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All About The Benjamins
Meet the Benjamins.
It has been less than a year since Susan Benjamin succumbed to cancer and her family has yet to come to terms with her death—and their own secrets. Her daughter Amy, reeling from a divorce, struggles to parent her teenaged son without controlling him as her own mother had done. Her son Adam, thirtysomething and gay, feels untethered in his mother’s absence and drifts through a series of unrewarding jobs and relationships even though he craves love and stability. Her husband Joel, father of Amy and Adam, is fifty-eight and about to come out for the first time as a gay man.
Joel’s coming out is at the center of All About the Benjamins, Zev Good’s first novel, and is, ultimately, what forces the family to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and each other while they try to accept what no one could have prepared for: their father is gay and was unfaithful to their mother for the course of their thirty-eight year marriage. As he did in his short story collection, A Map of the World, Zev Good offers a nuanced, tender, and often darkly comic view into loss, identity, and the unbreakable bonds of family.
It has been less than a year since Susan Benjamin succumbed to cancer and her family has yet to come to terms with her death—and their own secrets. Her daughter Amy, reeling from a divorce, struggles to parent her teenaged son without controlling him as her own mother had done. Her son Adam, thirtysomething and gay, feels untethered in his mother’s absence and drifts through a series of unrewarding jobs and relationships even though he craves love and stability. Her husband Joel, father of Amy and Adam, is fifty-eight and about to come out for the first time as a gay man.
Joel’s coming out is at the center of All About the Benjamins, Zev Good’s first novel, and is, ultimately, what forces the family to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and each other while they try to accept what no one could have prepared for: their father is gay and was unfaithful to their mother for the course of their thirty-eight year marriage. As he did in his short story collection, A Map of the World, Zev Good offers a nuanced, tender, and often darkly comic view into loss, identity, and the unbreakable bonds of family.
- GenresLGBT
332 pages, Paperback
Published October 15, 2019
48 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 13, 2020
I was immediately drawn into the ups and downs of the Benjamin family. Rich in character development and relatable dialogue, it was like being invited to dinner and seeing firsthand all of this family’s dysfunction and love. And it takes place in Dunwoody, loved all of the local references!
April 29, 2020
A masterclass in writing dialogue and realistic, relatable characters in literary fiction. Each character is grounded in their own reality and have well-crafted backstories. More than anything, they’re human: they make mistakes, have regrets, and don’t always know the best ways to express their imperfections.
There are beautiful quiet moments, and glorious scenes of family dysfunction. I love how each character gets their own moment in the spotlight, but they still all come back to the main plot which they’re intrinsically tied to; a tricky thing to do for some writers.
Loved it.
There are beautiful quiet moments, and glorious scenes of family dysfunction. I love how each character gets their own moment in the spotlight, but they still all come back to the main plot which they’re intrinsically tied to; a tricky thing to do for some writers.
Loved it.
December 21, 2019
Spectacular in every sense of the word. Certainly above and beyond in terms of writing quality. I opened the book, read the first page, and found myself hooked.
February 24, 2020
It was a good book but Amy drove me crazy
December 27, 2021
You know the old saying when you give a speech, "tell them what you're going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you told them."
This writer follows that advice to a "T". For every interaction, there's the main one, the one recounted to a sibling/friend, then another recap. Even at the end, where there's a family gathering, all the family members repeat What Was Just Said.
So the plot was fine, perhaps a bit heavy on the conflict (because everything was a conflict--Joel, the father was certainly a sad sack) and the characters were strong enough to be disliked, but all that repeating is old. The title comes from the mother's memory boxes she createst for her son, daughter and husband.
I received this for free for Kindle from Amazon, although I can't even see that it's available now.
This writer follows that advice to a "T". For every interaction, there's the main one, the one recounted to a sibling/friend, then another recap. Even at the end, where there's a family gathering, all the family members repeat What Was Just Said.
So the plot was fine, perhaps a bit heavy on the conflict (because everything was a conflict--Joel, the father was certainly a sad sack) and the characters were strong enough to be disliked, but all that repeating is old. The title comes from the mother's memory boxes she createst for her son, daughter and husband.
I received this for free for Kindle from Amazon, although I can't even see that it's available now.
March 7, 2020
A Real Family
This book is an honest portrayal of a modern family with its complex relationships and human foibles. All About the Benjamins lets us inside their successes, their claims on each other and the ties that bind them - in joy and sorrow, life and death. After the matriarch’s death and the coming-out of her husband, Joel, their children must come to terms with their new reality and recreate their familial bonds. I loved it.
This book is an honest portrayal of a modern family with its complex relationships and human foibles. All About the Benjamins lets us inside their successes, their claims on each other and the ties that bind them - in joy and sorrow, life and death. After the matriarch’s death and the coming-out of her husband, Joel, their children must come to terms with their new reality and recreate their familial bonds. I loved it.
February 29, 2020
An excellent family, an excellent book
Not sure why I picked this book, but am I ever glad I did. I'm an editor and I teach writing, so I'm very picky, and I loved this. He not only created a real, living family, but each of their voices was clear. (Fine example of how to write in omniscient third person, for those who care, or are trying to do that as writers.)
Not sure why I picked this book, but am I ever glad I did. I'm an editor and I teach writing, so I'm very picky, and I loved this. He not only created a real, living family, but each of their voices was clear. (Fine example of how to write in omniscient third person, for those who care, or are trying to do that as writers.)
January 21, 2020
I love it when I finish a book and immediately find myself missing the characters. Zev created such a wonderfully messed up family and through the course of the book, through all the ups and downs, made us love them and feel every struggle and every joy.
April 30, 2022
This book shared similar plot themes with The Lost Language of Cranes - but the matriarch character has been deceased for almost a year at the start of this book. A teenage perspective is also provided - grappling with identity, autonomy and parental divorce - reminding me of one of my favorite multi-character/multi-POV reads - These Things Happen.
However, I do feel the interpersonal conflict and struggle between a younger identified-gay MC and an older 'coming late out of the closet' MC got somewhat overwrought as the plot progressed (understandable given their history), then seemingly got 'resolved' a little too quickly/easily (IMO) by book's end; the exploration of the Amy / Susan relationship proved more interesting. And Susan (despite being dead) - ended up being so much more vibrant, prominent and 'alive' through the memories and reactions of her surviving family!
A totally engaging read - almost (but not quite) 5 stars.
However, I do feel the interpersonal conflict and struggle between a younger identified-gay MC and an older 'coming late out of the closet' MC got somewhat overwrought as the plot progressed (understandable given their history), then seemingly got 'resolved' a little too quickly/easily (IMO) by book's end; the exploration of the Amy / Susan relationship proved more interesting. And Susan (despite being dead) - ended up being so much more vibrant, prominent and 'alive' through the memories and reactions of her surviving family!
A totally engaging read - almost (but not quite) 5 stars.
April 10, 2021
After reading “All About the Benjamins,” it’s clear that author Zev Good fully grasps the dynamics of family and human relationships, and he fully understands how they tell the most compelling and elucidating stories of all. Furthermore, he has the writing chops to do his subject and the reader justice.
In “All About the Benjamins,” Good collects a cadre of relatable characters that will make you root for them, laugh with them, and want to throw your Kindle across the room in frustration with them — just like real people.
The cornerstone premise of the novel is that, after his wife’s death, Joel Benjamin must finally come out to his family as a gay man after living a secret, separate life for many years.
What unfolds is the portrait of real people, in a real family, having real reactions, and how all those behaviors influence one another like ripples (or is that waves?) in the small pool of intra-personal links that comprises a family. Nothing about what happens in “All About the Benjamins” is trite or tidy, but it is indisputably human and honest.
Last point: Good’s a writer after my own heart in that he employs a no-nonsense style and economy of language to carry the reader through his story. Good cares about his subject and his audience, and it shows.
In “All About the Benjamins,” Good collects a cadre of relatable characters that will make you root for them, laugh with them, and want to throw your Kindle across the room in frustration with them — just like real people.
The cornerstone premise of the novel is that, after his wife’s death, Joel Benjamin must finally come out to his family as a gay man after living a secret, separate life for many years.
What unfolds is the portrait of real people, in a real family, having real reactions, and how all those behaviors influence one another like ripples (or is that waves?) in the small pool of intra-personal links that comprises a family. Nothing about what happens in “All About the Benjamins” is trite or tidy, but it is indisputably human and honest.
Last point: Good’s a writer after my own heart in that he employs a no-nonsense style and economy of language to carry the reader through his story. Good cares about his subject and his audience, and it shows.
February 22, 2020
Loved it! Poignant fantastic writing, and Zev perfectly portrays Atlanta nightlife. I especially enjoyed the dialogue between the various characters. A must read!
July 28, 2020
I’m a gay man in my 50s and this book spoke volumes to me. It was touching and the characters felt real. I also think this book would make a great play
December 12, 2020
This book was well written with clearly defined characters that live and breathe from the moment you start reading. Zev Good perfectly captures the tension of family; the you-make-me-crazy-but-I-love-you feeling. I found myself empathizing with each character while simultaneously wanting to shake them. The writing is witty and concise and the story engaging. I enjoyed this one very much.
February 18, 2020
An incandescent novel
Georgia author Zev Good is destined to rise as one of the more important writers of the time, an author whose insights into family dynamics and the gender choice variations and designations so currently in focus in the media enables him to pen stories that invite understanding and enlightenment like few other authors.
In molding a story about secret or private inclinations within the context of family, too often characters can become either strident or elusive, loosing our concern and thus placing a barricade to examination of individuality. Zev has entered that arena and proves that his acceptance of all perceptions is not only possible, but imperative if life is to be a kind journey. In this excellent novel Zev introduces the Benjamin family, and the various truths of individuality not only can survive but also enhance the true meaning of family.
Rarely has the plight of ‘coming out’ been so sensitively depicted as in the opening chapter of this book. Zev first describes the initial encounter of his character Joel, pauses, and then offers Joel’s recollection of that incident, and the quality of writing is apparent: ‘Now, thirty-four years later, Joel was ready to come out of the closet. He just wasn’t sure how to go about it. There were days where he was convinced of his purpose, and he stood in front of the bathroom mirror and rehearsed the words he wanted to say and how he wanted to say them. The next day, that certainly would vanish and he would be in emotional agony. It always looked so easy in movies and on TV, or in the tabloids when actors and singers came out: for years they were straight, they married and they divorced, and then one day they were coming out and people talked only of their courage, their strength. He couldn’t understand why he was having such difficulty with it. He was fifty-eight years old. He wasn’t getting any younger and it was time, so on one of those days where he was sure of himself, he called his daughter.’
That moment, that thought process, and the manner in which the author so deftly writes it is the portal to this outstanding book, which Zev has summarized as follows: ‘It has been less than a year since Susan Benjamin succumbed to cancer and her family has yet to come to terms with her death—and their own secrets. Her daughter Amy, reeling from a divorce, struggles to parent her teenaged son without controlling him as her own mother had done. Her son Adam, thirtysomething and gay, feels untethered in his mother’s absence and drifts through a series of unrewarding jobs and relationships even though he craves love and stability. Her husband Joel, father of Amy and Adam, is fifty-eight and about to come out for the first time as a gay man. Joel’s coming out is ultimately, what forces the family to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and each other while they try to accept what no one could have prepared for: their father is gay and was unfaithful to their mother for the course of their thirty-eight year marriage.’ And just as deftly as he composed the opening, the final pages are equally satisfying.
Zev Good breathes life into resolution of conflicts in a manner that introduces an author of significance – a much needed adjunct to contemporary discussion. Very highly recommended for all readers.
Georgia author Zev Good is destined to rise as one of the more important writers of the time, an author whose insights into family dynamics and the gender choice variations and designations so currently in focus in the media enables him to pen stories that invite understanding and enlightenment like few other authors.
In molding a story about secret or private inclinations within the context of family, too often characters can become either strident or elusive, loosing our concern and thus placing a barricade to examination of individuality. Zev has entered that arena and proves that his acceptance of all perceptions is not only possible, but imperative if life is to be a kind journey. In this excellent novel Zev introduces the Benjamin family, and the various truths of individuality not only can survive but also enhance the true meaning of family.
Rarely has the plight of ‘coming out’ been so sensitively depicted as in the opening chapter of this book. Zev first describes the initial encounter of his character Joel, pauses, and then offers Joel’s recollection of that incident, and the quality of writing is apparent: ‘Now, thirty-four years later, Joel was ready to come out of the closet. He just wasn’t sure how to go about it. There were days where he was convinced of his purpose, and he stood in front of the bathroom mirror and rehearsed the words he wanted to say and how he wanted to say them. The next day, that certainly would vanish and he would be in emotional agony. It always looked so easy in movies and on TV, or in the tabloids when actors and singers came out: for years they were straight, they married and they divorced, and then one day they were coming out and people talked only of their courage, their strength. He couldn’t understand why he was having such difficulty with it. He was fifty-eight years old. He wasn’t getting any younger and it was time, so on one of those days where he was sure of himself, he called his daughter.’
That moment, that thought process, and the manner in which the author so deftly writes it is the portal to this outstanding book, which Zev has summarized as follows: ‘It has been less than a year since Susan Benjamin succumbed to cancer and her family has yet to come to terms with her death—and their own secrets. Her daughter Amy, reeling from a divorce, struggles to parent her teenaged son without controlling him as her own mother had done. Her son Adam, thirtysomething and gay, feels untethered in his mother’s absence and drifts through a series of unrewarding jobs and relationships even though he craves love and stability. Her husband Joel, father of Amy and Adam, is fifty-eight and about to come out for the first time as a gay man. Joel’s coming out is ultimately, what forces the family to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and each other while they try to accept what no one could have prepared for: their father is gay and was unfaithful to their mother for the course of their thirty-eight year marriage.’ And just as deftly as he composed the opening, the final pages are equally satisfying.
Zev Good breathes life into resolution of conflicts in a manner that introduces an author of significance – a much needed adjunct to contemporary discussion. Very highly recommended for all readers.
October 14, 2019
“All About the Benjamins” is a novel about family dynamics when a widowed father comes out of the closet. From the first line, it is obvious that this story is brutal, loving, and honest. “The first time Joel Benjamin had sex with a man, he expected it to leave a permanent mark, something he could point to years later—like a scar, or a tattoo—and recount how he’d gotten it and who’d given it to him.”
After hiding his sexual orientation from his family throughout his 36 year long marriage, Joel desires to reconcile his secret life with his open life. This leads to self-doubt, pain, and crisis. How can he claim to be honest when both lives he has lead are true and false. He looks back at his life as a father and husband, and sees where he fell short of his duties. Pretending to be straight his whole life caused him to deny his loved ones his whole self. The guilt and fear Joel feels in anticipation of revealing his truest self builds up until he is unwittingly exposed.
The more Joel comes to terms with his need to share his sexual identity, the more he sees the similarities between himself and his progeny. Things he never noticed before because he was too distant; lifelong relationships that could have been strengthened if he had been more present; memories that would have been more than vague recollections without emotional meaning. He is in turmoil. He realizes that if he had been less afraid of how his family would react to his sexuality, and if he had trusted them to accept him for who he is, then maybe all of their lives could have been fuller. The lack of familial intimacy he experienced was caused by his own reticence to be strong, to be his own defender, to accept and celebrate his own heart.
The characters in “All About the Benjamins” demonstrate the rawness of exposing your inner workings to the people who would presume to know you best. The family structure and interpersonal relationships feel real. With all their faults, flaws, idiosyncrasies, and failures, they each value the same things. They want to be together, even when they can’t figure out how to be there for each other. I found myself liking them, and empathizing with them, on a personal level.
Zev Good has created a powerful tale that any family can find relatable. The balance between personal independence and finding your place in a family unit is tenuous and must be adjusted throughout life.
“All About the Benjamins” can wreak havoc on your heart like it did mine! The characters, the earnesty, the twisty family ties... Get it on Amazon and ugly-cry-thank me later.
After hiding his sexual orientation from his family throughout his 36 year long marriage, Joel desires to reconcile his secret life with his open life. This leads to self-doubt, pain, and crisis. How can he claim to be honest when both lives he has lead are true and false. He looks back at his life as a father and husband, and sees where he fell short of his duties. Pretending to be straight his whole life caused him to deny his loved ones his whole self. The guilt and fear Joel feels in anticipation of revealing his truest self builds up until he is unwittingly exposed.
The more Joel comes to terms with his need to share his sexual identity, the more he sees the similarities between himself and his progeny. Things he never noticed before because he was too distant; lifelong relationships that could have been strengthened if he had been more present; memories that would have been more than vague recollections without emotional meaning. He is in turmoil. He realizes that if he had been less afraid of how his family would react to his sexuality, and if he had trusted them to accept him for who he is, then maybe all of their lives could have been fuller. The lack of familial intimacy he experienced was caused by his own reticence to be strong, to be his own defender, to accept and celebrate his own heart.
The characters in “All About the Benjamins” demonstrate the rawness of exposing your inner workings to the people who would presume to know you best. The family structure and interpersonal relationships feel real. With all their faults, flaws, idiosyncrasies, and failures, they each value the same things. They want to be together, even when they can’t figure out how to be there for each other. I found myself liking them, and empathizing with them, on a personal level.
Zev Good has created a powerful tale that any family can find relatable. The balance between personal independence and finding your place in a family unit is tenuous and must be adjusted throughout life.
“All About the Benjamins” can wreak havoc on your heart like it did mine! The characters, the earnesty, the twisty family ties... Get it on Amazon and ugly-cry-thank me later.
December 31, 2019
If you're looking for a book that explores the dynamics of family, the struggle of sexuality, the politics of marriage, and what love's got to do with it, then this is exactly the book you want. Good captures the Benjamin family with a raw lens, giving the reader an unapologetic glimpse 'into the closet' of the life of each member, unpacking the narrative in such a way to make you care for each individual even when you want to grab and shake them. Brilliantly structured and thoughtfully executed, All About The Benjamins is a story about humanity, discovery, acceptance, and the inescapable (and often shaky) foundation of family.
January 1, 2020
The sophmore book by Zev Good, is as good or even better then the 1st. His style of writing is great, the stories he tells just makes you care about the characters in this book. He brings you through a range of emotions, but you never want to put the book down. I look forward to sharing in Zev's future writings, and will definitely recommend them to all.
December 20, 2019
"All About the Benjamins" is well-written, heartfelt, and had me hooked from the first chapter. There are moments which had me laughing, on the verge of tearing up, and sighing with relief - a perfect balance. This novel is an emotional rollercoaster and certainly does not disappoint. I look forward to reading more books by Zev Good in the future.
April 8, 2020
I heard nothing but great things about this book, so I decided to give it a shot. At first, it reminded me of the 1980 film Ordinary People (I haven’t read the novel it is based on), because it’s a window into a world both familiar and different from the one I know. Where Ordinary People relied on heightened drama, All About The Benjamins used subtlety to show the tiny cracks in a family that’s been knocked off its way.
The character development is top notch. There were many times I lowered the book, stared off into space and thought, “I want to slap the shit out of these neurotic, wine guzzling, selfish children.” It was in these moments I realized how effective Good’s writing really was. Good made me care so much about the fractured lives of the Benjamins, I truly wanted them to get their act together.
All About The Benjamins feels real and not at all exceedingly dramatic or hokey. The Benjamins could be any family with deeply running regrets and lingering guilt. I recommend this book.
The character development is top notch. There were many times I lowered the book, stared off into space and thought, “I want to slap the shit out of these neurotic, wine guzzling, selfish children.” It was in these moments I realized how effective Good’s writing really was. Good made me care so much about the fractured lives of the Benjamins, I truly wanted them to get their act together.
All About The Benjamins feels real and not at all exceedingly dramatic or hokey. The Benjamins could be any family with deeply running regrets and lingering guilt. I recommend this book.
December 4, 2019
This novel was totally fantastic, especially when it hit quite close to home. The story concerns a family of a father, son, daughter, grandson, and a recently deceased mother who is causing a rupture in the dynamics of the family. The father who is a closeted gay man decides to come out of the closet to his family, which causes his gay son to stop talking to his father. The divorced daughter is having familial problems with her teenage son who she suspects is gay. The structure of the story allows each member to have their own stories told in separate chapters, so the reader has to pay attention to who is saying what.
June 28, 2020
I finished this novel about a week ago, and it’s still haunting me. Zev Good has incredible insight into the human condition, and the story made me laugh, cry, and think- often within the same chapter. It’s thought provoking without being preachy, and the characters are real, flawed, and human. I highly recommend this book.
July 30, 2021
This review is also posted on my blog at http://dnruttan.com.
When you first start reading “All About the Benjamins” by Zev Good, you think it will be a heartfelt character study about the agony and joy of coming out later in life as a gay Jewish man after a lifetime spent burying one’s true self, a lifetime full of the little regrets for the petty, snippy comments you dealt out, even to your own gay son, to hide your real identity. This is the story, initially, of Joel Benjamin, an English literature professor reeling from the loss of his wife Susan to cancer, and his guilt over finally being able to live his formerly secret life out in the open now that she was gone.
Then as you peel back the layers, you start to realize this is not a story about one man; as the title would suggest, it is instead a family story, a gentle, authentic rendering of the grief of the Benjamins – Amy and Adam, Joel’s kids, as they come to understand what life is like without Susan in it, all of them left unmoored in the shocking absence of her stabilizing presence.
At times the pacing is bogged down by long, rambling passages of interior monologue, but that is also perfect for indie literary fiction; by the end of this book I was laughing and crying along with the Benjamins, rooting for them, feeling like I was having a glass of wine at the dinner table with them, griping, “She said what?” and blushing. If this were commercial fiction, I could see an agent asking for a full request because the writing voice is so strong and then demanding the author cut large portions of the interiority bits so that it would fit a commercial market’s whims. But then all the charm would be rubbed out of it, in the vain hope that the rights could one day be sold so that it could become a drab sitcom about a dysfunctional Jewish family who nonetheless loved each other.
In the end you realize that’s what this book is about, really. It’s not about being gay, or coming out, or being Jewish, or identity, even though all those things are an integral part of the plot, of who these characters are; but those aspects of their identity do not define them. This is a story about love and the ties that bind, about what brings families together in times of tragedy, about the Brady Bunch house to which we add a fresh coat of paint after 40 years of sameness and the secrets everyone knew but wouldn’t admit or the precious illusion would be shattered, and the flower garden that was always only an idea in the gardener’s mind but only ever became a reality after the would-be gardener was gone. At its heart, this is a story about a family, and the journey they go on to they realize that all they have left is each other, for better or worse, in sickness and in health.
When you first start reading “All About the Benjamins” by Zev Good, you think it will be a heartfelt character study about the agony and joy of coming out later in life as a gay Jewish man after a lifetime spent burying one’s true self, a lifetime full of the little regrets for the petty, snippy comments you dealt out, even to your own gay son, to hide your real identity. This is the story, initially, of Joel Benjamin, an English literature professor reeling from the loss of his wife Susan to cancer, and his guilt over finally being able to live his formerly secret life out in the open now that she was gone.
Then as you peel back the layers, you start to realize this is not a story about one man; as the title would suggest, it is instead a family story, a gentle, authentic rendering of the grief of the Benjamins – Amy and Adam, Joel’s kids, as they come to understand what life is like without Susan in it, all of them left unmoored in the shocking absence of her stabilizing presence.
At times the pacing is bogged down by long, rambling passages of interior monologue, but that is also perfect for indie literary fiction; by the end of this book I was laughing and crying along with the Benjamins, rooting for them, feeling like I was having a glass of wine at the dinner table with them, griping, “She said what?” and blushing. If this were commercial fiction, I could see an agent asking for a full request because the writing voice is so strong and then demanding the author cut large portions of the interiority bits so that it would fit a commercial market’s whims. But then all the charm would be rubbed out of it, in the vain hope that the rights could one day be sold so that it could become a drab sitcom about a dysfunctional Jewish family who nonetheless loved each other.
In the end you realize that’s what this book is about, really. It’s not about being gay, or coming out, or being Jewish, or identity, even though all those things are an integral part of the plot, of who these characters are; but those aspects of their identity do not define them. This is a story about love and the ties that bind, about what brings families together in times of tragedy, about the Brady Bunch house to which we add a fresh coat of paint after 40 years of sameness and the secrets everyone knew but wouldn’t admit or the precious illusion would be shattered, and the flower garden that was always only an idea in the gardener’s mind but only ever became a reality after the would-be gardener was gone. At its heart, this is a story about a family, and the journey they go on to they realize that all they have left is each other, for better or worse, in sickness and in health.
September 10, 2021
Cool book, Bro! All About the Benjamins was an engaging read and had some great drama sequences between characters, which built into relationships of tension—where the dirty-laundry left sitting in unresolved interpersonal conflicts can quickly over-encumber and send the direction of the the plot tumbling down a new and unexpected direction. Good expertly tailors the characteristics of his characters with such minute precision, the the expectation of arguing between characters becomes even more palpable—with myriad repercussions to from opinions, gossips or facts merely being voiced. Who says what weighs over all personal and provincial information that the characters have or know at any point—as the plot progression continues on.
It takes little time in the book for Joel's coming out to seemingly ruin every relationship that the family thought they had ever held tight, but with each passing page—another layer of the 'onionious' web-of-relations comes to light all they way until the duration of the manuscript has played out in-full. It can be relentless. Some of it is a little tangential at times, maybe.. I would have been interest to see more content from Ethan's perspective, but it can be good to leave somethings up to the interpretation of the reader—without the author having overbearing finger on the plot. The length was just about perfect, for me, and I worked up a nice bend to the covers and pages throughout my enjoyment. Nothing to the read percolates too much for a straight guy to candidly enjoy reading about some gay stuff and lgbtQ+ relationships.
Read this book and learn some darn empathy for yourself—and perhaps you'll learn some respect for the opinions of others, in dealing with your most bedrock relationships. Voice your concerns and have arguments, but don't hold grudges until it's too late. Learn to appreciate those who are around you—while you still can. Tomorrow is never promised, and the last few years have taught us all far too much about just how fragile life can be. Ruin is everywhere, and it was a mistake to think things would get better—but we can all choose how to look at and interpret this realization of being.
It takes little time in the book for Joel's coming out to seemingly ruin every relationship that the family thought they had ever held tight, but with each passing page—another layer of the 'onionious' web-of-relations comes to light all they way until the duration of the manuscript has played out in-full. It can be relentless. Some of it is a little tangential at times, maybe.. I would have been interest to see more content from Ethan's perspective, but it can be good to leave somethings up to the interpretation of the reader—without the author having overbearing finger on the plot. The length was just about perfect, for me, and I worked up a nice bend to the covers and pages throughout my enjoyment. Nothing to the read percolates too much for a straight guy to candidly enjoy reading about some gay stuff and lgbtQ+ relationships.
Read this book and learn some darn empathy for yourself—and perhaps you'll learn some respect for the opinions of others, in dealing with your most bedrock relationships. Voice your concerns and have arguments, but don't hold grudges until it's too late. Learn to appreciate those who are around you—while you still can. Tomorrow is never promised, and the last few years have taught us all far too much about just how fragile life can be. Ruin is everywhere, and it was a mistake to think things would get better—but we can all choose how to look at and interpret this realization of being.
April 12, 2021
All About The Benjamins is absolutely wonderful! From beginning to end, Zev Good has crafted a story that is tightly written. The Benjamins had me feeling so many things as I read about the events in their lives. Zev portrayed their family dynamics perfectly. The relationships were so naturally complex and true to life that I related to, and was emotionally impacted by, them as each member's story unfolded. I cackled out loud, and cried a few times while reading this book. Zev's writing invites the reader into the front door of the Benjamin home (suggested by the cover), and into their lives, where they'll come to know all about them- skeletons and all. I grew fond of this family through the unveiling of its dysfunction, and love. This is the second book of Zev's I've read, and I don't doubt that his future works will be on my TBR list.
January 3, 2022
Frustratingly Familiar
If you are looking for a tale of romance or tragedy or a novel that drags you into the realm of the fantastic, this book is not for you. If you are looking for raw and meaningful truth, then you absolutely need All About the Benjamins in your life. It’s a story of a family that is so honest and familiar that it had me checking to see if I, too, was a Benjamin. Whether you are Jewish or not, these characters will put you in mind of members of your own family. You might even find yourself in one. Some will frustrate you and others will frustrate you further, but all are just as real as you or I…and possibly more so. They, like us, are perfect because of their imperfections. You will love and hate the Benjamins as though they are your own family. You will also feel obligated to bring the lox.
If you are looking for a tale of romance or tragedy or a novel that drags you into the realm of the fantastic, this book is not for you. If you are looking for raw and meaningful truth, then you absolutely need All About the Benjamins in your life. It’s a story of a family that is so honest and familiar that it had me checking to see if I, too, was a Benjamin. Whether you are Jewish or not, these characters will put you in mind of members of your own family. You might even find yourself in one. Some will frustrate you and others will frustrate you further, but all are just as real as you or I…and possibly more so. They, like us, are perfect because of their imperfections. You will love and hate the Benjamins as though they are your own family. You will also feel obligated to bring the lox.
October 13, 2021
The realist fiction
This story of a family, a single family, is so real. The mannerism. The anxiety, all of it felt so real to me that, at first, I thought I had already read this book. I hadn't.
When I call my mother she answers with a panicked, "What's wrong?" Many of the characters in this book do the same.
It felt so familiar, like an old set of flannel pajamas, side and thinning at the knees and elbows.
I'm so glad I bought this book. I know I will read it again, when I need reminding we all turn into our mothers eventually.
Five stars!
This story of a family, a single family, is so real. The mannerism. The anxiety, all of it felt so real to me that, at first, I thought I had already read this book. I hadn't.
When I call my mother she answers with a panicked, "What's wrong?" Many of the characters in this book do the same.
It felt so familiar, like an old set of flannel pajamas, side and thinning at the knees and elbows.
I'm so glad I bought this book. I know I will read it again, when I need reminding we all turn into our mothers eventually.
Five stars!
April 26, 2023
A skillfully written portrait of a family in the aftermath of a mother’s death and the revealed secret that the father has been closeted. Over the course of the novel, the characters come alive, and I felt like a fly on the wall observing real lives.
About midway through this, I found out my mother has little time left in this world. Made finishing it harder, but also I think it was helpful too. I’m glad I got to know the Benjamins. And while there’s a tad of Joel in me, there’s a lot of Amy:)
About midway through this, I found out my mother has little time left in this world. Made finishing it harder, but also I think it was helpful too. I’m glad I got to know the Benjamins. And while there’s a tad of Joel in me, there’s a lot of Amy:)
March 19, 2021
A Very Real Jewish Family
This is an extremely well written, enjoyable read about a family struggling with their mother’s death and their father’s coming out.
The father himself grapples with being out following a forty year marriage to a woman. All the angst and emotional upheaval between the brother and sister and their father is exactly on point. Amy’s divorce and her teenage son’s ambivalence about it are also poignant. The writing flows smoothly and is so easy to read.
This is an extremely well written, enjoyable read about a family struggling with their mother’s death and their father’s coming out.
The father himself grapples with being out following a forty year marriage to a woman. All the angst and emotional upheaval between the brother and sister and their father is exactly on point. Amy’s divorce and her teenage son’s ambivalence about it are also poignant. The writing flows smoothly and is so easy to read.
February 22, 2021
A poignant and heartfelt glimpse at three generations coming to bittersweet terms with loss and change. Good’s flowing prose and relatable characters pull you in quick and keep you turning the pages just so you can spend more time with these flawed but ultimately lovely people. Highly recommend.
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