Not Our Kind audiobook

3.5 stars. The setting is New York City two years after WWII has ended and two women who couldn’t be more unlike cross paths in a chance meeting when their taxis are involved in an accident. Eleanor Moskowitz, a young disillusioned woman has just resigned from her first teaching job at an exclusive private school when money and status win out over the honesty she stands up for. She’s from a Jewish working class family and Patricia Bellamy who seems to have it all - affluence, a beautiful apartment, fabulous clothes, is from a world that Eleanor has dreamed of being a part of. Taking a job as a private tutor for Patricia’s thirteen year old daughter Margaux, who has recovered from polio, makes Eleanor feel a little closer to these people, this circle, that has evaded, actually avoided her. Is it possible that Patricia would want her for a friend ? The world she wants to be a part of is not a very nice place to be actually. It is filled with shallow, anti Semitic people who were happy that the war was over and thought Hitler was evil, but yet they insist that Eleanor use the name Moss instead of Moskowitz when announcing herself at their apartment building or is introduced to their friends. This continues when Eleanor goes with them to their summer home in Connecticut so that Margaux can continue to catch up on the studies she missed. It’s here that something happens that makes Eleanor realize she she can’t work for this family no matter how fond she has become of Margeaux. In many way, though it is as much about class and the have and have nots as it is anti Semitism. It’s realistic in its portrayal of marriage that is not what it seems to be . While there is some food for thought here and some serious issues at the heart of the story, at times it lacked the depth I was expecting and leaned more towards women’s fiction with a focus on marital issues and a romance story rather than literary fiction as it as billed as. Having said that, it was still a good story and I liked enough about to round up to 4 stars. I received an advanced copy of this book from HarperCollins through Edelweiss.

4 sophisticated stars to Not Our Kind! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ It seems like I was just writing a review for another World War II story, and in fact I was. Not Our Kind stands out because of its unique perspective on being Jewish in a post-WWII United States. To set the stage, two women are brought together by a chance encounter in Brooklyn two years after the war. Eleanor Moskovitz is Jewish and a teacher. She meets Patricia Bellamy whose challenging teen daughter, Margaux, needs a tutor due to being diagnosed with polio. Conditions are so uncomfortable for Jews at this time that Eleanor has to use a different last name to enter the Bellamys’ building, and she spends ample time worrying about what Mr. Bellamy thinks of her, and even sometimes Patricia because she never knows just where she stands. Nonetheless, she easily forms a bond with Margaux, and that’s why she’s there. Patricia’s brother makes a visit, and he and Eleanor hit it off. At the same time, the true friendship between Eleanor and Patrica grows stronger until something happens to put it all in jeopardy. I found the sense of time and place interesting in Not Our Kind with the recovery efforts combined with the stagnant feelings about groups of people that had not yet changed. Patricia and Eleanor, especially, were champions in this book. They each come into their own and offer insight when hopefully change was on the horizon. The writing is charming and sophisticated, and I enjoyed Zeldis’ storytelling with the unique perspective of post-WWII fiction. A tale of unlikely friendship, Not Our Kind is a must-read for historical fiction fans. Many thanks to the most generous Harper Books for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own. My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com

Eleanor Moskowitz is stuck in a taxi in New York City during a visit from President Truman. She is without employment and is running late for a job interview for a teaching position. Her cab is hit by another vehicle leaving her with minor injuries. The other taxi’s passenger, Patricia Bellamy, feels responsible and takes her to her apartment for treatment.Eleanor is introduced to Patricia’s thirteen-year-old daughter, Margeaux, who is crippled from polio. Because of her condition, Margeaux has been homeschooled by an inconsistent parade of tutors. The two meet and it is soon decided that Eleanor will take over her teaching responsibilities. The perfect job isn't as great as she expected because Patricia’s husband dislikes her Jewish heritage. That bias requires her to disguise her name so other building residents won’t know her religion. During the summer, Eleanor joins the Bellamys at their Connecticut home where she forms a connection with a more liberal member of the family. I enjoyed reading the historical fiction novel ”Not Our Kind”. It was an interesting view of New York City through the eyes of people from different backgrounds. These two women forge an unlikely friendship after they discover they are more alike than expected. I look forward to reading more books by Kitty Zeldis.

3.5 rounded to 4 starsNot Our Kind is about a young Jewish woman who takes a job as a tutor for a 13-year-old girl who does not want to return to school out of shame after she is left with a withered leg after a battle with polio. The girl, Margaux, is the only child of privileged couple Patricia and Wynn. The story takes place just after the end of WWII in New York City where anti-Semitism remains prevalent. Patricia is willing to overlook the fact that her new hire is Jewish, but has Eleanor use the surname Moss instead of her real name Moskowitz. Wynn is not at all happy to have a Jew on the payroll. This is a very good story about the consequences of class differences and relationships in general. I loved Eleanor who bonds quickly with Margaux and is key in helping the feisty young teenager blossom. Their relationship is endearing. Wynn is a despicable man except for his bond with his daughter. Patricia and Wynn have a complex marriage with significant issues.There were a couple of things that bothered me. I couldn’t feel much of a connection between the two characters involved in a budding romance. And the story in general is not of the depth I was hoping for. I think part of the issue is that I have recently read some novels that were very emotive; this book did not generate those feelings in me. That said, I found myself engrossed in the story and was always anxious to get back to the book when real life allowed. I also appreciated learning more about postwar anti-Semitism in this country, which I had been unaware of before. For these reasons it was an easy decision to round my 3.5 stars up to 4 stars.I recommend Not Our Kind to historical fiction fans who are looking for a quick read and are interested in a very good character-driven story that tackles several issues.

Kitty Zeldis has spun a beautiful tale of friendship, acceptance, and love. The story begins with the chance meeting of Eleanor and Patricia when their taxi cabs collide. New York City, two years after the end of WWII. Eleanor is a young Jewish woman, the daughter of a hat maker, and has just quit her teaching job. Patricia is a wealthy socialite and the mother of a 13-year-old daughter Margaux. When Patricia invites Eleanor home with her to get out of the rain she instantly sees that there is a connection between the teacher and her moody daughter. Margaux is in need of a new tutor, almost seems like fate. But it is complicated, Eleanor is Jewish and there still is much anti-Semitism in post WWII America. What transpires is a fascinating and complex friendship between Eleanor and Patricia. Eleanor was a great heroine, she was a brilliant character you just could not help but root for. I loved her bond with Margaux Who was a fabulous character as well. I loved her innocent bluntness. There was a lot going on in this book romance, drama, and all kinds of complicated relationships. Kitty Zeldis did a wonderful job of bringing post WWII New York to life on the pages of this book. I loved Reading a book that takes place after the war rather than during it. A well told story that I would definitely recommend!

Not Our Kind is a riveting story featuring two women: a young Jewish girl and the rich woman who hires her to tutor her young daughter. The book takes place in New York City in 1947 and the author does an excellent job of putting the reader in that time and place. The characters in this book are complex and interesting, as they deal with friendships and relationships that are tainted with bigotry and misogyny. This is a very thought-provoking novel which kept my interest from the first page through the last.

I was quickly captivated by this story of two women from different words, though only blocks away. I found the characters to be realistic and engaging and the story of one that is at the same time simple and deep. Though I am usually a plot-driven reader, I found myself wholly engaged with Eleanor, Patricia, Tom, Wynn, and Margeaux. I would love to see a sequel!

Kitty Zeldis creates an intriguing story about Eleanor Moskowitz, an educated young Jewish woman who’s a teacher and lives on Second Avenue in New York City, and Patricia Bellamy, a high society WASP who lives on Park Avenue. These two women’s lives and worlds couldn’t be further apart, and she takes you on their journey and what it was like living in New York City postwar 1947 describing how social and economic divisions were in that time period. Patricia hires Eleanor to tutor her thirteen-year-old daughter, Margaux. Margaux was struck by the Polio epidemic that left her leg crippled and, as a result, she is tutored at home. Margaux can be quite difficult at times, mostly due to the insecurities she developed due to the effects of the disease and her dislike of her previous tutors. Patricia is worried about what her family and society friends will think because she hired a Jewish woman even though she is extremely happy with the effect she has on Margaux. Eleanor is asked to join the Bellamy family to their summer home in Connecticut to continue tutoring Margaux. At first, Eleanor and Patricia are polite, cordial and begin to form a bond, but their relationship soon plummets.Adding to the story are Tom, Patricia’s brother, who is instantly attracted to Eleanor, and Wynn, Patricia’s husband, who dislikes Eleanor due to her heritage. Eleanor soon learns that she can’t live with this dysfunctional family and can no longer be in their employ. It takes Patricia to realize that her bond with Eleanor began with Margaux, and whatever animosity she felt toward her she needs to correct.Zeldis does an incredible job describing the role of women in the past, religious animosity, class division, the family dynamic, and she explores what it was like living in different ethnic communities in that era. I thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction story, and I loved the way she describes the City. I also enjoyed Eleanor’s character who is very sophisticated, extremely mature for her age, and knows exactly the right thing to say. I highly recommend this book.

Great historical fiction about a time period that isn't usually covered - the late 1940's. I loved the fact that this story stayed in the time period and didn't flip back and forth with present day. The story revolves around 2 women one a WASP and one a Jewish woman and the way their lives literally collide. I loved the settings both in the city and in the country (Connecticut). Well done and Kitty Zeldis will be appearing at our library in September!!

My Review of “Not Our Kind” by Kitty Zeldis Harper Collins Publishers September 4, 2018Kitty Zeldis, Author of “Not Our Kind” had me captivated and mesmerized by her vivid and thought-provoking images and descriptions of the characters and landscape. The Genres for this Novel are Fiction, Women’s Fiction and Historical Fiction. The time period of this novel is set two years after World War Two, in both New York City and Conneticut.The author describes her colorful cast of characters as complex and complicated possibly due to the circumstances in this story. Eleanor Moskowitz,a young Jewish teacher is headed in a taxi in New York City for a job interview. Eleanor is a Vassar graduate, and has left her other teaching job for personal reasons. It is raining, and traffic is exceptionally slow. Suddenly another cab, hits the taxi that Eleanor is in. Eleanor’s lip is bleeding, and now it looks like Eleanor has missed her interview. It seems like fate when a kind stranger steps in. Little does Eleanor realize how this encounter will change her life forever. Patricia Bellamy invites Eleanor to her home which is close by.Patricia Bellamy is a wealthy, attractive and stylish woman. She lives in a dignified, elegant, older deluxe apartment house on Park Avenue. Patricia is a WASP, and hasn’t had Jewish people come to her apartment. Margaux Bellamy, her young daughter has recently recovered from Polio, and is left with a disfigured leg and limp. Margaux’s last tutor has resigned, and now a new one is needed. Margaux likes Eleanor immediately and requests that her mother hire her as a tutor.Eleanor feels uncomfortable in Patricia’s home. Eleanor’s mother is a gifted hat-maker, and they live in smaller crowded dwellings. Eleanor somehow feels an attachment to Margaux and takes the job. Eleanor now finds that she is using the last name Moss instead of Moskowitz, when she enters the building. Another problem is that Patricia’s husband is anti-semitic.Kitty Zeldis has written a novel that makes one think. I appreciate that the author writes about significant problems of the historical period, the aftermath of the war, the epidemic of Polio , differences in class, and religion, and discrimination. Is it possible for people from different backgrounds to be friends? The author also discusses family, traditions, friendship, love and hope. I loved everything about this book and highly recommend this to readers who enjoy the historical time period after World War Two, and the set of challenges it presents. I received an Advanced Reading Edition from the Publisher for my honest review.

In terms of things I like to read about this book covered so many bases: Judaism, teachers, the 1940's a New York City setting, disease, five checks! Not Our Kind tells the tale of two women from vastly different circumstances. Eleanor Mokowitz, the daughter of a widowed milliner and Patricia Bellamy, the wealthy privileged mother of a teenage daughter. Like two dogs sniffing each other out, circling, both curious and apprehensive. Together they share a common interest, Margaux, Patricia's daughter. Margaux has survived polio but, as it has left her crippled, she is reluctant to return to school. Hired by the Bellamy's as her private tutor, Eleanor is the only person who has been able to bring Margaux out of her depression. But the rules of polite society and the subtle snubs of a anti-Semitic elitism permeate their interactions. This novel manages to skillfully capture the unwritten taboos of society and the result of attempting to initiate change. The characters are richly crafted, the story is engaging, and the subject matter thought-provoking.

This novel takes place two years after WWII in Brooklyn New York and what it is like being Jewish - Most of the historical novels I read are during the war, not after. This was another way of telling their story after the war was over. A great read for sure !!

I was honored when Kitty Zeldis — a most stylish woman who never leaves the house without red lipstick — invited me to review NOT OUR KIND. I’m so glad I agreed, because her newest novel is as elegant and contemporary as she.One moment can change a life ... or two ... as is the case in this richly imagined and beautifully written novel set in late 1940s New York City. A traffic accident on a rainy day brings together two women whose lives may never have crossed: Eleanor Moskowitz, new teaching grad from Vassar who needs employment, and uber-wealthy Patricia Bellamy, whose polio-stricken teenage daughter needs tutoring.Questions of class and religious differences inform this utterly engaging period piece, as do the struggles of women to create full authentic lives. As fresh and relevant today as the historic era it covers. 5/5 Grateful to the author for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Not Our Kind is a captivating story of discrimination and anti-Semitism soon after WW2. Eleanor, a young Jewish teacher and Patricia, a rich WASP, are thrown together after an accident. Patricia hires Eleanor as a tutor for her young daughter. The story is told from the viewpoints of Elanor and Patricia and it gave me a lot of insight to each character. I enjoyed reading this book! Kitty Zeldis beautifully described the clothing and scenery. Historical fiction is my favorite genre and I loved Not Our Kind!

New York. 1940sI struggle with these kinds of stories. The husband is a complete arse. The wife is completely clueless to his shenanigans. Her accusations to the injured party are ridiculous. Why do these types of stories always have to have a rich vs poor predictable plot? But I will admit this story has a good flow. The love story portion is semi realistic and not too corny. I appreciate the honest look into “anti-Jew” in America after WWII. A decent look at women and the various degrees of their friendships in high, and not so high society. Not a horrible read.In case you’re wondering...if you ever read my reviews, you know that romance is not my favorite genre but I have read several of them. You may wonder why I torture myself and continue to read these silly books. My mother in law loves them. She doesn’t share all of them with me. But she does share her favorite ones with me. I don’t have the heart to tell her no. LoL!