GIVEAWAY CLOSED
NOT OUR KIND (Harper) by Kitty Zeldis transports readers back to 1947 New York City and tells the compelling and thought-provoking story about two women—one Jewish, one a WASP—and the wholly unexpected consequences of their meeting.
I immediately connected with this story, because even in our current times there can be awkwardness and discomfort between people coming from different worlds. I was raised Catholic and knew very few Jewish people while growing up. During college in the 1980s, I became an au pair for a New York City Park Avenue Jewish family’s three sons. The differences between us were many. There were times when I was uneasy and I’m sure they were too, but we made it work and I became the daughter they never had, eventually giving me my wedding. My first memory was having bagels one morning. I’d grown up putting butter and peanut butter on my bagels. I was astonished by the spread that was put out before us for bagels … tomatoes, white fish salad, onions, cream cheese, oh my, I completely embraced it.
In NOT MY KIND, one rainy morning in June, two years after the end of World War II, a minor traffic accident brings together Eleanor Moskowitz and Patricia Bellamy. Their encounter seems fated: Eleanor, a teacher and recent Vassar graduate, needs a job. Patricia’s difficult thirteen-year-old daughter Margaux, recovering from polio, needs a private tutor.
Though she feels out-of-place in the Bellamys’ rarefied and elegant Park Avenue world, Eleanor forms an instant bond with Margaux. Soon the idealistic young woman is filling the bright young girl’s mind with Shakespeare and Latin. Though her mother, a hat maker with a little shop on Second Avenue, disapproves, Eleanor takes pride in her work, even if she must use the name “Moss” to enter the Bellamys’ restricted doorman building each morning. And Eleanor feels that Patricia’s husband, Wynn, may have a problem with her being Jewish.
Invited to keep Margaux company at the Bellamys’ country home in a small town in Connecticut, Eleanor meets Patricia’s unreliable, bohemian brother, Tom, recently returned from Europe. The spark between Eleanor and Tom is instant and intense. Flushed with new romance and increasingly attached to her young pupil, Eleanor begins to feel more comfortable with Patricia and much of the world she inhabits. As the summer wears on, the two women’s friendship grows—until one hot summer evening, a line is crossed, and both Eleanor and Patricia will have to make important decisions—choices that will reverberate through their lives.
Gripping and vividly told, NOT OUR KIND illuminates the lives of two women on the cusp of change—and asks how much our pasts can and should define our futures. But from experience I can tell you the more things change, in many ways do they remain the same.
I hope NOT MY KIND is adapted into a film or television series. I just loved how author, Kitty Zeldis captures authentic friendships between women, with all their complications and love.
*****
KITTY ZELDIS is the nom de plume of a Brooklyn-based novelist and a children’s book author.
Thanks to HarperCollins, we have one copy of NOT OUR KIND to giveaway. Just tell us what you love about reading historical fiction.
We’ll announce a winner soon. Good luck.
GIVEAWAY: USA only please
I love reading historical fiction because I always learn something new.
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I love historical fiction because I love history and learning and the fiction keeps it entertaining!
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I enjoy historical fiction because it helps you relate to what the people during that time went through. One example is the book As Bright As Heaven. It put in to perspective what those people had to endure.
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I love historical fiction that takes me to a time either before my birth or when I was a baby. Through the characters lives, I get to experience what life was like during that period. It’s like time travel without the risks, but with all the enjoyment!
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I enjoy historical fiction especially when the author correlates real events along with the story. A good example is The Secret Life of Mrs. London, with Houdini’s acts and Jack London’s books.
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Thanks for the shout out!
THE SECRET LIFE OF MRS. LONDON, the love triangle between Houdini, Jack London and his wife, Charmian, named WIKI’S 12 MARVELOUS NOVELS OF 20TH CENTURY.
https://wiki.ezvid.com/m/12-marvelous-novels-about-the-early-20th-century-kNkCn2l8yxVIl
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I like that there is a learning aspect to the fiction. To read an enjoyable story and learn something new about a particular era or person is great.
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I love to read these stories to see how it was like living in another time.
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I love learning and historical fiction always covers something I haven’t heard of before. Even if it is somewhat fabricated, it causes me to read up more on the topic!
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Historical fiction can take me back to times I can only dream of! And I always learn something new!
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Historical fiction is fascinating and wonderful. I can get involved in that time period which reflects their struggles and triumphs. This novel is ideal for me since I was born in 1947, am Jewish and would enjoy and treasure this story.
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I love stepping back in time and learning how people lived back then.
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I read historical fiction because I always learn facts that are unknown to me. I also enjoy learning about the lifestyles and social protocol of the era.
Thanks.
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I especially like learning about WWII…there always seems to be something that I didn’t know.
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I love them because I get to live vicariously through the characters and their histories.
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I love stepping back in time for a bit.
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I love learning about how people lived in other times
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I like historical fiction because it transports me to a different era.
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I learn more about the time period the novel is set in.
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What I love about historical fiction is that I can get a sense of what it was like during the time period that I’m reading. It’s almost light time travel. I feel transported there.
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Firstly, I want to say that historical fiction is my top favorite genre! Then what I love about it is that I can travel back time and have the same experiences as the characters. It is like re-living the old times together and I totally adore new culture and History.
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I always enjoy learning when I read historical fiction
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I love historical fiction because it transports me back in time.
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I love reading about different time periods and cultures. It’s a great way to learn a little bit about history while getting a great story.
denise
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There is so much to learn from historical fiction, and sadly we often realize that some things haven’t changed as much as we thought. Sounds like a great book.
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I love reading about World War II – there was so much that happened that was not covered when I went to school. My interest was sparked when I visited Normandy a few years ago.
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I’ve actually learned a lot more about history from reading than when I was in school. I love the history of fashion and that’s what first drew me to historical fiction. Some of the book covers are stunning!
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I agree about learning more from books than in school. I guess we were too young to be interested. Sad, but true.
And….the covers for sure are stunning and gorgeous.
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I love reading historical fiction because I like learning about life in earlier times.
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I love reading historical fiction because I learn something everytime I read a book. I hated history in high school but I love reading and learning about it now. My books make history much more interesting. Thank you for the chance.
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Historical fiction gives readers the ability to live in a time they have missed, if only for the duration of the book. Teachings of history, unless delved into separately or through further learning, are often bare bones and only skim the surface of what truly happened. Historical fiction gives readers the ability to become invested in a world that has passed – while learning more about that world.
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I love the combination of a good story with true historical accuracy. Often this leads me to delve even further into history, all sparked by reading historical fiction!
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Love being in another time!
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i love it because we can go back in time, learn more about that time, hopefully be more understanding, grow with knowledge, and learn from possible mistakes that were made.
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time period
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I like historical fiction because it takes me back to another time. I’m interested in the clothes, food and how the people lived.
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I love escaping into another time and place.
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I’m not sure but it’s one of my favorite genres.
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Historical fiction is my favorite genre — I almost always really enjoy all the books I read in this category!
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I love historical fiction because I wish I grew up 50+ years ago. The 2000’s are SO complicated!
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I love reading Historical Fiction since I always been so interested in the way people lived in the earlier times. My favorite from 1850 to current time period. It helps me relax and forget about any troubles I might have.
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Oh, I love historical fiction. It helps me understand the past as though it’s happening before my eyes.
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I love getting put into a different world! I’ve always been fascinated with history and different historical periods
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