Morningside Heights

Morningside Heights

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  • Create Date:2021-06-21 02:18:57
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Joshua Henkin
  • ISBN:1524748358
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

When Ohio-born Pru Steiner arrives in New York in 1976, she follows in a long tradition of young people determined to take the city by storm。 But when she falls in love with and marries Spence Robin, her hotshot young Shakespeare professor, her life takes a turn she couldn't have anticipated。

Thirty years later, something is wrong with Spence。 The Great Man can't concentrate; he falls asleep reading The New York Review of Books。 With their daughter, Sarah, away at medical school, Pru must struggle on her own to care for him。 One day, feeling especially isolated, Pru meets a man, and the possibility of new romance blooms。 Meanwhile, Spence's estranged son from his first marriage has come back into their lives。 Arlo, a wealthy entrepreneur who invests in biotech, may be his father's last, best hope。

Morningside Heights is a sweeping and compassionate novel about a marriage surviving hardship。 It's about the love between women and men, and children and parents; about the things we give up in the face of adversity; and about how to survive when life turns out differently from what we thought we signed up for。

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Reviews

Beth

3。5

Maureen Grigsby

A beautifully written book about the ravages of Alzheimers, especially on the people who love them。

Sally Drake

A poignant tear-jerker。 Beautifully written, full of compassion and grace。

Erin Glover

This book grabbed and held my interest (which is more than I can say about the tons of pandemic books I've read) mostly because Henkin is a wonderful writer。 His sentences are clear and concise and his characters memorable (I hate going back to look up the origin story of a character)。 He got to the heart of what it's like to (view spoiler)[watch the love of your life succumb to Alzheimer's and watch him die (hide spoiler)]。 Henkin evokes a lot of emotion that anyone who has ever been married ca This book grabbed and held my interest (which is more than I can say about the tons of pandemic books I've read) mostly because Henkin is a wonderful writer。 His sentences are clear and concise and his characters memorable (I hate going back to look up the origin story of a character)。 He got to the heart of what it's like to (view spoiler)[watch the love of your life succumb to Alzheimer's and watch him die (hide spoiler)]。 Henkin evokes a lot of emotion that anyone who has ever been married can relate to。 I'll skip the description of the novel since it's available in other reviews here and on the blurb on Amazon。Where this novel fell for me was the story。 It was just okay。 We've seen wives suffering through these types of ordeals before。 The story needed a little more tension to hold my interest。 The story was just a little too ordinary for me。 。。。more

Jan Norris

I loved this powerful story of family relationships and challenges。 Wonderful characters。

Cindy

3。5 stars。 What a beautiful and tender story of family love amid adversity and hardship。 Sometimes life doesn’t turn out as expected and how you deal with it determines your own survival。 The story centers around Spence, a once well known and respected professor who slowly declines in health and mental awareness due to Alzheimers。 The story was heartbreaking for me as my own father suffered from this disease。 The author writes a powerful story filled with heart and compassion。 I feel a little em 3。5 stars。 What a beautiful and tender story of family love amid adversity and hardship。 Sometimes life doesn’t turn out as expected and how you deal with it determines your own survival。 The story centers around Spence, a once well known and respected professor who slowly declines in health and mental awareness due to Alzheimers。 The story was heartbreaking for me as my own father suffered from this disease。 The author writes a powerful story filled with heart and compassion。 I feel a little emotional now。 。。。more

Sue Altman

A 4 1/2。 I thought it was very well written。

Eric

Underwhelming, especially for such a hyped book。 "Boring people doing boring things," as John Lennon used to say about his least favorite McCartney songs。 I feel the same way here。 It was pretty hard to be impacted by characters that I felt indifferent about。 Pru and Spence were fine, and I did feel bad when Spence got sick, but mostly I was hoping for something interesting to happen in this novel。 I don't feel like it ever did。 Arlo could have been an interesting character, but he was never bui Underwhelming, especially for such a hyped book。 "Boring people doing boring things," as John Lennon used to say about his least favorite McCartney songs。 I feel the same way here。 It was pretty hard to be impacted by characters that I felt indifferent about。 Pru and Spence were fine, and I did feel bad when Spence got sick, but mostly I was hoping for something interesting to happen in this novel。 I don't feel like it ever did。 Arlo could have been an interesting character, but he was never built up into anything outside of a neurotic, obnoxious self-loather。 Others might think differently, but I'm going to call this one a miss。 。。。more

Pamela

3。75

thewanderingjew

Morningside Heights, Joshua Henkin, author; Kathe Mazur, Shane Baker, narratorsAs this story develops, it slowly and carefully illustrates the varied relationships that exist within families, especially those that are blended as a result of divorce。 Although the parents find relief from an unpleasant marriage, children are the innocent victims of their failures。 They often suffer the most。 They feel neglected by the parent they do not live with, especially when one parent remarries and begins a Morningside Heights, Joshua Henkin, author; Kathe Mazur, Shane Baker, narratorsAs this story develops, it slowly and carefully illustrates the varied relationships that exist within families, especially those that are blended as a result of divorce。 Although the parents find relief from an unpleasant marriage, children are the innocent victims of their failures。 They often suffer the most。 They feel neglected by the parent they do not live with, especially when one parent remarries and begins a new family。 They often blame themselves for the breakup。 When a new family is created, on the other hand, the siblings in that family, too, often resent the presence of the “outsiders” that come from their parent’s “other marriage”。 Sibling rivalry of a new sort arises and is coupled with angst stemming from the step parent。Pru Steiner, was brought up in a religious Jewish home in Ohio。 When she moves to New York, she maintains some of her customs and keeps a kosher home。 She had often dated much older men, so when she meets Spence Robin, her English Professor, a man six years older than is, she is smitten, but surprised that he is not that much older。 Soon, he is smitten with her, as well。 He is a renowned professor and author, a Shakespearean scholar。 However, he brings a lot of detritus to their union。 He has a son, Arlo, from a previous marriage to Linda, and a disabled sister, Enid。 Enid suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car crash and lives permanently in a facility。 Pru and Spence have one child together。 Her name is Sarah。 The three of them live on the West Side of Manhattan, in Morningside Heights。 Spence’s son, Arlo, lives with his mother, Linda。 She is a bit of a “flower child”, who lives according to her own whims, following her own rules, and is untethered from, and not bothered by, the norms of society。 Although Arlo is very bright, he has difficulty in school。 Linda moves him around a lot since she has an odd desire to use a bathroom in every state。 She also seems to casually fall in and out of relationships, to the consternation of Arlo。 It causes them to move often, forcing him to change schools, if and when he is enrolled。 Linda has tried to home school Arlo, but a learning disability, coupled with an education that has been sorely neglected, makes the effort unsuccessful。 Eventually, Arlo pleads with Linda to let him live with his father。 Pru and Spence discover Arlo is dyslexic and obtain help for him。 No matter, though, because no matter how they try to welcome him, Arlo resents everything they do。 He misunderstands what is going on around him and feels that his father never paid him enough attention。 His mother, Linda, has refused to share custody with Spence, in a more equitable fashion。 She actually limits Spence’s interaction with Arlo。 However, Arlo blames Spence, not his mother。 He also resents his step-sister, even though he begins to like her, because she gets to live with his father。 Sarah, likes Arlo too, but she resents the attention her father gives to him。 When Arlo begins to act out to punish those around him for not providing him with what he thinks he needs, he makes continuing to live with them untenable。 Soon, he begs his mom to take him back。 Having just ended a relationship, she picks him up and moves him to Iowa。Arlo does not achieve anything resembling happiness until he moves out on his own, travels to Asia, and follows his own heart and ideas。 After trial and error, he becomes very successful in the world of tech。 He does not keep in touch with his father very often, but when he finds out that his father has Alzheimer’s, he returns to visit him and tries to help him。 As Spence begins to decline and suffer from the effects of his disease, Pru hires Ginny to help care for him。 Ginny and her son, Rafe, live in East New York in Brooklyn。 Rafe is a Hemophiliac。 Ginny keeps a tight rein on Rafe, pushing him to do well in school。 Rafe wants to be a doctor, but also wants to be “normal”, often disregarding the dangerous nature of his disease。 Although Ginny lives in New York City, her husband is still living in the islands。 They have been estranged for several years。All of the characters seem to carry a lot of baggage。 Enid, Rafe and Spence suffer from incurable diseases。 Spence, Linda and Ginny have had troubled marriages。 Rafe, Sarah and Arlo are exceptionally bright, but they push the envelope and are apt to take unnecessary chances because of foolish decisions。 Arlo and Sarah suffer from sibling rivaly。 Linda is a poor parenting example because of her irresponsible behavior。 Both Linda and Arlo dropped out of school before graduating。 Each of the children harbors some resentment toward a parent。 Many of their problems seem manmade, like the ones based on poor decisions, i。e。 an unplanned pregnancy。 Others are physiological, when there is no choice in the manner of their suffering。 At the end, I did not find the book to be very hopeful。 Except for Arlo, none of the characters seemed to have achieved success, and none seemed to have fulfilled their dreams。 Discontent seemed to be threaded into the lives of all of them, with some almost setting themselves up for failure。 There didn’t seem to be a way to have a real second chance at life, as the mistakes that they made often did not lead to a change in behavior or to a learning experience。 The female reader seemed to over emote and sometimes seemed to take over the story instead of letting it play out naturally。 Further, the author’s left wing political views did not seem to enhance the novel, rather they seemed just to be used as a vehicle to virtue signal personal beliefs which may offend some readers。 Personally, I wish that authors would stop trying to brainwash the reader with anything other than a good story。 。。。more

Elyse Walters

Audiobook…。read by Kathe Mazur and Shane Baker …。。8 hours and 58 minutes In 1972, Pru Steiner was eighteen when she arrived at Yale。She grew up in Ohio in a Jewish home, where her family kept kosher。In Ohio, Pru went to a small school that felt ‘too’ Jewish。 At Yale, the school felt too big and not Jewish enough。 To her own surprise, Pru continued to keep kosher。 The Yale years moved quickly。 Four years later, 1976, Pru was twenty-two。 After graduation, she moved to New York to attend Columbia U Audiobook…。read by Kathe Mazur and Shane Baker …。。8 hours and 58 minutes In 1972, Pru Steiner was eighteen when she arrived at Yale。She grew up in Ohio in a Jewish home, where her family kept kosher。In Ohio, Pru went to a small school that felt ‘too’ Jewish。 At Yale, the school felt too big and not Jewish enough。 To her own surprise, Pru continued to keep kosher。 The Yale years moved quickly。 Four years later, 1976, Pru was twenty-two。 After graduation, she moved to New York to attend Columbia University as a doctoral student。 On her first day in her Shakespeare class, she meets her professor, Spence Robin, He was only six years older than Pru…。the youngest professor in the English Dept。 They begin seeing each other outside of class。 They often met at a cafe called ‘Chock Full O’Nuts’ …where the coffee was bad-but the conversations and connection started to take hold。 Spencer told Pru that he was Jewish, making him an attractive life contender。 They soon fell in love - and got married - but not before Pru jumped through a hurdle of hoops to conquer the news that Spense Robin had once been married to a woman named Linda, and they had son named Arlo。 Spence had been estranged from his son for 15 years。 After marriage…。 they have a child named Sarah。 Eventually Arlo comes back into his fathers life and moves in with Spence, Pru, and Sarah。 Thirty years later, in 2006, Spence, Fifty-seven years old is diagnosed with early stages Alzheimer’s。What makes this book great is the ease in which the story flows, the warmth and joy it is to follow, the relatable characters, conflicts, tensions, love, hope, and struggles against daunting days due to Spence’s declining health, painful revelations—about human behavior and a powerful look at the human heart。 The humor is fresh, the complications of ‘in sickness & health’, is sad, but real and beautiful…。。I also liked the feeling of eavesdropping (by invitation), in on private mutterings…。。Sorrowful …。loving…。。and very full of life。Hugely compassionate and enjoyable。 。。。more

Lauren Archer

This is a lovely story, that is heartbreaking。 Pru meets Spence while in his class at Columbia University。 They get married and have the idyllic family。 30 years later, at the prime of their lives, something is very wrong with Spence and very quickly all of their lives change。 Told from Pru their daughter Sara and Spence’s son Arlo, Henkin gives a very realistic view of a families that is struggling, interspersed with memories of their lives through the 30 years。 I am not going to lie, this is a This is a lovely story, that is heartbreaking。 Pru meets Spence while in his class at Columbia University。 They get married and have the idyllic family。 30 years later, at the prime of their lives, something is very wrong with Spence and very quickly all of their lives change。 Told from Pru their daughter Sara and Spence’s son Arlo, Henkin gives a very realistic view of a families that is struggling, interspersed with memories of their lives through the 30 years。 I am not going to lie, this is a very tough book at times。 However, Henkin, seems to know exactly when to pull back to give you a little reprieve。 This was beautifully written and, I highly recommend this one。 。。。more

Fox Hakeem

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Martha Samsell

Book about a Jewish family who in New York centered around a woman named Pru who is deciding what to do with her life。

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Nancy

Spence and Pru met when she was a student in his Shakespeare class in the late 70’s。 He’s a rising star at Columbia and she’s also starting a promising graduate career。 But their relationship moved quickly and before you know it, they’re married and she’s dropped out of the program。 Pru seemed to then live a life different than she anticipated - total focus on Spence, supporting his career advancement, and then raising their daughter, Sarah。 She also takes on the role of stepmother to Argo, Spen Spence and Pru met when she was a student in his Shakespeare class in the late 70’s。 He’s a rising star at Columbia and she’s also starting a promising graduate career。 But their relationship moved quickly and before you know it, they’re married and she’s dropped out of the program。 Pru seemed to then live a life different than she anticipated - total focus on Spence, supporting his career advancement, and then raising their daughter, Sarah。 She also takes on the role of stepmother to Argo, Spence’s son from his first marriage ( who comes with a lot of baggage, to say the least)。Their age difference is referenced a lot in discussion about the book, but it is only 7 years, which doesn’t seem like a big factor to me。 The big factor is that Spence receives a significant medical diagnosis when he’s 57 and that’s when Pru’s real challenges begin。 Publicity for the book use the phrase “love in the face of loss” and that’s a perfect way to describe Pru。Henkin is a wonderful storyteller and even though there’s a lot of difficult and sad subjects in the book, he draws you in very quickly。 The story is told from the perspectives of Pru, Spence, Sarah and Arlo (as well as the wonderful home health aide, Ginny)。 The characters are all memorable and I imagine some might see Spence as the book’s tragic star。 After all, he was a world renowned scholar and struck down in his prime by a horrible disease。 But the character who’s really sticking with me is Pru。 Did she regret the path she took? Would she have done things differently? Will she find happiness?Thanks to Netgalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for the opportunity to read Morningside Heights in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more

Sara

A masterful work of craft and honest look at the fragility and resiliency of the human spirit。My full review at Vol 1。 Brooklyn:https://vol1brooklyn。com/2021/06/14/m。。。 A masterful work of craft and honest look at the fragility and resiliency of the human spirit。My full review at Vol 1。 Brooklyn:https://vol1brooklyn。com/2021/06/14/m。。。 。。。more

Teri

Follow the relationship of this couple from falling in love, raising children, career and finally into aging and illness。 An analysis of family and love, obligation, sadness, acceptance and resilience。 This book took me on an emotional roller coaster ride, it was powerful and understated。** I received an electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review。

Stuart Jennings

This is a seriously heart-rendering story。。。a Must Read!If you want to experience (from the characters themselves) theups-and-downs of everyday life as it comes at you unexpectedly,here's the story for you。。。The author, Joshua Henkin, has written a great novel。。。You'llpass thru all your emotions with this read。。。Just a great down-to-earth read。。。Highly Recommended! This is a seriously heart-rendering story。。。a Must Read!If you want to experience (from the characters themselves) theups-and-downs of everyday life as it comes at you unexpectedly,here's the story for you。。。The author, Joshua Henkin, has written a great novel。。。You'llpass thru all your emotions with this read。。。Just a great down-to-earth read。。。Highly Recommended! 。。。more

Rebecca

One of my favorite aspects of this modern story is that the characters are very realistic。 Pru Steiner, for example, comes from a family in which the dad follows kosher rules but her mother does not。 As for Pru, she feels too constrained - even as a kid- when attending the Torah Academy。 So it is quite surprising when Pru, as a Columbia University student, begins dating and eventually moves into the apartment of the man she's fallen in love with that she makes his kitchen kosher。 Pru goes from b One of my favorite aspects of this modern story is that the characters are very realistic。 Pru Steiner, for example, comes from a family in which the dad follows kosher rules but her mother does not。 As for Pru, she feels too constrained - even as a kid- when attending the Torah Academy。 So it is quite surprising when Pru, as a Columbia University student, begins dating and eventually moves into the apartment of the man she's fallen in love with that she makes his kitchen kosher。 Pru goes from being a person who made fun of female students that just wanted the proverbial "MRS。" degree to being a Mrs。 herself。This book also treats marriage very realistically。 Life is not 100% perfect every day。 There's a child from a previous marriage and some unexpected, very serious challenges。Throughout the book, author Joshua Henkin references the many landmarks and popular restaurants in the real Morningside Heights area of New York。 It makes for fun reading。 I have recommended this book to several friends。 The reason I rated this with 4 of 5 stars is that Morningside Heights seemed a little slow at times。 That might be the result of having read many fast-paced YA novels and thrillers concurrently with Morningside Heights。 。。。more

BookBagDC

This is a story about family。 Pru Steiner is a promising grad student at Columbia, where she meets and falls for Spence Robin, a rising star professor in her department。 Pru and Spence soon marry, and Pru drops out of her program and they have a daughter, Sarah。 A few decades later, Pru’s life is in some ways what she imagined, and in other ways nothing like she expected。 Spence has early onset Alzheimer’s, and Pru must confront what it means to take care of Spence, the role Sarah and Spence’s s This is a story about family。 Pru Steiner is a promising grad student at Columbia, where she meets and falls for Spence Robin, a rising star professor in her department。 Pru and Spence soon marry, and Pru drops out of her program and they have a daughter, Sarah。 A few decades later, Pru’s life is in some ways what she imagined, and in other ways nothing like she expected。 Spence has early onset Alzheimer’s, and Pru must confront what it means to take care of Spence, the role Sarah and Spence’s son from a short-lived first marriage will play in this final stage of Spence’s life, and what the next stage of Pru’s life will look like。 I thoroughly enjoyed this book。 I am a big fan of this author and his previous novels, including Matrimony and The World Without You。 He has a real gift for capturing the multiple dimensions of marriages and modern relationships。 And this talent is reflected in Morningside Heights, most especially in the relationship between Pru and Spence, but also in Pru’s relationship with her daughter, her stepson, and a possible new romantic interest。 This is an insightful and touching story about the complexities of family, the challenges of aging, and the way our personal and professional expectations often diverge from reality。 Highly recommended! 。。。more

Richard Friedman

I picked up this book thinking it would be a good read about the old neighborhood。 That it was (I haven't thought about the old Chock full o'Nuts in a long time), but it was also about so much more。 It was about family- both the one you are born into and the one you choose。 It was about commitment, and ultimately it was about love。 It made me laugh while also bringing me to tears。 A truly great and important read。 I picked up this book thinking it would be a good read about the old neighborhood。 That it was (I haven't thought about the old Chock full o'Nuts in a long time), but it was also about so much more。 It was about family- both the one you are born into and the one you choose。 It was about commitment, and ultimately it was about love。 It made me laugh while also bringing me to tears。 A truly great and important read。 。。。more

Talia Berkowitz

Morningside Heights beautifully explores family, relationships, and home。 The story and characters reflect the simultaneous fragility and strength of memory, which grounds and untethers these characters to home, one another, and themselves in deeply emotional ways。 I whipped through this book, completely immersed in the story, and enjoying every moment!

Sylvia

I basically read this in one sitting。 I got caught up in this family’s story with its complications, difficulties and joys。 It was very realistic with real people problems and complex characters that seem like they could live next door。 Life is unpredictable and this book shows how you weather the surprises both good and bad。

Rachel Friedman

This is a beautifully done book。 In elegant and understated prose, Henkin unfolds the story of a family confronting the ravaging effects of early onset Altzheimer's on their husband and father, a former superstar professor at Columbia。 The novel, though, is not just the story of his disease or of his decline, but of the complex ways in which all of the familial relationships were configured around him and how they must now be rethought as he disappears further and further from view (Kelly Blair This is a beautifully done book。 In elegant and understated prose, Henkin unfolds the story of a family confronting the ravaging effects of early onset Altzheimer's on their husband and father, a former superstar professor at Columbia。 The novel, though, is not just the story of his disease or of his decline, but of the complex ways in which all of the familial relationships were configured around him and how they must now be rethought as he disappears further and further from view (Kelly Blair is to be commended for a book jacket which perfectly captures the centrality of his presence/absence to the novel)。 Henkin's powers of observation are astute and his characters are fully and sympathetically drawn。 What emerges is a rich and compelling portrait of a family rearranging itself in the wake of immeasurable grief and loss。 This is an utterly compelling read- I highly recommend! 。。。more

Maya Rosen

This is one of those books that instantly makes you feel like you have known the characters for years。 My favorite aspect of Henkin's storytelling is his ability to give voice to multiple characters。 You get to hear the perspective of all of the participants on their lived experience within this tale and how it either fits or does not fit into the narrative of the overall story。 The characters that Henkin creates and introduces are complex, neither all good nor all bad, just people trying to dea This is one of those books that instantly makes you feel like you have known the characters for years。 My favorite aspect of Henkin's storytelling is his ability to give voice to multiple characters。 You get to hear the perspective of all of the participants on their lived experience within this tale and how it either fits or does not fit into the narrative of the overall story。 The characters that Henkin creates and introduces are complex, neither all good nor all bad, just people trying to deal with the challenges that life has dealt them。 I highly recommend this book if you are looking to escape into a novel with characters that seem like old friends and you get to have a front row seat watching them navigate the complexity of their lives。 。。。more

Micah

Made me miss New York。 Wonderful characters, great writing and because the main character is erudite, I learned a lot too。 It was playful and sad and at the end I felt like it was totally complete。

Cheryl

I won this book on Goodreads。 It is the story of a man who has alzeimer’s and journey along with his wife’s。 While it had a good story, it is super depressing。

Laura Brill

Family, language, memory, status, New York, and the push and pull of our connections to one another。 Josh Henkin weaves all these themes into a lyrical work that asks, through different characters, how can we be brave and go on helping and hoping?

Susan

This is a story of a family and a marriage struggling with Alzheimer's and how it affects each person in the family。 This is a story of a family and a marriage struggling with Alzheimer's and how it affects each person in the family。 。。。more