received a copy of Go Ask Fannie as part of the Penguin First to Read program in exchange for my honest review.
March 20, 2018
The Fannie referenced in the title is the one and only Fannie Farmer of cookbook fame. As it turns out, her celebrated cookbook is at the center of the story in this extremely well written and engrossing novel.
When Murray invites his three grown children to spend a weekend with him at his dairy farm in New Hampshire long held family tensions and memories are brought to the breaking point. Over thirty years earlier, the children's mother had used her copy of the Fannie Farmer cookbook as a place to jot notes whilst cooking the family's meals. Although the children were aware their mother would often climb the stairs to her third-story "office" in order to write stories, none of them had ever seen the fruits of her labor. When the treasured cookbook is damaged due to a careless boyfriend the siblings attempt to comprehend their late mother's intentions becomes paramount.
The middle portion of the book gives the reader a glimpse back in time, to the months leading up to the death of their mother and brother. Gradually the story of the accident that caused their untimely deaths emerges and, as more and more of the truth is brought to light, the siblings come to understand the importance of those cookbook jottings and the night that forever altered their family's lives.
When Murray invites his three grown children to spend a weekend with him at his dairy farm in New Hampshire long held family tensions and memories are brought to the breaking point. Over thirty years earlier, the children's mother had used her copy of the Fannie Farmer cookbook as a place to jot notes whilst cooking the family's meals. Although the children were aware their mother would often climb the stairs to her third-story "office" in order to write stories, none of them had ever seen the fruits of her labor. When the treasured cookbook is damaged due to a careless boyfriend the siblings attempt to comprehend their late mother's intentions becomes paramount.
The middle portion of the book gives the reader a glimpse back in time, to the months leading up to the death of their mother and brother. Gradually the story of the accident that caused their untimely deaths emerges and, as more and more of the truth is brought to light, the siblings come to understand the importance of those cookbook jottings and the night that forever altered their family's lives.
February 5, 2018
Quick and enjoyable read. "Go Ask Fannie" is a family literary drama centered on the Blaire family of New Hampshire. Eighty one year old Murray has summoned home his three children from near and far for a weekend, surreptitiously hoping to convince Lizzie, the youngest, to break up with her much older boyfriend. As in most families, there is drama and undercurrents of long ago events. "... harmony, that Artful Dodger in so many families, had its way of eluding his family as well ...." thinks Murray. As the weekend progresses, the reader is let in on the internal thinking of each player. Unfolding events reveal some stories of the past, until a series of chapters in the middle of the book revert to the year 1984. The writing is good, the dialogue snappy, and the characters well drawn. Very entertaining with several unexpected twists.
With thanks to netgalley.com, the author, Elisabeth Hyde, and the publisher, Macmillian for the Advanced Reader Copy.
With thanks to netgalley.com, the author, Elisabeth Hyde, and the publisher, Macmillian for the Advanced Reader Copy.
August 24, 2018
What a terrific, interesting novel! For those who like family stories, a dramatic but just-light-enough family saga with flashbacks to flesh out the family history. In the present, the three bickering adult Blaire children have brought their literal and figurative baggage "back home" to NH to visit aging dad Murray and "decide" what to do about him. Everyone has a different opinion, including Murray. The dialogue crackles and the characters are nicely fleshed out and interesting. Lillian, the late, beloved matriarch of the family, was a typical 1950s homemaker with a yen to be a writer, a passion she indulged in a third-floor spare room when she got the kids off to school. That she cooked almost exclusively from her hardcover Fannie Farmer cookbook and wrote notes along all the margins -- some recipe notes, some story ideas that hit her as she stood at the stove -- added a fascinating layer to this book for me. I'd highly recommend this for fans of shows like Parenthood and books such as Maine and This Is Where I Leave You, and other works about family ties that bind and gag, to quote the late, beloved Erma Bombeck (was Lilian inspired by Erma? I'd love to ask the author, Elisabeth Hyde!).
May 31, 2018
Murray Blaire, now in his eighties, has invited his children, Ruth, George and Lizzie, for a weekend visit to his New Hampshire farm. Each bring their old rivalries and jealousies and are soon bickering. Their mother, Lillian, died years ago, leaving behind an old Fannie Farmer cookbook. In it's margins are notes their mother made with story ideas. She was passionate about her writing, hoping to be published. I enjoyed that the story included Lillian's life as a wife and mother to understand her influence on the family better.
Despite their differences, the children come together to support their father and youngest sister, Lizzie, who faces possible criminal charges.
A wonderful story of regret, forgiveness and how our childhood defines who we become as adults.
Despite their differences, the children come together to support their father and youngest sister, Lizzie, who faces possible criminal charges.
A wonderful story of regret, forgiveness and how our childhood defines who we become as adults.
April 18, 2018
This is a story of a family of six that became a family of four overnight when the mother and oldest son die in a car accident when the youngest daughter was six years old. It's present day and Elizabeth, the youngest daughter is now 38 years old. Elizabeth was in the back seat of that vehicle then and was not killed. Her and the remaining other two siblings are visiting their elderly dad. It's the first time they have been all together for a number of years.
The siblings LOVE to bicker. They are constantly aggravating each other and the oldest daughter (a lawyer who is doing very well) is forever telling everyone how they should run their lives.
There are humorous moments, sad moments and very sad moments. A family memoir in which a Fannie Farmer cookbook is a big deal for the family as the mother used it to write a lot of personal notes which the family cherished. When the family asked what was for dinner, the mother would always reply "Go ask Fannie" hence the title of the book.
I found this to be a very entertaining book and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. While the kids did bicker a lot, it wasn't enough to get on my nerves and at times was sort of humorous.
Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
The siblings LOVE to bicker. They are constantly aggravating each other and the oldest daughter (a lawyer who is doing very well) is forever telling everyone how they should run their lives.
There are humorous moments, sad moments and very sad moments. A family memoir in which a Fannie Farmer cookbook is a big deal for the family as the mother used it to write a lot of personal notes which the family cherished. When the family asked what was for dinner, the mother would always reply "Go ask Fannie" hence the title of the book.
I found this to be a very entertaining book and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. While the kids did bicker a lot, it wasn't enough to get on my nerves and at times was sort of humorous.
Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
April 8, 2018
Go Ask Fannie by Elisabeth Hyde is a book about family, the Blair Family. Murray Blair, an older gentleman with his farm of sunflowers has invited his children for a weekend. Ostensibly, to help break his younger daughter up with an older man who is a player. In reality, the weekend turns into a series of memories from when his family was younger, before the death of his wife and a son.
The children all come with various concerns and issues. His daughter, Lizzie lives nearby and is a tenured professor just broke up in a rather radical fashion with the boyfriend. George, his son, is a nurse and a marathon runner with commitment issues. The oldest daughter is Ruth, a lawyer who lives down near Washington and is unhappily married. The weekend starts with an unhappy note as Lizzie brings her mother’s old battered cookbook by Fannie Farmer that was ruined by the ex-boyfriend.
Each characters shares memories from when they were younger that ties the past to the present. As the stories are relayed more information is gained about the importance of the cookbook and their mother and brother.
The story is about a family and the stories that connect them. I found the setting in New Hampshire with the various locals mentioned fun. Go Ask Fannie is a well written and poignant novel allowing the reader an intimate view into the family and the ties that bind them. I enjoyed Go Ask Fannie by Elisabeth Hyde and found the book to be a good read.
The children all come with various concerns and issues. His daughter, Lizzie lives nearby and is a tenured professor just broke up in a rather radical fashion with the boyfriend. George, his son, is a nurse and a marathon runner with commitment issues. The oldest daughter is Ruth, a lawyer who lives down near Washington and is unhappily married. The weekend starts with an unhappy note as Lizzie brings her mother’s old battered cookbook by Fannie Farmer that was ruined by the ex-boyfriend.
Each characters shares memories from when they were younger that ties the past to the present. As the stories are relayed more information is gained about the importance of the cookbook and their mother and brother.
The story is about a family and the stories that connect them. I found the setting in New Hampshire with the various locals mentioned fun. Go Ask Fannie is a well written and poignant novel allowing the reader an intimate view into the family and the ties that bind them. I enjoyed Go Ask Fannie by Elisabeth Hyde and found the book to be a good read.
November 2, 2021
Did you ever try a book having zero idea what to expect? Sometimes you get a winner, other times...nope. You can probably guess which way this one went, huh?
What I liked about Go Ask Fannie:
A decent life lesson anyway - Burying your feelings, trying to pretend your baggage isn't in there, undealt with, harboring secrets: nothing good ever comes from it. I'm not talking about unloading your conscience thoughtlessly, but a little honesty with yourself and the people you love, a little vulnerability, these things are the necessary foundation of healthy relationships.
What I didn't care for:
A bit much with the language - Listen, cussing happens. I won't discount a book as a direct result of it, especially if it feels organic to the story being told, rather than merely gratuitous. This got to be a bit excessive, which frankly, for me, is a turnoff. It feels lazy and it's distasteful.
Based heavily in politics - I don't rightly care where it falls on the spectrum, I just don't enjoy the topic in my recreational reading. Certainly, there is a time and place for it, and I am sure some people are unaffected by it being a dominant pivot point in a book, probably some even enjoy it. But I am not one of those people. It starts to feel cumbersome to me, especially when one of the characters is running for office, because there is no hope of escaping it; the plot is built on politics.
What left me conflicted:
The characters - Forget quirky or charming; they are a spoiled, selfish bunch, the whole lot of them. I couldn't seem to muster up liking or sympathizing with any of them. But they were well-developed in their crass nature and unpleasant demeanor, which I can appreciate on some level.
I can see how this book might appeal to some readers. I am just not one of them. This book was a bit harsh for my tastes. Too much dysfunction, too many hard edges... The writing itself wasn't terrible. I did get through this book in less than three days without any struggle. I just couldn't make myself like any of it, even if I appreciated it on a base level.
What I liked about Go Ask Fannie:
A decent life lesson anyway - Burying your feelings, trying to pretend your baggage isn't in there, undealt with, harboring secrets: nothing good ever comes from it. I'm not talking about unloading your conscience thoughtlessly, but a little honesty with yourself and the people you love, a little vulnerability, these things are the necessary foundation of healthy relationships.
What I didn't care for:
A bit much with the language - Listen, cussing happens. I won't discount a book as a direct result of it, especially if it feels organic to the story being told, rather than merely gratuitous. This got to be a bit excessive, which frankly, for me, is a turnoff. It feels lazy and it's distasteful.
Based heavily in politics - I don't rightly care where it falls on the spectrum, I just don't enjoy the topic in my recreational reading. Certainly, there is a time and place for it, and I am sure some people are unaffected by it being a dominant pivot point in a book, probably some even enjoy it. But I am not one of those people. It starts to feel cumbersome to me, especially when one of the characters is running for office, because there is no hope of escaping it; the plot is built on politics.
What left me conflicted:
The characters - Forget quirky or charming; they are a spoiled, selfish bunch, the whole lot of them. I couldn't seem to muster up liking or sympathizing with any of them. But they were well-developed in their crass nature and unpleasant demeanor, which I can appreciate on some level.
I can see how this book might appeal to some readers. I am just not one of them. This book was a bit harsh for my tastes. Too much dysfunction, too many hard edges... The writing itself wasn't terrible. I did get through this book in less than three days without any struggle. I just couldn't make myself like any of it, even if I appreciated it on a base level.
April 27, 2018
Dysfunction family fun! With some serious afterthoughts... I actually enjoyed this :-)
July 22, 2018
DNF 35. What do you get when every single character is an unlikable brat?
July 17, 2022
After all of the digs on Trump. I gave up on the book. No thank you!!
June 5, 2018
The Short of It:
This family’s story tugged at my heart.
The Rest of It:
Murray Blaire is getting on in years. At 81, he’s set in his ways but still present enough to know the importance of family. In an attempt to convince his youngest adult daughter that the man she is seeing is far too old for her and a real jerk, he invites his three children up for a long weekend.
Ruth as the eldest, figures it’s a good time to discuss the possibility of long-term care before her father actually needs it but Lizzie and George and most of all, Murray, just aren’t ready to talk about it. Plus, Lizzie quickly figures out the real reason for the visit and although she realizes she made many mistakes in her life, she’s not quite ready to address them. Certainly not in front of her judgmental older sister.
This is family drama at its best. Go Ask Fannie is a touching story about what it takes to have a successful marriage and raise a family while still maintaining a sense of self. Lillian and Murray lived a wonderful life but her death and the death of their son Daniel place a cloud over this family that cannot be ignored. Murray’s grief and the weight of loss his kids carry is palpable. It’s a story about missed opportunities and second chances. It’s sweet and well-told and comes together beautifully at the end.
Elisabeth Hyde is a new-to-me author but I really enjoyed her writing. Go Ask Fannie is a book many will enjoy this summer.
For more reviews, visit my blog: Book Chatter.
This family’s story tugged at my heart.
The Rest of It:
Murray Blaire is getting on in years. At 81, he’s set in his ways but still present enough to know the importance of family. In an attempt to convince his youngest adult daughter that the man she is seeing is far too old for her and a real jerk, he invites his three children up for a long weekend.
Ruth as the eldest, figures it’s a good time to discuss the possibility of long-term care before her father actually needs it but Lizzie and George and most of all, Murray, just aren’t ready to talk about it. Plus, Lizzie quickly figures out the real reason for the visit and although she realizes she made many mistakes in her life, she’s not quite ready to address them. Certainly not in front of her judgmental older sister.
This is family drama at its best. Go Ask Fannie is a touching story about what it takes to have a successful marriage and raise a family while still maintaining a sense of self. Lillian and Murray lived a wonderful life but her death and the death of their son Daniel place a cloud over this family that cannot be ignored. Murray’s grief and the weight of loss his kids carry is palpable. It’s a story about missed opportunities and second chances. It’s sweet and well-told and comes together beautifully at the end.
Elisabeth Hyde is a new-to-me author but I really enjoyed her writing. Go Ask Fannie is a book many will enjoy this summer.
For more reviews, visit my blog: Book Chatter.
November 9, 2018
The story takes place over the course of a weekend. Murray Blaire invites his three (adult) children to spend the weekend at his New Hampshire home. But right from the get go, the family is thrown into chaos: Ruth wants her 81-year-old father in a retirement home; George feels like he’s the only sane sibling; and Lizzie may or may not have gotten herself into criminal trouble.
Over the days that follow the past is stirred up. For some family members, it’s been long buried. For others, it’s a constant reminder of failure and “what if's."
We also get a little bit of narrative from Lillian, Murray’s late wife. We quickly understand the importance of a family heirloom: Lillian’s Fannie Farmer cookbook. Whenever her children or husband would ask an absent minded question, Lillian would reply, “I don’t know. Go ask Fannie.”
I wholeheartedly enjoyed this novel. The past and present and interwoven so beautifully. The writing is not over exaggerated nor is it dramatic. Elisabeth Hyde writes with purpose. To me, it is a cross between Elizabeth Strout, Anna Quindlen, and John Irving.
This was by far one of the best books I’ve read all year. Please please please go check it out.
Over the days that follow the past is stirred up. For some family members, it’s been long buried. For others, it’s a constant reminder of failure and “what if's."
We also get a little bit of narrative from Lillian, Murray’s late wife. We quickly understand the importance of a family heirloom: Lillian’s Fannie Farmer cookbook. Whenever her children or husband would ask an absent minded question, Lillian would reply, “I don’t know. Go ask Fannie.”
I wholeheartedly enjoyed this novel. The past and present and interwoven so beautifully. The writing is not over exaggerated nor is it dramatic. Elisabeth Hyde writes with purpose. To me, it is a cross between Elizabeth Strout, Anna Quindlen, and John Irving.
This was by far one of the best books I’ve read all year. Please please please go check it out.
April 11, 2018
Go Ask Fannie by Elisabeth Hyde is a highly recommended family drama.
Murray Blaire, 81, has invited his three surviving adult children to his New Hampshire farm for the weekend. Ruth, the oldest, is a wealthy lawyer who lives with her husband and two sons in Washington D.C. Ruth likes order, control, and plans in place to cover all contingencies. George, the middle sibling, is a nurse and marathon runner who lives a couple hours away from his father in Concord. Lizzie, the youngest, is an English Professor at a college near her father.
Murray's only hope for the weekend is to have Ruth and George talk Lizzie in to breaking up with her much older married boyfriend. Ruth, naturally, has her own list of things she wants to cover, especially looking at assisted living facilities for their father. George, who is always squabbling with Ruth, is trying unsuccessfully to not quarrel with her. Lizzie, however, arrives with news that changes her father's plans. She broke up with her boyfriend, but when she was picking up their mother's Fannie Farmer Cookbook, which she left at his house, she discovered that he had dropped the book into a sink of water and damaged it. Her reaction may result in criminal charges against her.
As with any family drama much of the action also concerns the past. Lillian, wife and mother of the group, and sibling, David, died over 30 years ago. A good portion of the novel involves what happened years ago, when they were a family of six, not four. There are secrets and questions about that time that have never been shared or asked, and the full story was really never told. Many present day resentments and attitudes toward each other all stem back to that time, when they lost their mother and brother.
Go Ask Fannie is a straightforward, well-written novel. Hyde also allows us insight into the inner thoughts of her characters. The narrative follows these characters during a weekend while uncovering the story of the past and what happened years ago. The past helps explain why they react the way they do and why they all relate to each other in the predictable way they do today. This is not a story with dark secrets or shocking twists, but it is a compelling family drama.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of the Penguin Publishing Group.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2018/0...
Murray Blaire, 81, has invited his three surviving adult children to his New Hampshire farm for the weekend. Ruth, the oldest, is a wealthy lawyer who lives with her husband and two sons in Washington D.C. Ruth likes order, control, and plans in place to cover all contingencies. George, the middle sibling, is a nurse and marathon runner who lives a couple hours away from his father in Concord. Lizzie, the youngest, is an English Professor at a college near her father.
Murray's only hope for the weekend is to have Ruth and George talk Lizzie in to breaking up with her much older married boyfriend. Ruth, naturally, has her own list of things she wants to cover, especially looking at assisted living facilities for their father. George, who is always squabbling with Ruth, is trying unsuccessfully to not quarrel with her. Lizzie, however, arrives with news that changes her father's plans. She broke up with her boyfriend, but when she was picking up their mother's Fannie Farmer Cookbook, which she left at his house, she discovered that he had dropped the book into a sink of water and damaged it. Her reaction may result in criminal charges against her.
As with any family drama much of the action also concerns the past. Lillian, wife and mother of the group, and sibling, David, died over 30 years ago. A good portion of the novel involves what happened years ago, when they were a family of six, not four. There are secrets and questions about that time that have never been shared or asked, and the full story was really never told. Many present day resentments and attitudes toward each other all stem back to that time, when they lost their mother and brother.
Go Ask Fannie is a straightforward, well-written novel. Hyde also allows us insight into the inner thoughts of her characters. The narrative follows these characters during a weekend while uncovering the story of the past and what happened years ago. The past helps explain why they react the way they do and why they all relate to each other in the predictable way they do today. This is not a story with dark secrets or shocking twists, but it is a compelling family drama.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of the Penguin Publishing Group.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2018/0...
April 29, 2018
You know a novel is really really good when 200 pages in you wish it were 400 pages longer, so you'd have that much more to relish. The first chapter made me anxious, with so many tensions among the three adult siblings and their aging father, but with her customary gift for psychological complexity, Elisabeth Hyde draws us progressively into each character's life to capture our empathy. As the esteemed writer, Janet Burroway, says of fiction, "Only trouble is interesting," and GO ASK FANNIE explores conflicts deeply. Ruth, George, Lizzie, Murray, Lillian, Daniel, and even Gavin come to be seen as fully lovable in spite of their all too human limitations. I've loved all of Elisabeth Hyde's previous novels, especially IN THE HEART OF THE CANYON, and her talent shines in GO ASK FANNIE.
October 3, 2018
A compelling family (no more screwed up than mine) who among secrets are also dealing with the “what to do with an elderly parent” (me) syndrome. Not there yet, but............! So well written, just like you’d just dropped in for a glass of wine and they regaled you with their story.
Just a current note - the last few pages could have been written by Brett Kavanaugh!! I am NOT for his confirmation, but I’m sure this is how he feels. Also, love the authors digs at Trump. Looking forward to reading her other books.
Just a current note - the last few pages could have been written by Brett Kavanaugh!! I am NOT for his confirmation, but I’m sure this is how he feels. Also, love the authors digs at Trump. Looking forward to reading her other books.
May 20, 2023
Good story. Full of family drama, surviving loss, and a family reconnecting with each other
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