I enjoyed listening to this novel on audiobook, as it helped me envision Mamie Kunstler telling stories to her grandson Julian. I love multigenerational stories, and the developing relationship between Mamie and Julian was intriguing. While the pace of the book is relatively slow, the combination of Jewish emigré stories and tales of Hollywood’s “golden age” set against the challenges of the 2020 pandemic was unusual and insightful. I thought that the audiobook was beautifully narrated, with a wide variety of accents employed to distinguish the different characters. At the end of the book two unexpected things happened; one of them was welcome and contributed to the conclusion of the story. However, the second came out of left field and I felt that it left too many threads hanging. I wonder if it was inserted in order to provide the set up for a sequel? Despite this unanticipated turn I enjoyed the book. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this audiobook.

Julian has turned to his parents for money forever. At the start of the covid pandemic he needs help with rent and ends up going to CA (from NY) to help with her grandmother as she recovers from breaking a bone. The author did a really wonderful job showing the character development of Julian and the relationship between Julian and his grandmother.

I struggled with one of the concepts suggested in the book.

I loved all the name dropping provided by the grandmother, such as Greta Garbo.

The audiobook was especially well narrated by Jesse Vilinsky!

Thank you to NetGalley for once again introducing me to a "new to me" author. Thank you to NetGalley, Cathleen Schine the author and Macmillan Audio the publisher. Publication date is Mar 14, 2023.

This book so beautifully captures the complexity of the family dynamics and family history. Navigating one’s future is challenging in the best of circumstances and is only heightened by the pandemic. It also shows the importance and connective tissue that is the family’s history and that each family member has his or her own personality and personal history.

4.5 stars, rounded upward. My thanks go to Net Galley, Henry Holt Publishers, and Macmillan Audio for the review copies. This magnificently quirky novel is for sale now.

Julian Kunstler is kind of a mess. He’s a twenty-something New Yorker whose girlfriend has just dumped him. He has no job, and he doesn’t want one; at least, not the low-paying, entry-level variety of jobs for which he is qualified. He takes himself home to his parents who have been paying his way, confident that they will understand his plight and increase his allowance. Instead, he hits a wall. What are your plans for the future, Julian? (None.) What do you plan to do for money? (Get it from you.) Just as a dramatic situation has begun to unfold, they hear from his 93 year old grandmother, Mamie, who lives in Los Angeles. She wants him to come to stay with her awhile; she needs assistance. He’s not so sure that he wants to go, but when his parents insist, he gets on that plane. Once there, the pandemic strikes, and he is trapped in lockdown with his grandmother and her elderly companion, Agatha.

Mamie has always been fond of Julian, and although she does need a driver for doctor appointments and the like, what she wants, more than anything, is to tell her life story. Most of it, anyway. It begins in Austria, as Jewish artists like her father, a successful composer, are being pushed out of public life by the Nazis. (Here, I emit a small moan; I am heartily sick of Holocaust stories. Happily, we don’t stay there long, and this story is worth it.) She goes on to describe the shock she experiences in suddenly being transplanted into a completely different climate, language, and culture, and much of Mamie’s story is droll. And Julian, who never would have sat still for these tales had they come from his parents, listens. At first, he listens impatiently, assisted by Mamie’s generous liquor collection. As time goes on, he begins to listen with greater patience and understanding. And by the end of a year’s time, he listens with genuine interest. His own exile from New York is pale, after all, in comparison to the exile his predecessors endured.

The most dynamic character is, of course, Julian, but through Mamie’s stories, we see how life has already changed her. Agatha is enigmatic until the book is nearly over, and I love what Cline does with her, too.

If I were to change one thing, I would edit down the material about the genius composer friend that emigrates from Austria and is close to the family. This reviewer was a music major once upon a time, and if this part of the narrative is a bit much for me, then probably many others will feel the same. Of course, if the reader comes to the book with a deep interest in Schoenberg, then it may prove quite satisfying.

I am fortunate to have access to both the digital print galley and the audio version, and reader Jesse Vilinsky is hands down the funniest, most skillful voice actor I have ever had the pleasure to hear. Cline’s book is very good, but in the hands of Vilinsky, it is infinitely better. Her interpretations of Mamie and Julian are spot on, hilarious at times, moving at others. The way she voices Agatha is absolute comic genius!

For those that love quirky humor and historical fiction, this book is highly recommended.

An enjoyable enough novel that follows the Kunstler family through trials and tribulations as they try to adjust to life in the US

Funny and touching family drama that uses the Covid pandemic as a plot device to get two characters together instead of focusing on the ravages of the virus. We are regaled with stories of glamorous Hollywood in the 1940's with minor interruptions from the present day. Lovely escapist read that combines family and historical fiction. Schine presents the older characters with vivaciousness, wit, and vitality. A joy to read. For fans of Jennifer Weiner and Mark Kay Andrews, and the like.

Audiobook narrator Jesse Vilinsky did an excellent job with differentiating character voices and accents. Transportive performance.

I love this cover more than I loved the book. The premise was good -- comparing escaping from Austria during World War 2 with COVIC lockdown but I found this so droll. It was definitely a slog and I often thought, what is the point? I don't think the book was helped when it described the year 2020 because Julian was insufferable as a character. Hope you have better luck!

Künstlers in Paradise comes out next week on March 14, 2023 and you can purchase HERE.

Silly Americans, she'd thought; if only I could be like them, she'd thought. The story of the immigrant, she thought now.

I thought this was a charming book and a great entry into the new genre of pandemic literature.

Mamie, a ninety-three year old who fled from the Nazis with her family in 1939, is living peacefully in California with her elderly housekeeper and her St. Bernard dog when her grandson, Julian, comes to visit. Entitled yet earnest and still somewhat naive, Julian is floundering as he struggles to find his place in the world. What is intended to be a quick visit becomes extended, as the country enters its pandemic-driven lockdown during Julian's stay.. WIth everything closed and little to do, Mamie begins telling Julian her stories of growing up as an immigrant in Hollywood and meeting the stars and celebrities who ruled the day back then.

I found the characters in this book, and the setting as well, delightful, The audiobook worked well with the book's structure, as the narrator was wonderful.

Overall,, I did think this was a fresh, engaging look at the immigrant experience.

This was my first book by new to me author Cathleen Shine and it was epic and unforgettable! Featuring 93-year-old Mamie Künstler, we get to know what her life was like immigrating to Venice, California from Vienna during WWII as a Jewish refugee.

Told through flashbacks as she shares her life story with her grandson, Julian, who is staying with Mamie during the COVID-19 lockdown. I really enjoyed the intergenerational friendship and reading about such a strong, interesting older woman protagonist!

Give us more books about fascinating older women please! This was also great as an audiobook narrated by Jesse Vilinsky! Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and Librofm for the early ALC in exchange for my honest review! Recommended for fans of The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

KÜNSTLERS IN PARADISE by Cathleen Schine and read by Jesse Vilinsky was a lovely story.

For me, this was a story that benefitted from audio. I spend not a small amount of time with older friends, listening to their stories, and this felt like a similar experience.

At 93, Maime comes to house her louse of a grandson and they get quarantined together. With conflicting emotions, Maime begins to share the stories of her childhood beginning in Vienna before Hitler forces them to move finally to the paradise of southern California. Here they find their place among other Jewish refugees, but it is not all smooth.

These stories may be a bit full of name dropping, but it is also not unlikely that such things could have happened in such a time and place! The point of these stories does more than simply pass the hours. The sharing of her life stories to Julian changes him in ways he doesn't expect, and as they sit together in relative safety, they grapple with the idea of surviving when others do not.

The structure of this story is very conversational as opposed to choosing a multiple timeline. I have heard some who didn't care for this, but in audio form, this was a delight for me. I felt like I was pulling up a chair and listening in to Maime's stories.

Julian is an utterly unlikable. He does however give his grandmother respect, as she demands it. Her stories help him see beyond himself and though I found this a quick transformation, I liked it and the nod to the power of story.

Thank you to @netgalley, @macmillan.audio and @henryholtbooks for the opportunity to listen to this ALC, just for my thoughts. I would recommend this for those who enjoy the stories of our elders, especially in their older voice. Maime's insights and humor come through and would be missed if it went back to the younger version. The narrator captured this perfectly. I loved the sound of her voice!

THE KÜNSTLERS will be available on March 14.

I've been reading Cathleen Schine since Fin and Lady. She never disappoints and the stories keep getting better and better,
Here we have Mamie (Salome;) Kunstler, a 93 year-old matriarch, living in California. She emigrated with her family in 1939 from Austria and has been happily ensconced in Venice Beach ever since. Her hapless, grandson, Julian, is in need of a job, an apartment, basically, a life. New York is not working out. Mamie has him come to California, sets him up and then of course, the pandemic.
Trapped at home, Mamie starts telling Julian about her childhood and growing up. With her wisdom and insight, he starts to become something more than the foolish 20-something he seems to be. This book is darling and the comradery between Mamie and Julian is priceless.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc.*

4 enjoyable storied stars
“You told me some crazy stories when I was a kid.”

Twenty-something year old Julian’s life is falling apart – no roommate, no job, no real plans. Mom and dad say enough – go to California and help out your 93-year-old grandma, Mamie, after she broke her arm. After a while, Julian starts to fit in to this new life. Covid hits. To pass time Mamie starts telling stories - from escaping Viennna as a Jewish family to hanging with Hollywood celebrities. Julian becomes less selfish and more caring.

Mamie tells Julian she could not have handled the last year without him. “Exiled in paradise, you mean… But if this was not paradise, what was? A roof over your head, a chicken in the pot, a grandson to talk to, Agatha, her best friend, a dog, an orange tree outside.”

I enjoyed the subtle humor in this book. “He loved his wife and he loved his mother. It was true that he preferred to keep them separated, and he’d worried about this trip, but if dinner was any indication, all would be well.” The plot ambles along. Agatha, Mamie’s old friend/ housekeeper/ cook is both feisty and charming.

The audio book was outstanding, one of the best narrations I have listened to. It really made the book come alive. Vilinsky’s voices were great, even the old lady voices, which are hard to do with a pleasant sound. She was good with the Vienna accents too.

“What could you say in response to such a story?” Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a beautiful journey this book was! I adored the interwoven past and present stories about the Kunstlers. The writing was descriptive and engaging and the audio was lovely.

I listened to this as an audiobook. I liked the narrator, but the story just seemed to drag on. I didn't love it, it was ok.

Thank you to Henry Holt for the ARC copy and MacMillan for the audio copy of Kunstlers in Paradise. This was a welcome change of pace for me as I take a break from thrillers and romcom/romance reads, a nice celebration of how the pandemic became for some a time of sharing family and personal stories and narratives. This book captures the ongoing importance of knowing the past of immigrant experiences, particularly from places engulfed by war and oppressive regimes, and is also in a way a celebration of aging and memory telling and family. It was a welcome read and I have already shared my copy with a good book friend and think this is a nice option for literary and history focused book clubs!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced audiobook copy.

Not my typical genre, but I really did enjoy this book. Narrator did a fantastic job.

3.5 stars

A charming & touching story about the immigrant experience, music, & family, set in the early days of the pandemic with flashbacks to the golden era of Hollywood.

[What I liked:]

•Julian & Mamie are such a great pair! I really enjoyed their interactions, seeing their contrasting perspectives about current events, and how they both annoyed and truly cared about each other. Both are good characters on their own, but together they are special.

•Julian’s parents are hilarious! I mean his dad and the bird watching at the end was so funny! Actually all the family interactions (including Julian’s sister & family, & Agatha) are very endearing.

•This book is beautifully written with such attention to detail. I especially enjoyed all the setting descriptions of Southern California & the flowers since I read this in February in the Midwest.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•Sometimes it kind of felt like Mamie was a fictional placeholder and just in the story so we could meet all these famous Hollywood people. Like is it plausible she had affairs with movie stars & met all glamorous people she did? Definitely. I think it’s more that sometimes her story started to get lost among the star studded appearances.

CW: the Holocaust, racism, sexism, homophobia, infidelity, substance abuse, suicide, domestic violence

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

This was a difficult book for me, I felt it drag on. Interesting take on Jewish immigration during WWII told through 93 year old Mamie to her grandson Jillian. Jillian came to So. Ca to live with his grandmother during the Covid pandemic. During his stay with her, she shares the stories of her life. I labored through finishing the book. The narration was very well done.

Thank you #NetGalley, #MacmillanAudio, #CathleenSchine, #JesseVillinsky and #KunstlersinParadise for the advance readers copy for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley & MacMillan Audio for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This novel alternates between the past and the present, which is a device I usually dislike. In this case, it remains true. Salomea "Mamie" Kunstler arrives with her parents and grandpa in Los Angeles, just a few short years before the Final Solution really gets serious. They've seen the writing on the wall, and there is an American program in place for Austrian intellectuals and artists to escape the burgeoning doom. This should be wonderful, but Mamie's parents struggle to acclimate to this place, so different to Vienna, despite the large émigré community.

In the present, Mamie is 93, living in Venice Beach with her companion, Agatha. Her grandson, Julian, comes to stay after he's dumped by his girlfriend, he loses his part time job, and his roommate decides to move pout and go to law school, ostensibly to "care for" Mamie, who is in little need of care with Agatha running the show. Thus, we descend into the confusion of the Covid-19 pandemic, masking, lockdown, etc. Ugh.

The vignettes of the past are compelling, if a bit high flown. Grandpa's friendship with Irving Tabor? Sure, why not. Mamie's affair with Greta Garbo? Clunk. Many other famed Germans make appearances as well. Still, Schine paints an interesting portrait of what it was like to come to America just before the war and suffer survivor's guilt. It's harder to get into Julian's fledgling romance with a neighbor girl who walks her parents' puppy at the same time as Julian walks Mamie's St. Bernard. He does grow and improve while living with Mamie and absorbing her stories, but it would be difficult for him to have started out more ineffectual and aimless. Additionally, I have to agree with other reviewers that it's just too soon for a pandemic book. Yes, we lived through it. No, I have no desire to do so again through the pages of a book (especially while I still see people walking their dogs with masks on).

Jesse Vilinsky does an excellent job of imbuing life into Mamie (a superior old lady voice I have not heard), and differentiating between characters (I especially loved her version of Agatha).

2.5 stars overall, 3.5 for the parts that take place in the past.

Told through the perspectives of Julian, a privileged but lost 20-something used to relying on his parents, and Mamie, his eccentric 93-year-old grandmother who asks him to move in to help her around the house after an injury makes it hard for her to get around. What was meant to be a temporary visit prolongs into an extended stay when the country goes into lockdown from the pandemic. Mamie begins to share with Julian stories of her life, including when she came to Los Angeles with her parents from Vienna to escape Hitler. There was so much heart to this and I thought it was so well done. I was skeptical on reading about the pandemic, especially while it's still ongoing, but I thought Künstlers in Paradise did a great job on reflecting on the feeling of isolation and loneliness of the lockdown while also showing growth and hope. I enjoyed it!

Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.