The Astor Orphan audiobook

Quirky memoir about growing up Astor... in name, sort of. Ms. Aldrich is related to the Astors, Livingstons and other aristocratic Americans but is definitely the poor cousin. Her family lives at Rokeby, the Chanler estate, a decrepit mansion on 450 acres in Duchess County, New York. Dad Teddy is the unpaid handyman, trying to keep things ticking along, at war with his brother over what happens with and on the property. Grandmother Claire, an alcoholic, despairs of her younger son's life and tries to take care of Alexandra, eventually organizing things so she goes away to boarding school at age 14. All Alexandra wants is a clean house, good food and to fit in. You can guess how that goes.The writing style is a little breezy, and some of the relationships between Astors would benefit from a family tree, but this is definitely a fast, fun read.ARC provided by publisher.

A very personal snapshot of the lives of former American aristocrats. Why did I put off reading this for so long? I had spent a lot of my youth at Rokeby (where the book takes place), to me it was a magical place. I had no idea of the daily lives of the people who lived there. It's a bit of a shocker actually. This book fills in a lot of holes, while also re-enforcing the esteem I had for the history of the place. This book is WONDERFUL for history buffs, where not one but many of the people whom you'll recognize from history books were included in the backstory of the house and the family.I liked it. I'll recommend it to a few friends who live in the northeast.

3.5 stars. Good narration to this audiobook.

This was actually a delightful quick read. Read over commutes and breaks in the course of one day.Aldrich's recollection of her childhood as a "poor" descendant of rich aristocrats is really well told. She's a good guide through the family tree and the house that's left in the family. The sorry state of the manor is also palpable. *Grandma Claire is a heroine, despite her alcoholism. Aldrich's father and mother (and Giselle) also come into view for their self-absorption and preference for the company of adults. Growing up with (bohemian) adults, Alexandra strives for a more disciplined, meaningful life and you can see that in the things and people she admires--despite the fact that she could be a bully to other kids.I didn't expect very much, but I really liked this book. The author had a melancholic childhood amongst a family of eccentric characters--and it's quite interesting. Won't be able to visit Rokeby in the Hudson River Valley without thinking about (the real people and) this book.**Read the NYT article about Rokeby here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/22/gar... (for the vocab word: impecunious) ***Also reading the text was the first time in a long time that the store Caldor came up...used to be one in Flushing ~20 yrs ago. Yikes! I am getting old...

I received this book free thru Goodreads First Reads.This book was fascinating to me because I live in the Hudson Valley near the Rokeby estate. My late father-in law was a physician to many of the "river people", as the aristocrats were known. He had many stories to tell of some eccentric patients. I personally met Chanler Chapman many times, and have to admit that he was quite eccentric and spoke in a loud, booming voice.I enjoyed this book mostly because it was about people I had heard stories about. I wouldn't recommend to everyone.

"The Astor Orphan" is short, but sharp! Aldrich's descriptions of growing up in genteel poverty, the descendant of one of America's richest families, are heartbreaking and infuriating. Fans of "The Glass Castle" will love this pared down memoir!

if you love grey gardens you'll enjoy this. a part of American "history" I knew very little about. I wonder if there will be a book written about Penelope and Mason Disick at some point? where North visits them and sees how they've fallen from grace?

I don't know why the overly rich people grab my attention. In this case it is descendants from the Astors from the guilded ages. They like so many others then and now have so much money they just build huge mansions, summer homes, travel the earth. Yet their descendants, while no longer having all this wealth, were not brought up to be successful in the work force. They still considered themselves as entitled to the lifestyle of their ancestors, but did not have the money to support that lifestyle.A once grand mansion, Rokeby, consisting of 420 acres is basically a squatters dwelling.Aline from the book -They each had a strong sense of entitlement. Not to do a job day after day while taking orders from others.So much waste.

Alexandra Aldrich is a descendant of John Jacob Astor, but not a descendant of his money. The Rokeby estate has become dilapidated and barely livable. She lives with her parents in a few room of the 3rd floor servants quarters. Her father tries to keep up with repairs. They live on donated food, wear thrift store clothes and earn little money renting out the out buildings. Her uncle and his wife and their children live in a separate part of the house. Her childhood is filled with stories of her dysfunctional, eccentric relatives, including her parents, her alcoholic grandmother & cheating father.

Thoroughly Enjoyed!Great true (and sad) story about the author’s fascinating (and lonely, and bizarre) childhood that reads like a novel. Accompanied by lots of great photos. I really loved it! For anyone who might be interested, there is a short video on YouTube that features many color shots of old furniture and other objects housed at Rokeby. Very Haunting. Also features snippets of conversations with the author. I highly recommend! ☺️

DysfunctionalThe descendants of America's richest man hang on to what they can in less than genteel poverty in a state of delusional dysfunction. Written by the daughter who finally escaped. Some portions called to mind Where The Crawdads Sing, but this isn't fiction. The observations and frankly disclosed thoughts of a young girl make this an engaging read.

Survival of the fittestThe pathos of being an impoverished child of a once wealthy family is well written The reader can feel her pain as she struggles to survive her dysfunctional family living in a decrepit mansion. I asked myself if I was enjoying this because it was a comeuppence to Mrs Astor's 400?

Descendent of John Jacob Astor, who disinherited the Aldrich branch of family. This is memoir of author's early life living in deteriorating family mansion. Author's amazing ability to survive hunger, poverty, and emotional neglect. Sad, yet interesting. Reader finds need to rescue this child of the 1980's.

Ms. Aldrich created a very creative narrative through short memories. Each memory led to another in such a seamless way, that the book felt more fiction than nonfiction, which creates a better read in my opinion. The book has humor and with an undercurrent of sadness. It left me wanting more in a 2nd book.