About My Sisters

"No one will ever love you like your family!" my mother would scream at me, when I was a little girl, and, secretly, I'd think, How ridiculous. Now, at 47, I know the truth of her words and would add, as a cautionary note, "...and no one will ever drive you as nuts as your family." Ginsberg, then, takes on a big subject in About My Sisters: family relationships. Despite the title, she actually looks at the complex world of both her family of origin (the sisters of the title, a brother, a mom and dad) as well as her extended family (her son, along with various boyfriends and girlfriends of family members). It's in the very ordinariness of the family that the book derives its strength; by the description of the family's day-to-day feuds show more and fusses, as well as the family's ongoing support and caring, Ginsberg reveals the power of the family in our lives. A reader of About My Sisters will nod as she reads, recognizing, in the pages, her own family chaos, her own family cohesion, whirling and spinning, expanding and contracting, like the universe, like life itself. show less

I have no siblings. I have been told, at various times, how lucky I am. Brothers are bullies. Sisters are snots. There’s forced sharing. I’m sure these things are true at some points. My response has always been, “I would have liked a sibling.” I don’t understand the relationships siblings have, which makes me sad. I don’t know what it’s like to grow up in a house with other children, experiencing most of the same things they do. This ignorance is what drew me to About My Sisters, a memoir about growing up with three younger sisters (and a younger brother). I really enjoyed the opportunity to look inside a family that I would consider large and take a glimpse at the inner workings thereof.

Full review: show more target="_top">http://libwen.wordpress.com/2011/01/05/about-my-sisters-by-debra-ginsberg/ show less

This was a book you really hoped would pull you right in to the story; as though you were part of the family.

I am one of five girls (three boys) and know the magic, drama, discomfort and ownership of belonging when one is part of such a special group.

I really wanted to love the girls - their relationships and bonds. I wonder if I had read Ginsbergs first two books if I would have felt some warmth and likeability. I don't think she went deep enough in this book.

Often times in families we have shared stories and history that no one else is allowed to have a part. I felt like I was standing outside, trying my best to belong.

Ginsberg's stories of her life are interesting and nearly addictive. Her love for her family shines through, even when she writes about the hard times.

This book and the character descriptions drew me in. The writing wasn't the best. The plot did skip along swiftly so it was never dull. The characters, meant to teach us about depth and beauty of sisterhood and familial love, in the end were off-putting, simply because they themselves elected not to marry nor create siblings (and four out of five had no children at all.) Can't recommend this.