Tessie and Pearlie: A Granddaughter's Story

Not since Bill Withers' song, "Grandma's Hands" has there been such a touching tribute to a "bubbe", the Yiddish word for grandmother. Or, in this lucky case, to BOTH her 90-something grandmothers. How I envied her the privilege, courage and perspicacity to ask these questions before it was too late! I shared many, many things with my beloved grandmother, but I wish with all my heart that I had done what Joy Horowitz did in "Tessie and Pearlie", to search out and record the stories of her grandmothers' lives, what made them who they are, what their lives mean to her own life, to her children's lives. Joy Horowitz did, indeed, build an amazing, bittersweet bridge between her family's past and future and created a truly precious legacy for her own children and subsequent generations of her family. Especially when one is young, it is very often difficult to let go of the irritations and inconsistencies you see in your parents and grandparents and really communicate with them. It is usually in middle age that the sense of one's mortality overcomes these quibbles and by then, for most, it is too late for grandparents. If you are now fortunate enough to have a living grandmother, seize the moment. Read this book, put on Bill Withers and cry and - and then go call her up and ask and ask and listen and listen. Then write it down for posterity and marvel at the blessing.

One of my all-time favorites. Absolutely addictive. Many thanks to the author.

Having known one of the grandmothers, it made the book much more real for me. Joy's portrayal of her grandmothers' lives is rich with the love and sorrow that each has endured. This book also tackles the issues of aging with a mature and realistic outlook. This has to be one of the most inspiring books I have read.

This is Joy Horowitz's tribute to her two jewish grandmothers. They are both in their 90's and as feisty and loving as can be. In a book full of wisdom, humor, and yes, recipes, there is a lingering sense of mortality as both bubbes tell their tales and wonder when death will claim them. This is a book for anyone who treasures the stories of years past, who loved to sit at their grandmother's knee as she told stories of years gone by. It will leave you at turns both happy and almost tearful as each grandmother grapples with the life she has lived and the fact that she won't be around much longer. Please read this book, it will help you as you look at the big picture of life and determine what is really important to you

"Tessie and Pearlie" is Joy Horowitz' love letter to and about her two grandmothers, both in their 80s: one is Catholic, one is Jewish; one thinks life is for living (she broke her arm dancing to "Achy Breaky Heart"; one feels not just alone, but lonely, and sits in her apartment waiting to die; one adored her husband, one resigned herself to her marriage because -- when she was young -- there were no options; one lives in New York, one lives near the beach in Santa Monica. These two ladies couldn't be more different; at the same time, they couldn't be more alike. This book is a paean, a valentine, a love song, a bridge between the past and the future. At the same time Joy is dealing with the vagaries of old age as she tries to gain insight into the lives her grandmothers led before they BECAME grandmothers, she is dealing with the pain of her own miscarriage and the joy and trials of her own children. The is a book for anyone who has ever known/dealt with/ loved/been driven crazy by someone elderly, anyone whose ambitions include growing old, anyone who is either curious or fearful (or both) about what their own old age may be like. This you should know: This book will bring a tear to the eye and a lump to the throat. Read. Enjoy.