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Astor Orphan
Astor Orphan | Alexandra Aldrich
4 posts | 4 read | 23 to read
The Astor Orphan is an unflinching debut memoir by a direct descendant of John Jacob Astor, Alexandra Aldrich.She brilliantly tells the story of her eccentric, fractured family; her 1980s childhood of bohemian neglect in the squalid attic of Rokeby, the family s Hudson Valley Mansion; and her brave escape from the clan. Aldrich reaches back to the Gilded Age when the Astor legacy began to come undone, leaving the Aldrich branch of the family penniless and squabbling over what was left.Illustrated with black-and-white photographs that bring this faded world into focus, The Astor Orphan is written with the grit of The Glass Castle and set amid the aristocratic decay of Grey Gardens."
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review
MeJeMiller
The Astor Orphan: A Memoir | Alexandra Aldrich
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Panpan

I always am hesitant when a book is a memoir and there‘s full conversations. Yes, the author probably didn‘t have a great childhood but I feel like there are worse childhoods. Sometimes I felt like it was all look at my ancestors and look how I have to live. I couldn‘t relate to the author. I was expecting more from this book and really disappointed.

review
Megabooks
The Astor Orphan: A Memoir | Alexandra Aldrich
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Panpan

This is by far the WORST of the 301 books I‘ve read so far this year. Just a hot mess! I like memoirs to have a plot or purpose. This is just a bunch of strewn together stories about eccentric descendants of John Jacob Astor who are living in a run-down mansion. No author, I really don‘t need to know the seating arrangements at EVERY MEAL!! Ugh! Even Tavia Gilbert‘s excellent narration couldn‘t save this pile of 💩. #audiobook

Tamra Yikes! 😑 3y
Megabooks @Tamra it was bad! 3y
Cinfhen Oh no😆I bought this one on a recent Audible deal… I‘ll have to return it 3y
See All 12 Comments
ChristinasBookChronicles 😬😬 yikes indeed. 3y
Megabooks @Cinfhen that‘s when I got it too. I finished it because it was just $2, but it is available on hoopla if you return it and change your mind. Wish I had checked… 3y
Megabooks @ChristinasBookChronicles I really didn‘t enjoy it! 3y
BarbaraBB I am sorry it was so bad but your review made me laugh out loud! 3y
dylanisreading I'm sorry this was a pile of crap, but 301 books read is amazing! 3y
Megabooks @BarbaraBB awesome!! I was hoping to get a laugh out of this crap book somehow! 3y
Megabooks @Bianca thank you!! I‘m trying for 500 this year! 🤞🏻🤞🏻 3y
britt_brooke 😂 Hard pass. Sounds a mess! Btw, I think at this rate you‘ll easily surpass 500!🔥 (edited) 3y
Megabooks @britt_brooke omg, it was terrible!! 😂😂 I hope so re: 500! It would be amazing!! 3y
79 likes12 comments
blurb
IamIamIam
Astor Orphan | Alexandra Aldrich
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A bit of #NYPL #libraryporn before I get let in to hang out after hours!!! #NYCLife #NYCLittens #literaryNewYork #NYPLafterhours

blurb
LeahBergen
The Astor Orphan: A Memoir | Alexandra Aldrich
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This memoir, by a member of the storied Astor clan, tells of a poor and neglected childhood in the family's 43-room, decaying Hudson Valley ancestral mansion. 😳 #DysfunctionalFamilies #PhotoADayNov16 #NonfictionNovember

Hobbinol Goodness. You get me into more trouble, Leah. But I have to add this to my little Astor collection. You've really hit my sweet spot here!❤️ 8y
Sweettartlaura As a child of the Hudson Valley who went on multiple field trips to many such mansions, I am always happy to read a book like this - yay!😍📚 8y
EloisaJames Is this the one where her father and mother were failed artists and there wasn't enough to eat? 8y
See All 15 Comments
cathysaid Adding this one to the TBR stack. I loved Mrs Astor Regrets. 8y
LeahBergen @Hobbinol I had a feeling that you would like this one! 😘 8y
LeahBergen @Sweettartlaura I would have liked those field trips! 8y
LeahBergen @cathysaid Thanks! I'll check that one out. 8y
LeahBergen @EloisaJames I think it is! 8y
LeahBergen @Hobbinol Oh, and it is kind of embarrassing just how many books I have of this type 😂 8y
EloisaJames @LeahBergen since you have so many, is there another one like this? I read one that I'd love to read again but I don't think this was the title. 8y
LeahBergen @EloisaJames Is it about the Vanderbilts? It could be 8y
LeahBergen @EloisaJames I also have a few about titled Brits. This one is about a girl that grew up in Macbeth's castle 8y
EloisaJames @LeahBergen looks wonderful--thanks! 8y
EloisaJames @LeahBergen that's not it but what a great book--thanks! Added it to my Christmas ask list 8y
BookBabe Oooh! Sounds like I need this! 😮 8y
78 likes19 stack adds15 comments