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Jenniemae & James: A Memoir in Black and White
James Newman was a brilliant mathematician, the man who introduced the mathematical concept “googol” and “googolplex” (aka “google” and “googleplex”) to the world, and a friend of Einstein’s. He was also a notorious philanderer with an insatiable appetite for women and fast cars, a man who challenged intellectual and emotional limits, and a man of excess who oftentimes fell victim to his own anxiety.
Jenniemae Harrington was an uneducated, illiterate African American maid from Alabama who began working for the Newman family in 1948—and who, despite her devout Christianity, played the illegal, underground lottery called “policy,” which she won with astonishing frequency. Though highly implausible, these two dissimilar individuals developed a deep and loyal friendship, largely because of their common love of numbers and their quick wits.
Theirs was a friendship that endured even during an era when segregation still prevailed. For James, Jenniemae provided a particular ease and shared sense of irreverent humor that he found difficult to duplicate with his beautiful, intelligent, and artistic wife, Ruth. And when the Newman home was darkened by the tensions of the political climate during the Cold War, or by James’s affairs, or by Ruth’s bouts of depression, it was Jenniemae who maintained the point of gravity, caring for the family’s children when their parents were often lost in their own worlds.
From Jenniemae’s perspective, James offered more than just a steady income. He became an unlikely and loyal friend. He taught her to read, and he drove her to and from his upscale suburban house and her home in the impoverished section of Washington, D.C. (and sometimes, much to her chagrin, in his Rolls-Royce), after she had been raped by a white bus driver. Intrigued by her uncanny wins at the lottery, James even installed a second telephone line in the house so that Jenniemae could keep track of her bets—a decision that raised a few eyebrows at the time.
It is this extraordinary relationship that the Newmans’ daughter, Brooke, reveals in Jenniemae & James, as she elegantly weaves together the story of two very distinct and different people who each had a significant impact on her upbringing. In doing so, she also paints a vivid political and cultural picture of the time—when the world was terrified by the possibility of nuclear war; when America was reeling from the McCarthy hearings; when technological advances like televisions, satellites, and interstate highways were changing the country; when America was just beginning to venture into Vietnam; and when African Americans were still considered second-class citizens with limited rights, before the explosion of racial tensions in the early 1960s.
Jenniemae & James is an inspiring, heartwarming memoir about friendship and love across the racial barrier.
Jenniemae Harrington was an uneducated, illiterate African American maid from Alabama who began working for the Newman family in 1948—and who, despite her devout Christianity, played the illegal, underground lottery called “policy,” which she won with astonishing frequency. Though highly implausible, these two dissimilar individuals developed a deep and loyal friendship, largely because of their common love of numbers and their quick wits.
Theirs was a friendship that endured even during an era when segregation still prevailed. For James, Jenniemae provided a particular ease and shared sense of irreverent humor that he found difficult to duplicate with his beautiful, intelligent, and artistic wife, Ruth. And when the Newman home was darkened by the tensions of the political climate during the Cold War, or by James’s affairs, or by Ruth’s bouts of depression, it was Jenniemae who maintained the point of gravity, caring for the family’s children when their parents were often lost in their own worlds.
From Jenniemae’s perspective, James offered more than just a steady income. He became an unlikely and loyal friend. He taught her to read, and he drove her to and from his upscale suburban house and her home in the impoverished section of Washington, D.C. (and sometimes, much to her chagrin, in his Rolls-Royce), after she had been raped by a white bus driver. Intrigued by her uncanny wins at the lottery, James even installed a second telephone line in the house so that Jenniemae could keep track of her bets—a decision that raised a few eyebrows at the time.
It is this extraordinary relationship that the Newmans’ daughter, Brooke, reveals in Jenniemae & James, as she elegantly weaves together the story of two very distinct and different people who each had a significant impact on her upbringing. In doing so, she also paints a vivid political and cultural picture of the time—when the world was terrified by the possibility of nuclear war; when America was reeling from the McCarthy hearings; when technological advances like televisions, satellites, and interstate highways were changing the country; when America was just beginning to venture into Vietnam; and when African Americans were still considered second-class citizens with limited rights, before the explosion of racial tensions in the early 1960s.
Jenniemae & James is an inspiring, heartwarming memoir about friendship and love across the racial barrier.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
6 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
April 5, 2010
A true story and interesting from the first page. I read it in one night.
April 28, 2021
This author tells the story about the sweet relationship between her father and their Maid in the 1950’s. I adore Jenniemae. I could read an entire book based just on her - the father I could do without! I didn’t want this book to end so I could spend more time with this enchanting woman…,
July 12, 2023
True story of an extraordinary friendship between a brilliant mathematician and an uneducated African American maid from Alabama. Heartwarming.
February 3, 2012
Jenniemae Harrington came to work as a housekeeper for the author's family in its posh Washington, D.C., home in the late 1940s. In this warped household of lies and evasions, a friendship blossoms in an atmosphere of honesty and good humor between Jenniemae and Brooke Newman's father, James, a well-known mathematician who hobnobs with the likes of Albert Einstein.
The author ties the two together through their love of numbers -- James Newman's as a profession and Jenniemae's in her success with the lottery -- but the relationship is much deeper than that. At a time when most relationships between blacks and whites were fraught with antagonism and outright hatred, this one is based in mutual respect and genuine care for each other's well-being.
This is truly an inexplicable bond, beautiful in and of itself. Yet it is also tragic, as the author aptly portrays her tumultuous family life in all its remoteness and loneliness. Her father is dictatorial, suffers debilitating bouts of depression and courts an endless parade of mistresses, even moving them into their home at times. Her mother is angry and withdrawn, suffers from night terrors and migraines, but also takes lovers of her own and befriends her husband's lovers. The young Brooke, almost entirely unparented, suffers from what is presumably anorexia and trichotillomania, yet it is never addressed. (After one visit to the doctor when Brooke has pulled out huge clumps of her hair, her father buys her a bracelet and a stuffed animal, and that's that.) Yet whenever tragedy strikes Jenniemae, he is there to comfort her and ease her way with his time, attention and money.
Jenniemae is a refreshing and bracing presence in that household of stunted emotions. Brooke Newman has pitched her voice skillfully and invented entirely believable dialog, even though she wasn't privy to the interactions between her parents and Jenniemae. She hints in one sentence about the effect of her upbringing on her life. (She had to pawn that bracelet in her 30s. What brought her to that?) In the end, I loved the book, but felt sad for the author. She was generous in her depiction of a man who at his funeral was said to be grandiose, imperious, troubled, abrasive, arrogant, unkind, egocentric and impossible. He was also feted as someone who "gave himself ... with great generosity, great loyalty, and with unstinting affection." If only that had been so in regards to his family, not just those in his employ.
The author ties the two together through their love of numbers -- James Newman's as a profession and Jenniemae's in her success with the lottery -- but the relationship is much deeper than that. At a time when most relationships between blacks and whites were fraught with antagonism and outright hatred, this one is based in mutual respect and genuine care for each other's well-being.
This is truly an inexplicable bond, beautiful in and of itself. Yet it is also tragic, as the author aptly portrays her tumultuous family life in all its remoteness and loneliness. Her father is dictatorial, suffers debilitating bouts of depression and courts an endless parade of mistresses, even moving them into their home at times. Her mother is angry and withdrawn, suffers from night terrors and migraines, but also takes lovers of her own and befriends her husband's lovers. The young Brooke, almost entirely unparented, suffers from what is presumably anorexia and trichotillomania, yet it is never addressed. (After one visit to the doctor when Brooke has pulled out huge clumps of her hair, her father buys her a bracelet and a stuffed animal, and that's that.) Yet whenever tragedy strikes Jenniemae, he is there to comfort her and ease her way with his time, attention and money.
Jenniemae is a refreshing and bracing presence in that household of stunted emotions. Brooke Newman has pitched her voice skillfully and invented entirely believable dialog, even though she wasn't privy to the interactions between her parents and Jenniemae. She hints in one sentence about the effect of her upbringing on her life. (She had to pawn that bracelet in her 30s. What brought her to that?) In the end, I loved the book, but felt sad for the author. She was generous in her depiction of a man who at his funeral was said to be grandiose, imperious, troubled, abrasive, arrogant, unkind, egocentric and impossible. He was also feted as someone who "gave himself ... with great generosity, great loyalty, and with unstinting affection." If only that had been so in regards to his family, not just those in his employ.
May 16, 2010
Received this from the very fine folks at www.readitforward.com. I live in mathematically minded household; fascination with numbers runs deep. I had high hopes for this memoir from Brooke Newman. Her father was quite an interesting fellow. For those who don't know of his mathematical prowess, he hung around with Einstein, and is the fellow who coined the term googol. Though his daughter is a bit older than I am, we both shared a spot and time in history: the DC of the 50's and 60's.
Jenniemae Harrington was the black nanny/housemaid brought into the Newman's world when Brook was a toddler. An uneducated and illiterate person in the household of one of the greater minds of the era might seem an anomaly, but Jenniemae held her own using common sense, determination, humor and folk wisdom. The Newman parents were each quite eccentric, flamboyant in their disregard of many of the norms of the day. In a sea of her father's infidelities and her mother's artistic temperaments, Jenniemae provided Brooke and her brother, and even her unconventional parents with a stability.
The memoir is written cleanly and in a straightforward manner, and if it didn't provide the details or slant that I had anticipated, the fault lies not in the author, but in my expectations. Indeed, it may have been a way for her to sort out and understand the world of her childhood, which had to be both confusing and tumultuous. Though the friendship with James and Jenniemae does unfold, because it is told by a third party, it lacks certain sense of intimacy -- observation vs experience, I suppose. But it does provide a view into a time fraught with happenings in the American political arena and a glimpse into the world of a mathematical genius. Writing about parents is hard, especially when some of the things one has to occasionally pen are less than popular. Brooke Newman shares her parents with the reader, "warts and all", as well as the larger than life (in deed, she weighed in around 360 pounds) Jenniemae and her world of the black American in the Civil Rights era. And that makes all the difference.
Jenniemae Harrington was the black nanny/housemaid brought into the Newman's world when Brook was a toddler. An uneducated and illiterate person in the household of one of the greater minds of the era might seem an anomaly, but Jenniemae held her own using common sense, determination, humor and folk wisdom. The Newman parents were each quite eccentric, flamboyant in their disregard of many of the norms of the day. In a sea of her father's infidelities and her mother's artistic temperaments, Jenniemae provided Brooke and her brother, and even her unconventional parents with a stability.
The memoir is written cleanly and in a straightforward manner, and if it didn't provide the details or slant that I had anticipated, the fault lies not in the author, but in my expectations. Indeed, it may have been a way for her to sort out and understand the world of her childhood, which had to be both confusing and tumultuous. Though the friendship with James and Jenniemae does unfold, because it is told by a third party, it lacks certain sense of intimacy -- observation vs experience, I suppose. But it does provide a view into a time fraught with happenings in the American political arena and a glimpse into the world of a mathematical genius. Writing about parents is hard, especially when some of the things one has to occasionally pen are less than popular. Brooke Newman shares her parents with the reader, "warts and all", as well as the larger than life (in deed, she weighed in around 360 pounds) Jenniemae and her world of the black American in the Civil Rights era. And that makes all the difference.
June 15, 2010
Newman’s memoir is an honest, tender portrayal of the exceptional relationship between her egocentric, mathematician father and their levelheaded, illiterate African American housekeeper, Jenniemae Harrington.
James is a genius, moody, at times deeply depressed, philandering husband. Brooke’s mother, Ruth, is emotionally disturbed but fascinatingly complex, struggling to cope with her husband’s infidelity and balancing career and home life, and at least once, demonstrating extreme compassion.
Brooke and her brother witnessed all of the household insanity.
Jenniemae’s employment in the affluent and dysfunctional Newman household spanned Brooke’s childhood in the late 1940s through her adulthood in the 1960s and beyond. Jenniemae, with her commonsense wisdom and constant presence, was the stabilizing influence not just on the children but also on Brooke’s parents. Through Brooke’s depiction of Jenniemae, I quickly felt an ardent fondness toward her.
The book is primarily about the unique relationship between a White man and a Black woman. But in my opinion the real crux of the message conveyed in this story is how much gray there is beneath the surface.
I don’t want to give away too much of the story because it’s so perfectly told by Newman that I don’t want to spoil a single morsel. I began reading this book at the start of a very long flight and lost sleep trying to finish the book before the plane landed. I could not put this book down!
James is a genius, moody, at times deeply depressed, philandering husband. Brooke’s mother, Ruth, is emotionally disturbed but fascinatingly complex, struggling to cope with her husband’s infidelity and balancing career and home life, and at least once, demonstrating extreme compassion.
Brooke and her brother witnessed all of the household insanity.
Jenniemae’s employment in the affluent and dysfunctional Newman household spanned Brooke’s childhood in the late 1940s through her adulthood in the 1960s and beyond. Jenniemae, with her commonsense wisdom and constant presence, was the stabilizing influence not just on the children but also on Brooke’s parents. Through Brooke’s depiction of Jenniemae, I quickly felt an ardent fondness toward her.
The book is primarily about the unique relationship between a White man and a Black woman. But in my opinion the real crux of the message conveyed in this story is how much gray there is beneath the surface.
I don’t want to give away too much of the story because it’s so perfectly told by Newman that I don’t want to spoil a single morsel. I began reading this book at the start of a very long flight and lost sleep trying to finish the book before the plane landed. I could not put this book down!
July 15, 2012
(I'm actually reading the RIF uncorrected version, not Kindle.)
Very pleased to have read it. Brooke Newman is the daughter of a brilliant and in some ways seemingly mad mathematician and tells this biographical about the unlikely bond between her father and their maid, Jenniemae.
In the first few pages, I'd noted that Newman's storytelling style fit nicely with my natural preference and knew this would be a pleasurable read. It's also appealing because Newman's father worked with Albert Einstein and other notable scientists/math-men. It even enlightens us as to the origin of the word 'googel' (not sure I spelled that correctly) as well as being such a wonderfully crafted tale.
If you're like me, you'll find yourself running to the computer to look up things mentioned, thinking, "Wow. I wouldn't have guessed THAT!" The unique relationship between Jenniemae & James is believable and relatable, too.
Maybe because I read the uncorrected proof version, I would still say the... fluidity of the story could be reworked a bit though. I had a bit of trouble buying that she 'knew' what went through adults' minds even though Newman was a toddler at the time of the events, or that she assumed things (which is fine with me, if it's pointed out) to flesh out the telling of certain incidents.
Very pleased to have read it. Brooke Newman is the daughter of a brilliant and in some ways seemingly mad mathematician and tells this biographical about the unlikely bond between her father and their maid, Jenniemae.
In the first few pages, I'd noted that Newman's storytelling style fit nicely with my natural preference and knew this would be a pleasurable read. It's also appealing because Newman's father worked with Albert Einstein and other notable scientists/math-men. It even enlightens us as to the origin of the word 'googel' (not sure I spelled that correctly) as well as being such a wonderfully crafted tale.
If you're like me, you'll find yourself running to the computer to look up things mentioned, thinking, "Wow. I wouldn't have guessed THAT!" The unique relationship between Jenniemae & James is believable and relatable, too.
Maybe because I read the uncorrected proof version, I would still say the... fluidity of the story could be reworked a bit though. I had a bit of trouble buying that she 'knew' what went through adults' minds even though Newman was a toddler at the time of the events, or that she assumed things (which is fine with me, if it's pointed out) to flesh out the telling of certain incidents.
February 8, 2011
I started this book yesterday and find it very engaging. I received it as an uncorrected proof, a few months back, but only now got to reading it.
It's about the very unusual relationship between the brilliant white man who is best known to the public as the man who coined the word, 'googol' and his illiterate black housekeeper. It's a memoir, written by the man's daughter.
This was actually a quick-read. Some of the dialogue and scenarios are 'made-up', so to speak; the author wasn't witness to them but she portrayed them as they might have happened, based on her knowledge of the people involved.
Even so, the book is enjoyable, if only to experience the 'characters' that JennieMae and James were.
After all is said and done, I lowered my rating to three stars. The book is more reminiscent of a text-based scrapbook/memory book, with seemingly unrelated incidents listed by chapter. There is some mention of what's going on in the country, at various times in the narrative, and little effort is made to relate such events to the narrative.
The only photo of Jennie Mae is on the front cover of this edition, and it's small. You really can't get a good feel for her face at all, and I found this disappointing.
It's about the very unusual relationship between the brilliant white man who is best known to the public as the man who coined the word, 'googol' and his illiterate black housekeeper. It's a memoir, written by the man's daughter.
This was actually a quick-read. Some of the dialogue and scenarios are 'made-up', so to speak; the author wasn't witness to them but she portrayed them as they might have happened, based on her knowledge of the people involved.
Even so, the book is enjoyable, if only to experience the 'characters' that JennieMae and James were.
After all is said and done, I lowered my rating to three stars. The book is more reminiscent of a text-based scrapbook/memory book, with seemingly unrelated incidents listed by chapter. There is some mention of what's going on in the country, at various times in the narrative, and little effort is made to relate such events to the narrative.
The only photo of Jennie Mae is on the front cover of this edition, and it's small. You really can't get a good feel for her face at all, and I found this disappointing.
August 15, 2010
I received the book Jenniemae and James from Readitforward.com. I had been looking forward to reading this story. I have always enjoyed reading memoirs and biographies because of the looks they provide into other people's lives (maybe that makes me nosy? haha). Upon picking up this book, I assumed that it was very much about the relationship between Jennimae and James. However, after finishing the book, I feel that I still don't know very much about their relationship. The book was about a little bit of everything and everyone. Mrs. Newman spoke about her father, mother and their longtime maid as though she was trying to disassociate herself, but I never felt that she completely did this. The story was alright; I enjoyed the look into D.C. through the 50's and 60's that Mrs. Newman provided, but I just wish there would have been more information about Jenniemae and James and their love of numbers. I just don't think I got much of that.
May 9, 2010
Some of the most enjoyable moments of reading come from catching a glimpse of a life or time that is different from our own, Jenniemae & James: A Memoir in Black & White affords the read with both. Depicting life in an unconventional family in Washington DC during the 1950’s and 1960’s, Brooke Newman introduces the reader to her father, James, and their African American housekeeper Jenniemae. While it seems the two would have very little in common, they form a unique friendship that provides the reader with ample opportunity to laugh, empathize, and love these two individual characters. The book is not extremely well written, however Ms. Newman succeeds in illustrating complicated times in which she came of age, as well as redefining the complexities of family and those who come to have a profound influence on our lives.
July 7, 2010
The story is enjoyable and written in a nice, warm way. Brooke also adds what happened outside the house on certain years, as they will explain a bit better how attitudes and opinions changed from the 1940s to 1960s. These changes or attitudes from a perpective of a person living in US wasn't really something they'd think of showing in the history lessons in school (in Europe, they didn't even bother mentioning anything about Black Panthers..).
Jenniemae seems like a wonderful character... that is in a way too short description of her, but I'll leave the details to the next reader. I'm not usually big in biographies, but this one is a really nice one.
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/8...
Jenniemae seems like a wonderful character... that is in a way too short description of her, but I'll leave the details to the next reader. I'm not usually big in biographies, but this one is a really nice one.
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/8...
June 26, 2010
This was a book I received from ReadItForward. It might not have been one I would have picked up on my own. This is what I like aboutg ReadItForward. Opens me up to new authors and genres. I knew nothing about James (Jim) Newman. This book gave a background of his historical/professional persona, as well as a bird's eye view of his home life. One utterly and completely different than mine. The sections that expanded on Jennimae's life were by far the most captivating parts of the book. Brooke rights as if she is very detached from her own story that she is relaying. No wonder considering the life she lived growing up. Jenniemae was obviously the best influence in her life.
August 14, 2011
The premise behind this book was promising but the story fell flat. The author was writing about the unusual relationship between her father and their black maid in the 50s and 60s. James was a genius and Jenniemae was strong and intuitive. They helped each other get through the most difficult times in their lives. Sadly the way the author told the story made everything seem boring. Sometimes she was writing from first person, sometimes she was calling her father James. It was very removed and unfeeling. Thankfully this book was free.
April 7, 2013
The premise of the book--telling the story of the friendship between the author's brilliant father and the household maid (who was an emotional life-saver for the author)--is a good one, but the writing is weak, the dialogue that the author creates out of thin air is flat, and the story veers off at the end of the book to praise her father and his accomplishments. Most chapters started with a run-down of what was happening, historically, and I found it irritating..... too sketchy to be meaningful, and a total break from the story line. All in all, it was a disappointment.
April 17, 2015
I really enjoyed this story of James complex man, his family, his work and personal life, and his unique relationship with the family's housekeeper, Jenniemae. The author revealed a great deal that many families would prefer to keep hidden, such as adultery and heavy drinking. Nonetheless, James was a man of great selflessness in the midst of his selfishness. And Jenniemae? I fell in love with her. An uneducated but very wise and intelligent woman she was. I would happily recommend this book to others. Glad I stumbled on it at the library.
May 30, 2010
I enjoyed this book because it reminded me of family members who are now dead. It reflected a time and a culture with which I am familiar. James Newman's family lived much like my Washington, D.C. relatives, who probably knew the Newman family themselves. However, I don't think there's enough in this book of social history or family history to interest most people, unless they are already interested in James Newman. I enjoyed it but I think the appeal of this book is really pretty limited.
July 7, 2010
The story was intriguing, and I became more "attached" to the unlikely pairing of these characters than I had expected. The author did a fine job of providing a historical "timeline" of world events as they affected the characters. I would like to read an entire book focusing on Jenniemae, if the author writes one. Her relationship with numbers is more "exciting" than James'. I received the book for free through Readitforward.com
August 6, 2011
This was a fascinating firsthand account of a unexpected friendship between two people who appeared to have nothing at all in common. It is also a thoughtful exploration of the day-to-day effects of both family and cultural dysfunction. The characters became important to me as I read their stories, and I was interested in the ways the writer used this recounting of her family's history to sort out its effects on herself and her life.
January 26, 2010
I enjoyed this book with its vivid portrayals and unique, brittle characters. The author's narrative style was honest,but not brutal.
I was fascinated by Jenniemae's dreams about numerals.
I learned that James Newman wrote a 1950's bestseller called The World of Mathematics and that a three digit numbers' bet is a "gig".
I was fascinated by Jenniemae's dreams about numerals.
I learned that James Newman wrote a 1950's bestseller called The World of Mathematics and that a three digit numbers' bet is a "gig".
October 11, 2010
Another good one. Brooke Newman makes her father and their black maid really come alive. She provides insight into and understanding of their lives and the times in a very lively manner and without excess or moralizing. It leaves you thinking about so many things--race relations, family relationships, the ethics of science, and war and the nuclear arms race.
June 10, 2013
Very interesting non-fiction version of "The Help". Set in the 1940's and 50's in Washington D.C. in a very non-traditional household. Even without the addition of a black southern maid, Brooke Newman's childhood was bizarre. Her parents were years ahead of their time and the sexual revolution. The addition of Jenniemae was probably the author's saving grace. Great read.
April 27, 2010
A very readable book that does a great job capturing 1950s life in Washington DC. Jenniemae and James are both interesting personality and the author shares their life with great warmth. While the book has great stories in it, it doesn't have a steady flow to it.
April 16, 2010
imeh! it was well written- but the story wasnt enthralling. there were some insights into a pair of mismatched but complex characters- and while the authors note acknowledges that she takes liberty to create conversation when she was either a child or not present- it felt forced
April 18, 2010
A wonderful memoir about friendship across racial lines. The story of Jeniemae and James totally captivated me. It is not only a compelling personal narrative but also an important read on the racism that pervaded this country in the 20th century.
October 26, 2010
I liked the relationship between Jenniemae and James it reminded me of the book The Help. And James was amazingly smart and did a lot for our country, but his personal life style was horrible and I don't know how his family survived it.
March 21, 2011
Really interesting characters, the author's father (THE James Newman--mathematician and anti-bomb rabble rouser)and the household maid, Jenniemae Harrington---and of course the rest of the family as well. Well worth the read.
July 25, 2011
This book was very interesting. It seemed like she didn't have enough material so she filled it with historical facts and senseless dialogue. The dialogue writing was not very good. I enjoyed the book sans the dialogue.
February 18, 2014
Great story about 2 very different people and how they found common ground and formed a bond. both were clear thinkers in very different ways. Interesting how his daughter perceived the situation as well. Well told story
April 10, 2010
Remarkable memoir.
April 5, 2010
The author has some really wonderful material to write a book , but could not seem to bring it together; a disappointment
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews