Roommates: My Grandfather's Story

by Max Apple

From the author of The Oranging of America comes this inspiring true story about an American family. Rocky takes over a family, at the age of 103, and shows them how to survive.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography, Biography Memoir, Family

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Madonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this sweet story of a grandson and his grandfather. I so enjoyed his grandfather’s straight forward ness and stubbornness, but could feel the love he had for his grandson. I could relate to my love for my grandchildren. I hope when I die they will remember me with love. For my family is my greatest joy.

[Catherine Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book because of the funny parts and the step into a different world. It was also really sad and the sadness came unexpectedly, which I guess is how the author experienced it himself, and that makes me respect Max Apple's choice in springing it on the reader the way he did. Excellent development of character...I never knew Rocky, but I feel like I know him perfectly.

[Josephine Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet sad story of a family. Max Apple tells of his grandfather who moved to America in 1914 and worked hard to bring his wife Gootie and two children to the states. The family moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1936 five years before Max Apple was born, his uncle, Max, was driving in the winter, slammed into a tree, he and two cousins were killed. This is where Max got his name.

Grandpa's name, hard to pronounce, became Rocky. Everybody called him by this name. He believed in hard work and lived to be 106.

I read this book in Readers Digest, liked it and ordered a new hardcover.

Max Apple tells his grandfather's story plus stories of other family members. The family spoke Yiddish at home, Rocky was very serious about religion, always ate Kosher and hoped the rest of the family would also. He went to synagogue regularly. Max Apple's house was full of ladies and girls, Grandmother Gootie, Mother Bashy, and two older sisters, plus their many giggly girl friends. Rocky retreated to the top of the house. Max followed him up there. They were roommates ever since.

When Max went to Ann Arbor to attend Michigan State, Rocky followed him to make sure he behaved. Max met his wife, Debby, there. Rocky didn't approve of her, get married, but not to that one. Rocky is quite a character, spoke what he felt, very open about his feelings. He could be mean in some ways, very kind in others. He was quite a character, interesting, fun, lovable, yet not. Rocky was a baker, worked for years at the American Bakery and was a wonderful baker. There is a picture on the book's cover of Rocky mixing flour and his little granddaughter, Jessica, helping him. Rocky loved and spoiled Jessica and her little brother, Sam.

There was George, Debby's dog, quite a character. George was a match for Rocky and the rest of the family.

Max graduated and got a job in Houston, Rice University. Rocky wasn't happy, wanted to stay in Michigan, but unwillingly he moved. His daughter, Max's mother, now a widow, was moving, get away from the Midwest's long, cold winters. Rocky made friends, went to the synagogue, and at the age of ninety-five, went to Israel with his daughter.

Then Debby fell ill, a very serious and unusual form of Multiple Sclerosis. Debby was alive and yet not, here, yet not. She spent much time in the hospital. The children were depressed, torn apart, too young to understand, why is Mom so sick, especially Jessica. Rocky catered to them, felt badly for them, hurt for them. Debby's mother, a very wealthy woman, moved her back to Michigan, she would have good care, be in good hands, says the lady. She never approved of that marriage.

This is a story about how a family loves and cares for each other, gets angry at one another, disapproves of relatives actions, loses loved ones, so much heartache and loss. A good read about real people.

One very funny part of the book is that a nickname for Jessica is Fifi. Rocky with his heavy accent made it into Pee Pee. LOL

[Kimberly Westrope · Rating 4 out of 5]

An endearing account of the author's life, most of which was spent living with his grandfather. Filled with sweet and often humorous tales of his often tumultuous relationship with his aging grandfather, this book is a testament to the special love shared between a grandparent and a grandchild.

Roommates is also one man's coming of age story...a story in which we see him turn from a young man pursuing love and higher education to a father and husband who, through all of life's trials, finds his best friend and greatest supporter in his grandfather.

This book provides the reader with an honest and sometimes difficult look into the intimate relationship shared by these two men from different times and different cultures who clung to each other through all life threw at them.

[Anne Vandenbrink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max's grandpa, Rocky, went to work as a baker at the American Bakery Co. in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Even after he retired, he still went everyday because......that's what he did. Max and Rocky were inseparable. To the point that Rocky, at 100, lived with him in Ann Arbor when Max went to college. He lived with them when Max married and moved to Texas and watched after his two great-grand kids. Max shared 40 years of his life with his stubborn, unconventional, spunky, adorable grandfather.

[Mary Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Library book club is reading this funny, heart-warming and tragic memoir.
Rocky is a quirky and stubborn immigrant grandfather. He is also funny and loving.
Max, his grandson is devoted to him but determined to live his own life too.
Quick read that will leave you wanting to know more about this family.

[miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books. Its possibly more simple, and could be read by YAs, but I love it. The characters, emotions and relationships are so great. Maybe its because I love old Jewish men, but this is great.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a reason that many people like reality TV. That’s what this book is. A real family that loves each other, goes to school, works, falls in love and happens to have a member of their family that lives to the age of 106.
Love this heartwarming story of family love!

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of big life bummers is that I never knew my great-grandparents (and of course couldn't know the great-greats). One of my big life regrets is that I didn't get to know my grandparents when they were alive. In my defense, I was a teenager and irritated by everyone who was grown. Still though, I wish I could have gotten to know them and learned about our family history. I've gleaned a bit from my mom and from ancestry.com but I'll never be able to fill in the blanks.

So maybe I was predisposed to enjoy this book about a grandfather and grandson. The book is an easy read (I read the whole thing in less than a full day including time to sleep) and is filled with stories about Rocky, Max Apple's plucky grandpa.

The relationship between Max and his family amazed me. I am not super close to my family and so I can't imagine any of them following me across the state to college and across the country for a job.

Reading about Ann Arbor in the late 60s was cool (I live there now) and I enjoyed the story of how Max met Debby. Speaking of which, Debby was the one true tragedy of the story. First she was held back by her times (had to be a housewife) and then by her illness. If she read this book in the hereafter, I'm sure she felt rather gypped. (I do think that her destiny should have been explained in more than just a sentence. Did Max and the kids ever see her again? When exactly did he meet Wife #2? How did she finally die?)

Otherwise, reading this book was a delight. Max and Rocky were truly the perfect couple. The book is spaced out over Max's life from when he's a young kid joining the Cub Scouts (to Rocky's horror it is held at a church!) to college to wife/kids to career.

Of course, reading about Rocky's piousness just made me feel guilty for eating cheeseburgers and not thinking twice when the sun sets on Friday evening. On the positive side, I have no doubt that Rocky is in that crazy hazy World to Come, baking challah and turning off the air conditioners. Rock on, my friend.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Max Apple's books because they are uplifting, humurous and absolutely heart warming. His love for his family shines through on every page! But what characters he has in his family, especially his grandfather. Read this book-it will make your day!

[Tahlia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad, sad, sad! But meaningful and frustrating and thought provoking. I grew up with both sets of my grandparents and they were some of my very best friends. They were a lot nicer than Rocky, but had the same impact.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this story of the relationship between a grandson, his grandfather and the rest of the family is almost unbelievable, and better than fiction. Can you imagine having your grandpa as your college roommate? And having him, when he is over 100 years old, as your children's babysitter?

PG

[Elana · Rating 5 out of 5]

It sounds like a big ol' cliche, but I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more.

[Holly Armitage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet family story

[Sheila M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok

[ltronc1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the saddest stories I have ever read. It's even more sad because it is based on truth.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writer’s story of
Curmudgeon granddad shows us
A life led fully

[TAMMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful story of a grandfather’s relationship with his grandson.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read it several times and love it every time.

[Judy]

Better, funnier and more tender than fiction. In fact, the grandfather said that truth was better than fiction.

[Gloria J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book! Both funny and sad and thought provoking too. What would you do if it happened to your spouse?

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is beautifully written. The characters just get right under your skin and stay there. It's a beautiful blend of tragedy and comedy, and makes one very grateful for one's own life!

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book about an aging Jewish grandfather and his grandson and how their lives connected over the years. My one disappointment was the one line wrap-up of Debby's life in the epiloge. She deserved more than that, even though the book was dedicated to the relationship between Max and Rocky.

[Dee Toomey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story about a man and his Jewish grandfather. It is heart-touching, because it really happened. I found myself irratated with the old gentlemann at times, and touched near tears at others. A great read!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apple's story of his amazing, but crabby grandfather shows how deep love can go, even with people who get along like a house on fire.
This was an RD condensed book, but I'd probably read the full version if I get the chance.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a charming telling of the relationship between a grandfather and his grandson. Grandfather is quite the character and his love for his entire family is quite evident, even to the point of intrusion at times. A story of love spanning multiple generations.

[Ellen Winokur · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a remarkable true story about a grandfather and his grandson living together as roommates. In today's society this would be unlikely. I could relate to the characters. This book gave insight into caring for our parents.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A man writing about his stormy relationship with his grandfather, who was in and out of his life in cataclysmic ways. Generally heart-warming.

[Jessica Haider · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Roommates" is a sentimental memoir about a guy who became roommates with his grandfather and the life lessons he learned from the experience. It was a little too mushy for me.